Bill Linnane: My son visited Pompeii on a school trip – but the only thing he learned about the ancient world was how to use a landlineSurrounded by ancient wonders and culture in Italy, the most exciting thing for him was getting to use a landlineThe teenage tourists were looking for a very specific attraction in Pompeii. Photo: Picture posed/GettyBill Linnane Today at 06:30Pliny the Younger was just 17 years old when he witnessed the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Watching from across the bay, he saw the ash cloud sweep down and lay waste to Herculaneum, and its more famous sister city, Pompeii.

Source: Irish Independent February 20, 2026 10:03 UTC