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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It's that time again! The next meet-up of the Casual Historians is next Thursday 1 October, at 8pm in The Oval Bar on Dublin's Abbey Street. Ordinary people just talking about extraordinary history from around the world. Come along and chat!

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I knew I was late to this, but I'm far later than I thought. All 4 seahorse lamps were there in this mid-1950s photo, but when Charles Cushman took his pic in 1961, there were just 2 lamps. So we've narrowed the "time of disappearance" to just under 10 years! I'll keep digging...

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

College Green - seahorse lantern mystery? I know I'm really, really, late to this one, because they've already been gone for a long time, but there used to be 4 seahorse lanterns surrounding Grattan's statue. Does anyone know where the other 2 ended up?

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National Museum of Ireland @nmireland.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Join us on Thurs 24 Sept for an evening of Archaeology: 🔍 Prehistoric Ireland: In-Gallery Talk (5pm) 🏆 Late Evening Archaeology Discovery Tour (6.30pm) 📍 National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street 🎟️ Free | Drop-in museum.ie/en-IE/News/Dublin-by-Dusk-at-the-National-Museum-of-Ireland #DublinByDusk

Promotional poster for Dublin by Dusk at the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 3. Bold typography announces free evening events on Thursday 24 September. Free admission to the National Museum of Ireland Archaeology

Promotional poster for a Prehistoric Ireland in-gallery talk at the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin. Features an image of a carved prehistoric stone artefact and details of a free event on Thursday 24 September from 17:00 to 18:00, led by archaeologist and museum curator Dr Bernard Gilhooly. Explore artefacts from the museum's Prehistoric Ireland exhibition. No booking required

Promotional poster for Late Evening Discovery Tours at the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin. Shows a museum visitor viewing archaeological objects in a display case. Free guided tour on Thursday 24 September at 18:30 exploring Ireland's national archaeological collection, including gold and silver artefacts. No booking required.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I collect publications related to the 1916 Easter Rising. So ... As any collector (of anything) will tell you, there are some items that you "have to" collect ... like it or not! I wonder if anyone else has seen this? 😬 It's now part of the #MOF1916 … for better or worse!

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Help! An @news.rte.ie item on 7 Sept about 1916 volunteers in Laois included a few seconds of someone holding this booklet - "Now or Never - A young volunteer's experience of the 1916 Rising in Laois, and its aftermath" I've never seen it, but "need" it for the #MOF1916 collection!

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The Irish Story @theirishstory.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

For Culture Night tonight, John Dorney of the Irish Story will be giving tours of Griffith College (formerly Richmond prison and Wellington/Griffith Barracks) on Dublin's South Circuluar Road, from 5 pm. Come on down! www.griffith.ie/about-griffi...

griffith.ie

Culture Night 2026 at Griffith College: Dublin Heritage Tour

Explore 200 years of Dublin history on Culture Night 2026. Guided tour of Griffith College's former Richmond Bridewell prison and Wellington Barracks. Free

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

First visit to the Hill of Slane. Great way to spend an hour or two.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Cover of a pictorial souvenir of Ireland's 1916 Easter Rising. Interestingly, several versions of this booklet were published very soon after the rebellion ended - tailored to different audiences.

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Nigel Atter MSc PgCert BA(Hons) @nigatt59.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Come and hear what happened to the Baghdad railway station bell and where it resides now!

static.klipy.com

Apala9tv: Ines Ballester Plays Trumpet

ALT: Apala9tv: Ines Ballester Plays Trumpet

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

100 years ago this week, 48 people died in a catastrophic cinema fire in Dromcollogher, Co Limerick. The tragedy was covered by "La Domenica del Corriere", an Italian newspaper known for its graphic cover art. This was their cover -

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Are you really a respectable historian of Dublin... ... if you don't have a 1988 Millennium Milk Bottle converted to a desk lamp?

