Ireland

Children's bedrooms are ideal for a playhouse castle or any other form of indoors kids playhouses, and offer the benefits of playhouses to children that live in apartments and condos with no garden or yard where they can have an outdoor playhouse. Although it might appear to be difficult to persuade your child that the playhouse is in a different environment to his or her own home, it's amazing what a little imagination can do! First, find yourself an old lamp and a candle bulb. Place the lamp shade over the bulb so that it sticks out through the middle of the shade and hey presto - you have just made an indoor campfire. You can make it even more realistic by popping popcorn over the stove and tell...

Aries. Next weekend is when that little fling that you may have comes to a halt. Of course that is also when you will start dating the person you met this past June. Hopefully you have kept in touch over the last few months to make it easier. Hope you did tell them to wait for you. So, this week you need to make your grand plans on how to end one relationship and to start another. Taurus. If you did not start a business back in July then you have your second chance next week. You will still be able to sell or even expand next May for a very neat profit. You really should try not to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. You are sometimes just too cautious and this time you may miss out. Do not...

The Isle of Man is a really great place to take your next holiday because the country is a relatively unknown tourist hotspot. With the help of a cheap Isle of Man car hire, the possibilities of this unique holiday are endless. Go to the places you want to go and spend as much time as you wish because the Isle of Man car hire lets you dictate the pace of your holiday. During your time in the Isle of Man, you can check out the popular environmental areas, interesting castle ruins, world class golf courses and many other historical places. Do not limit your holiday to the rigorous schedule of public transportation or the high prices of taxis. Isle of Man car hire is great because you really have the...

As the poet WB Yeats said, "The place that has really influenced my life most is Sligo." The remains of WB Yeats rested beneath the beautiful Benbulben Mountain in Sligo where he got his inspiration for his poetry. Benbulben Mountain, 5miles from the town of Sligo, and other more landscape in Sligo is to love for. Sligo is found in the west part of Ireland in the province of Connacht, a scenic county. Considered one of the biggest urban areas in the county Sligo has a lot to offer the serious and the casual visitor. If you ever want to spend your vacation exploring the old and the new than Sligo will satisfy your spirit. For water-lover traveler, you will love Sligo because it is truly blessed with...

Ireland is a country which relies in a very strong economy which has been developing and adapting in many sectors, especially in the technology and service sector. During the third and fourth quarter of 2007 the Irish economy didn't seem to be doing very well which is what the housing or real estate market showed, recent studies show the price of apartments in Ireland fell nearly 17% in 2007, when it comes to house values these studies show a nationwide decrease of nearly 0.8% in February, this comes after a very weak fourth-quarter in 2007 when the housing sector declined 1.3% in October, 1.1% in November and 1.5% in December. Property owners, sellers as well as financial institutions are the ones...

The following are some of the top golf courses in Belfast. Malone Golf Club... Malone Golf Club, which was founded in 1895, has been part of the golfing community in Belfast for over 100 years. It has welcomed visitors and golfers of all levels to its current grounds at Ballydrain. Ballydrain offers an excellent standard of course, in picturesque settings of tree and plant lined greens, and a wonderful lake. This 27-hole golf course is located just 5 miles south of Belfast city centre, in 330 acres of wooded parkland. It's situated at 240 upper Malone Road, on the B103 just off the M1 south from Belfast. The centrepiece of the course is the trout lake. It's a very challenging course, even for the...

There are times when doctors do not seem to know what is wrong with you. You feel these aches and pains in the body that do not go away. So what do you then? You seek out alternative forms of medicine such as reflexology. Those who administer this go through a reflexology course so they will know the points or areas in the feet and hands that correspond to certain parts of the body. If you are interested in taking up a Reflexology course, you can expect the following: know what it is, know the basics of human anatomy especially in relation to reflexology techniques, application of hand and foot reflexology, various approaches, and others. Basically, you can expect to master what it is and how it...

