Historical landmarks can, in themselves, become symbols and even metaphors for an entire historical period: whether it’s the Coliseum in Rome, the Parthenon in Athens, or the Pyramids in Egypt. These sites take on a character beyond the mere stones and presence they embody, becoming immortalized in the myths, legends, and histories which surround them. …
I have a small, energetic dog that will never grown-up – a puppy locked inside a four-year-old’s body. If you asked me to describe him, I would focus on his obvious traits: the colour of his fur, his hyperactive personality, or his never-ending quest to hunt/steal food. I may even recount memories of him, such …
Read more “Book Review: Ireland’s Animals, Niall Mac Coitir”
I 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 …
Read more “Book Review: A smaller social history of ancient Ireland, P.W. Joyce”
Archaeology 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 …