Nick Maxwell Sir,—The article ‘The Hue and Cry of Heresy’ by Philip McGuinness (HI 4.4, Winter 1996), while interesting, was fundamentally flawed. The author invites the reader to ‘dig deeper into the science and society in which Newton was embedded, and one is allowed…a fascinating insight into the use and abuse of science by ideologues…’. As one … Read more
Sir,—In his article ‘Soloheadbeg: what really happened?’ Kevin Haddick Flynn betrayed a dated and shallow understanding of a complex event. He sets himself the purpose of examining the intent and actions of Seán Treacy, Dan Breen and their comrades at Soloheadbeg. Did they set out solely to capture the gelignite or did they have the … Read more
Reviewed by Caoimhghín Ó Murchadha The editors have set out to place County Donegal in its local, national and European contexts by combining the work of archaeologists, medievalists, Celtic scholars, geographers, place name scholars and historians of economics, culture and politics. The result is the most comprehensive interdisciplinary study ever undertaken of Donegal.The geographical … Read more
Reviewed by Philip McGuinness Eight years after the fall of the Berlin Wall seems an appropriate time for the arrival of new European histories which attempt to give East and West parity of esteem. Such histories are now wending their way to the bookstores. Europe: a History has garnered the most headlines (and sales). … Read more
Reviewed by Hiram Morgan Shane O’Neill, the great Ulster lord of the mid-sixteenth century, merits a biography. Brady’s is accessible, exceptionally well-written and strong on high politics and Anglo-Irish relations. Shane’s visit to the court of Elizabeth is no longer a barbarous freak-show but the subject of court intrigue. There is the state’s botched … Read more