Annals are a snappy way to chart what is going down each year. In Ireland, our ancestors, were second only to the Chinese in keeping track of our human centuries. A chronicle is different, it looks back with hindsight, can see patterns.

The Irish Annals that have survived on hardy vellum are the tail end of a world chronicle tradition that had commenced in the last century of the Roman Empire. When this chronicle arrived in Ireland it got extended; the pharaohs and roman generals were replaced by our islands’ "celebs," worthy monks, feuding clan warriors, Viking, later Saxon, Norman invaders. Our revived Annals seek out the heroes and antiheroes of our present times.  The expected & the unexpected vie for attention.