Did you know new research has shown a forgotten female patriot 1st fused Irelands colours? Dubliner Emilia Hamilton crafted an Irish Tricolour cockade in 1830, 18 years before previously thought She gave it it’s meaning - ‘let Orange & Green no longer be seen, bestained by the blood of our island’

Did you know Ireland was an island alone off Europe’s western edge for over 3000 years? By 10000BC rising seas cut Ireland off from Europe. Its first inhabitants to arrive & stay had to sail there, shaping an island identity Britain separated around 6200BC, creating the modern island archipelago

Huge thanks Irish Independent for kind words on my research: “this latest work of history has done a tremendous amount of research, including ferreting out original, sometimes unstudied documents from the past. Each symbol of Irishness has so much history behind it, detailed here so exhaustively”

One of the oldest Amorials in history For Ireland, the most important Armorial Wijnbergen was made in northern France by heraldrists between 1260-1285 It captured many firsts, including the harp for Ireland With much earlier origins, it has remained in association with Eire for nearly 800 years

Not one but 2 articles to write this weekend Wildly differing topics: ‘The diminishment of Gaelic Ireland’ ‘The truth of Ireland’s Tricolour’ Prepare the coffee…

Colour image from my upcoming book ‘The Irish Tricolour’ The Hill of Tara When we think of Irish identity, nowhere better represents this. It expresses an all island spiritual, legal & political identity that long predates modern nationalism A place of Gods & Kings Pic: Noel Meehan - Copter View

Considered by many the most beautiful book ever made The Book of Kells was crafted in 800AD by Irish monks, a highpoint in Irish craft Lavish pigments from across Europe fused to make a masterpiece From upcoming book ‘The Irish Tricolour’ ©️Board of Trinity College Dublin, zoom in for a treat!

Huge thanks @thebookshopie.bsky.social In 4 weeks ‘The Irish Tricolour’ will completely re-write our understanding of Irish history The who, what and where of Ireland’s symbols are blown open Hold on to your historical hats - it’s going to be wild! Pre-order now - tinyurl.com/4sbn7c9z

John Crotty - The Irish Tricolour - Brand New

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tinyurl.com

TheBookshop.ie@thebookshopie.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Starting to add forthcoming Irish titles for next year, and one that jumped out at me from @itsjohncrotty.bsky.social in February is The Irish Tricolour, a full history of the flag, Irish history and associated national symbolism. Not a minefield at all at all... thebookshop.ie/john-crotty-...

Ireland has millennia of symbology Some of our oldest symbols are over 5000 years old On #StPatricksDay what is the history & pedigree of Ireland's oldest symbols (1)

I’d like to report a crime… #reading #writingcommunity

We didn’t get a white one in Ireland this year Here’s a throwback of a snowfall at the beautiful port town of Cobh, Cork - Last departure point of Titanic - Emigration place to America for millions - Service town for Spike Island prison - Irelands 3rd largest cathedral #ireland #Cork

If anyone needs a book recommendation for a history lover for Christmas, you won’t go wrong with this Brilliant read by Bettany Hughes - full of scope and insight delivered in a digestible fashion #history #christmas

If anyone is wondering how many times you see your book on a bookshop shelf before it gets old Never It never gets old Keep writing - it’ll come (Eason’s #Dublin #Spikeisland)

‘Let’s buy this tub of chocolates now and we won’t eat it until Christmas Day’ I said to my wife Oh how we laughed 🎄

I live happily knowing Rome is just a 3 hour flight away

I planned a BIG weekend of writing and boy oh boy my house has never looked cleaner I am a certified citizen of procrasti-Nation #amwriting #writingcommunity

The military credentials of Spike Island are remarkable Winston Churchill would fight ferociously to retain the Irish island Yet most people don't know the monumental effort taken to secure the western approaches Here is the story of an island fortified to defend an Empire (1)

