Enech - Old Irish word meaning both 'face' and 'honour'. Also a legal term linked to conformity with social/martial norms and truthfulness in general. Related is óg-na-enech, 'honour price' (a person's worth), enech-gris: a fine for 'raising a blush on a face'.

Crannóg's are partial or completely artificial islands built on lakes and rivers and estuarine waters in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Starting in the European Neolithic period c. 4500 BC–1700 BC.

Archaeological illustrations from Alan Braby.

http://www.ricciogallery.com/alan-braby

February 22nd 1797 In support of the United Irishmen, Irish-American William Tate landed 1400 French troops in Fishguard, Wales in what would be known as the "Last invasion of Britain". The invasion did not go as planned & resulted in an unconditional surrender.

"The Haggis Feast", by Alexander Fraser.

Today is Burns Night.

#OnThisDay 1921 Six IRA Volunteers were executed in Victoria (Collins) Barracks, Cork. Five of whom had been captured at the Dripsey ambush. Cannon O'Sullivan said "they rose with absolute calmness, took leave of their companions & solemnly blessed each other’

The Hill of Uisneach, the ancient centre of Ireland and meeting point of the four provinces. The goddess Ériu, after whom Ireland is named, lies buried underneath the Cat Stone - an early kingship monolith. Co Westmeath

County Longford gets its name from 'An Longphort', which means 'Viking stronghold'. However the Vikings never settled the county - Rather the name refers to Norse-style forts built up by the Irish on the River Shannon.

County Offaly is named after the Gaelic kingdom of Uí Failghe, which existed from 500 AD up until the Tudor plantations. Failghe, its first king, was a contemporary of St Patrick, ‘whom the saint blessed and from whom the rulers of Offaly descend.’

County Carlow gets its name from Old Irish cethrae ('cattle, herd, flock'), which is related to the word ceathar ('four') and therefore means 'plane of four-legged animals'.

[Black Castle, Leighlinbridge]

County Laois is named after the ancient territory of Uí Laoighis, meaning 'people of Lugaid Laígne'. Lugaid was granted lands after driving out enemies from Munster. From 1556 it was known as Queen's County, after Queen Mary.

[Rock of Dunamase]