Nick Maxwell What was an ‘angel’? ‘Castle chamber’? ‘Raskins’? A ‘Cunningham acre’? So asks the dust-jacket of Byrne’s dictionary of Irish local history (pp352, £20 pb, ISBN 1856354237), published by Mercier Press. The description on the cover—‘an extensive range of key local history terminology, a must for all local historians’—is far too modest and is qualified by … Read more
The Wind that Shakes the Barley Director: Ken Loach by Brian Hanley Film reviews by historians should carry a warning. Aside from the array of personal, political and other prejudices that all reviewers bring to bear on their subject, there is the fact that most historical films will influence far more people’s view of history … Read more
Mrs Mary Delany once wrote: ‘Got up at nine, and read a lecture to my family on the advantages of rising early! For want of the usual bell that used to call them up they are later and later’ (15 January 1770). Mrs Delany’s own accounts show that her household in Delville, outside Glasnevin in … Read more
James Joyce and Ulysses National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin, until summer 2005 by Tony Canavan By any standards this is a remarkable exhibition and probably represents the most minute analysis, discussion and display in one place of any book ever published. It sets a high standard for future events in the National … Read more
Sir,—I was intrigued to read Richard Roche’s letter concerning Alexis Stafford in the summer 1996 issue of History Ireland. During the turbulent struggle between James II and William III, Dublin city was under Jacobite control under the so-called ‘patriot parliament’ in 1689. A Roman Catholic priest, Alexius Stafford, was ‘intruded into the Deanery by James … Read more