A Rural View Peadar Ó Brádaigh: Back to the pub

Over the past year or so a number of items in this column have evoked sufficient interest or reaction as to demand a revisitation and perhaps a little expansion or explanation. Generally, in the history or heritage area, the responses clearly demonstrated the keen (and very informed) interest that a large segment of the rural population maintains in the lives and times of those who have gone before us. Traditionally, and in line with major events in our troubled history, this interest went far back into time and would often concentrate on a starting point in, say, the early 20th century and go backwards from there - viz, a discussion on a cruel and heartless landlord could, over a number of sessions, be dealing with the Ulster plantation or the Brehon Laws. For more, see this week's Celt...