This book tells about the survival of Francisco De Cuellar's, captain of the San Pedro, after the shipwreck off the Sligo coast. He was washed up on Streedagh, injured, and naked. Then he realized he was in danger: twelve of his compatriots were hung in a ruined monastery. He had to hide from troops and some locals until he eventually found refuge with chieftains of the clans O'Rourke and McClancy, before making his way northward to and escaping to Scotland.

This is an extraordinarily bleak account of the survival of Francisco De C ellar's, captain of the San Pedro, shipwrecked off the Sligo coast along with other vessels of the Spanish Armada. Washed up on Streedagh, injured and virtually naked, he faced a series of horrors ashore. Appalled by the sight of the bodies of twelve of his compatriots hanging from the ceiling of a ruined monastery and hounded by English troops and some locals, he bundled his way from horror to horror, in constant fear of capture and certain death in the English garrisoned North Sligo/Leitrim area. He eventually found refuge with chieftains of the clans O'Rourke and McClancy, before making his way northward to and escaping to Scotland.

This book tells about the survival of Francisco De Cuellar's, captain of the San Pedro, after the shipwreck off the Sligo coast. He was washed up on Streedagh, injured, and naked. Then he realized he was in danger: twelve of his compatriots were hung in a ruined monastery. He had to hide from troops and some locals until he eventually found refuge with chieftains of the clans O'Rourke and McClancy, before making his way northward to and escaping to Scotland.

The forty-four-year reign of Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and the last Tudor monarch, was considered a golden age. It saw the emergence of the great playwrights such as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, while the exploits of Sir Francis Drake and other ‘sea-dogs’ helped establish England’s position among the great maritime powers. This book looks at Elizabeth’s life through some of the many artifacts, buildings, documents and institutions that survive to this day. From the execution of her mother, Ann Boleyn, when she was just two-and-a-half-years-old, to her imprisonment on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels, Elizabeth’s early life was a turbulent one, but her accession to the throne ushered in a period of stability. During her reign, England’s wealth and prestige grew through her patronage of seafaring privateers such as Drake, John Hawkins and Walter Raleigh. She encouraged the exploration and colonialization of North America, marking the birth of the British Empire and the establishment of British trade routes. Elizabeth was responsible for expanding the English Navy, its defeat of the Spanish Armada being considered one of England’s greatest military victories. In this magnificently illustrated book we see her birthplace at Greenwich Palace, her childhood homes, her prison in the Tower of London, the palaces she lived in, ruins of stately homes she visited, such as Gorhambury House, Kenilworth House, Upnor Castle and the Elizabethan town walls at Berwick, the many fortifications built during her reign to defend her realm, through to her final resting place in Westminster Abbey. Also found in this fascinating volume are books that she presented to her father and step-mother, Katherine Parr, with the binding embroidered by Elizabeth, her clothes, letters she wrote in her own hand, her coronation chair, her coat of arms asserting her title as Governor of the Church of England and her signature signing the death warrant of her cousin, the 4th Duke of Norfolk. This book is not just a journey back in time to the reign of Elizabeth I, but also a tour across the country to visit the sites which still evoke that golden era of the Virgin Queen.

Richard Hayward made a massive contribution to the cultural life of Ireland. He promoted and acted with the Ulster Literary Theatre and worked with Tyrone Guthrie as one of the first artists in broadcasting. He did much to revive the interest in Irish songs, anticipating the great revival in traditional ballads and airs of the 1960s and 70s. His films included 'The Voice of Ireland', 'The Luck of the Irish'and a cameo appearance in 'The Quiet Man'. His travel writings embrace the whole of Ireland and remain relevant today. This is apparent in his interest in local history and archaeology and also his enthusiasm and respect for the Irish language, place names, folklore and dialects. None of this he found incompatible with his interest in Orangeism and his membership of the Orange order, thus placing him in the long tradition of Irishmen who could love and respect their county, without denigrating the traditions of others.

"'This is the day we thought would never see… Nefarious is back!' Words that spelt trouble and no mistake. For Katie and Dara this would indeed be a day like no other. They could not have known what lay in wait at the foot of the glen. Follow them on a magical journey to Nuh Hollow, an ancient land of myth and mystery, beauty and friendship. Now the Hollow faces its greatest danger as these two human girls will quickly discover. They must help but will it be enough? Welcome to the fairy world, welcome to adventure … welcome to Nut Hollow"--Back cover.