If you have just purchased your very first holiday home and are looking to make some income from subletting, then there are a number of things that you need to take into consideration. There are different methods of subletting, either through the holiday park or privately, firstly you need to check with the individual park, regarding there policy on this. Our tips are based on subletting your holiday home privately. Advertising - This is of course one of the most important things and there are of course many ways of doing this, but the two main options are local newspapers and online advertising, many people choose online advertising because you can reach a much wider audience, there is no need to...

It's all been a bit doom and gloom in Ireland over the last few months. The current economic recession seemed to come out of nowhere for many people and has dealt a heavy blow to the finances of many families. Morale received a much needed boost on the sporting field last week with a first rugby six nations grand slam victory since 1948 and Bernard Dunne winning a world boxing title. Irish eyes now turn to Giovanni Trapatoni and the Irish football team in the hope that they can also deliver another boost to the country. I guess I'm going a little off the title of this article but bear with me a little more. Ireland in the past has been seen as quite an expensive holiday destination. The land of a...

Hint of The Troubles I suppose some people would say that being brought up and living through "The Troubles" was bound to profoundly impact on any person. For many that is true, but for me personally, although havoc and chaos surrounded me, I guess doing normal things just took up most of my time. By the time the civil right's marches had started around 1969, I had turned 11 years of age and my days were taken up with the things that normal kids that age do. Apart from the normal school activity, like measuring rain fall in those silly test-tubes, studying the shape of leaves on a nature trail and building a sun-dial that would never be used again, we also got to do what I would call fun stuff. That...

Forex is known as currency trading and this stands for foreign exchange market. Currency trading is one of the interesting professions that one can follow to have success in life. Foreign exchange market is the largest financial market in the world and the currencies from various countries are being bought and sold here. Kishore is one of the successful trader in the foreign exchange market, and he achieved many things in life through currency trading. When he met a failure in his career, he chose this field. Many of the richest people were successful in this area, and he also, wanted to make his fortune like them. Nowadays, currency trading has experienced unusual growth because of the internet...

With a rich history that extends back at least 3000 years, Tahiti has been a prized possession of conquerors, particularly Europeans, over the centuries. Despite the advances of uninvited visitors, however, Tahitians cultural heritage remains strong and helps define this tropical gem. Although historians surmise that Tahiti was first discovered and inhabited as far back as 1000 B.C., it was not until the early 16th century that European explorers happened upon it. Great Britain and France tangled over the country in the 18th century. In the mid 19th century, King Pomare V, whose family presided over a Tahitian political dynasty, relinquished control of the islands to France, which reconstituted...

Yeah, you heard that right. I said the PGA Tour. And that would include all of it's members. I know there are a few of you out there that might have been surprised about the whole Tiger incident. But I think you are all in the minority. I know there are a lot of you that probably knew what was happening. Now I am not pointing any fingers. There is a lot of blame to go around. What I am saying is one of your own is in trouble. Now when I say that I don't mean just anybody. I mean Tiger Woods. The guy that has made a lot of you guys the proverbial "fat cats" in the sports world. How many of you thought you would be in the position you are right now. Hell, you don't even have to win a golf tournament...

Golf is a sport and pastime that is popular the world over, watching any professional game on the Television or in person you'll see players from all over the world and just like the players there are great golf courses all over the world too. The United States of America is well known for having some truly astounding courses which seems fitting coming from the country that has given us such world famous golfers such as Phil Mickleson, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Below are just three of America's greatest golf courses that are familiar to golfers as being the venue for many annual majors and other tournaments. Pebble Beach, California The Pebble Beach Golf Links Course is a well known course that...

Why journey with a guidebook? Is not that one additional thing to haul about? Can't you acquire all the knowledge you require now around the net? Yes, you almost certainly could, but as soon as you are on the way, will you be intending to cart a laptop round with you? What amount time do you desire to waste surfing on the phone... and just how much is THAT expected to amount to? Investigate the net, browse, complete your study, watch television shows, but get a very good guide. You need to study guidebooks just like you do your vacation. Test to determine that it corresponds with your journey fashion. Make certain it is an existing edition so the knowledge will be as up-to-date as achievable. Things...

