Nick Maxwell, Author at History Ireland

‘Spreading VD all over Connacht’: reproductive rights and wrongs in 1970s Galway

While the social climate in 1970s urban Ireland was favourable for proponents of contraception, there were obstacles, and activism in the cause might have consequences for the individuals concerned. Galway activists—members more often of feminist-influenced socialist parties than of specifically feminist groups—therefore tended to occupy positions that gave some immunity to social pressure, pressure that … Read more

The rise and fall of local democracy

The term ‘municipal revolution’ was coined by Sidney and Beatrix Webb to describe the nineteenth-century transformation of borough corporations in England and Wales, and was first applied to Ireland by the present author in 2010. The Municipal Revolution in Ireland has been overlooked for a number of reasons. One is that Irish nationalism imagined the … Read more

On this day

March 10 1810 Sir Samuel Ferguson, antiquary and poet, notably of Lays of the Western Gael (1865), was born in Belfast. He was knighted in 1878 for his work as first Deputy Keeper of the Public Records of Ireland. 12 1910 Timothy Harrington, Irish Party MP who was mainly responsible for devising the ‘Plan of … Read more

Sidelines

n The British Museum has undertaken a major exhibition called A History of the World in 100 Objects, which has proven to be a great success. There is an accompanying series on BBC Radio 4 (www.bbc.co.uk/ ahistoryoftheworld), and museums throughout the UK have followed suit with their own best 100 objects. Could we summarise Ireland’s … Read more

From the files of the DIB…

O’FARRELL,Sr Genevieve (1923–2001), headmistress, was born Mary O’Farrell on 22March 1923 in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, fifth child and only daughter ofWilliam O’Farrell, farm manager, and his wife Catherine. Educatedlocally by the Sisters of Mercy, she was a bright but shy student. Herdecision to enter the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paulsurprised people, since … Read more