Month: March 2019

A Tourist in Ternopil

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built 1749 – 1779 and, as you will see, exemplifies Ukrainean baroque.

Train to Ternopil

Time for an update from the field. Wednesday and Thursday were all day briefings in a conference centre in Kiev. The content was similar to the briefings in Moldova last month, but there was some material specific to Ukraine and, of course, some observers were on their first mission.

Published
Categorised as Travel

A Brief History of Ukraine

Russian colonisation of Ukraine intensified throughout the 19th century with a ban on the use of the Ukrainian language in schools and publications. Yet, a cultural revival spread in the late 1800s from Galicia, with secret educational groups ( hromadas) infiltrating Russian Ukraine and increasing calls for Ukrainian independence.

A Brief History of Ukraine

Present-day Ukraine was initially inhabited by Scythian tribes from Central Asia who were displaced by Sarmatians and nomadic invaders, namely Goths, Huns and Avars that overran the Ukrainian steppe nearly two millennia ago.

And Quiet Flows the Dnieper

The Dnieper is the fourth longest river in Europe, rising in Russia near Smolensk and flowing through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea; a journey of 1,400 miles.

Published
Categorised as Travel

Blog Lite

There is not going to be much here for the next week or so as today I go to Kyev or as you might prefer Kiev. Presidential election on Sunday.

Freedom

This morning I am taking my first step to freedom. For thirty-nine years I was a serf, a vassal, a wage slave – a Tiny Tim – scurrying to work in the City. Do you remember how Act III of La Bohème opens? Workers are being searched at the gates of Paris as they arrive… Continue reading Freedom

Published
Categorised as Philosophy

Slam Dunk

Mr Justice Holman, a High Court judge well-versed in Family law … sorry, quick digression. Family law almost always is divorce or incredibly unpleasant cases involving child abuse; anything in fact to make for unhappy families.

Published
Categorised as Sport

Martens under the Hood

My grandfather thought that there were pine martens living on the thickly wooded banks of the Boyne at Oldbridge but I have never seen one of these shy creatures.

Published
Categorised as Nature

St Mary Mags

GE Street was a prolific architect in the second half of the 19th century known mainly for his churches. He designed a church in Istanbul to commemorate the Crimean War, some in Ireland and many in England.