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Important signage at the Car Testing Centre ... 🙂

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

It's time! Time for the next meeting of the Casual Historians - if you like to talk about history... ... and / or ... ... listen to history being talked about, come along to The Oval Bar on Dublin's Abbey Street, 8pm, Thursday 3 September. All welcome!

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

#Eclipse #Eclipse2026 I was ready with my 1999 eclipse glasses and it did not disappoint.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Prepare to talk history! The next meet-up of the (very) Casual Historians is this Thursday 6 August. Anyone who wants to talk history - any history! - (or just listen) is welcome. 8pm upstairs in The Oval Bar on Middle Abbey St in Dublin. Newbies - and oldies - welcome!

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Good news - Added a super rare pamphlet to the #MOF1916 collection. Bad news - Didn't realise some pages are missing. ☹️ "Cath Oifig an Phuist - Five Glorious Days in the GPO 1916" By Annraoi O’Liathain, published by Glún na Buaidhe, 1943. Any chance of some scans, @nlireland.bsky.social ?

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Nice detour through Killykeen Forest Park (in Cavan), to visit Gartnanoul megalithic court tomb - actually two court tombs in a cleared patch of forest. Always impressive to stand exactly where others did 5,000+ years ago. Not for the faint hearted though! @opwireland.bsky.social

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

D’you like the sound of “historic chats”? Come along to the next meet-up of the Casual Historians - Thursday 2 July, and the first Thursday of every month, at 8pm in The Oval, on Dublin’s Abbey Street. Just one topic - history! Come and chat - or just listen. 🙂

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I love to tell this passed-down story: An elderly friend of my mother's was a young child on a train from Galway 107 years ago. Two men got on & one offered a dollar coin to the little girl. But her mother wouldn't allow a gift from strangers, so she had to return it. The men were Alcock & Brown.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

I've been studying the 1916 Easter Rising for decadess, so there aren't many "surprises" left. 🙂 But this was new to me! A superb photo of one of the British Army's hastily-built armoured cars at Bank of Ireland, College Green. It's been in the National Museum since 1975! @nmireland.bsky.social 1/2

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Portrait of Brigadier Dick McKee, Officer in Command of the Dublin Brigade IRA, tortured and executed in Dublin Castle in November 1920. The portrait hangs in what used to be Marlborough Barracks, which was renamed McKee Barracks in the decade after his death.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Would you call yourself a Casual Historian? Great! Join like-minded people who meet every first Thursday of the month, to talk history - and only history! The next meet-up for Casual Historians, old and new, is Thursday 4 June, at 8pm in The Oval Bar on Dublin's Abbey Street.

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Amanda @amandaofarrell.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Father Ted and Dougal will not be performing at the Freedom 250 concert.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Latest addition to the #MOF1916 collection of publications on the 1916 Easter Rising - “Easter Week 1916: ordinary people, extraordinary stories”, by Michael Kenny. Published by the National Museum, 2025. I think it’s only available in their gift shop, so go visit! @nmireland.bsky.social

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Internationally renowned keyboardist, Ross Gellar, has dropped out of the Freedom 250 lineup.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Many years ago, I met an American man at the Cliffs of Moher. He told me his great-grandfather was Dr Samuel Mudd, the man who treated Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, who had injured himself while escaping. Mudd was sentenced to life in prison, but pardoned after 4 years.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Sometimes all that’s needed to transform a child’s toy into an art installation is a tree and a few decades…

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

McKee Barracks, near Dublin's Phoenix Park, was built between 1888 & 1892. As Marlborough Barracks, it was from there that British Lancers rode out during the Easter Rising in 1916, taking casualties as they galloped down O'Connell St, when they were fired on by rebels in the GPO.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

"An evening of women's poetry and songs" This Sunday, 10 May, in Sandford Parish Church, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 - in memory of Brendan Ellis. Compiled and devised by Brendan Ellis and Honor O Brolchain. Starts at 6.30pm, free admission.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

For students of the 1916 Easter Rising, this looks very interesting, and will need some close inspection!

