Wilson A. Barnes, 93, the father of Bill Barnes, died in Seattle April 16

TCD RE-BRANDING - Dublin's Trinity College, known as Trinity or TCD, is undergoing a re-branding initiative and will in future use the formal name of "Trinity College, the University of Dublin" in official communications. The redesign includes a changed logo with the number of colors reduced from five to two: blue and white. The changed logo retains the four original images on the shield, although the lion appears less dragonlike, the harp less ornate, the castle loses its drawbridge and the Bible with clasps is replaced by an open book. The university was founded in 1592 as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth.

IRISH-AMERICAN PROTESTANTS - In the American imagination, to be Irish is to be Catholic, but in fact, most Irish-Americans are not Catholic. Studies show that nearly half of all Irish-Americans are Protestant while only a third are Catholic. Studies also show that many Americans claim to be Irish even if only part of their ancestry is Irish, partly because being Irish in America is something to be proud of. A study examining how 4.5 million Irish Immigrants became 40 million Irish-Americans concludes that Americans like to think of themselves as being Irish, even if what it means to be Irish is not the same for everyone. See more at religionnews.com.

FAMINE COMMEMORATIONS - Ireland's 2014 National Famine Commemoration will take place in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon on May 11 and the International Famine Commemoration will be held in New Orleans from November 7-9. To get an idea of how bad things were during the Irish Famine, read a letter dated March 1, 1847, which was written by some English visitors to Cork and has since been published as a booklet. The writer describes it as "merely an account of what was seen and heard by two Gentlemen during a stay of twenty-four hours in a small town in the south of Ireland".

FAMINE HEROES - The 2014 National Famine Commemoration will also try to recognize Heroes of the Great Irish Famine, to acknowledge the generosity of ordinary people and the many communities outside Ireland that sent assistance to Ireland and also welcomed those who were forced to emigrate. Among the groups that sent money to Ireland for famine relief in the 1840s were the Chocataw Indians in Oklahoma, the Jewish Community in New York, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and the Committee of Colored Citizens in Philadelphia. Abraham Lincoln, who had just been elected to the House of Representatives, also donated £5! For more information, visit irishfamine.ie.

SINGING PRIEST - A Co. Westmeath priest's surprise song during a wedding in Oldcastle, Co. Meath, brought the bride and groom to tears and the performance has since become a sensation on YouTube with over 33 million viewers. The priest has now been inundated with requests to perform weddings and offers to sing, including from the US where he has agreed to perform in New York on Tuesday May 13, to support the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform.

SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE - The LA Times writes of Scotland's upcoming vote for independence from Britain and, comparing Scotland to Ireland, says "Ireland is different from Scotland in that historically the Irish were reluctant and repressed subjects of the crown, while the Scots entered the union voluntarily and as equals."

CORK #1 - Cork has topped a list of under-rated cities that tourists should see in their lifetime. In a list of 'overlooked' cities worth a visit, the Huffington Post named Cork for its 'welcoming, laid back vibe.' The online travel feature captures an evening river scene of Cork's St Patrick's Bridge and refers to the city's less used title as 'the real capital.' "Dublin, the actual capital is great. But if you're looking for a city that is easy to navigate, with locals that are friendly and welcoming, and a laid-back vibe, Cork is for you". Cork was also named among the top 10 best cities to visit in the Lonely Planet Guide's 'Best in Travel' 2010.

SHEEP-SHEARING - The Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing Championships are being held in Gorey, Co Wexford, starting on May 17 and organizers must supply more than 6,000 sheep for the world's top shearers. The competition uses female sheep, 12 to 14 months old and coming from breeds such as Texel, Suffolk and Cheviot. 25 competing countries have confirmed their attendance and 30,000 spectators are expected.

WILD ATLANTIC WAY - Starting from Derry and traveling along the coast up to Malin Head in Donegal, Ireland's most northern point, and then south along the west coast to Mizen head in Cork, Ireland's most southern point, and ending in Kinsale, the Wild Atlantic Way is now the longest fully-signposted driving route in the world. Presenting a huge array of potential stopping-off points and stretching for 1,553 miles, it can be traveled by car, by bicycle or on foot. It is easy to navigate, sign-posted all the way, with 157 'Discovery Points' where travelers can learn more about must-see and lesser-known spots. See a map of the entire route at FailteIreland.ie.

