Mrs Mary Delany once wrote: ‘Got up at nine, and read a lecture to my family on the advantages of rising early! For want of the usual bell that used to call them up they are later and later’ (15 January 1770). Mrs Delany’s own accounts show that her household in Delville, outside Glasnevin in … Read more
Document 1: Section of a letter from Dr Croke, archbishop of Cashel, to the delegates attending the GAA convention at Thurles, 4 January 1888 (The Gael, 7 January 1888, National Library of Ireland). To the delegates of the GAA in convention assembled at Thurles. Gentlemen—I have no desire, gentlemen, nor have I a right, to … Read more
During the nineteenth century, about 40,000 emigrants left Ireland to colonise the lush yet deserted Argentine pampas and laid the foundation for a flourishing Irish-Argentine community. Edmundo Murray tracks the journey from their home counties and their mode of transport. Most of the Irish emigrants bound for Argentina came from two areas, the coastline of … Read more
Toby Barnard (Yale University Press, 344.40) ISBN 0300096690 Irish Protestant ascents and descents, 1641–1770 Toby Barnard (Four Courts Press, 355) ISBN 1851826939 The preface of A new anatomy of Ireland mentions the works of other historians with the startling statement that ‘anyone keen to know what happened in Ireland between 1659 and 1800 should … Read more
Before the Great Famine of 1845-1849, emigration had already established itself as a feature of Irish society. In the five years preceding the Famine, emigration averaged 50,000 per year, but the Famine propelled a huge rise in overall emigration as starving Irish flocked to the ships that represented hope for survival. In 1846, more than … Read more