17/08/2024
Cork on a Fork Festival in Ireland's Food Capital with Rachel Allen and Clodagh McKenna
The Skibbereen Eagle
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Nesting in Skibbereen since 1857 Keeping an Eye on the Czar since 1898, Casting a Cold Eye on Life. E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Skibbereen Eagle (The).
Skibbereen Eagle
Keeping an eye on the Czar of Russia since 1898
The legendary Skibbereen Eagle newspaper was founded in 1857 in the small town in West Cork, Ireland from which it took its name. It was initially a monthly publication and then became weekly, grandiosely expounding its British imperialistic stance on local, national and international affairs as it was aimed squarely at its rea
dership, the local Protestant land owning and merchant classes or as they were nicknamed by Irish Nationalists the "West Brits." In the late 19th Century the town was not the sleepy and rather lovely tourist backwater it is today but a busy commercial hub with steamship services and two railways the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway and the narrow gauge Schull and Skibbereen Railway. Perhaps the most famous moment, worldwide, for The Skibbereen Eagle was when it became embroiled in international relations with Russia in 1898 which became known as "keeping an eye on Russia". Rather grandly the editorial claimed: "It [The Eagle] will still keep its eye on the Emperor of Russia and all such despotic enemies - whether at home or abroad - of human progression and man's natural rights which undoubtedly include a nation's right to self-government. 'Truth', 'Liberty', 'Justice' and the 'Land for the People' are the solid foundations on which the Eagle's policy is based." The intrepid editor and proprietor Frederick Potter used in his editorial a report on a secret treaty by Russia [the Eagle is keeping its eye on the Emperor] to expand its territory into the Muslim lands of the Caucus in a vicious campaign spearheaded by the Cossack Cavalry - the source of the bitter tension and Russian oppression which exists to this day in Chechnya, Dagestan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. This phrase became famous over several decades causing at one point the embarrassed Irish Times to make an uncomplimentary reference to it in a somewhat disdainful fashion, though it later apologised, regretting "its hasty and inadvertent blunder". By then, however, the bold little newspaper was famous for the "eye on Russia" saga. This newspaper was superseded by the Southern Star, founded in 1889, its first editor D.D. Sheehan, and included amongst its shareholders one Michael Collins. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. The chiel amang ye takin’notes. It was the Skibbereen, or West Cork Eagle newspaper, that solemnly told Lord Palmerston that it had “got its eye both upon him and on the Emperor of Russia.” This terrible warning has elevated the little insignificant town of Skibbereen, in the southwest coast of Ireland, quite into a Lilliputian pre-eminence. Beware, beware, ye statesmen, emperors, and thrones, for the Skibbereen Eagle has its eye upon you! Now the Spirit of the Skibbereen Eagle has been revived on the internet with this successor casting a cold eye on the world and its comings and goings. Beware, beware, ye statesmen, emperors, Tories and thrones, for the Skibbereen Eagle still has its eye upon you! Top Ten Skibbereen Facts
1. The name “Skibbereen” means “Little Boat Harbour”.
2. Prior to 1600 most of the land belonged to the native McCarthy tribe – today McCarthy remains the town’s most common surname.
3. At the height of the famine in 1847, the body of an unnamed boy, taken for lifeless was placed in a coffin in the Town Square and conveyed for burial to the Abbey Cementry. As he was lowered into the pit, the youth regained conciousness and walked unaided from the grave.
4. It is probable that some 8,000 – 10,000 Famine victims are buried in the Famine Burial Pits of Abbeystrewerey Cementary.
5. The Temperance Hall was the site of the foundation of the first Temperance Society (abstaining from alcohol) in Europe. Built in 1833 it has been succeeded by Skibbereen’s 26 well patronised pubs.
6. General Michael Collins had his last meal in the Eldon Hotel in Skibbereen before he was shot in an ambush later that evening in 1922.
7. The Skibbereen Eagle, a newspaper founded in 1857, became famous by declaring it was “keeping an eye on the Czar of Russia” over his expansionist designs on China. This newspaper was superceded by the Southern Star, founded in 1889 which included amongst its shareholders one General Michael Collins.
8. Skibbereen and the nearby villages were chosen as location for the making of the film “War of the Buttons”.
9. Skibbereen and the nearby villages are the home to many international celebrities such as film producer Lord David Puttnam, actor Jeremy Irons, Ireland’s richest man Dr Tony O’Reilly, lateral-thinker Edward de Bono and others.
10. Recent luminaries who have chosen Skibbereen as their holiday destination include British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the supergroup Oasis.
