Traditional vernacular kitchen tables frequently had long double stretchers underneath, sometimes mentioned as a place to lay out a corpse, or to place shoes or boots (which can be seen here) but it's rare to find photographic evidence.

I'm looking forward to this IPMAG event in Waterford this weekend. I'll be presenting 'Apotropaic marks & protective graffiti in Irish Material Culture' 11am Sat. Check this out! IPMAG XXVI Death & Superstition in Post-Medieval Ireland - allevents.in/waterford/20... allevents.in/waterford/20...

Centred on a beautiful hexafoil: like so many others, deliberately off centre...

President Catherine Connolly has welcomed Greta Thunberg to Áras an Uachtaráin on a courtesy call. The Swedish activist is in Dublin for a fundraiser for Palestinian relief at Bohemian Football Club this week.

Rome's peppered with hexafoils in mosaic floors @hexafoils.bsky.social even cut into stone drains & and all may be protective like the octagonal graffiti in the Colosseum #RIADawson @antiquaries.bsky.social @corkup.bsky.social #Apotropaois @varchgroup.bsky.social

Spotting historic stone circles in Rome: carved in hands, mosaic floors, and the amazing Pantheon dome...

Hugely enjoyable afternoon with a happy group of wreath making pupils taught by brilliant Ruth Fortune who grows all the organic materials we incorporated (& forages some of the moss etc). Her indoor wreaths (2 here) are spectacular & can be posted out #sustainable #organic #local #creative #craft

www.irishexaminer.com/food/arid-41... It's exciting to see this win again & huge convivial congratulations to all involved! @ria.ie @thebuttermuseum.bsky.social @irishcookbooks.bsky.social

#StaircaseSaturday Breathtakingly lovely. The Palladian 'Tulip Staircase' in Inigo Jones' Queen's House in Greenwich - the first unsupported spiral stair in Britain. Commissioned c.1616 by Anne of Denmark, Queen to James I. Completed c.1635 for Henrietta Maria, Queen to Charles I.

Thanks to everyone who joined us last night for the launch of Irish Dressers and Delph by Meredith Chesson. Our launch speaker Professor Diarmuid Ó Giolláin spoke beautifully about the way communities and individuals make homes out of houses. Out now: www.corkuniversitypress.com/978178205067...

Yet another reminder that the fight for #climate action is also the fight against fascism and genocide. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Red, rounded, autumn tempts me into the damp outside

Projections of U.S. President Donald Trump, Britain's Prince Andrew and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were put on display against the walls of Windsor Castle while Trump was in Britain for a state visit.

Brilliantly inspiring presenters for today's symposium in Uni College Cork, for example Prof Claire Connolly MRIA, Feargal Keane & Eoin Reardon who brought some of his vernacular-inspired furniture: celebrating 100 yrs of publishing by Cork University Press @ucc.ie @ucclibrary.bsky.social @ria.ie

We use a Victorian Gardener's pruning tool called a 'long arm', to cut hard-to-reach brambles etc. Neglecting to store it in the shed, it was lent in a porch where 'swallows against neat gardens' moved in reminding us to continue our rewilding plan, instead! Long arm will stay put til Oct. now...

We need to force the Gaza Legal Case to the top of the national conversation. I just shared this video to get everybody talking about the Gaza Legal Case and the Irish government's role in facilitating genocide. Will you do the same? action.uplift.ie/campaigns/ga...

Gourmand Awards 2025. Best Culinary History Book in the world. “this is a very difficult category, given the higher number of excellent books”. And the winner is…. Irish Food History: a companion 🎉🎉🎉 Take a bow all you wonderful contributors, our brilliant designer Brenda Dermody, and @RIA.ie

What a lively review, it's great the reprint's back in shops, & free online!

One of the best ways to understand a thing, is to spend time drawing it...

Recently I was interviewed about my research 'Joining in Butter' for @rteradio1.bsky.social The History Show, here's a direct link, if you'd like to listen back, go to c.18 minutes in... www.rte.ie/radio/radio1... @ria.ie

I'll be talking on @rteradio1.bsky.social The History Show on Sun 30 March from 6pm, about 'Joining in Butter' (Ch.16 of 'Irish Food History a Companion'); hear how Irish women collaborated to profit from their butter making pre 1880. @ria.ie

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