Nick Maxwell Irishmen do not need to have indicated to them the hardship of being governed by those alien to them in temperament, ideals and traditions. An Englishmen they say can never understand the needs of a country like Ireland. How strange then that all men should be considered gifted with the wonderful power of sympathetic interest … Read more
Philomena Connolly On 11 July 1332, Sir William Bermingham was taken from Dublin Castle where he had been imprisoned, and was hanged by order of Anthony Lucy, the justiciar. The Dublin annalist was horrified at this deed: ‘Alas, alas,’ he lamented, ‘who can contain their tears when they remember his death?’ The shock of the … Read more
Charlie Doherty Most people if asked about St Patrick would mention one or more of the following: snakes, slavery, Armagh, Slemish, Saul, Downpatrick, Croaghpatrick and, of course, the shamrock. How many would mention the saint’s own writings—his Confession or his Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus? We have only one fixed point for fifth-century Irish … Read more
The Irish national anthem is a source of some tension and confusion. At frequent intervals over the past seventy-five years, its text has been attacked as inappropriate. The same objections have been repeated: that its militaristic subject matter and sentiments are irrelevant for a modern, independent, neutral state, or that the text perpetuates attitudes which … Read more
‘A real Irish historian’ (3:1) Seán Duffy talks to James Lydon who last year retired as Lecky Professor of Modern History in Trinity College, Dublin. SD: Tell me about your family background and early years. JL: I was born in Galway. My mother was from an Irish-speaking family not far from the city. My father … Read more