This week we are featuring some extraordinary Irish women in honour of #NollaignamBan. Mary Ann McCracken campaigned for the abolition of slavery, and argued that the liberty and equality sought by the United Irishmen should be extended to women. www.dib.ie/biography/mc... #DIBLives @ria.ie

How Newgrange's spectacular Solstice light show was rediscovered. Those who flock to Newgrange on 21 December owe much to the excavation work of archaeologist Michael J O'Kelly in the 1960s, writes Terry Clavin @dib.ie @ria.ie www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...

It’s that magical time of year. This December, our Christmas blog explores the Irish traditions that have stuck (and those that haven’t) across the centuries so put on your Rudolph PJs, pour yourself a cup of something festive & enjoy a feast of Christmases past. www.dib.ie/blog/switzer...

"There’s something about Christmas. There’s something about it that creeps inside and finds the child in you." In 1994 advertisers Catherine Donnelly & Peter Caffrey created one of Ireland's longest running & most beloved radio ads for Barry's Tea. www.dib.ie/biography/do... #DIBLives @ria.ie

This week we are featuring all things Christmassy, starting with Queen of Pantomime, Maureen Potter. Exuding enthusiasm & delight, her signature closing line was 'If you liked the show tell your friends; if you didn't, keep your breath to cool your porridge'. www.dib.ie/biography/po... #DIBLives

Congratulations to Joseph O'Connor on receiving the An Post Irish Book of the Year award for his novel 'The Ghosts of Rome', a fictional version of the Rome escape line set up and led by Irish priest Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty. Read Msgr O'Flaherty's biography here: www.dib.ie/biography/of...

10 December is the anniversary of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights. "When I landed in the republic of conscience It was so noiseless when the engines stopped. I could hear a curlew high above the runway." (Seamus Heaney, 'From the Republic of Conscience') www.dib.ie/biography/he...

Needless to say I’m delighted about this. It was super to work with Simon Neal, who re-catalogued more than 70 volumes; to collaborate with Eamonn Kenny @adaptcentre.bsky.social who knocked the data into shape; and to incorporate it into the Knowledge Graph we’re building, based on @dib.ie entries

'A natural orator, with so keen a sense of the turn of phrase and the lifting rhythm appropriate to Irish, that her words could be written down as they leave her lips and they would have the effect of literature.' Storyteller Peig Sayers died #OTD 1958. www.dib.ie/biography/sa...

An articulate and effective representative, Tony Gregory (born #OTD 1947) drew attention to the poorest and most neglected parts of Dublin city. As a TD he highlighted issues often ignored by the mainstream, such as the impact of heroin addiction. www.dib.ie/biography/gr...

Author Kate O'Brien was daring and unflinching in her writing, poet Eavan Boland termed her the Irish writer who meant most to her; the writer John McGahern called her a poet working in prose. She was born #OTD in 1897. www.dib.ie/biography/ob...

On 21 Dec 1967 Prof Michael O'Kelly watched a beam of light strike the floor & creep forwards to illuminate the high, rock-vaulted chamber at Newgrange. @dib.ie's Terry Clavin considers the strangely muted response to prehistoric Ireland’s spectacular feat of engineering. www.dib.ie/blog/newgran...

#DIBNewLives Patricia Ryan’s influence on the development of ballet in Ireland was immense, if underappreciated in her lifetime. Students of her school, the National Ballet School, performed in the first ever television broadcast by Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961. www.dib.ie/biography/ry...

#DIBNewLives With a broadcasting career spanning nearly 60 years, Jimmy 'the Memory man’ Magee had one of the most recognisable voices on Irish radio & television. He commentated on an incredible 15 Olympic games, including Katie Taylor's gold medal-winning fight in 2012. www.dib.ie/biography/ma...

Wonderful to see RTE featuring the biography of pioneering computer engineer Kay McNulty from our new publication 'Irish STEM Lives', edited by DIB's Turlough O'Riordan and Professor Jane Grimson. www.rte.ie/culture/2025...

