Michael O Flanagan

5 results

“The pedestrian light on Kildare Street used to work instantly every time. This was vital to democracy, because those using the light included public representatives, often rushing back to Leinster House to impersonate each other in important Dáil votes.” 
Political Footpath – Frank McNally wonders why pedestrians and cyclists can’t just get along (on the same pavement if necessary)

I didn’t make it to Buswell’s Hotel on Monday night for the launch of Ireland’s newest lobby group, the Pedestrian Rights Organisation.   But ap(...)

Mary MacSwiney: The Free State’s ‘gorgon republican’

Mary MacSwiney (1872-1942), republican, was born on March 27th, 1872, in Bermondsey in London, the eldest of seven surviving children of an English mo(...)

Leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party John Redmond (left) with John Dillon, who succeeded him as leader, circa 1910. Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Sinn Féin and the conscription crisis

In January 1918, the Daily Mail referred to the “increasing weakness” of Sinn Féin – a reminder that as far as some contemporary observers were concer(...)

Chris Patten will speak about his recently released biography ‘First Confession: A Sort of Memoir’. Photograph: David Levenson/Bloomberg
Dublin Festival of History: JFK, Harry Potter and Nicholas II up for discussion

The former governor of Hong Kong and British cabinet minister Chris Patten will be among the speakers at the Dublin Festival of History next month. M(...)

At William Partridge’s graveside: Trade unionist Des Geraghty (left) said Partridge, who died in 1917, “exposed the atrocious living conditions of workers and their families in the whole of Dublin during his lifetime”. Photograph: Patsy McGarry
Trade unionist ‘exposed atrocious conditions of workers and families’

Trade unionist Des Geraghty has recalled how a Dublin Corporation study in 1903 established that “virtually 60 per cent of Dublin families, with an av(...)