Easter echo of distant drums

PERHAPS the key date in the history of ancient Ireland is that of Good Friday, April 23, 1014, the day of Brian Boru’s victory over the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf.

The key date for modern Ireland is no doubt Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, the date of the Easter Rising.

But Easter is a moveable feast, and this year we shall be commemorating the Easter Rising on March 24, fully a month too soon.