#DIBNewLives A fearless champion of equality, fairness & justice, Ann Louise Gilligan is remembered as ‘the spark that lit the marriage equality movement’. The court case to recognise her marriage to Katherine Zappone sparked the decade-long fight for marriage equality. www.dib.ie/biography/gi...

#DIBNewLives Geneticist Patrick 'Mike' Conneally was part of the team that localised the genetic markers linked to Huntingdon's Disease and Alzheimer's. The approaches they developed have been widely utilised, including in what became known as the Human Genome Project. www.dib.ie/biography/co...

#DIBNewLives Loyalist politician & community activist Glen Barr established personal relations with individuals across the divide, suggesting his professed desire for reconciliation was as sincere as his commitment to defend & articulate the Protestant working class. www.dib.ie/biography/ba...

We are so proud to see the impact Joe Rodgers continues to have on Irish historical research. Read his entry about Thomas Gresham, which was added to the @historydib.bsky.social this week www.dib.ie/biography/gr...

(That should be John Thomas Troy!) oh for an edit button! You can read his full bio here @dib.ie www.dib.ie/biography/tr...

The rise and fall of Ballyshannon port. The port's international connections brought much prosperity to the Co Donegal town from the 15th century onwards, but the good times didn't last, writes @angela-historian.bsky.social @ria.ie @dib.ie www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...

This November the @dib.ie publishes 29 biographical entries: 28 new entries alongside an extensive revision of an existing entry. This eclectic range of noteworthy lives, drawn from across the spectrum of Irish society can be viewed here: www.dib.ie/news/broadca...

Found this when looking for 17thC things. The joy of the freely accessible @historydib.bsky.social www.dib.ie/index.php/bi...

A prominent cultural figure in post-war Dublin, John Ryan (b. #OTD 1925)owned the Bailey on Duke St. Frequented by writers & artists, the establishment became renowned for its connections with a motley group of writers including Brendan Behan & Anthony Cronin. www.dib.ie/biography/ry... #DIBLives

Limerickman George Browne, soldier of fortune, had an extraordinary life: he was a galley slave, governor of Livonia for Catherine the Great, he lost part of his skull in war and he carried a coffin with him for 10 years in protest. He died #OTD 1792. dib.ie/biography/br... #DIBLives

Eliza Gilbert (aka Lola Montez), born #OTD 1820, had a life so colourful it can’t be captured in one post - she carried a bullwhip, pursued Franz Liszt, crashed a male-only banquet to dance on the tables and toasted a mob with champagne & chocolate. www.dib.ie/biography/gi... #DIBLives

Handsome and composed, with the attire & manners of a gentleman, it was rumoured that Queen Marie Antoinette herself appealed for pirate Luke Ryan to be released from Newgate prison when he was to be executed in 1782. He was born #OTD 1750. www.dib.ie/biography/ry... #DIBLives

‘A principled lawyer & honest man.' #OTD 1989 solicitor Pat Finucane was shot dead in front of his family by UFF gunmen at his home in Belfast. He was the 1st defence lawyer killed in the Troubles & his death was recognised as a blow to the whole judicial system. www.dib.ie/biography/fi... #DIBLives

“You have disgraced yourselves again. Is this to be an ever recurring celebration of the arrival of Irish genius?” (W.B. Yeats) #OTD 1926 audiences rioted when Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars was performed in the Abbey Theatre. www.dib.ie/biography/oc... #DIBLives

Born #OTD 1842 Agnes Mary Clerke was the first woman admitted to the all-male Royal Astronomical Society. Her analyses were so reliable, thoughtful and wide reaching that she became a revered authority, and a lunar crater has been named to commemorate her. www.dib.ie/biography/cl... #DIBLives

Although veterinary surgeon Aleen Cust was first in her class in 1900, she wasn't permitted to sit the RCVS exams due to her gender. Following passage of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act she took the exam, becoming the 1st female member of the RCVS in 1922. www.dib.ie/biography/cu... #DIBLives

'One of the great Irish bluesmen. His playing was exceptional & beautiful. We won't see his like again.' Gary Moore's (d. #OTD 2011) combination of virtuosity & soulfulness could mesmerise audiences & was much admired by fellow guitarists. www.dib.ie/biography/mo... #DIBLives