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Colour picture of St. Patrick with the crests of the four provinces above him from the Eucharistic Congress. With the heading 'Eucharistic Celebrations Ireland 1932 The 1500th Anniversary of the coming of St. Patrick to Ireland'

Ireland hosted the Eucharistic Congress in part to celebrate the 1,500th anniversary of the coming of St. Patrick to Ireland.

A black and white photograph of the Irish team on the pitch. Captioned above 'Ireland v. Hungary Budapest, 18th May, 1939. Result - Ireland 2, Hungary 2.' with a list of player underneath the picture.

At first glance it looks as if the Irish soccer team is giving a fascist salute in this picture, which was taken in Budapest. In 1939, Hungary was ruled by a right-wing dictator, and was close to Germany and Italy. But Hungary was not fascist, and while it did have a fascist movement, it was a threat to the ruling regime, and was actually banned in 1939. Some members of that movement, the Arrow Cross, did use a closed-fist salute (the classic fascist salute was open-handed) but the truth is probably more innocuous. Three cheers for Hungary?

A wooden music stand that was used as a lectern by John F Kennedy. on the centre of the stand is a small metal plaque inscribed with 'This stand was used by John F. Kennedy President, United States of America when addressing Dáil and Seanad Eireann in Leinster House 28th June 1963. It was loaned for the occasion by Comdt John P. Brennock Asst Director Army School of Music.'

On 28 June, President John F Kennedy addressed both houses of the Oireachtas. It was a historic visit, not least because Kennedy, a young, dynamic Irish-American, had long made much of his Irish roots. Speaking at this lectern, Kennedy described his heritage, made an attack on literary censorship and noted – to the delight of the assembled politicians – that Leinster House “does not inspire the brightest ideas.”
The ‘lectern’ is actually a music stand that was owned by John Brennock, who bought it in an antique shop on Fishamble Street. During one of many meetings to prepare for President Kennedy’s visit, it was realised that the Dáil chamber did not have a lectern that could be used for a speech – TDs address the Dáil from where they are seated. Mr Brennock offered to lend his music stand to the Oireachtas. By the time the stand was returned – strapped to the top of a car – Kennedy had already been shot.