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

The “1916 Corner” in The Oval pub on Dublin’s Abbey Street.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

NOT an April Fool ! The next meet-up for Casual Historians, old & new, is tomorrow, Thursday 2 April, at 8pm in The Oval Bar on Dublin's Abbey Street. We only talk history, so none of those other messy subjects... Come along and say hello - have a history chat, or just listen !

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

I mean, really. Are you any kind of a historian on the 1916 Easter Rising, if you don't have the Proclamation on your wall, printed on an extra large bottle cap? (Er, I don't...)

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The Irish Story @theirishstory.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Article here on commemorating the Easter Rising, for the event to become the national touchstone it is today, it had to moulded by often very fraught and partisan commemoration. 'Ownership' of the Rising was from the start disputed. www.theirishstory.com/2016/01/29/c...

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

1916 Rising Centenary plaque at The Blue Light pub, high above Dublin. 1916-2016. (Yes I know those particular lights are yellow… 🙂)

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

I'm lucky to have a piece of bronze from the plinth on which Horatio Nelson once stood, high up on his pillar, in Dublin... ... until it was blown up in 1966. This twisted lump of metal was recovered from the rubble just a few hours after the explosion.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Historical talk, talk, talk! Casual Historians will be kicking off the 4th year of our monthly meet-ups, next Thursday, 5 March, at 8pm in The Oval Bar, on Dublin's Abbey Street. If you like to talk about (any) history, or if you prefer to listen, come along and say hello! 🙂

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! The first meet-up of the Casual Historians was 3 years ago. Come along & toast with us next Thursday, 8pm, 5 February, in The Oval Bar, Abbey St, Dublin. You don't have to be a historian & you don't have to talk. But you do have to love history - & love listening! 🙂

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

The past isn't actually that far away... "Nine surviving widows of War of Independence veterans are still receiving pension payments in respect of their husbands’ service in the conflict that took place between 1919 and 1921." www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/war-...

breakingnews.ie

War of Independence veterans' widows receive €8 million in 10 years, figures show | BreakingNews

Recipients got a 50 per cent increase in 2016 to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Only just caught up with this, because I've also just ordered the book! "Enduring Ruin - Justin Dolan Stover in conversation with Dr Marie Coleman." Very interesting. @ucdpress.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ4i...

youtube.com

Enduring Ruin - Justin Dolan Stover in conversation with Dr Marie Coleman

YouTube video by UCD Press

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

History chats in Dublin this evening...!

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Johnny Doyle @johnnydoyle.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

A previously unpublished picture of a Rolls-Royce armoured car in Dublin just after the #EasterRising made it into the latest Rolls-Royce publication from the Tank Museum, courtesy of @mof1916.bsky.social tankmuseumshop.org/collections/...

Cover of latest Rolls-Royce armoured car book from the Tank Museum.

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Nollaig na mBan was always a big day for my mother - a day to celebrate women, and a day to enjoy with friends and family. And she made sure we'd never forget it, by leaving us on Nollaig na mBan four years ago. #NollaignamBan Here she is in about 1956 -

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Don't forget! If you're in Dublin, and want to talk some history, the next meet-up for Old and New Casual Historians is this coming Thursday, 8 January, in The Oval Bar on Abbey St. (We're not all actual historians, but we do all love history - come and chat!)

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

Ballybunion is special to me, so it's nice to see it pop up on screen. 🙂 Spotted in the popular Christmas movie, "The Family Stone" ... ... a wollen cap with the Ballybunion Golf Club logo, worn by Craig T Nelson. #TheFamilyStone #Ballybunion

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Mick O'Farrell @mof1916.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

For “Elf” fans… This year I finally realised that a Santa badge I’ve had for 30 years “features” in that Christmas movie classic, “Elf” ! It’s the small things…. 🎅 #Elf

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