Left unto itself, the earth is one field.

Walls cannot reach below the grass to divide

the dark substance of clay, glued to itself

in a dream that is black and always cold.

John O’Donoghue

Ronan Gearoid O Domhnaill Publications

The Following is a brief overview of my publishing history.

Gone But Not Forgotten Historic Graves of Kerry (Cork 2018)

The Murder of Thomas McEver in The Tuam Herald 2018

The Disappearance of Patrick Waters in The Connaught Tribune 2017

Gone of the Way of Truth Historic Graves of Galway (The History Press April 2016)

Jeannie Hodgers Saighdiúr Lincoln (Cogar TG4 2015) programme contributor

Fadó Fadó More Tales of Lesser-Known Irish History (Troubador 2015)

Fadó-Tales of Lesser-Known Irish History (Troubador 2013)

Ireland’s Own contributor(approximately 40 articles (2006-16)

Saint Coloman in Word (2005)

Alte Irische Mythen und Legenden (BAG Verlag 2002, reprinted 2012), a collection of Irish legends written in German and launched at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Triangular Station, Dublin

Between 1829 and 1842 the island of Ireland was mapped in great detail. The British did this in order to collect their taxes more efficiently. They got their measurements from these stone structures. This example is to be seen at The Hell Fire Club in the Dublin Mountains.

Starving German Children 1945-47

The Saarbruecken Cecilien School greets the Irish donors.

I came across this colourful handmade book on a recent visit to the residence of the German ambassador here in Dublin. The author is unknown but it is known to be the work of German school Children from Saarbruecken and dates from 1946. The heartfelt letters are in gratitude to the Irish people who delivered food parcels to the starving German children. Postwar Germany was  a country in chaos with food shortages. It was also an unsafe place for children as so much dangerous war equipment was lying around.  Approximately 800 German children also arrived in Ireland at this time about whom I wrote in Fadó Fadó More Tales of Lesser- Known Irish History

The child writing the above letter describes how  everything was lacking after the war. They were faint from hunger and weak at the knees. Then the Irish donation came at the right time.

Kirwan Vault at Kilbannon, County Galway

I am always acutely aware when I write about historic graveyards that I only scratch the surface and am always glad of any additional information people can provide. I was recently contacted by Michael Kirwan whose family are interred in Kilbannon, close to Tuam. The Kirwans were one of the tribes of Galway who fled the city during the Cromwellian upheaval of 1653. Their burial ground prior to this was at the back of the Franciscan abbey on Francis Street in Galway City.  The vault seems to date from 1820, though the entrance is covered by an earlier Kirwan gravestone.

Lord have mercy on the soul of Honoria Kirwan and family who departed this life 27^th August 1798 aged 80