People belong to different age brackets from all walks of life have agree that an afternoon of an exciting game of golf can take away life's worries. Some golf enthusiasts even claim that even the worst day on the golf course can beat the best day at the office. To some players, the game goes beyond competing against other players. It sometimes involves overcoming a greater obstacle that is the golf course itself. Even in tournaments where the objective is to obtain a better score than their opponents, golfers sometimes fail to mind the score of other players because they are too preoccupied with their battle against the playing field. It is in the golf course where a player's patience and decision...

From illuminating the city streets with a festive flavour to browsing enchanting traditional markets, Belfast has Christmas 2008 all wrapped up - check out our guide to the top events: (1) Christmas Lights Switch-on 2008 Viewed by many as the signal that the Christmas season has officially kicked off, the Belfast Christmas Lights Switch-on will bring throngs of shoppers and families to Belfast City Hall on Tuesday 18th November at 7.30pm. Various celebrities and world figures have flicked the switch on the Christmas lights over the years including former US President Bill Clinton in 1995 while recent years have seen members of the pop music industry perform the ever important task. As yet, we haven...

If you're a first timer to Ireland, the first thing to be aware of is you drive on the left hand side and the speed limit is in kilometres. Dublin's rapid development over the past ten years has greatly increased traffic volume. So if you're travelling by car to the city, allow lots of additional time to get into and around the centre of the city, especially on holiday weekends. We recommend that perhaps the best times to travel by car through the city are 10am to 2pm on weekdays and early morning or late evening at the weekends. Once a medieval city, Dublin wasn't designed to handle a large volume of traffic, and there has been a one-way system in operation for some time now. Traffic jams are...

Hasan Yahya, Ph.D If you did not travel actually, and you are a  wise traveler like me who travels only in imagination. You are lucky to travel safely, without facing airplane hijacking, or boat pirating in your voyage!  You travel in you dreams, awake or sleeping. In both cases you enjoy traveling, seeing people you know, and people you never saw before, strange people, with ugly heads or huge shapes. If you face danger, like someone is running behind you to kill you, you immediately find  your way to escape. You simply, just  open your eyes. My friend Jimmy, was one of these wise travelers. He used to travel every day and night. In the street, or in the classroom. Swimming, or eating. Jogging...

Kylemore Abbey has a superb picturesque lakeside setting, surrounded by woodlands at the foot of the Twelve Pins Mountains. The Abbey (which looks more like a charming fairy tale castle) is said to be one of the most admired buildings in Ireland, with its very impressive neo-gothic style exterior standing out against the backdrop of wild and beautiful Connemara. It was originally called Kylemore Castle and was built around 1863 as a residence for a wealthy English politician named Mitchell Henry. It took about 5 years to complete the castle. Kylemore Abbey is the home of the Benedictine Order of Nuns in Ireland who have lived here since 1920. The nuns decided to open a boarding school for girls...

The name Ballsbridge is derived from the bridge over the River Dodder. The bridge was built and owned by a Mr Ball - there's a plaque on the bridge that still states 'Ball's Bridge". The bridge itself creates the centre of the Ballsbridge suburb, which extends to the north towards the Grand Canal along Northumberland Road and Shelbourne Road, southwards along Merrion Road towards Merrion and then along Anglesea Road towards Donnybrook, and westwards to surround the area of Herbert Park. The houses in the area date back primarily to the Victorian era, with some Georgian mansions dotted here and there. Houses in the main are detached and semi detached houses, apartments and bungalows. In fact...

How was the Giant's Causeway formed? Since 1693 the Giant's Causeway has been a popular tourist attraction. This was when Trinity College graduate Sir Richard Bulkeley acknowledged it in a paper to the Royal Society. It was formed as a result of major volcanic activity some 60 million years ago. The Giants Causeway is composed of about 40,000 basalt columns, which spectacularly protrude the Atlantic Ocean. Add to this the spectacular coastal and cliff landscapes, with roaring waves crashing against the basalt rock and you'll understand why so many people are drawn to it. We are told that the magnificent basalt pillars were created when the lava from the extensive volcanic activity cooled in haste as...

