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Stair na hÉireann / History of Ireland

Stair na hÉireann / History of Ireland tells the story of Ireland — its history, culture, legends, and people. © Stair na hÉireann / History of Ireland.

All Rights Reserved. 2013 Stair na hÉireann is steeped in Ireland's turbulent history, as well as it's culture, music, and is populated in myth and characters. © Stair na hÉireann | History of Ireland 2013. All Rights Reserved.

13/10/2026

🏰 Dublin Castle | The Seat of English Rule in Ireland

For over 700 years, Dublin Castle stood at the heart of English—and later British—power in Ireland. Its history is one of conquest, rebellion, political struggle and, eventually, the transfer of power to an independent Irish state.

In 1204, King John of England ordered a castle to be built in Dublin to strengthen the Crown’s control over Ireland. Construction began soon afterwards, and the fortress became a centre of English authority.

For centuries, Dublin Castle served as the headquarters of English administration and, later, British government in Ireland. Decisions made within its walls shaped the lives of generations, while beyond them, resistance to English rule continued to grow.

The castle witnessed some of the most turbulent periods in Irish history, from the 1798 Rebellion to the struggle for independence in the early 20th century.

On 16 January 1922, the castle was formally handed over to Michael Collins and the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State. After centuries as a symbol of British rule, Dublin Castle became part of a new chapter in Ireland’s history.

Today, it remains a powerful reminder of Ireland’s complicated past—a place where authority was established, challenged and ultimately transformed.

📍 Dublin, Ireland
📸 Traveling Filmmaker

12/10/2026

in 1969 – Louise Gavan Duffy 🇮🇪

Louise Gavan Duffy died in Dublin on 12 October 1969. An Irish-language educator, nationalist and advocate for women’s rights, she devoted her life to the causes she believed would shape Ireland’s future.

Born in Nice, France, in 1884, she was the daughter of Irish nationalist Sir Charles Gavan Duffy. After moving to Ireland in 1907, she became involved in the Gaelic Revival and joined Cumann na mBan when it was founded in 1914, serving as joint secretary.

On Easter Monday 1916, Louise was working on her MA thesis at her lodgings on Haddington Road when she heard that the Rising had begun. She made her way across Dublin to the GPO, where she met Patrick Pearse. Although she believed the rebellion was misguided and would fail, she stayed and helped prepare meals for those inside during Easter Week.

But Louise’s contribution to Ireland went far beyond 1916. In September 1917, she established Scoil Bhríde with Annie McHugh, an Irish-language school for girls in Dublin. At a time when the language needed champions, she was determined that young girls should have the opportunity to learn through Irish. She devoted decades to that mission, helping ensure the language would be passed on to future generations.

Louise Gavan Duffy’s story is a reminder that Ireland’s struggle for its identity was fought not only on the streets, but also in classrooms, through education and the preservation of its language.

She died on this day in 1969, aged 85, leaving a legacy that continues to live on through the Irish language. ☘️

11/10/2026

🖤 The Morrígan
Ireland’s Phantom Queen 🐦‍⬛

Few figures in Irish mythology command quite the same presence as the Morrígan. Associated with war, prophecy, sovereignty and death, she is a formidable figure whose encounters with Ireland’s greatest legendary warrior are among the most memorable in Irish literature.

In the medieval epic Táin Bó Cúailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), the Morrígan approaches Cú Chulainn and offers him her love and support. He rejects her, setting the stage for a series of extraordinary encounters. She appears in different animal forms, including a black eel, a she-wolf and a white heifer with red ears, interfering in his battles along the way.

Their story doesn’t end there. Later, the Morrígan appears as an old woman milking a cow. Cú Chulainn accepts milk from her and blesses her, unknowingly healing the injuries he had inflicted during their earlier encounters.

In another tale, Táin Bó Regamna, she appears as a black bird and delivers a chilling prophecy to the warrior. Her presence is a reminder that, in Irish mythology, even the mightiest heroes cannot always escape the forces shaping their fate.

Often associated with ravens and crows, the Morrígan has become one of the most recognisable figures in Ireland’s darker folklore. Her stories are full of strange transformations, fierce encounters and warnings of what lies ahead.

