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SOME PEOPLE MIGHT wonder why Ireland’s historical artefacts are important, but it has always been my opinion that anything that can tell us about our Irish history should be valued.
Objects can tell us startling stories, like the stone for an ancient ceremonial axe found in the west of Ireland came from the Alps, or that the man who brought a beautiful gold ornament to these islands grew up thousands of kilometres to the east.
Each object, each real thing, was handled by people who walked before us. Looking at the object opens the door a crack for us to see back, to know a bit more what it was like to live then – to know, even, that the Neolithics made handbags.
Objects can put us in touch with the past in a direct and immediate way, but they also help us to a more complex understanding of the past.
When journalist Fintan O’Toole started a series in The Irish Times in collaboration with the National Museum of Ireland, with the idea to promote Irish objects, we at the Royal Irish Academy thought it was a wonderful idea so we offered to publish the book. Every week he chose the objects starting with the earliest, the Mesolithic Fish Trap, and then it ran chronologically through 8,000 years of Irish history. People were really interested and it was a huge success – and now the book is ready, A History of Ireland in 100 Objects.
What many people might not know is that The Royal Irish Academy held the treasure trove of historical objects before the National Museum was set up, so we had bought things like the Tara Brooch, Ardagh Chalice and a lot of the gold in the 1800s to preserve it for the nation.
So how would we determine what are Ireland’s favourite objects? We thought the best way would be through a public vote and exhibition, so that the people of Ireland could choose the final objects in the book. The Object for Our Times exhibition opened in November and we ended up including two of the objects chosen by popular vote: the Anglo-Irish bank sign and a decommissioned IRA gun to mark the fragile peace in Northern Ireland.
When the project started, the designer of the Anglo-Irish logo got in touch with us. I was struck by how you can create something beautiful, as he did, based on a flint arrowhead in the Museum, which then becomes associated with the crash, with reckless lending. Talking with him gave me the chance to look at the design again, without all the Anglo baggage.
I do have a favourite. I love the Corleck Head, the three-faced two-thousand year old sculpture. It has a golden glow about it and the simplicity makes it feel modern, I’d love to have it in my house. Its three faces see everywhere simultaneously – a useful asset in a house of tiny children.
Ireland has so many beautiful artefacts so, to mark the EU Presidency, it’s been decided that A History of Ireland in 100 Objects should be given as a gift from the people of Ireland to the people of the world for St Patrick’s Day. We want the world to be able to see what we have to show, so now they can, across all platforms.
The RIA’s remit is to disseminate knowledge, so I am only too pleased that some of Ireland’s finest objects can be easily viewed on laptops, tablets and smartphones.
I hope people will take an interest in the objects that are local to them, but also that many more people from abroad will get a little taste of what Ireland’s history and culture has to offer.
Ruth Hegarty is the Managing Editor of The Royal Irish Academy. The book, A History of Ireland in 100 Objects, cost €30 and is available in all bookshops. The downloadable e-version, app or e-book is free until the end of March and can be downloaded here.
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It should be banned.. Too many greyhounds suffer because of this trade . The mass graves around the country prove that there is no love for the animal here. It’s all about money. These greyhounds are a living breathing creature. Amount of greyhounds needing homes in this country is very high and they are complete pets. Don’t support this industry. It’s a cruel one
Totally agree, so many dumped bodies of Grey Hounds found here in Limerick and no one to answer to it. Our local Animal shelter is full of them, a lot are extreme cruelty cases. Usually the dogs ears are cut off so the authorities cannot identify the owners tattoo/ Brand that racing dogs are given.they suffer so badly after they no longer win races. Should be banned end of story.
My posts with facts are being removed, but please look the stats up – how many greyhounds are killed in pounds, how many dumped, how many estimated killed and dumped. In just one year on a small island. And then make your decision if this industry is worth supporting in any way.
Just know when you go the track that the few select greyhounds in the trap, came from mass breeding and the other dogs who didn’t meet the grade get dumped.
You bet they die!
And they make great pets! I know first hand! Rescue a pointy!!!
Derby was held last week..not standing room at shelbourne park..packed out. Brilliant sport. Ya always have the doom and gloom club.
Are you involved in rescue???Coz I presume you don’t so therefore the doom and gloom club are most likely the people picking up the horrible pieces to this industry. And the ones going to these places are the ones keeping it going… Do you even know half of what goes on in this seedy business?
Systemic problem from Alabama to Limerick!! It’s not an isolated incident and to think so is just delusional.
The statistics for Greyhounds destroyed in Ireland don’t even have to be released! Strange that! I wonder why? All the pounds release the figures for other breeds.
But sure who cares once a couple of fat guys have a flutter and add to their beer bellies at the track right?
http://www.greyhoundfriendsforlife.org/press_release.htm
http://www.thejournal.ie/mass-grave-for-racing-greyhounds-discovered-in-limerick-413486-Apr2012/
Amazing, I provided stats for how many greys are killed in pounds and my posts were removed.
Can the journal please explain this as I seen your posts ! Put the stats back on the comment section.
Hi Gastrophase – stats on the number of greyhounds being killed in pounds are fine, but personal comments about those involved in the industry are not. Here’s our comments policy if you want to have a quick read: http://www.thejournal.ie/comments-policy/
427 greyhounds killed in 2013 in pounds alone. Huge numbers dumped into overflowing, stretched rescues. Who knows how many killed and buried… reports of mass graves. Dogs dumped in the fields with their ears cut off to remove ID tattoos.
