'The Flight of the Earls' was a phrase coined by English officials in Dublin within one week of O'Neill's departure. The word 'flight' had legal implications: they left without permission, thus broke all treaties with England. The Ulster Plantations could now begin.

Route taken by the Earls of Ulster, 1607:

After the war in Ireland, both France and Spain made peace with England, so could not help 'traitors' to the English Crown. The Ulster Earls had no choice but to winter at the Irish College in Louvain, then to seek exile in Rome.

Franciscan church of San Pietro in Montorio, Rome where the great earl of Tyrone, Hugh O'Neill is buried; one of the leading figures in the Catholic war (Nine Years War 1594-1603) against Queen Elizabeth.

Mount Errigal, the tallest peak in Donegal, was once a land surrogate for the god Lugh. To the north, 14 km off the coast, lies Tory Island, mythical home of the evil giant Balor. These ancient cosmological 'poles' could be the source for Tolkien's Minas Tirith & Sauron's Tower

Balor Of The Evil Eye was the Irish mythical king of the Formorians. He was a giant with one large eye in the middle of his forehead, when opened the eye wreaks destruction. He ruled all Ireland from his foreboding glass tower at Dún Bhaloir, Tory Island.

Ladies who lunch. Guinness employees enjoying their complimentary drink of the day, 1960's.

The Floozie in the Jacuzzi. O'Connell Street in the 1980's.

Otherwise known as Anna Livia, who was a character in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake. She is the personification of the River Liffey.

In November 1960, The first Aer Lingus Boeing 707 Jet, Padraig, arrives at Dublin Airport.

This day 96 years ago – 6 December 1922 – the Irish Free State was formally established.

As reported on the day: “The Irish people will make their own laws, shape their own progress, establish their own traditions of government. Their future will be what they choose to make it.”

Anti-communist oratory from IRA volunteer Jimmy Steele that saw him purged from IRA by Cathal Goulding in 1969.

"One is expected to be more conversant with the teaching of Chairman Mao than those of our dead patriots"

On This Day 1883: Birth in Dublin of Peadar Kearney, songwriter, revolutionary & house-painter! Best known for writing the words of "The Soldier's Song" ("Amhrán na bhFiann"), the Irish national anthem. Uncle of Irish writers Brendan Behan, Brian Behan & Dominic Behan.