Proving we now live in a post-mither world, the Queen of England (and some other countries that haven’t yet got rid of her) is visiting the Republic of Ireland, where dissenting voices are being told to stop living in the past and just get with the programme man, everything’s cool now, so why bring bad vibes to a joyous occasion like this…

Mo chara, is mian leis is fearr ar Lá Fhéile Pádraig, cé acu d’atá sa bhaile nó thar lear. Suas Éirinn, agus suas go dtí Manchester! Lá amháin, beidh muid in a rialú i ndán …

Manchester Irish language group (MILG) is running an Irish Language Arts Festival from September 18-24, launching with a film called Maidin Scannain Gaeilge at the Cornerhouse Cinema, Oxford Road.

The last man hung in this country was Michael Barrett on May 26th 1869. He’d tried to blow up Clerkenwell prison. But the penultimate public hanging on these shores was one that would happen in …