A Royal Scandal Averted

© The Publisher

Full title: Scandal & Betrayal: Shackleton and the Irish Crown Jewels

Creator / Author: John Cafferky and Kevin Hannafin

Item Type / Page count: Book / 319pp

When Published: 2002

Publisher / Place of Publication: The Collins Press / West Link Park, Doughcloyne, Wilton, Cork.

About: The theft of the Irish Crown Jewels from Dublin Castle in 1907 continues to fascinate, not least because of the official suppression and/or disappearance of vital evidence. In this well-researched book, the authors detail the highly-charged politics of the time and explain how the jewels could have disappeared from one of the most high-security locations in the country. They also present a convincing theory of the reason for the jewels removal and why they may still be in existence. During the course of their research, the authors were even confronted with an elaborate hoax which they succeeded in disproving.

ID number(s): 1903464250

Contents: List of Illustrations — Who’s Who — Preface — The Rise and Fall of Arthur Vicars — Ireland: A Land of Discontent — Sir Antony Patrick MacDonnell and Devolution — The Aberdeens Return to Ireland — Homosexuality Within the Royal Household — The King’s Arrival — The Kane Report — Infernal Telegrams — `I’ll have no Scandal’ — The Government Procrastinates — Enter The O’Mahony – Champion of Causes — MacDonnell Takes Charge — The Inquiry — Tidying Up — Conclusion — Epilogue: Our Initital Investigation.

Appendix I Last Will and Testament of Sir Arthur Vicars — Appendix II Author’s Comment on Sir Arthur’s Will — Appendix III Inspector Lowe’s Report — Appendix IV Statement of Sir Arthur Vicars — Appendix V Supplementary Statement of Sir Arthur Vicars — Appendix VI Statutes of the Order of St. Patrick, Concerning the Custodianship of the Insignia — Appendix VII Letter from The O’Mahony to Augustine Birrell, the Chief Secretary for Ireland – June 1908 — Appendix VIII Letter from `The O’Mahony’ to Augustine Birrell, the Chief Secretary for Ireland – July 1913 — Appendix IX The Wyndham/MacDonnell Correspondence — Appendix X Estimates from Schedule submitted by Sir Arthur Regarding the Safe — Notes — Bibliography.

WW Connection #1: The custodian of the Irish Crown Jewels at the time of their disappearance was Sir Arthur Vicars, who had links with Grangecon in West Wicklow. He was a half-brother of Pierce (O’) Mahony (The O’Mahony) of Grangecon Demesne and would have stayed there regularly. Afterwards, Pierce O’Mahony took up a spirited campaign to save Vicars from dismissal, but was unsuccessful. Vicars was Hon. Secretary to the County Kildare Archaeological Society from its inception in 1891 until 1920. For the years 1909-1920, his address is listed as Grange Con, although this may have been for correspondence purposes. He also contributed an article ‘Notes on Grange Con, Co.Wicklow’ to the January 1902 issue of the Society’s Journal.

WW Connection #2: One of the employees in the Office of Arms was Pierce Gun Mahony, son of Pierce Mahony (above) and nephew of Sir Arthur Vicars. He was the only person to keep his job following the controversy.

WW Connection #3: One of the chief suspects in the disappearance of the jewels was Frank Shackleton, brother of explorer Ernest whose family had connections with nearby Kilkea and Ballitore.

Extra #1: Includes eight pages of photographs.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #4: Browse the 1901 Census entry for Mahony Family in Grangecon.

Extra #5: Browse the 1911 Census entry for Mahony Family in Grangecon.

Bunbury’s Offbeat History of Ireland

© The Publisher
 (cover illustrations: Joe McLaren)

Full title: Ireland’s Forgotten Past: a history of the overlooked & disremembered

Creator / Author: Turtle Bunbury

Item Type / Page count: Book / 223p

When Published: 2020

Publisher / Place of Publication: Thames & Hudson Ltd. / 181A High Holborn, London WC1V 7Q

About: In thirty-six short chapters, the author recounts brief episodes from the span of Irish history. Some of these may be familiar, but most will not be widely-known. All, however, are interesting and are presented in an accessible and engaging way by this bestselling writer. A glance at the contents listing below will give some idea of the range of the subjects covered.

ID number(s): 9780500022535 / 9780500296363

Chapters: Introduction — Of Tetrapods and Volcanic Rings — It Starts with a Bear — Neolithic Stargazers — The Bell-Beakers — The Bog Toghers — Roman Hibernia — Pagan Christians & Holy Wells — High Crosses of the Kingdom of Ossory — The Ui Dunlainge Kings of Leinster — Sitric Silkbeard & Queen Gormflaith — The Knights Templar of Ireland — Rohesia’s Castle — Great Scot: Edward the Bruce’s Invasion of Ireland — Prince Lionel Comes to Carlow — Great Pretenders & Warring Roses — The Midland Shires — Sir William Stanley, Public Enemy No. 1 — Rise & Fall: The Maguires of Fermanagh — Cromwell’s Tailor  — The Byerley Turk: A Warhorse on the Boyne — The Lixnaw Project — Joshua Dawson, Spymaster — Lord Rosse & the Hell-Fire Club — The Butcher’s Column — Peg Plunkett, Queen of Vice — The Cherokee Club — Gold Fever in Avoca — Medicinal Springs — The Night of the Big Wind — The Crimean Banquet — The Prince of Wales & the Curragh Wren  — John Henry Foley, Sculptor of an Empire — Bloody Balfour’s Kindly Deeds — Queen Victoria’s Dublin Visit, 1900 — Killer Gas in the Great War — Operation Shamrock — Epilogue: The Power of Remembrance — Bibliography — Acknowledgements — Index.

WW Connection #1: The author attended primary school in Baltinglass.

Extra #1: Profusely illustrated in black and white by Joe McLaren.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #4: Link to the Author’s website http://www.turtlebunbury.com

Extra #5: Link to the Publisher’s website www.thamesandhudson.com