Why I don't like Josepha Madigan

When this is the viewpoint of our Minister for heritage, Ireland's heritage has much to fear.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/medieval-settlement-on-cosgrave-lands-not-unique-madigan-says-1.3866249


The letter below is apt.

Sir, – We have a housing crisis. It has become a national imperative to build homes for people. Good. But it cannot be at any cost. The system has to allow for circumstances where permission to build is denied or delayed and where we do not squeeze as many dwellings as are physically squeezable into every square inch on every plot of ground on every green field, brown field, nook or cranny in the country.

The system has to have balances. We have a Cabinet Minister responsible for securing housing. Good. And we have a Cabinet Minister with responsibility for protecting this State’s heritage. Good. This is the balance.

How worrying, therefore, and how depressing to read that the Minister, Josepha Madigan TD, whose role it is to safeguard Ireland’s historical and archaeological inheritance should describe the discovery of a site of around 60 burials, possibly from the Bronze Age, plus evidence of Iron Age occupation, and of an early medieval ring-fort, as “not a unique or unusual site but instead is quite common” (“Medieval settlement on Cosgrave lands ‘not unique’, Madigan says”, News, April 20th).

Such a site is anything but common. And it is not a renewable resource. When it is destroyed to make way for apartment blocks, it is gone forever. And destroyed it will be, since this State’s policy is not preservation in situ, but (something Orwell might have nightmared up) the absurdly named “preservation by record”, that is, destroy it, but claim you preserved it because an archaeologist filed a report.

The site itself, Beechpark, on Scholarstown Road in Knocklyon, Co Dublin, is in an area extraordinarily rich in historical and archaeological terms and it is heart-breaking to hear the Minister – our Minister for Heritage – speak of it as she did. How poignant to note that it was the former home of the late Liam Cosgrave TD, former taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, Ms Madigan’s own party, a man who did care about this country’s history and this country’s heritage. – Yours, etc,TCD

Seán Duffy

Chairman,

Friends of Medieval

Dublin,

c/o Department of History,

Trinity College Dublin,

Dublin 2.

The Bell Book and Candle

A shout out to Paul Deacy, owner of The Bell Book and Candle, a quirky little bookshop in the West End of Galway City with a great selection of Irish Interest books, including three of my titles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5KBiugB4_Y&fbclid=IwAR0mXMBaZQnMBi4qWR1AeqUO9HIKsx2x218Xy4s-TmM3LKA8f0MKZ76xcyY

Well House at St Bridget's Well, County Clare

The above picture was taken at the Well House at St Bridget's Well, County Clare, nor far from the Cliffs of Moher. Not seen in the picture is a stream running into the well outside. The statues are votive offering and the prayers for intersession left behind are quite touching. The site in general is quite moving.

Just returned from a successful trip to Cong, County Mayo. I am pleased to announce that the local bookshop there, Rare and Recent Books has agreed to carry four of my titles. Check them out at:www.rareandrecent.com

holy well, Drumcondra

Artefacts of Cong, County Mayo

The above picture show the market Cross in Cong, dating from around the 14th century.The inscription in Irish, the main language of the Irish people until the mid 19th century, reads: "Or Do Niahol Ag Do Gilliberd O Dubthaigh raibh Abaidde Agt Cunga"(Pray for Niahol and Gilbert who were Abbots in Cong). The picture at bottom shows a medieval monks' fishing house.

Bang Bang Plaque, Dublin

A recently unveiled plaque in memory of a Dublin character known as Bang Bang. His claim to fame was his habit of shooting at people on the streets of Dublin using a key (now on display in The Little Museum Of Dublin) as a pistol. A much loved character and craytur, people either fired back or played dead while he made good his escape on a passing bus.  

Traces of the British Empire are still omnipresent on the streets of Dublin. This lamp pole shows shamrocks, the symbol of Ireland. The ones in London used to display roses until they were melted down to help the war effort during the Second World War. This example is outside the Rotunda Hospital.