With Samhain approaching, there is no better time to revisit the old Irish tales of a figure who has fascinated storytellers for centuries.

☘️ Did you know? The Morrígan’s encounters with Cú Chulainn survive in medieval Irish manuscripts, preserving a remarkable part of Ireland’s literary heritage.

10/10/2026

in 1971 – Death of Margaret Skinnider, Irish revolutionary and Easter Rising veteran.

“Scotland is my home, but Ireland my country.” 🇮🇪

Born in Coatbridge, Scotland, in 1892 to a Scottish mother and an Irish father from Co. Monaghan, Margaret Skinnider became a mathematics teacher in Glasgow and an active campaigner for women’s suffrage and Irish independence.

A skilled markswoman, she helped smuggle detonators into Ireland before the Easter Rising of 1916. Fighting alongside the Irish Citizen Army under Countess Markievicz and Michael Mallin, she served as a scout, dispatch rider and sniper.

On 27 April, she was shot three times during an operation on Harcourt Street, spending seven weeks recovering from her wounds.

Her commitment to equality continued long after the Rising. Returning to teaching in Dublin, she campaigned for equal pay and rights for women teachers and became president of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation in 1956.

Margaret Skinnider died on 10 October 1971. Her legacy lives on in the story of a woman who fought for Irish freedom and spent the rest of her life working towards a fairer society.

Revolutionary, educator and campaigner — her contribution to Irish history deserves to be remembered.

09/10/2026

🏰 The Rock of Cashel | Seat of the Kings of Munster

Perched high above the Golden Vale in County Tipperary, the Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland’s most striking historic landmarks. Few places capture the country’s royal past, religious heritage and ancient legends quite so vividly.

Also known as Carraig Phádraig (St. Patrick’s Rock) and Cashel of the Kings, it was the traditional seat of the Kings of Munster for centuries. Among those associated with Cashel was Brian Boru, who became King of Cashel in 978 before rising to become High King of Ireland.

According to tradition, St. Patrick visited Cashel in the 5th century and converted King Aengus to Christianity. One enduring legend claims that Patrick accidentally drove his crozier through the king’s foot during the baptism — and Aengus, believing the pain was part of the ceremony, endured it without complaint!

In 1101, Muirchertach Ua Briain, King of Munster, handed the Rock over to the Church. Its role changed from a seat of royal power to an important religious centre, and the magnificent buildings that still dominate the skyline largely date from the 12th and 13th centuries.

Among them are the round tower, the beautifully preserved Romanesque Cormac’s Chapel and the imposing Gothic cathedral. Though little remains of the original royal stronghold, the site still evokes the power and influence once held by Ireland’s provincial kings.

The Rock of Cashel is far more than a spectacular landmark. It is a place where Ireland’s history, faith and legend come together, overlooking the very landscape its kings once ruled. 🇮🇪

08/10/2026

💚 The Legend of Úna Bhán & Tomás Láidir 💚

📍 Lough Key, Co. Roscommon

Among the most enduring legends of Lough Key is the tragic love story of Úna Bhán MacDermott and Tomás Láidir Mac Coisdealbhaigh (Costello).

According to local tradition, Úna Bhán was the daughter of Brian Óg MacDermott, King of Moylurg, the Gaelic kingdom that once encompassed much of what is now County Roscommon.

Úna Bhán — traditionally said to have been named for her fair hair — fell in love with Tomás Láidir, or “Strong Thomas,” a young man of the Costello family.

Her father considered Tomás an unsuitable match and forbade the relationship. Tomás was banished, while Úna was confined on Castle Island in Lough Key, home of the MacDermotts.

Separated from the man she loved, Úna is said to have died of grief and was buried on Trinity Island.

Tomás returned and, according to the legend, would swim across Lough Key to keep vigil at Úna’s grave. He eventually died too, and his final wish was to be buried beside his beloved.

Tradition says that two trees grew over their graves and became intertwined, forming a “lovers’ knot” — a poignant symbol of two people whose love was denied in life but, according to legend, united in death. ❤️🌿

The story of Úna Bhán and Tomás Láidir has been passed down through generations and remains one of Ireland’s most haunting tragic love stories.