16/08/2024
Get the Mid August edition of with a fascinating ramble down the River from Historian Michelle O Mahony and a vegan Minestrone full of BIG VEG from Mirabelles West Cork
Get it FREE from our great advertisers or ONLINE here:
https://whatsoninwestcork.ie/library/
15/08/2024
Fionn is a Local Hero and Life Enhancer in Dunmanway who cares deeply about our local rivers in the town where the three rivers which make up the Bandon come together. He has highlighted the pollution caused by our inadequate Waste Water treatment plant in Dunmanway and the discharge of effluent into the rivers which are a unique ecosystem and breeding grounds for the endangered freshwater pearl mussel.
14/08/2024
Larry Tesler, inventor of the cut, copy and paste commands, dies at 74
Larry Tesler, inventor of the cut, copy and paste commands, dies at 74
Larry Tesler, inventor of the cut, copy and paste commands, dies at 74
11/08/2024
Mission Accomplished @ 21.48 hours last night.
Great to meet neighbours Denis and Louisa Lordan on the ferry from Fishguard / Rosslare. It's a small world!
06/08/2024
Oh! I do love to be beside the Quay Side!!
06/08/2024
A fine morning at the helm of M.V. Freedom cruising Weymouth Harbour, Bay and Portland, dolphin spotting supporting a wonderful charity providing accessible trips to people with disabilities and other challenges.
05/08/2024
My jacket has been kidnapped by Gizmo!!
04/08/2024
Darting about - Part 2
04/08/2024
Darting about - Part 1
04/08/2024
Dave, adding to the Glory of Glorious South Devon
03/08/2024
With BP and some of the Woodland Folk enjoying fine seafood in bustling
02/08/2024
Oh I do love ❤️ to be by the Seaside!!
Hanging out with the Grockles in Weymouth Loving Weymouth & Portland Rossi's Ice Cream, Weymouth
02/08/2024
More Grockling
02/08/2024
1 in 725 people from Skibbereen are competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, compared with a national rate of almost 1 in 39,000
02/08/2024
There have been strong increases in incomes in Ireland over the past 30 years, even allowing for inflation. On average, each of us is earning twice as much as Irish people did 30 years ago (in real terms). We've never been financially better off. 🇮🇪💶
31/07/2024
Ireland has dramatically increased the number of doctors working here over the past few decades. We had 16 doctors for every 10,000 inhabitants in 1990. Today that figure is 41 - higher than most countries in Europe. 🇮🇪🧑⚕️👏
https://data.who.int/indicators/i/CCCEBB2/217795A
31/07/2024
Enjoy the BUMPER August Bank Holiday edition of with two page spread on the 409th year of the Famous Old Ballabuidhe Horse Fair with music, craic, Ceili on the street at Galleys, markets and two days of racing and excitement at Droumleena Lawn. Loads to do and see, good food and good cheer.
Get your copy FREE from our wonderful advertisers or ONLINE here:
https://whatsoninwestcork.ie/
31/07/2024
31/07/2024
GREAT BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND promised in for the 409th year of the Famous Old Ballabuidhe Horse Fair with music in the Market Square, craic, Ceili on the street at Galleys, markets with Food Market in Supervalu Car Park and Traditional Market on Main Street and two days of racing and excitement at Droumleena Lawn.
Loads to do and see, good food and good cheer at one of the great fairs of Old Ireland.
Read Historian Michelle O Mahony fascinating 2 page article in Whats On in West Cork
Get your copy FREE from our wonderful advertisers or ONLINE here:
https://whatsoninwestcork.ie/
31/07/2024
Enjoy the BUMPER August Bank Holiday edition of with two page spread on the 409th year of the Famous Old Ballabuidhe Horse Fair with music, craic, Ceili on the street at Galleys, markets and two days of racing and excitement at Droumleena Lawn. Loads to do and see in good food and good cheer.
Get your copy FREE from our wonderful advertisers or ONLINE here:
https://whatsoninwestcork.ie/
25/07/2024
A great privilege to visit a Georgian gem on Dublin's city Quays 18 Ormond Quay Upper where my father lived in "digs" for most of the 8 years from 1947 to 1955. It was a lodgings for people from Tipperary Town and was the address my father gave on his Wedding Certificate in 1955.
Dublin Civic Trust has just completed the first phase of its building conservation project in the heart of Dublin’s historic centre. Strategically sited on the north Liffey quays overlooking Christ Church Cathedral and the Civic Offices, 18 Ormond Quay Upper is a handsome example of a Liffey-side merchant house embedded with layers of evolution dating from the 17th century to the 20th century.
Formerly in need of major structural consolidation and conservation of historic fabric, the Trust has undertaken wholesale refurbishment of this designated Protected Structure as a beacon of best conservation practice and reuse over the course of 2017-2019.
Dublin Civic Trust
25/07/2024
My Old Town
25/07/2024
At the Gravediggers
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