See section on greyhounds: http://www.animaladvocacy.ie/pound-statistics-2005-2013/
If I’m not allowed to name such practices please everyone arrive at your own conclusion as to what kind of person does this and what kind of person associates with them.
If you want to make a difference please support a greyhound charity instead.
Just because a small minority treat greyhounds badly doesn’t mean you can brand the whole industry cruel. If that was the case you should ban people from having pets just because some ignorant people treat their pets badly. Prosecute the individual don’t punish the whole group
John, this is usually a noble sentiment I often tend to agree with, but if you compare the number of greyhound racing owners in Ireland and the huge numbers of dogs killed/dumped I quoted, it’s easy to see that far from being an exception, the cruelty seems to be widespread and the industry is demonstrably either unwilling or incapable of purging itself of such owners.
I totally agree with you modern day Ireland
‘Modern Day Ireland’, and others that have commented. Thank you,it’s good to see people tell the truth about this so called ‘sport’. When those that claim this is humane etc realise the truth behind the marketing nonsense, they too will realise what cruelty and abuse is involved. Look at the countless videos on YouTube that show the truth behind this money making business, and you too will, I hope, realise there’s only one thing that drives this industry… Money, no different to $eaworld in the US and circuses forcing wild animals to perform tricks in a tent with loud music and screaming ignorant people applauding. The wilful ignorance of certain members of the human race never fails to astound me. ‘It’s all about me, I don’t care about the animal suffering, once I have an enjoyable day out at their expense’. Lovely sentiment!
“…Joe Lewins said the partnership was a “win for all involved”…” yep all except the dogs! Here’s an example from just this week of the cruelty commonly inflicted, this greyhound was lucky enough to end up at Deise Animal Sanctuary http://goo.gl/yzQKG1 & http://goo.gl/4EsVvr
The greyhound industry as a whole is vile and cruel. Between doping the dogs to manufacture the odds, and the murdering of countless dogs every year because they are deemed useless, numerous cases of greyhounds ears being cut off when they’re dumped so they can’t be traced, and most recently a hound had its tattoo burned off with acid… it’s absolutely disgusting. The sooner it is outlawed the better. People need to wake up. The rescue centres are on their knees trying to clean up the mess the igb have created. If people want to watch racing, or bet on a sport try formula 1 or football, and don’t bet on an animals life…
Hare coursing is the worst scandal affecting the greyhound “industry…and the government blithely supports it. On August 13th, the minister for arts and heritage was quoted in the media, and on her department’s official website, as condemning the illegal shooting of a protected peregrine falcon. She stated “It is intolerable for birds of prey and other wildlife to be persecuted, poisoned or shot.” She also expressed concern that the incident might impugn our international image as a nation that treasures its wildlife heritage.
Less than forty eight hours later, Minister Humphreys issued a license permitting the capture of hares for coursing, in which they will serve as live bait for greyhounds. Thousands of the timid creatures will be netted in the Irish countryside. A percentage will die as a result of bone breakages and other internal injuries sustained when they become entangled in the nets and struggle to break free.
Some hares will die in captivity- an unnatural situation for an animal accustomed to the freedom of the wide open spaces. Others again will be found dead in the small cramped boxes in which they are transported to the coursing venues. And on coursing day a percentage will be mauled or forcibly struck by the muzzled but hyped-up greyhounds.
The minister issued the hare coursing license despite numerous appeals from animal protection and conservation groups not to do so and several online petitions that attracted thousands of signatures from people around the world. It would appear, to paraphrase one of the characters in Orwell’s Animal Farm, to be a case of “Two claws good, four legs bad” as far as the minister’s attitude to our wildlife heritage is concerned.
I think I can safely predict that hare coursing will be banned SOME DAY in Ireland. It amounts to a form of deliberate cruelty to animals in the name of “sport” and has no scientific or pest control value. It has already been banned in several jurisdictions that once allowed it, such as Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, England and Wales, and most recently, Northern Ireland.
I also predict that a future government here, after banning it, will apologise for the fact that such a barbaric practice took so long to abolish. Where would we be without the good old Irish government apology that comes late in the day… when it is safe to render and won’t cost a single vote?
In the meantime, the hares must continue to run for their lives thanks to our present crop of cowardly politicians.
Anyone reading this who believes this vile , cruel and ignorant sport is about the dogs needs to wake up, the majority of greyhound trainers and owners in this country dont give a toss about the dogs … Look at the figures , its all about money, thomas Brophy , wakey wakey do you not see the disgusting images and stories carried here and on other social media re the plight of greys in this country ,
Ban greyhound racing , disband the IGB and close the tracks. , then maybe the dogs will have a chance.
Clearly plenty people here have bigger gobs than any actual real knowledge about anything to do with greyhounds. Plenty people who have greyhounds treat them very well just like any other family pet. Just because some people are heartless and couldn’t care less about the dogs or anything doesn’t mean the other 99% them should be treated with the same brush!
Well statistics show another side to it… Do you race your pet??? I know plenty of greyhound owners who are fantastic owners they do not race them.. Have you every had to pick up a poor beaten down soul abandoned in the middle of no where or witness one being dumped out of a car. These dogs are getting an awful doing just educate yourself with the rescues .. We are voicing our concern of what the gambling industry has done to these beautiful creatures and how man does not view them as anything but a quick bet. There are mass graves all around the country. This industry is not good for the welfare of the greyhound. They serve their purpose and then that’s it.. Most don’t have a good life after this… So if you love your greyhound like a pet you will understand why we are frustrated at this old sport still equals countless of abuse cases…
Stop there only dogs here for our fun nothing else
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