The involuntary emigration of tens of thousands of our fittest, best-educated, most qualified and most enterprising of our youth, has sadly resumed.
Perhaps we ought to reflect on that of an earlier generation.
Emigration 1950s and 2011
History
The Known Universe
I know that a great many of you are as fascinated as I am with the Universe beyond this tiny speck of it we occupy. Have a look at this supurb video clip!
Young Ireland: afterthought
Though a contemporary and a fellow student at Trinity with John Mitchel, and later defender in court of Young Irelander, poet Richard Williams, it is not thought that Sir Samuel Ferguson (10 Mar 1810-9 August 1886) belonged to that august group.
1848 Rebellion
There could scarcely have been a more inauspicious time for a rising than the autumn of 1848 (when the people were reduced to abject misery after four years of starvation): …
John Martin: The Irish Felon
John Martin of Loughorne (Donaghmore, four miles from Newry) followed his friend John Mitchel to Dublin, supported him by contributing articles to his papers and so Martin’s political career commenced.
Mitchel policies and attitudes
The United Irishman lasted a mere three and a half months before it was suppressed by the government. Still it was phenomenally popular as Mitchel succinctly and clearly set out Young Ireland policies:
Mitchel tried
It is easy to misunderstand or to misinterpret John Mitchel’s contribution to the history of Irish Republicanism. Every writer (including of course the present one) has his own viewpoint.
Revolutionary Mitchel Women
The Rev John Mitchel died in Feb 1840 and thereafter (as before) his son John had the strong support of his mother Mary…
United Irishman launched
Mitchel’s travels in Ireland during the Famine had a huge and lasting effect on him, cementing his determination to champion the people of no property.
‘ … husband and wife fought like wolves for the last morsel of food in the house; families, when all was eaten and no hope left, took their last look at the sun, built up their cottage doors, that none might see them die or hear their groans .. ‘