Dublin is a city that can proudly boast to being home to many of the literary greats over the centuries. It's a city steeped in history and culture, and this can be seen wherever you happen to wander. The buildings and monuments are a constant reminder of some of the great works of literature that have stemmed from this fair city. In Merrion Square there's a monument to Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), notable for plays such as The Importance of Being Ernest and An Ideal Husband, an if you wander past the Grand Canal you will see Patrick Kavanagh sitting on the banks. What better way to get a taste of the culture and the origins of Irish Literature than by partaking of a pint of the black stuff in a Dublin...

7. Club Rock Shandy An even mixture of Club Orange and Club Lemon in a pint glass with chunks of ice. Club Rock Shandy has quietened many the young fella in the pub, it’s pure exoticism swotting out any thoughts of wanting to go home and leaving many the auld fella thanking God for Club! 6. Linden Village Cider The ubiquitous complement to any rebellious Irish youth, Linden Village. There is a lot of mischievous contained in the hefty two litre flagons. 5. Lilt Lilt is amazing - containing Irish summer in a can! And it must be drank out of a can! Nothing else will do! To be drank with a Blue Bounty Bar! Not red! Blue! Result? Swinging in a hammock in the Caribbean! 4. Poitin BEWARE! Poitin is not...

Prior to your visit to Belfast, you may have seen on television or in print some of the murals that represent the two different communities in the city, both Catholic and Protestant, and have wondered what their significance and meaning is. The two political groupings in Belfast (Republican and Loyalist, the former being Catholic and the latter Protestant) have a strong tradition of large wall mural painting in their communities. If you head to The Falls Road or Shankill areas of Belfast you will get a good look at what are some of the world's finest house sized political murals. They change frequently depending on the political climate of the time, and generally the murals are located on the houses...

Smithfield is an area on the Northside of the city centre in Dublin 7. It's one of the most historic parts of the city and its focal point is Smithfield Square, now called Smithfield Plaza. This has been a thriving market place since the late 17th Century and in recent years has been redeveloped to become one of Dublin's premier commercial and cultural districts. Here you can stroll through the many food markets, art galleries, shops, pub's and café's or take a tour of the two main attractions in Smithfield; The Old Jameson Irish Whiskey distillery, or why not reach new heights and take a trip up to the Smithfield Chimney Viewing Tower? The Smithfield Chimney viewing tower was originally used...

Ever thought of traveling in a recessionary economy? I bet not. During recession, everybody wants to earn money or save it, so travels are often out of the question because that will be spending money rather than saving or generating it. It is counterproductive, to say the least. And yet, it is that very reason that makes travelling attractive during recession: everybody else wants to earn they will give their best to a tourist. You will receive better service, discounted fares, reduced accommodation costs, and less competition for attention along the way. Discounted fares The cost of oil has dropped from $150 to about $70 a barrel. This means airplane flight costs would have gone down by a...

Pubs and clubs With Dublin pubs and clubs bracing themselves for one of the busiest nights of the year there'll be no shortage of Dublin nightspots to ring in the New Year. Most will have live music of some sort and Temple Bar, Dublin's nocturnal hotspot, will certainly be buzzing. Dinner, dancing the night away and hotel stays... The New Year's Eve party at The Clarence Hotel includes champagne reception, dinner, music and a late bar. The Merry Ploughboy Irish Music Pub in Rathfarnham will host a banquet, entertainment whilst you dine and a lively programme of music from 10pm to 12.30am. To add to the merriment a group of Irish dancers will be stepping it out during the interval! The Regency Hotel...

The Great Powers gathered in Berlin, drawing up a memorandum in which they renewed their initial demands and threatened action if improvements were not forthcoming. However, because of British fears of Russia's intentions they refused to sign the Berlin Memorandum which encouraged the Turks to increase their repressive measures. But the Turks pushed the boat too far when one of their irregular armies, the Bashi-Bazouks committed massacres in Bulgaria, the British withdrew all support. Russia was given free reign and it took it, attacking Turkey and initially sweeping all before them before been held at Plevna. Sympathy in Britain swung back in favour of the Turks and for a time, a conflict between...

