#NewEntries A precise & expert calligrapher, Myra Maguire was the most accomplished Irish heraldic artist of the C20th. In the 1960s she designed the heraldic banners in St Patrick’s Hall, Dublin Castle where Irish presidents are inaugurated. dib.ie/biography/magu… #DIBLives

#NewEntries With a career spanning almost 4 decades, Krish Naidoo had a brilliant ability to generate media coverage & positive publicity. Rumours Nightclub, Barbarella's & the Top Hat roller disco defined nighttime entertainment in 1980s Dublin. dib.ie/biography/naid… #DIBLives

#NewEntries ‘There is nothing we can teach Miss Barnes. We have been acquainted with her exquisite drawings for years.’ Museum artist Eileen Barnes was a gentle unobtrusive personality who contributed significantly to Irish culture & heritage. dib.ie/biography/barn… #DIBLives

#NewEntries 'Critics complained that the country was not being governed by the cabinet but by Haughey & his courtiers, with Mara as chief favourite.' Businessman, politician & PR officer PJ Mara played a central role in Fianna Fáil for 3 decades.
dib.ie/biography/mara… #DIBLives

'But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not.' This month's blog, 'Unsung heroes', remembers some of the Irish men and women who formed part of the resistance during World War II. dib.ie/blog/unsung-he… #DIBLives

A key figure in establishing the Independent Living Movement in Ireland, our new biography of disabled activist Martin Naughton is being published to celebrate #EuropeanIndependentLivingDay  on 5 May 2024. dib.ie/biography/naug… #DIBLives #NewEntries

#NewEntries An outstanding role model for women entrepreneurs, Gillian Bowler projected an aura of style, sophistication & fun. At its peak Budget Travel controlled 1/3 of the market with yearly profits of over £4m from selling 135,000 holidays.
dib.ie/biography/bowl… #DIBLives

#NewEntries 'I shouted the required words with wild gusto, slipping into what became Fr Jack’s accent instinctively.' Although an acclaimed stage & screen actor, Frank Kelly will forever be associated with drunken, foul-mouthed Fr Jack Hackett. dib.ie/biography/kell… #DIBLives

The most senior Volunteer officer remaining in the field, Thomas MacDonagh initially declined to accept the surrender order but, #OTD 1916, he countersigned Pearse's order effectively ending the Rising. MacDonagh was executed on 3 May. dib.ie/biography/macd… #DIBLives

Given a Red Cross insignia & a white flag, #OTD 1916 Elizabeth O'Farrell walked out into heavy fire in the Moore St area & approached an army barricade. Initially thought a spy, she returned with the demand for an unconditional surrender. dib.ie/biography/ofar… #DIBLives

During the Rising Margaret Skinnider served in the ICA's St Stephen's Green contingent under the command of Michael Mallin. #OTD 1916 she was shot & critically wounded while attempting to cut off a retreating British sniping party. dib.ie/biography/skin… #DIBLives

Describing himself as a crank, that is ‘a small instrument that makes revolutions’, pacifist, suffragist, teetotaller, vegetarian & anti-vivisectionist Francis Sheehy-Skeffington was arrested #OTD 1916. He was executed without trial the next day. dib.ie/biography/skef… #DIBLives

#OTD 1916 members of the Irish Volunteers & Irish Citizen Army mustered at several locations in central Dublin for the planned Easter Rising. Patrick Pearse read out the Proclamation of the Republic from the GPO, which became their HQ. dib.ie/biography/pear… #DIBLives

Described by a contemporary southern annalist as a cocad mór (great battle), the Battle of Clontarf (fought #OTD 1014) was undoubtedly a significant struggle by means of which Brian Bórama sought to re-impose his authority in Dublin & the east. dib.ie/biography/bria… #DIBLives

Happy #WorldEarthDay . Eamon de Buitléar & Gerrit van Gelderen were passionate conservationists who introduced generations of Irish children to Ireland’s nature & wildlife through the RTÉ series ‘Amuigh faoin spéir’. dib.ie/biography/de-b… dib.ie/biography/van-… #DIBLives

At the trial for his involvement in the Invincibles Phoenix Park murders, James 'Skin-the-Goat' Fitzharris (baptised #OTD 1834) cut a wildly picturesque figure in a shabby black overcoat, jarvey's waistcoat  & red scarf. He served 16 years. dib.ie/index.php/biog… #DIBLives

Governor of Derry during the months-long siege of the city which began #OTD 1689, George Walker's account of the siege included memorable details such as the 'fat gentleman' who thought ‘several of the garrison looked on him with a greedy eye...' dib.ie/index.php/biog… #DIBLives

When her silversmith husband died, Jane Williams (d. #OTD 1845) replaced him in her father's workshop in Cork. Under her guidance, they produced 'some of the most accomplished production of neo-classical silver in Ireland' that is still prized. dib.ie/biography/will… #DIBLives

‘Style comes from the shock of new material.’ J.M. Synge (b. #OTD 1871) understood the relationship between violence & poetry; those protesting 'Playboy' proved his point by denying the Irish were inherently violent while attacking the actors.
dib.ie/biography/syng… #DIBLives