Lifestyle

`There was a time when this country deserved the title ‘Island of Saints and Scholars’. We had never been part of the Roman Empire so were not affected by its collapse. When Europe entered a dark age with the collapse of religion and learning, the great monasteries and their attached schools continued to flourish in Ireland. Our learned men and priests then began to travel outside Ireland spreading Christianity back where it had been lost. First to Scotland, St Colmcille, then England, St Aidan and the continent. The great evangelist to the continent was St Columbanus. Columbanus was born near the Carlow-Wexford border in 543 and, according to a biography written within a few years of his death, Columbanus was a “noble youth beloved by all”. His biographer said he aroused, “the lust of lascivious maidens, especially of those whose fine figure and superficial beauty are wont to enkindle mad desires in the minds of wretched men”.A local hermit advised …

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AFTER being made redundant twice in two years, one Lissycasey resident is fighting back. In the past six months, she started her own business, employs two people and is now hoping to expand.

THERE were double celebrations for the Keehan family of Crusheen last weekend as baby Éabha was christened and her great-grandmother Bridget celebrated her 100th birthday.Bridget was surrounded by family at the celebrations on Saturday at the Páirc na Coille Retirement Village in Ennis, where she now lives.Bridget actually turned 100 on Monday, according to her son Sean. “She was born on November 14 1911 in Killian, Barefield and she had a twin brother, Donal.“She was born Bridget but she became known as Babs and her own mother died in 1919. After that, herself and Donal were brought out to Crusheen, where they were looked after by an aunt and uncle. She went to school in Crusheen and she married back in 1946. Her husband, Michael, my father, died in 1973 and her son, Donal was drowned in 1975.”As well as her sons, Sean, Gerry and Donal, Bridget has five grandchildren, Denise, Michael, Elaine, Brendan and Sandra, while she has three …

Ninety-three years after 23-year-old Private Dennis Liddane, originally from Rehy, Carrigaholt, died in action in World War I, the US Army Awards and Decorations Branch have confirmed that he is to posthumously receive three medals for his contribution to the US war effort. Private Liddane was a son of Ellen Pope and Thomas Liddane.

WHEN ‘Captain’ Boyle staggers home from the pub at the very end of Juno and the Peacock, Sean O’Casey’s searing drama set during the Irish Civil War, and solemnly declares that “th’ whole worl’s in a terrible state o’ chassis”, the tragic-comic figure unwittingly sums up the sense of despair in the country wrought by the destruction and divisions of the previous decade.

YOUR Business Expo 2011 at the West County Hotel, Ennis last week proved to be a real winner.

WEST of Ireland promotion organisation, LookWest.ie has been shortlisted for this year’s Eircom Spiders Awards. The awards, now in their 16th year, are Ireland’s premier online awards, which honour individuals and organisations for their outstanding achievements online and celebrating the successes of the Irish internet and digital media.