That Ireland was reasonably well known in the classical world is demonstrated by Ptolemy’s Geography. This is a list of place names and tribal names with their exact locations given in longitude and latitude. It was compiled by Ptolemy who was a Roman living in Alexandria, Egypt, during the 2nd century AD. From the information given in the list it is possible to reconstruct of map of Ireland that appears strikingly familiar (above). Indeed, a number of the names on the list are still easily recognisable (especially the rivers). Buvinda, is the Boyne, Senos is the Shannon, Logia is the Lagan, Obboca is the Avoca river (or possibly the Liffey), while Limnos may be Lambey island. It has also been suggested that the northern Regia shown on the map might represent Clogher hillfort, while Raeba may be the royal site of Cruchain, and  Ivernis could be Cashel

Roman contacts with Ireland (Irish Archaeology)

Mekkanika – an experimental typeface by Italian designer Ricardo Sabatini based on the Din Alternate Black font. Sabatini used components of hundreds of scanned mechanical technical drawings to create each intricate letterform.

MORE OF THE PROJECT HERE

via

On this my last day as the eighth President of Ireland I want to thank the Irish people for the trust they first placed in me 14 years ago and to offer my warmest good wishes to Michael D Higgins as he prepares to become our ninth president. Back in 1997 both peace and prosperity were elusive ambitions. Today the once fraught relationships on this island and between Ireland and Great Britain have been transformed so that we have a stable peace for the first time in centuries. Regrettably the “rhyming” of peace and prosperity remains some distance away, for we have been hit with a massive economic retrenchment, a global recession and serious fiscal challenges within the euro zone.”

Mary McAleese’s farewell in the Irish Times this morning, blaming our troubles on the global downturn and neglecting to mention the damage caused by certain individuals in the picture above. Same old. Same old.

My Personal Thanks To Ireland (Mary McAleese, Irish Times)

(Photocall Ireland/Photocall Ireland)

Notorious Irish-Australian folk hero Ned Kelly is to be given a private funeral 130 years after he was hanged in a Victorian jail.

But a descendant of one of the police officers killed by Kelly objects to the idea of a separate public ceremony.

Mick Kennedy, a Victorian policeman, whose great grandfather Sergeant Michael Kennedy was killed by Kelly in 1878, objected to the government’s efforts to identify and handover Kelly’s remains.“He was an outlaw, a thief and, unfortunately for my family, a murderer,” said Mr Kennedy “My great grandmother was a left a widow with six children and there was no public service for her.”

 

Debate Arises Over Ned Kelly Funeral Plans (Irish Echo)

Thanks Mark Geary

Patrick McCann writes:

 I thought you might like to see what is on the menu in an Irish pub in Arizona.  Myself and my family are out here on a work assignment for a few years.  We had a bite of lunch in Rula Bula, (an Irish Pub on Mill Ave, Tempe, Arizona) this afternoon, very tasty despite a few dodgy menu listings ….

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