Nick Maxwell Bill Clements (The Holliwell Press, £12.95) ISBN 9780992610401 Did the Martello towers of Ireland truly deter Napoleon and were they worth the £250,000 invested in their construction from 1804 to 1817 (equivalent to £50,000,000 today)? How were these permanent defences designed, what was their purpose after Waterloo, and how have the surviving ones—such a distinguishing … Read more
Andrew Sneddon (The History Press Ireland, €16.99) ISBN 9781845887452 In late 1710 Ann Haltridge of Islandmagee began to be haunted in a variety of ways, most notably by a demonic ‘boy’ that threatened her with frightening regularity. She died in February 1711 after a catalogue of sinister incidents, and in the aftermath of her death … Read more
Charles Townshend (Alan Lane, £25) ISBN 9780713999839 Charles Townshend helped to establish modern Irish Revolution scholarship nearly 40 years ago. His 1975 monograph, The British campaign in Ireland, 1919–1921, was among the first significant academic treatments of the Irish War of Independence. In the ensuing decades Townshend has explored various aspects of Irish political violence, … Read more
museumreception@waterfordcity.ie, www.WaterfordTreasures.ie +353 (0)51 304500 by Tony Canavan The Waterford Museum of Treasures, established in the 1990s, has been expanded into a three-campus concept focusing on different eras in the city’s history. Located in the recently designated Viking Triangle, Reginald’s Tower looks at the Vikings; the Medieval Museum is self-explanatory, and the Bishop’s Palace concentrates … Read more
An Léigear/The Siege 1922 Fastnet Films, TG4, 23 October 2013 Witnesses to war RTÉ1, 12 November 2013 TG4, it is fair to say, is now the home of the Irish documentary on TV. A couple of years ago we reviewed An Conradh/The Treaty (HI 20.2, March/April 2012), produced by Fastnet Films and directed by Andrew … Read more