#cute

‘Spike Island’ is in the Bookshop.ie’s books of the year and can be found here Discover the island where Irelands remembers its storied past…thebookshop.ie/john-crotty-...w/

John Crotty - Spike Island - The Rebels, Residents and Crafty Criminals of Ireland's Historic Island - PB - BRAND NEW

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thebookshop.ie

TheBookshop.ie@thebookshopie.bsky.social · 2y ago

Our full list of (Ireland based publishers) Books of the Year is now up! (A few are reprinting but should be with us shortly). A very strong range of titles this year - titles from @tramppress.bsky.social @lilliputpress.bsky.social and @theobrienpress.bsky.social ) thebookshop.ie/books-of-the...

Chuffed to see ‘Spike Island’ named in the Irish Examiners 35 ‘Cork books of the year’ An incredible Irish historical location in a county resplendent with stories Thanks @marjbrennan.bsky.social www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ar... #Cork #merrionpress

Pentagon Fortresses are cool A thread

John Crotty author@itsjohncrotty.bsky.social · 2y ago

Spike Island - one of the worlds most important historical locations A 7th century monastery & scriptorium for 500 years An island prison on 4 occasions over 400 years An enormous fortress started during the American War of Independence A quaint island home for centuries… #Ireland #history

Kay I'm unsure why but something tells me you might be into these Fortresses Whole thread on them. All over Eastern USA . Canada bsky.app/profile/itsj...

John Crotty author@itsjohncrotty.bsky.social · 2y ago

Spike Island - one of the worlds most important historical locations A 7th century monastery & scriptorium for 500 years An island prison on 4 occasions over 400 years An enormous fortress started during the American War of Independence A quaint island home for centuries… #Ireland #history

Ireland's beautiful libraries...

John Crotty author@itsjohncrotty.bsky.social · 2y ago

Once more unto the research breach! I’m off to 2 of our capital cities stunning research spaces The National Library Reading room, 1890, has a stunning domed roof While Marsh’s Library, 1707, is Irelands oldest #research #amwriting #writing #nonfiction #Dublin

While much of the world swings to the far right, Irelands rejects it entirely in a 2nd consecutive election ☘️👊🏻 Not 1 single anti-immigration candidate elected, from 60+ who ran A nation who’s sons and daughters were forced to emigrate hasn’t forgotten, & doesn’t punch down (1)

Once more unto the research breach! I’m off to 2 of our capital cities stunning research spaces The National Library Reading room, 1890, has a stunning domed roof While Marsh’s Library, 1707, is Irelands oldest #research #amwriting #writing #nonfiction #Dublin

Non-fiction history author here, new to Bluesky Hoping to connect to writers & book people of all genres Drop me a line, like or follow so I can follow you back

Joseph Dwyer was a well to do Dubliner in Victorian Ireland He lived a high life until his father cut him off Joseph faced curtailing his lavish lifestyle - or doing something unthinkable This is the story of how Joseph Dwyer became know as ‘The Gravedigger’ johncrottyauthor.com/spike-island...

The Gravedigger - Dubliner Joseph Dwyer - John Crotty - author

Joseph Dwyer was a well to do Dubliner seeking the high life, but his shocking crime earned the nickname 'the gravedigger' at Spike Island

johncrottyauthor.com

Spike Island is Ireland's historic Island, worthy of UNESCO recognition Yet most people don't know its rich history or global significance Here are 17 short tweets that explain why Ireland's Alcatraz will be known everywhere as a true world wonder (1)

Huge thanks to the Sunday Times for the write up - 'Spike Island in Cork Harbour encapsulates the Irish story better than perhaps any other location. It has been home to a monastery, a fortress and several island prisons' www.thetimes.com/article/71e4... #booksky #books

Behind the bars of Spike Island, Ireland’s Alcatraz

A new book by the former chief executive of the famous jail digs deep into the thorny history of the Cork isle which has hosted four prisons

thetimes.com

The stream by our house is going full Jane Austen this morning, light & mist dancing #ireland #winter