Posts by Patrick Ryan

by Patrick Ryan on Mar 5th, 2025 - 88 Views

Making A Living From Death In D8 Patrick Ryan takes look back as the macabre work of Dublin’s resurrectionists, and asks if modern medicine faces the similar ethical questions to those posed 200 years ago.  “Most countries send out oil or iron, steel or gold, or some other crop,”... 

by Patrick Ryan on Feb 24th, 2025 - 127 Views

The Life Of ‘Oul Zoz Patrick Ryan takes a look at one of Dublin’s most colourful characters, and the Liberties most famous sons.  He was named in memory of a pious Palestinian, according to WB Yeats “the last gleeman . . . being alike poet, jester, and newsman of the people”... 

by Patrick Ryan on Feb 11th, 2025 - 213 Views

In Thrall To Sweetness -Patrick Ryan takes a look at slavery in the history of Dublin. The Vikings. Sure, they might have been tough, but today they’re often just soft targets wearing silly helmets. Look at slavery. These Norsemen (“North men”) are often credited with bringing... 

by Patrick Ryan on Jan 2nd, 2025 - 224 Views

Our Little Christmas Cheer Patrick Ryan takes a look at why January 6ths is remembered in Ireland, and abroad. January 6th has long held a special place in our hearts. The Feast of the Epiphany as it is also called is today more widely celebrated in other parts of the world, with elaborate festivals... 

by Patrick Ryan on Dec 12th, 2024 - 331 Views

Nostalgia Isn’t What It Used To Be…  Patrick Ryan dons a paisley shirt and slips on his rose-tinted roundy glasses to present a Top 10 Groovy Kids’ Presents from Christmases past.  Park the Health and Safety regs, reload the stereotypes, put a Slade LP on the record player and... 

by Patrick Ryan on Dec 5th, 2024 - 275 Views

Christmas and the Culchies Patrick Ryan takes a look back at the tradition of Yuletide shopping trips among our country neighbours. Snow, heavy rain, jam-packed trains and busses, industrial disputes, recession, martin invasion. When it came to their traditional Christmas pilgrimage to the capital... 

by Patrick Ryan on Nov 26th, 2024 - 236 Views

The Politics Of Choice Patrick Ryan takes a look at how Ireland’s current voting system emerged from Britain’s attempts to control calls for independence from the crown. On Friday November, 29th voters in Ireland go to the polls in a general election to elect 174 Teachtaí Dála to form... 

by Patrick Ryan on Nov 5th, 2024 - 333 Views

Poppies and Patriotism Patrick Ryan takes a look at the history of the Armistice Day poppy in Dublin, and the story of symbol that continues to divide public opinion here and in the UK. It started as a poem by a Canadian surgeon that inspired an American professor and a French language teacher to help... 

by Patrick Ryan on Aug 27th, 2024 - 519 Views

A Long, Long Way from Inchicore To There Forget traffic changes on the quays and Guinness lorries having trouble passing down from Heuston Station, it seems the bus to Dublin 8 has just taken a detour via…London?!  Patrick Ryan tracks down the facts, and the fiction. Homesick Dubs could be... 

by Patrick Ryan on Aug 26th, 2024 - 505 Views

It’s Not Easy Being Green Patrick Ryan reviews the good, and mostly bad of the first six months of the country’s recycling scheme for drinks cans and bottles and offers some solutions on what needs to be improved.  Since its launch just over six months ago Ireland’s Deposit Return... 

by Patrick Ryan on Aug 21st, 2024 - 480 Views

Plug and Fly Patrick Ryan looks at whether drone aircraft, flying without pilots, could bypass traffic jams and soon become the ideal solution for taxi travel and home deliveries. Forget the Ford Focus and bin Aunt Bridie’s bus pass. It might sound like something from a science fiction movie... 

by Patrick Ryan on Aug 14th, 2024 - 382 Views

The Art Of Winning – Patrick Ryan takes a look at some of Ireland’s less well known Olympians, who from the very start showed the world how medals are won. Paris 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Ireland’s participation in the Olympic games as an independent nation. Although... 

by Patrick Ryan on Jul 9th, 2024 - 626 Views

The Emporer and the Irish   Patrick Ryan takes a detailed look back to a visit to Dublin by a man regarded by many historians as the greatest Brazlian of all time.   For most of us Brazil inspires images of football and sun drenched beaches, but in it’s 200 year history one man puts even... 

by Patrick Ryan on Jun 26th, 2024 - 439 Views

A brace of US dueling pistols dating from about 1815 and similar to the firearm used by Daniel O’Connell in his famous duel in that year.     Dubs’ Deadly Duels – Patrick Ryan takes a look at the history of dueling and Dubliners’ love affair with the deadly method of... 

by Patrick Ryan on Jun 13th, 2024 - 587 Views

Antisocial Behaviour Is On The Rise Whether it’s on the streets, on public transport or in the workplace there’s been a noticeable change in recent years regarding what is and is not acceptable in how we speak to and interact with others, but what lies behind it, and are there solutions? The... 

by Patrick Ryan on May 1st, 2024 - 653 Views

High Time We Decriminalize Cannabis? Patrick Ryan looks at other countries’ experiences with drug control and decriminalization. The recent report from the Citizens’ Assembly on drugs use which recommends replacing criminal charges with a health-led approach based on the Portuguese model,... 

by Patrick Ryan on Apr 9th, 2024 - 811 Views

Handel’s Messiah. A Dublin History – Patrick Ryan looks at the history of Handel’s Messiah, one of Dublin’s most famous pieces of music. When it comes to a list of the great musical performances in Dublin some acts are nailed-on certainties. U2, Thin Lizzy, Sinead O’Connor,... 

by Patrick Ryan on Feb 28th, 2024 - 794 Views

Oscar’s a Dub! – Patrick Ryan takes a look at our capital’s close link to the Academy Award The eyes of the world will be on the Dolby Theatre on March 11th when the 96th Academy Awards are presented in LA but we’ll wake up Monday morning wearing a collective smile of smug... 

by Patrick Ryan on Feb 8th, 2024 - 591 Views

Our Forever Valentine – You can keep Paris, and forget about Rome. If it’s love you’re after and not just a good time Patrick Ryan explains why dear auld Dublin is actually the most romantic city in the world. St Valentine’s Day. The description isn’t in the title anymore. February... 

by Patrick Ryan on Jan 10th, 2024 - 659 Views

Two Feet Good – Patrick Ryan’s debut article for the Fountain Newswire’s questions our City’s policy to Pedestrians Ah, 2024. According to the talking heads on television over the last week it’s set to be the Year of Elections, as the public go to the polls all across...