Grainne, daughter of the High King Cormac Mac Airt was believed to me the most beautiful, desirable and worthiest of women in all of Ireland. Her father gave her hand in marriage to Ireland's greatest warrior Fionn Mac Cumhaill, however at their betrothal feast Grainne became distressed that Fionn was older than her father and fell in love with one of Fionn's men named Diarmuid (who had a love spot on his forehead that made him irresistible to all women). Grainne laced all the wine with a sleeping potion which was served to all the guests and encouraged Diarmuid to run away with her. Diarmuid, out of loyalty to his leader at first refused but Grainne wasn't taking no for an answer, she threatened...

Bram Stoker was born in 1847 in Dublin, he attended Trinity College from which he graduated with honours in mathematics. In 1876 while employed as a civil servant, Stoker wrote a non-fiction book and became the theatre critic for the Dublin Evening Mail newspaper. In 1878 he married Florence Balcombe and the couple moved to London where Stoker became business manager of Henry Irving's Lyceum Theatre. His position allowed him entry into London high society and he also travelled the world with Irving's shows. Stoker supplemented his income by writing a number of novels, by far his most famous being the tale of Dracula which was published in 1897. Although Stoker did not invent the vampire, the novel...

Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara was born on 14 June, 1928 in Rosario, Argentina, the eldest of five children into a family of Spanish, Basque and Irish descent. His father Ernesto Guevera Lynch said of his son, that his veins flowed with the blood of Irish rebels. His great-grandfather, Patrick Lynch allegedly left Galway, Ireland during the devastating famine in the 1840’s. The name Lynch is one of the most common surnames in Ireland. The origin of the name comes from the Norman, de Lench, they established themselves in Galway becoming one of the fourteen tribes that dominated the city. Dr. Che Guevara arrived at Shannon Airport on Saturday, 13 March 1965. He was onboard a Cuban Airlines Britannia...

This is a great dish, very nutritious, in no way fattening, simple to make and cheap too! Anyone for the perfect meal then? You will require the following ingredients: One large cauliflower Three large potatoes, boiled and peeled One tablespoon of coriander One green chilly (deseeded if you prefer a milder taste) One onion, chopped A half teaspoon of turmeric A half teaspoon of dhania powder A tablespoon of lemon juice Two tablespoons of curd A teaspoon of cumin seeds Olive oil For the paste Two tablespoon of grated coconut A half a cup of chopped coriander Three green chillies (again deseeded if you prefer a milder taste) A teaspoon of grated ginger One clove of garlic One onion, chopped A teaspoon...

Ulysses is considered as one of the most important works of modernist literature, it chronicles the travails of the main protagonists, Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dadelaus on an ordinary day in Dublin on 16 June 1904. It's stream of consciousness technique, crafty structuring, experimental prose, diverse vocabulary, rich characters and satirical qualities have made the work one of the most well regarded books ever written. It is divided into eighteen chapters or episodes, each of which has as assigned theme, technique and correspondences between characters in Ulysses and characters in the Odyssey. The novel was written between 1914-1921, it was initially published in series in the American publication...

The Hutu were some of the earliest inhabitants of Rwanda, after the arrival of the Tutsi around the sixteenth century, the Hutu were forced into servitude in a Tutsi-dominated feudal state. Rwanda was one of the last places in Africa to be swallowed up by the European powers during the Scramble for Africa. The Europeans found a state that was divided between Tutsis and Hutus, the divide was described as one of class, where the Tutsis as herders were the upper class and the Hutus as farmers were the lower class. The region of Rwanda and Burundi was given to the German Empire at the Brussels conference of 1890 in return for them renouncing all claims to Uganda. The Germans held back for a number of...

