THE IRISH LAND COMMISSION RECORDS, 1881–1992—A CASE FOR THE DIGITISATION OF THEM ALL

By Terence Dooley First established under the 1881 Land Act, the Irish Land Commission began as a regulator of fair rents but soon evolved into the great facilitator of land transfer. However, over-emphasis on these aspects of its work can sometimes camouflage its equal significance as the main instigator and architect of rural reform. There … Read more

MENSTRUAL BLOOD

A chara,—Upon reading Shaun McCann’s article, ‘A precious bodily fluid—blood, the Irish connection’ (HI 30.5, Sept./Oct. 2022), I was astonished that there was not one single mention of menstrual blood. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised, as the first sentence of the article reads, ‘Blood is indeed a precious fluid that has intrigued man for … Read more

SLIGO’S NOBLE SIX

A chara,—I refer to an item in September’s ON THIS DAY in the last issue (HI 30.5, Sept./Oct. 2022) on p. 7 and referenced 20/1922. The item erroneously states that four people (it uses the term ‘Irregulars’ for Republican forces, a pejorative term coined by pro-Treaty propagandists) were summarily executed on Ben Bulben, Co. Sligo. … Read more