Nick Maxwell ‘Just when we thought it was safe…’ In this issue’s interview (p. 43) Senator Martin Mansergh makes the observation that Irish historiography has gone through a Hegelian dialectical process of thesis (traditional nationalist), antithesis (revisionist) and synthesis (post-revisionist), an observation with which most with an interest in Irish history would concur. Few of us … Read more
Sir, —I am researching the story of fires, firefighting and firefighters in Cork city over the centuries, and I wonder if some among your readers may be able to help me over a few hurdles. During the greater part of the nineteenth century, private fire brigades known as ‘fire engine establishments’ were maintained by … Read more
Sir, —In his article on King Billy (HI 12.1, Spring 2004) Padraig Lenihan points out that William ‘rode a dark horse’ at the battle of the Boyne. However, in 1696/97 he did acquire a horse, White Sorrel (sometimes Sorel), that became his favourite mount. The horse was bred at Wallington Hall, here in Northumberland, … Read more
In spite of our best intentions to review as many Africa-related books as possible in the special Africa issue (HI 14.4, July/Aug. 2006), some important titles only came to our attention after we had gone to press. One of these, Rose Doyle’s Heroes of Jadotville: the soldiers’ story (New Island, 383pp, ?19.95, ISBN 1905494319)—featured in … Read more
Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne Baile an Fheirtéaraigh, Co. Chiarraí (Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry) +353 (0)66 9156333/9156100 www.cfcd.ie 10am–6pm daily, April–September by Tony Canavan The regional museum for the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht is in the old schoolhouse, built in 1875, in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh. It was opened in 1985 and has been going from strength to strength ever … Read more