Indian vegetable Biryani is quite the tasty dish, massively popular in Indian restaurants, here's how to make your own, so you can gorge yourself nightly and not have to stomp into the town, it's quite cheaper too... You will need the following ingredients which are all fairly easy to acquire: Basmati Rice (Two cups) A cup of mixed vegetables - (potato, cauliflower, carrot, French beans, peas) 3 onions, thinly sliced 2 Green chillies (Deseeded, if you prefer your food milder) One teaspoon of red chilli powder 2 tsp of cinnamon 4 cloves 4 tomatoes ½ teaspoon of black pepper powder ½ cup of yogurt Olive Oil ½ teaspoon of mustard seeds 3 tablespoons Dry fruits (raisin, cashew nuts...

Their LP The Joshua Tree, released in 1987, confirmed U2 as one of the biggest bands on the planet reaching number 1 in twenty-two countries, remaining at the top spot in the US charts for nine weeks and putting them on the cover of TIME magazine. The documentary Rattle and Hum featured footage recorded from the subsequent tour, they also released an accompanying LP of the same name, from which the single Desire gave the band their first UK number 1. Achtung Baby, was released in November 1991, it marked a new beginning for the band, it possessed a more electronic sound and their subsequent ZooTV tour was a visual extravaganza. They recorded the Zooropa album on the tour, it was even a greater...

It is strange to think now, that well into the eighteenth century, Australia and New Zealand were little more than a rumour to the wider world. Ferdinand Magellan had made the first Pacific crossing in as early as 1520 but the great Ocean was still virtually uncharted. There were a lingering suspicion that a vast unknown continent lurked in the depths of the world, it was generally referred to as Terra Australis Nondum Cognita, loosely translated as The Southern Land Yet Unknown. Many European sailors including Francis Drake had searched in vain for this secretive land. In 1769, the British Admiralty organised a scientific expedition to observe the transit of Venus which was to cross the sun, the...

Oh falafel! You can't beat a good falafel, so tasty, so filling and so good for you! Try out this simple recipe but be warned falafels are very, very addictive! Throughout the Middle East you can gorge on falafel, from the street sellers to the best restaurants, you can sample countless variations, each one claiming to be the perfect falafel. The actual falafel is a fried ball made from spiced chickpeas and or/fava beans, they are usually served in pitta bread called lafa, topped with salads, vegetables and sauces. You will need the following ingredients: One cup of dried chickpeas One onion Three cloves of garlic, chopped Three tablespoons of fresh parsley, chopped One teaspoon of coriander One...

First things first, the car engine is an internal combustion engine, of which there are a number of different types, including the diesel engine, petrol engine, rotary engine and two-stroke engine. The internal combustion engine runs on the basic premise of injecting a tiny amount of high energy fuel, for example petrol or diesel, in a small enclosed space, igniting it and creating a massive amount of energy in the form of an expanding gas. The trick the internal combustion engine pulls off is setting off explosions like this hundreds of times over a minute and managing to harness the energy that is thus created. Almost all cars use a four stroke combustion cycle to convert petrol into motion, the...

Alfred Stroessner was the last of a rogues gallery of caudillos that included Peron of Argentina, Batista of Cuba, Somoza of Nicaragua and Pinochet of Chile. He strangled poor old Paraguay, driving the heels of his sturdy little boots on it's industry, culture and politics. He was born to a German father and a mother of a wealthy Paraguayan family. He joined the Paraguayan army in 1929, fighting in the Chaco War against Bolivia where he distinguished himself as a competent and effective commander, impressing many who intended taking power once the war was over. Stroessner however played it cool, dawdling in the shadows as a series of coups and short-lived governments rocked Paraguay. In 1951, he was...

Acid House was branded by Chicago DJs who were experimenting with the Roland TB-303 electronic synthesiser-sequencer in the mid-1980s. The TB (Transistor Bass) was originally developed with guitarists in mind, to provide them with bass accompaniment for when they were practicing. The word acid was used to describe the acid, squelchy sound that the synthesiser produced. From Chicago, the sound spread to the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia through the growing rave scene. It differed to the prevalent other sounds of the rave scene such as house and techno. Acid house was more minimalist, absent of much instrumentation, creating a harder sound. It shared the common 4/4 rhythm of house and techno...

