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What makes Ireland’s history global - cast of heroes, villains, eccentrics and crackpots

“Wistorical” takes a daily look at the most fascinating stories in Ireland’s rich history

THOMAS BUTLER,

IrishCentral Contributing Writer

Published Sunday, January 20, 2013, 7:48 AM

Updated Sunday, January 20, 2013, 7:48 AM

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Hollywood star Grace Kelly along with Elvis Presley, the world's first oil tycoon the father the US Navy all have Irish roots

Photo by Google Images

Or what about the elaborate Conolly’s Folly in Co. Kildare, built for famine relief in 1740? Or Bindon Blood Stoney’s diving bell? And muse upon the Moone High Cross with its 1200-year-old depiction of Abraham and Isaac, or the creation of Merrion Square in Dublin and Eyre Square in Galway.

Consider the wake of Big Bertha, the oldest cow in the world, or the Castlecomer coal man who got a lift home from the pub on his horse. And what about the 140-year-old Countess who fell out of an apple tree?

History breathes from every field and every street. Wistorical seeks out the uplifting, positive and fascinating stories from our past and to breathe fresh life into them through the mediums of the modern age. It makes history exciting, and is perfect for who anyone who enjoys a good story.

Wistorical will be developing an app in 2013.

In the meantime, check out www.facebook.com/Wistorical

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See more: Irish History , Irish Genealogy , Offbeat Irish

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Turtle Bunbury | Jan 21, 2013, 10:32 AM EST

Hi Seanmor, You're correct that there are not many Ulster tales mentioned in this articles. That said, there are a number of tales about Ulster already posted on the Wistorical facebook page, including one today about the Co. Down philosopher Frances Hutcheson, and two fantastic posts about Belfast which went up last Saturday. One of those is a wonderful 2-minute film of the city's Royal Avenue made in 1901. Other posts of Ulster relevance include the sad story of Charles Byrne the Irish Giant (from Littlebridge, Co. Derry), the Cannibals of Carrickfergus (Co. Antrim), Errol Flynn's father and the Belfast Blitz, Frederick Young, founder of the Gurkhas (Donegal/Derry) and Speaker Conolloy the richest man in Ireland (Donegal). There will be more, many more. Wistorical has no intention of being partitionist about history, Irish or otherwise. We consider history to be inherently global and, in most cases, sans frontiers. With best wishes, Turtle Bunbury Wistorical

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Seanmor | Jan 20, 2013, 09:51 AM EST

This article speaks ONLY of people from the part of the homeland that is now controlled by the Dáil, without any mention of Northerners who also made their mark abroad. These iclude 2 Antrim natives, Wm. Paterson and James McHenry who signed the Declaration of Independence, also the parents of Pres. Andrew Jackson who came from that same Irish county. The Partitionist mentality seems to be all too pervasive (and persuasive)in the Irish media at both sides of the Atlantic. Such being the case, I cannot help but wonder if my wife and I belong in the Gatherings this year. I'm a London-born U.S. citizen and she is a New England Methodist with family connections in Belfast. My true nationality has always applied to the "whole Irish nation and all its parts" (an náisiün uile agus gach roinn di). Does that mean that the Partitionist tourist authorities in the Southern Irish state exclude me from the this year's therings?

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