A magnificent gift which was given to former Lord Mayor of Cork Terence MacSwiney and his wife on their day of their wedding has gone on public display for the first time.

The Ford factory in Cork really got into its stride in the 1920s, at it stopped producing tractors and made cars, writes John Dolan.

Paul Maguire on the spectacular success of the fifth battalion of the Dublin Brigade against a large Royal Irish Constabulary force in Ashbourne, Co Meath

The spirit of 1798 was the inspiration for the Rising in Enniscorthy, which, despite the lack of arms proved to be one of the more remarkable episodes of the week, writes Conor McNamara

Austin Stack was blamed by many for the disaster that befell the German guns plan in Kerry, but he played a key role later in the first Dáil, writes Ryle Dwyer

Some of the commentators on the possible outcome of moves to form a government have referred to similar situations that were solved in various ways in 1987, 1989 and 1981-2. It might be instructive also to advert to varied scenarios in 1948, 1951 and 1954.

When Eleanor Burke eventually asked her grandmother why she never spoke about her membership of Cumann na mBan in Kerry, Ellie Rice replied: “We learned not to speak or say anything because one idle word during that period could cause somebody’s death.”

A history of the world in the first half of the 20th century is contained in 17 lots from a Skibbereen autograph collector to be sold at Whyte’s in Dublin on September 20.

According to records held in the archives of the Kerry County Library, in December 1929 the Department of Local Government and Public Health (DLGPH) issued a circular to all Irish local authorities requesting information on "unmarried mothers" in county homes.

The Republic: The Fight for Irish Independence

The late British historian Robert Kee said the one certainty about history is that nothing is certain.

During the first half of the last century, 163 people were officially executed throughout the island — 149 in the 26 counties, and 14 in the North.

THE tension in Ireland over seizing Unionist hostages in the North was raised considerably on Feb 11, 1922, when the IRA in Clones, Co Monaghan, clashed with a group of 19 Ulster Special Constables (USC), travelling from Belfast to Enniskillen by rail.

MY GRANDFATHER, Pat Harris, spoke proudly of marching to Macroom on Easter Monday, 1916, and of being arrested with Terence MacSwiney on August 12, 1920, at a meeting of the officers of Cork No 1 Brigade in Cork’s City Hall. But he never spoke about what the First Cork Brigade did in the two years that followed.

The Reluctant Taoiseach: A biography of John A. Costello

DEFENDING Willie O’Dea on Monday, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said: “I suppose Fine Gael are returning to type. They’ve always tried to get the dirt on people. I think it is despicable, to be honest.” Of course, he undoubtedly meant it is despicable to make false accusations.

Kenny, in effect, was trying to hurt Fianna Fáil by helping Mary Lou McDonald when he criticised Garret FitzGerald for suggesting Fine Gael should transfer votes to Eoin Ryan. At the same time he was trying to have us believe that he would not deal with Sinn Féin. He can’t have it both ways

A rare original copy of the 1916 Proclamation could fetch up to €350,000 when it goes under the hammer this month.

TODAY the Whyte’s history and literature auction of memorabilia is being held in Dublin. Ian Whyte, the managing director of the auctioneering firm, mentioned that the material had been forgotten after the Civil War.

THERE is a story doing the rounds about Alexander Tyler, a history professor at the University of Edinburgh in the 1780s who assessed the collapse of the Athenian Republic.

THIS week Fine Gael has been remembering John A Costello and the 60th anniversary of the Fine Gael-led coalition government that came to power in February 1948.

McCreevy explained he was objecting to Haughey’s leadership because there had been a lowering of political standards, mishandling of the economy, as well as the party’s failure to secure a majority in two successive general elections.

People may argue about the implications of today’s vote for years, or even decades to come, but it is important to bear in mind this is not just a political beauty contest to express a preference for who should be Taoiseach in the next Dáil.

MUCH of the publicity for this week’s Hidden Ireland programme on Frank Aiken projected dark secrets of his past that were to be exposed.

AN awareness campaign by the Society of Archivists aims to promote ‘a network of archival repositories across Ireland, committed to preserving archives — the raw material of our country’s history’.

THERE was some disquiet during the week over the disclosure that G2 (military intelligence) were keeping files on civilians like Anthony Coughlan, as well as the usual suspects who had previously had connections with subversive organisations.

WITH negotiations going on to form a new government in Northern Ireland, this week’s RTÉ documentary on the life of Kevin O’Higgins seemed particularly timely.

THE Government described the recent meeting with Cardinal Desmond Connell and five other members of a delegation from the hierarchy as having been “a useful exchange of views”, and it has agreed to continue contacts with the hierarchy, which has been calling for a reference to God in the new EU constitution, as well as demanding an end to stem cell research.

Ryle Dwyer analyses the events following Collins’ death

Lions fans spent £18m in Australia during the five week rugby tour, it was reported today.