Reflections on the Anglo-Irish Treaty dominated early-morning media on Monday last. The people involved, the divisive result and the Civil War that followed were recognised and remembered.

The Decade of Centenaries and the relevant State commemorations programme which have been running since 2012 try to ensure that this period in our history is remembered “appropriately, proportionately, respectfully and with sensitivity”. It is a recognition of what happened a century ago. Some will agree and some will disagree with the decisions and actions taken and the programme seeks to “promote a deeper understanding of the significant events that took place and recognise that the shared historical experience gave rise to very different narratives and memories”.

The Treaty 1921 – Records from the Archives exhibition opened at Dublin Castle with the Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921 now on public display for the first time in that 100 years.

The National Archives was established to collect, manage and preserve Ireland’s public record, ensuring their availability as a resource for everyone

Admission is free and it can be booked online at www.nationalarchives.ie. The National Archives was established to collect, manage and preserve Ireland’s public record, ensuring their availability as a resource for everyone. The records recount the Ireland’s social, cultural, economic and political history.

We have an archive room here in the Irish Farm Centre which holds a paper copy of every issue of the Irish Farmers Journal since it was first published in 1948. Occasionally I will be asked to locate a picture or an article about someone that featured in the paper.

Being asked to locate that picture shows the value our readers place on being featured in the paper

The person pictured or referenced may have passed away or it may be that their family is marking an occasion. Being asked to locate that picture shows the value our readers place on being featured in the paper. It is recognition of their contribution to agriculture and Irish farming history and culture.

Last week, our team here in Irish Country Living were delighted to be recognised for the work that we do. When announcing that we were the winners of the NewsBrands Newspaper Magazine of the Year 2021, judge Trevor White commented on Irish Country Living’s “compelling journalism and obvious determination to broaden its own readership”. We are doing that thanks to the feedback and correspondence that we receive from you, our readers. I attribute Irish Country Living’s broad appeal to the weekly efforts put in by the team to have “something for everyone” in the family home which is guided by this feedback. Thank you for that.

We often have lively debates on topics and that is what enables us to reflect a diverse range of views and stories

I want to thank all our contributors who stuck with us through COVID-19 when we were unsure what was going to happen. Most importantly I want to thank my team. Their passion for their work comes across in every single issue. We often have lively debates on topics and that is what enables us to reflect a diverse range of views and stories. Our team is supported too by our colleagues in photography, Traction, commercial and the editorial staff of the Irish Farmers Journal who will often come forward with features that they are passionate about which fit within Irish Country Living. COVID-19 has challenged our team to be a source of factual information relevant to our readership but also to provide some escape from a changed world. The recognition provided by this award means a lot to us and provides the encouragement to continue to tell the stories of rural Ireland.

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Irish Country Living named Newsbrands Newspaper Magazine of the Year

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