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A Rebel Hand: Nicholas Delaney of 1798 - the book
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Category Archives: 1798
Requiem for Seamus Heaney
Today I heard the news that Seamus Heaney, the great and beloved Irish poet, has died. A great sadness caught at me and I wondered why. I’d never met him, though I admired him. And then I realised that his … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Ireland
Tagged 1798, Boolavogue, Irish Rebellion of 1798, Nicholas Delaney, requiem, Seamus Heaney
2 Comments
Vinegar Hill – the Irish rebels’ last stand
This weekend (August 3 – 4, 2013) the Irish rebels (cheers!) and the redcoats (boo!) have been recruiting, drilling, camping and fighting around Vinegar Hill in County Wexford. They’ve been re-enacting the last full battle of the Irish Rebellion of … Continue reading
Transports of delight – researching the book about Nicholas
I’m feeling thrilled and very honoured. The Irish genealogy online magazine, Irish Lives Remembered, has just (July 10th) published a two-page article about Nicholas Delaney, the great-great-great grandfather and transported convict whose life inspired this blog and its sister website. … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, A Rebel Hand, Convicts, Ireland, Nicholas Delaney
Tagged 1798, A Rebel Hand, Australia, Blogging, Convict, genealogy, Ireland, Irish Lives Remembered
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Some happy finds
Sometimes I come across a batch of lucky A Rebel Hand-related discoveries on the net and it’s good to share them, so here’s a round-up. The Convict Maid Following on from my last one, about women convicts and the early … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, A Rebel Hand, Australia, Convicts
Tagged A Rebel Hand, Australia, Billy Byrne, Convict, Ireland, Irish Rebellion of 1798, Secret River
5 Comments
1798 – the television programme
Here at last! A link to the episode of BBC TV’s Story of Ireland which deals with the Rebellion of 1798 and the United Irishmen. Earlier this year, this four-part series presented by Fergal Keane took us at some speed … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Ireland
Tagged A Rebel Hand, BBC, Convict, history, Story of Ireland
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The song that inspired ‘A Rebel Hand’
At Boolavogue as the sun was setting O’er the bright May meadows of Shelmalier, A rebel hand set the heather blazing and brought the neighbours from far and near. That’s the first verse of the song Boolavogue, which tells the … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Nicholas Delaney
Tagged 1798, A Rebel Hand, Boolavogue, Boys of Wexford, Carnew, Father Murphy, history, Ireland, Nicholas Delaney, Wicklow
12 Comments
More about Boolavogue
The lyrics to Boolavogue were written by Patrick Joseph (PJ) McCall and set to the Irish air Eochaill, or Youghal Harbour. There are many versions of this well-loved song on the net. Probably the best-known is the one I heard … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, A Rebel Hand
Tagged 1798, A Rebel Hand, Boolavogue, Fr John Murphy, history, Ireland, Music, Nicholas Delaney, Songs, Wexford
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The day we met the President
The Irish presidential election is in the news these days – it takes place on Thursday, 27 October 2011. There are seven hopefuls in the race, some more controversial than others. It reminds me of the day, 13 years ago, … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Ireland
Tagged 1798, A Rebel Hand, Convict, Heritage, Ireland, Nicholas Delaney, Wicklow, Wicklow Gaol
2 Comments
Two surprise finds
I’m excited by this. OK, perhaps I’m easily pleased, but it was a real delight to find the clip of Graham Norton’s Who Do You Think You Are? in which he learns about his yeoman ancestor in Carnew, just days … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Blogging
Tagged 1798, A Rebel Hand, Biddy Dolan, Bridget Dolan, Graham Norton, Heppenstall, Nicholas Delaney, trial, Twamley
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Me, Graham Norton and an infamous massacre
Well, Graham Norton’s great-great-great grandfather and my g-g-g grandfather, to be strictly accurate. They would have known each other. They probably wanted to kill each other. (Luckily, I quite like him and he doesn’t know I exist, so that’s all … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Nicholas Delaney
Tagged 1798, Biddy Dolan, Bridget Dolan, Carnew, Graham Norton, Heppenstall, Ireland, Nicholas Delaney, trial, Twamley
18 Comments
Questions
Some follow-up thoughts over the past few days. Story of Ireland Bob commented on Story of Ireland: 1798, wondering why the last episode of Story of Ireland was rescheduled. It was moved from its regular slot at 1900 on Monday … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Nicholas Delaney
Tagged 1798, A Rebel Hand, Bridget Dolan, history, Ireland, Nicholas Delaney, Story of Ireland, trial
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Story of Ireland: 1798
BBC TV’s Story of Ireland series reached 1798 last week and devoted 13 of its 59 minutes to the United Irishmen and the Irish Rebellion (or Revolution, as presenter Fergal Keane refers to it). To be fair, the programme covered … Continue reading
I’m staying in on Monday 30th…
and not even answering the phone. Why? Because tonight (the 16th) a new TV series, Story of Ireland, began. Presented by Fergal Keane, it’s a five-parter and tonight’s episode raced from the earliest beginnings to the eve of the Norman … Continue reading
Posted in 1798, Ireland
Tagged 1798, Fergal Keane, Ireland, Irish Rebellion of 1798, Story of Ireland, United Irishmen
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A Rebel Hand 