Nick Maxwell By James W. Houlihan In the early summer of AD 697 the Law of the Innocents—Lex Innocentium in the annals, also known as Cáin Adomnáin—was proclaimed at Birr, Co. Offaly. (See HI 23.1, Jan./Feb. 2015, pp 14–17.) It was a law for the protection of innocents, what we call today non-combatants, primarily—though not exclusively—in times … Read more
Daniel Noel Kissane, a patron of History Ireland, passed away on 1 May 2024. Noel worked for over 30 years in the National Library of Ireland, where he held the positions of Education Officer and Keeper of Manuscripts. His doctorate was for his edition of the Metrical Life of St Brigid. Among his many publications … Read more
Sir,—‘On This Day’ in the last issue (HI 32.3, May/June 2024) discusses the British army ambush of IRA volunteers at Loughgall, where eight members of the IRA were shot dead. The short piece fails to mention Anthony Hughes, a civilian, who was shot dead by the SAS in the same incident, and his brother, who … Read more
Sir,—I read Daniel Mulhall’s piece (HI 32.3, May/June 2024) with interest. No context is given for the Citizen’s jibe about King Edward VII—‘There’s a bloody sight more Pox than Pax in that boyo’. Joyce set the novel in 1904, the year of the Entente Cordiale between England and France. In the first paragraphs of his … Read more
Sir,—I was very surprised at the omission of the place Faughart in the recent article ‘St Brigit—who was she?’ by Edel Bhreathnach (HI 32.2, March/April 2024). Professor Bhreathnach rightly points out that the entries in the early annals, including the dates of Brigit’s birth and death, will always be open to interpretation. The Irish annals … Read more