Daniel Kirkpatrick
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Book Review: A smaller social history of ancient Ireland, P.W. Joyce
Read more: Book Review: A smaller social history of ancient Ireland, P.W. JoyceI recently discovered that my 1 year-old daughter has already chosen her favourite book, one she undoubtedly picked for the colourful flaps and dynamic dinosaurs. When I ask what she wants to read, she has no hesitation, through pointing and screaming, which one it is. I only hope this is a sign that she is…
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Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre
Read more: Battle of the Boyne Visitor CentreGrowing up in Northern Ireland, for many around me the infamous Battle of the Boyne was more akin to a religious doctrine than a historical event. Many worshiped this mysterious figure on a white horse much like they did their saints, more so even. But like any historical event which becomes a political narrative, the…
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Book Review: The Celts, Barry Cunliffe
Read more: Book Review: The Celts, Barry CunliffeSome historians are born academics, their work is thorough, detailed, and completely incomprehensible. But there are a rare few, of whom we will have all heard of (e.g. Tom Holland, Anthony Beevor), who manage to bridge that great divide, turning facts into narrative, bringing history to life through a colourful string of characters. Barry Cunliffe’s…
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Book Review: Ancient Ireland, Laurence Flanagan
Read more: Book Review: Ancient Ireland, Laurence FlanaganArchaeology can often feel as dry and dead as the very artifacts it unearths. Debates around dating methodologies, discoveries of inane objects of little to no importance, or merely terminology so densely formulated in ‘isms’ and ‘tions’ that no lay-person has a hope of understanding it. Thankfully, Ancient Ireland by Laurence Flanagan can be accused…
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Book Review: The Oldest Irish Tradition, Kenneth Jackson
Read more: Book Review: The Oldest Irish Tradition, Kenneth JacksonI can’t count the times I’ve prayed for the dull, droning monotony of a lecture to end. We will all be able to remember a talk we wished we could escape, a pointless meeting, or a seemingly unending work presentation. I resent how much of my life has been stolen away by such moments. So…
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The Freedom of Peace
Read more: The Freedom of PeaceShort story written by Daniel Kirkpatrick published June 2020 This short story presents a dialogue between a young girl and her grandfather, sparked by a political announcement on freedom of speech. Using zoo animals and their keepers as metaphors, the story explores themes of freedom, control, and societal rules through the lens of a child’s…
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The Wall
Read more: The WallShort story written by Daniel Kirkpatrick, published 2019 What a brilliant wall. I mean look at the structural simplicity of those blocks, strung together like soldiers in formation. It’s just remarkable how each concrete pillar towers over the landscape. Mike, a final year architecture student, breathed a sigh of relief. He’d finally found something he…