Protein - what a curious and remarkable entity they are! It is an essential nutrient for our bodies as it builds muscles and bones and provides us with energy. But not many people know that proteins are even far more reaching for our welfare, we eat them yes but they well, also they are us, that is they are part of our make up. In fact most of our dry body weight is made up of protein which are vast molecules built from enormous chains of amino acids. Indeed, protein is a root substance in most living things of which there are millions of different types. In the human body alone there are over one million proteins. Amazingly, all are formed by the bonding of only twenty amino acids into gigantically...

Irish-Canadians are the fourth largest ethnic group in Canada with a population of four and half million or fourteen percent of the total population. The earliest recorded Irish presence in Canada was in 1537 when a group of fishermen form Cork sailed to Newfoundland. Many Irish, especially from Co. Waterford settled in Newfoundland in the early 1800s, from 1820 Irish began arriving throughout Canada, between 1825 and 1845, 60% of all immigrants to Canada were Irish. Irish immigration peaked during and after the Great Irish Famine, a great number settling in the provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. The majority arrived in Grosse Isle (in present day Quebec) on which was...

Michael Collins was born in Sam’s Cross, near Clonakilty in Co. Cork, Ireland in 1890. At the age of fifteen he emigrated to London, taking the British Civil Service Examination and securing employment with the Post Office. He joined the London GAA where he became influenced by Irish nationalism, joining the IRB - a secret, oath-bound society dedicated to achieving Irish independence. During the 1916 Rising, he fought alongside Pearse at the GPO, after which he was arrested and imprisoned at Frongoch internment camp in North Wales. He was very influential in activity at the camp and by the time of his release he had become one of the leading figures in Sinn Fein. By October 1917 he was on the...

1950's Britain and 1950's America contrasted greatly; while there was something of a golden age occurring in the States, Britain was still reeling from the effects of World War Two. In this climate the Mods rose; teenagers rejecting the Technicolor fairytales that were been fed to them through the mediums of radio, TV and cinema. In addition they rebelled against the stuffy, repressed and class-obsessed status quo that their parents generation were sleeping through. Unlike their world weary elders, they benefited from full employment and hire purchase which gave them the freedom to purchase an image. A new movement known as the 'teddy boys' began to spread like wildfire throughout the country; it...

From 1870, European governments were becoming increasingly anxious at what they perceived as the growing threat of socialism and working class movements. Reasons for this fear derived from the myth and example of the 1871 Paris Commune, the growth in International Working Men's Associations, universal suffrage and the growth of an industrial workforce. The urban working class had begin organising themselves in an attempt to achieve better conditions. There were two methods by which they organised themselves. Firstly, parliamentary seats were sought and won and reforms were achieved in the political arena. Secondly, improvements were sought by strikes or revolution. Many people become confused by the...

James was the second surviving son of Charles I and Henrietta Maria of France and was born on 14 October 1633. When Charles I was executed in 1649, monarchists proclaimed James’ older brother, Charles, as King Charles II. Both brothers sought refuge on the Continent, where James fought in both the French and Spanish armies. During his service with the Spanish army, he became close with two Irish Catholic brothers, Peter and Richard Talbot who were in the Royalist household. Under the Talbot’s influence James became estranged from Charles’ Anglican advisors. After Cromwell’s death in 1658 and the subsequent collapse of the Commonwealth, Charles II was restored to the throne. In 1660, James...

Copyright (c) 2008 Wes Fernley Cork has been around for millennia. Cork bottle stoppers have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. In ancient Greece, many items such as fishing net floats, sandals and bottle stoppers were made with cork. It was not until the end of the 19th century, however, that corkboard was invented. Throughout the ages, cork was produced same as it ever was, with much of the cork going to waste. In 1890, a German company began collecting the waste cork particles and using a clay binder to create an agglomerate cork sheet. The next year an American by the name of John T. Smith improved upon the process. Instead of using a clay binder, Smith's process used heat and pressure to...