BACKGROUND The benefits of breastfeeding for babies, mothers and society have been demonstrated in a large scientific literature. Irish rates of breastfeeding are amongst the lowest in Europe (in 2010, Ireland had the lowest breastfeeding initiation rate of 14 European countries). One of the most distinctive features of breastfeeding behaviour in Ireland is the large difference in breastfeeding...

"Ireland experienced dramatic levels of emigration in the century following the Famine of 1845-1849. The paper surveys the recent cliometric literature on post-Famine emigration and its effects on Irish living standards. The conclusions are that the Famine played a significant role in unleashing the subsequent emigration; and that emigration was crucial for the impressive increase in Irish livi...

Despite its apparent popularity in fifteenth-century Ireland—as attested by its presence in eight manuscripts—Stair Fortibrais, the Irish adaptation of the twelfth-century chanson de geste Fierabras has received very little scholarly attention. This fact proves especially unfortunate since the text possesses particular relevance for two important trends in recent scholarship, one concerning Cel...

Introduction: International travel is increasing, yet few studies have reported on country-level death rates among international travelers. The data regarding the death profiles of overseas Irish travelers is insufficient. The current study examined data obtained from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to profile these deaths. Methods: Data...

Irish potatoes is rich in carbohydrate, with varied glucose levels. It is also a very good source of apyrase, an enzyme used for platelet storage. The aim of this study was to explore Irish potatoes as an easily available source for apyrase extraction and purification. Apyrase was extracted from 5 Kg of Irish potatoes. Platelets were derived from 5-10 ml of human whole blood and G6PD activity w...

In "Staging Famine Irish Memories of Migration and National Performance in Ireland and Québec" Jason King examines recent community theater productions about the Irish Famine migration to Québec in 1847. King explores community-based and national ideas of performance and the role of remembrance in shaping and transmitting the diasporic identities of Québec's Irish cultural minority. While most ...