Nick Maxwell The Irish Greyhound pig was a descendant of the European wild pig (Sus scrofa) that had roamed Irish forests since prehistoric times. It was first domesticated in Ireland during the Neolithic. In the early Middle Ages there was not much distinction between the wild pig and the domesticated pig; the domesticated pig was fed on … Read more
If I may begin at the end of Niall Meehan’s letter, he refers to his ‘promotion’ of—and my non-participation in—‘this important debate’ on the Kilmichael ambush. In fact, I have been debating the ambush and other aspects of the revolution in Cork since my first book, The IRA and its enemies, came out in 1998. … Read more
Mayo North Family History Research Centre has won the annual Meidheal Award . Established in 1981 as the Crossmolina Historical Society, it soon developed and set up a multi-faceted centre which included a family history research unit and a Rural Artefacts Museum. The centre was officially opened in April 1992 by President Mary Robinson and … Read more
How many divisions has the pope? As Eamon O’Flaherty observes in his review of Irish media reaction to the death of Pope John Paul II (TV Eye, pp 52–3), ‘remarkable claims have been made about John Paul II’s influence on world history, the most notable being that he was the main architect of the downfall … Read more
Cambridge University History Faculty, in association with History Ireland, is holding a one day symposium on The Irish Famine and Migration at Queens’ College, Cambridge on Sunday 31 March 1996. The symposium forms part of a series of world-wide events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Great Irish Famine. Speakers will include Brendan Bradshaw, … Read more