Nick Maxwell Russell K. Alspach, in Irish poetry from the English invasion to 1798, wrote of The Harp of Erin (1807), a substantial, posthumously published anthology of Thomas Dermody’s verse, that one could go through it ‘without stumbling on anything that even faintly resembles poetry’. Dermody’s means deter-mined his themes; thus he wrote safe poems to flatter … Read more
During the 1650s, Sir William Petty surveyed Ireland on behalf of Oliver Cromwell’s government, in order to facilitate the dispossession and transplantation of the Catholic Irish after the devastating wars of the 1640s. In later years he settled into the twin roles of landlord and scientist in Ireland, and at some point in the 1680s … Read more
Just when you thought it was safe…? ‘The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences … Read more
A chara, —I am researching the life of the author, poet and playwrightWinifred M. Verschoyle, née Letts (1882–1972). Her two great-nieceshave kindly allowed me access to her papers, but I am sure that manyother people would have their own stories to tell about her. Ms Lettswas a great friend of my late mother’s. Despite having … Read more
A chara, —I am researching the life of the author, poet and playwrightWinifred M. Verschoyle, née Letts (1882–1972). Her two great-nieceshave kindly allowed me access to her papers, but I am sure that manyother people would have their own stories to tell about her. Ms Lettswas a great friend of my late mother’s. Despite having … Read more