Nick Maxwell THE SCANDAL OF MARGARET AND MARY BRIGID PEARSE By Teresa and Mary Louise O’Donnell Margaret Pearse, mother of Patrick and Willie, died on 22 April 1932 from a bacterial infection of the skin. She was survived by her daughters Margaret Jr (1878–1968), a teacher and language activist, and Mary Brigid (1884–1947), a musician and author. … Read more
Quaker records in Ireland By Fiona Fitzsimons In the 1650s and ’60s the Quakers, emerging as one of the more radical Dissenter groups, began to migrate to Ireland. They sought converts among the Irish population, many of whom were of English descent and spoke the English language. The Restoration (1660) transformed the Quaker religion. They … Read more
Excerpt/translation from Kerzhentsev’s Revolutsiayannaya Irlandiya (1918): Easter Monday in Ireland — a day with an aura of reverence. Therefore, the arrival of a small group of Irish volunteers in the province did not give rise amongst individuals to any particular attention. The vigilance of the administration was weakened, even more so, [as] many responsible people were on … Read more
PLATON MIKHAILOVICH KERZHENTSEV, THE FIRST SOVIET HISTORIAN OF IRELAND By Maurice J. Casey In 1914 the Irish poet Padraic Colum and his wife Mary arrived in New York. Initially, they expected to remain for a few months. World events, however, compelled alternative plans, as the descent of Europe into war quickly riveted them to their … Read more
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF DETECTIVE SERGEANT JOHN BARTON By Padraig Yeates If he died today in the line of duty Detective Sergeant John Barton of the Dublin Metropolitan Police would probably be declared a national hero. The Irish Times editorial of 1 December 1919 proclaimed him ‘one of the bravest, most vigilant, and most … Read more