LEGAL INDEPENDENCE - The Irish legal system has been ranked the second highest in Europe for its perceived level of judicial independence, according to a new survey. The 2014 EU Justice Scoreboard has also ranked the country's judges the highest for participation in continuous training in European law. The scoreboard attempts to address the overall efficiency of judicial mechanisms in each country.

1916 Easter Rising Newsreel

AFRO-IRISH ISLAND - The Caribbean island of Montserrat is the only country in the world outside of Ireland where St. Patrick's Day is a national holiday. The tiny island is not much bigger than Inis Mór, one of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay. In the mid-1600s, the Irish made up 70% of the country's population and Montserratians still celebrate their Irish roots.

BORU PAINTING - A nearly 200-year-old painting of the Battle of Clontarf that has been on display in Hawaii since the 1990s, has been moved to its new home in Dublin as part of the 2014 Battle of Clontarf celebrations. The painting was completed in 1826, and had remained in Ireland until American philanthropist George Isaac purchased it 35 years ago. Isaac, who has Irish roots, donated the painting to the Isaacs Art Centre in Hawaii where it was displayed since the 1990s. Measuring 10 feet by 6½ feet, it depicts Irish king Brian Boru overlooking the battle being fought at Howth, Co Dublin. An Irish private equity firm Kildare Partners has now purchased the painting.

FREEDOM BELL - Dublin's "freedom bell", a Catholic Church bell which rang in Dublin 200 years ago in breach of the Penal Laws, will be restored as part of a €620 million tourism investment. A priest defied penal laws by tolling the bell in 1811, 18 years before Catholic emancipation was passed by the British Parliament. He faced charges, but was successfully defended by O'Connell, then a young lawyer. Legend has it that O'Connell rang the bell to celebrate emancipation in 1829, creating the crack which remains visible today.

DISNEY CONNECTIONS - The Disney Store on Dublin's Grafton Street is one of the family entertainment giant's top five retail stores out of a total of 88 Disney retail stores across Europe. Walt Disney, who founded the company with his brother in 1923, had Irish ancestry, with his great-grandfather, Arundel Elias Disney, born in Kilkenny in 1801. Today, the company's links to Ireland are more of the business variety, with two Irish animation studios, Brown Bag Films and Boulder Media, creating series for its children's television channels.

NORN IRON GIRL - In 1981, a 13-year-old girl in Northern Ireland kept a diary and, thirty-three years later, the diary's owner is now live-tweeting her 1981 diary entries day-by-day and the results are funny and touching, reminding us of what life was like for a 13 year old in Northern Ireland in 1981 during the hunger strikes while dealing with teenage angst, boys, and the pop charts.

OLDER DRIVERS - Older drivers planning to rent a car in Ireland should verify requirements ahead of time as requirements vary from company to company. For example, Sixt Rental Cars says that renters under 25 and over 78 must produce a note from their insurance company showing that they have been driving accident free for the past five years. Hertz has a long list of requirements for clients over 75: to be driving on a regular basis, to provide a letter from their insurance company stating that they have not had an accident within the last 5 years, and they must bring a current copy of their policy with them along with a letter from their doctor stating they have been in good health. Written proof of CDW and Theft Protection coverage in Ireland will also be required.

• Watch a Winter Roadtrip in Connemara
• Many cars, particularly in the eastern part of Ireland, were covered in a fine, reddish dust overnight in late March. The cause was desert sand from North Africa blown to Ireland by strong winds
• Only 6% of Irish farmers are under 35 while 26% are over 65
• In a vote passed by 30 votes with none against, Belfast City Council has formally invited Pope Francis to visit the city
• Among Time Travel Ireland's great places to visit is Fore Abbey, Co. Westmeath
• The word Shamrock comes from the Irish, seamair-óg or young clover
• A video of a Year In Dublin
• 7 days in Ireland is a video showcasing a whirlwind adventure
• Irish women and French women share the title of being the most fertile women in Europe, having an average of 2.01 children each

Seanfhocal - Proverb

Ni beireann cailin dathuil an citeal

Beauty doesn't boil the kettle

Slán go fóillín, Goodbye for now!

John Keane