And with Halloween approaching, perhaps there is no better time to remember the legend of the lovers beneath the trees of Lough Key… 🎃🌙

07/10/2026

🏰👻 Trim Castle, Co. Meath — History, Hollywood & Hauntings 🎬🇮🇪

With Halloween approaching, there may be no better time to explore the legends surrounding Trim Castle.

Standing on the banks of the River Boyne, Trim is the largest Anglo-Norman fortification in Ireland. After Henry II granted Meath to Hugh de Lacy, de Lacy established a wooden fortress here. It was destroyed in 1172 by the forces of Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (Rory O’Connor), and construction of the great stone castle began the following year.

Built and expanded by Hugh de Lacy and his successors over roughly 30 years, the castle became a formidable stronghold, dominated by its extraordinary 20-sided, cruciform keep.

Its history is filled with powerful figures. In 1399, Richard II visited Trim, and the future King Henry V — Prince Hal — was held prisoner at the castle.

🎬 Centuries later, Trim Castle became a Hollywood star.

Mel Gibson’s 1995 epic Braveheart used Trim Castle and other locations in Ireland to portray medieval Scotland and England. The production brought the castle’s ancient walls to a worldwide audience and cemented its place in cinematic history.

👻 And then there are the ghost stories…

Like many ancient Irish strongholds, Trim Castle has its share of supernatural folklore. Tales of ghostly figures and unexplained apparitions have become part of the castle’s modern lore.

Fact or folklore? That’s for you to decide.

But after more than 850 years of sieges, intrigue, imprisonment and legend, perhaps Trim Castle doesn’t need a ghost to make it feel haunted.

Sometimes, history itself is enough. 🕯️

📍 Trim Castle, Co. Meath
📸 Gaz Drone Photography

06/10/2026

📍 Glendalough, Co. Wicklow 🇮🇪

One of Ireland’s most spectacular landscapes — Glendalough, Gleann Dá Locha, the “Valley of the Two Lakes,” nestled in the Wicklow Mountains. ⛰️🍂

But beneath this beautiful landscape lies more than a thousand years of Irish history.

In the late 6th century, St Kevin (Cóemgen) established a monastic settlement here after seeking solitude as a hermit. It grew into one of medieval Ireland’s most important centres of religion, learning and pilgrimage. ☘️

The remarkable remains seen today — including the famous round tower, churches, crosses and graveyard — are part of the historic monastic landscape that developed over the centuries.

After the dioceses of Glendalough and Dublin were united in 1215, Glendalough gradually declined in ecclesiastical importance, although it remained an important place of pilgrimage.

A landscape where Ireland’s natural beauty and ancient history meet. 💚🇮🇪

📸 Ronan HD Photography

05/10/2026

in 1911 – Birth of Irish novelist, dramatist and satirist Brian O’Nolan in Strabane, Co. Tyrone.

Born on 5 October 1911, Brian O’Nolan became one of Ireland’s most distinctive literary voices, writing under several pseudonyms, most famously Flann O’Brien and Myles na gCopaleen.

Under the name Flann O’Brien, he wrote the groundbreaking novels At Swim-Two-Birds (1939) and The Third Policeman, while The Third Policeman was not published until after his death in 1966.

His celebrated Irish-language novel An Béal Bocht (1941) was published under the name Myles na gCopaleen, the pseudonym he also used for his famous satirical Cruiskeen Lawn column in The Irish Times.

Blending surrealism, satire, wordplay and experimental narrative, O’Nolan’s work has come to be regarded as an important precursor to postmodern literature.

Brian O’Nolan (1911–1966) — a writer of many names and one of the great original voices of Irish literature. 🇮🇪📚

04/10/2026

in 1979 — Irish actress and former fashion model Caitríona Balfe was born in Dublin. 🇮🇪🎬

Best known for her acclaimed role as Claire Fraser in the Starz historical drama Outlander, Balfe began her career as an international fashion model before turning to acting.

Her performance as Claire earned her two Saturn Awards, two People’s Choice Awards and an Irish Film & Television Award, along with four Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama.

She also earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her acclaimed performance as Ma in Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast.

Although born in Dublin, Balfe grew up outside Tydavnet, County Monaghan — and has become one of Ireland’s best-known international actresses. ☘️

Happy birthday, Caitríona! 🎂🇮🇪

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