Nick Maxwell A colourful public figure who deserves more than consignment to historical obscurity. By Jack McGarry Events commemorating the first sitting of Dáil Éireann rightly celebrated the seminal importance of that historic day. Sinn Féin’s landslide victory heralded a momentous change in Irish society. An imperfect yet independent and democratically elected government had been formed in … Read more
In recent years, Tom Kettle has featured prominently in public discourse as an exemplar of the ‘forgotten’ Irish who died in the Great War. But what did he stand for? By Niamh Reilly After he was killed in the Battle of the Somme, Tom Kettle (1880–1916) was widely and effusively eulogised as ‘the most brilliant … Read more
Tralee, Co. Kerry By Victoria McCarthy The Thomas Ashe Memorial Hall, the multi-coloured architectural jewel in the centre of Tralee, was, like many civic buildings of the early twentieth century, born out of a period of conflict that saw Ireland reshaped in many ways, physically as well as politically. An architectural competition held in 1905 … Read more
Maps of Ireland in caricature. By Kieran Rankin The shape of the map of Ireland has supplied a convenient canvas for artists to exhibit their ingenuity and imagination to amuse viewers. Although produced within various nuanced publishing and historical contexts, some vivid representations of the map of Ireland have served to entertain, influence and stereotype, … Read more
By Fiona Fitzsimons We can trace BAME immigrants by name, place of birth or sometimes by religion. The majority who arrived in Ireland were men—in the armed services, among ships’ crews and as domestic servants, including, before the 1830s, some enslaved. Armed services British Armed Service Records noted the name, birth-place and physical description of … Read more