In Irish mythology, Cuchulainn was a formidable leader and the main character in the "Ulster Cycle" of poems, which can be considered the Irish counterpart to England's Arthurian legends. One poem in this cycle is "Serglige Con Culaind & Oenét Emire," translated as "The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn" or "The Wasting Sickness of Cú Chulaind." In the story, Cuchulainn is taken ill when he is attacked in a dream by two women with horsewhips (he lay asleep in his sickbed for a year as

On 6 July 1957, a 16-year-old John Lennon played a church fete in Woolton and was introduced to a 15-year-old Paul McCartney in a Scout hut. The man who brought them together was Ivan Vaughan, who was born on the exact same day as McCartney.

Paul McCartney’s song "Blackbird" on the Beatles' White Album is often compared to Lennon's "Julia" for its tender qualities, possibly making it one of the most delicate songs in the band's entire repertoire. Inspired by a Bach piece that McCartney and George Harrison had learned in their youth, the finger-picked acoustic guitar in "Blackbird" gives it a folk lullaby feel. However, the song's complex time signatures and delicate melody made it challenging to record, with Abb

In 1908, London saw a bizarre spectacle: duels fought not with lead but wax bullets. Competitors donned masks and armour for this “bloodless sport” that blurred the line between honour and entertainment. Discover the short life of wax bullet duelling

The concept of concentration camps is often associated with Nazi Germany, but their origins stretch deep into British history. Over the past century, the British government has employed these camps during conflicts both at home and abroad. From the Boer War in South Africa to the internment of civilians on the Isle of Man, the establishment of Polish-run camps in Scotland during World War II, and the exploitation of forced labour, concentration camps have played a recurring r

In May 1960, a Mossad agent stepped out on a quiet Buenos Aires street and uttered three words of broken Spanish. What happened next would expose the Holocaust to the world — and produce one of the most debated trials of the twentieth century. “Un momentito, Señor.” They were the only three words Israeli intelligence Peter Malkin knew in Spanish, but they were about to change the course of history. Malkin uttered the words to a balding Mercedes-Benz factory worker headed home

The QI trio of John Lloyd, James Harkin and Anne Miller have compiled a book called “2,024 QI Facts To Stop You In Your Tracks”. Behold the fascinating anecdote elucidating David Attenborough’s influence on tennis: "The introduction of yellow tennis balls, aesthetically superior for color television, can be credited to David Attenborough during his tenure as Controller of BBC2. (Previously, they were white.)" Veteran tennis aficionados may fondly recall the era of white tenni

Cecil Beaton had only one shoot with Marilyn Monroe, which took place at the Ambassador Hotel in New York in February 1956. The actress turned up at his suite 90 minutes late and in his diary Beaton admitted that he was: “startled, then disarmed, by her lack of inhibition”. The photographer compared the actress to ‘an over-excited child asked downstairs after tea’ and added: “The initial shyness over, excitement has now got the better of her. She romps, she squeals with delig

Benito Mussolini had dreamt of rebuilding the Roman Empire, but by 1945 his dreams, just like the crumbling Roman Forum, were in in ruins. The 61-year-old Italian dictator who sought to become a modern-day Julius Caesar had first risen to power more than two decades earlier when he became prime minister in 1922. “Il Duce” allied himself with fellow fascist Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany in World War II , but his outdated Italian military was badly outclassed. By July 1943,

Throughout the world, Jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald's voice is celebrated by millions. However, what's lesser known is her profound friendship with Marilyn Monroe, whom Fitzgerald acknowledged as someone to whom she "owe[s] a real debt." In the 1950s, while touring under the guidance of Norman Granz, Ella Fitzgerald faced significant hurdles because of her race, echoing the experiences of numerous African-American musicians of that time. Especially in the Jim Crow states, racia

For over half a century, photographer Ron Galella got up close – often far too personal – with some of the world’s biggest celebrities. His unrelenting style and invasive camera lens helped to shape the modern idea of celebrity, capturing unguarded moments on the streets and in the nightclubs of New York and Los Angeles. Whether invited or not, Galella's snapshots became iconic, yet his methods made him one of the most controversial figures in photography. From being punched

Dirk Bogarde, whose real name was Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde, was serving as a captain in the British Army at the time of Bergen-Belsen’s liberation. While his primary duties were not directly related to the camp’s liberation, Bogarde arrived at Bergen-Belsen shortly after its discovery. His experience there left an indelible mark on his psyche, and he would later describe the horrors he witnessed in rare and carefully chosen words. Though Bogarde was no

Julie d’Aubigny known as La Maupin fought duels loved women and became one of France’s greatest opera stars all while ignoring nearly every rule of her time

The duel between the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchilsea stands out in British history as a notable example of how personal honour and political disputes were sometimes settled in the early 19th century. This duel, which took place on March 21, 1829, encapsulates the intense political and religious divisions of the time. Background: The Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, is one of Britain's most famous military figures, known for his decisi

Explore the heart-wrenching stories of Victorian Christmas In Prison - 1872. Discover the individuals and their crimes during this chilly holiday season.

Around 1900, photographer Horace Warner documented the children of London's Spitalfields slums. A third didn't survive. This is the story of those who did, and the man who made sure they weren't forgotten.

John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd’s turn as “Joliet” Jake and Elwood Blues always walked a cheerful line between comedy and genuine musical devotion. Their origins were suitably odd. Back in 1976 on Saturday Night Live, the pair appeared in full bee costumes to perform Slim Harpo’s “I’m a King Bee,” a sketch that hinted at something more than just a throwaway gag. Aykroyd already nursed a deep, almost encyclopaedic love for blues and R&B, the sort of passion that inevitably spill

The Cato Street Conspiracy of 1820 is a remarkable yet often overlooked event in British history. This audacious plot to assassinate the entire British Cabinet and overthrow the government offers a fascinating glimpse into the political turbulence of the early 19th century. The early 19th century was a period of significant social and economic upheaval in Britain. The end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 brought about a severe economic depression. Soldiers returning from the wa

This is a timely insight from a 1959 interview with the philosopher Bertrand Russell about what he would say to a distant future generation of humans: “I should like to say two things, one intellectual and one moral. The intellectual thing I should want to say is this: When you are studying any matter, or considering any philosophy, ask yourself only what are the facts and what is the truth that the facts bear out. Never let yourself be diverted either by what you wish to bel

In 1964 the Beatles refused to play the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville unless the audience was desegregated. The venue backed down, making the concert the first integrated event in the stadium. It became one of the band’s quiet but most meaningful stands against injustice.

"You can't hold a man down without staying down with him." — Booker T. Washington In 1999, ABC aired a documentary featuring a collection of recordings from the 1930s and 1940s by John Henry Faulk. These recordings captured the stories of former slaves, which had been stored and neglected in the Library of Congress since 1941. John Henry Faulk: "I remember sitting out on a wagon tongue with this old black man - completely illiterate - down here near Navasota a

In 1986, Metallica released Master of Puppets — the thrash metal masterpiece that changed music forever. From “Battery” to “Orion,” from Cliff Burton’s brilliance to tragedy on tour, here’s the full story.

“Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go,” 21-year-old Sophie Scholl lamented, before she was guillotined by the Nazis. “But what does my death matter, if through us thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?” Scholl was a member of the White Rose, a small, anonymous group of mostly university students who hoped that by distributing leaflets and graffitiing public spaces, they could awaken complacent German intellectuals. Seven months earlier in June of 1942,