Séamas O'Reilly: How the Irish have come to rule pop culture — and push for progress

“We flagellate ourselves too much in Ireland” said Donal Ryan at one of the talks, when the subject of the mother and baby homes came up. “But we congratulate ourselves a lot too” replied Caoilinn Hughes, to a consensus of laughter.

Cillian Murphy mural, based on the film Small Things Like These, painted in New Ross on the entrance to the town from the Wexford side. Photo; Mary Browne

I’ve had a few days filled with those small coincidences you file under “small world”, and especially the sub-category of that folder that’s specifically about the Irish abroad. 

I spent most of last weekend with my mother-in-law, Marian.