The collection is divided into seven main sections, three covering the Irish revolution, 1916–23, and a further four covering the modern Troubles, 1969–77. For students of the Irish revolution of 1913–23, the ‘surveys of the state of Ireland’—presented to the cabinet by, amongst others, the chief secretary of Ireland, the secretary of state for war, … Read more
Between 26 and 29 April 1922 the murder of thirteen Protestant civilians in and around Dunmanway, West Cork, raised fears among the Southern unionist community that the situation was descending into a conflict aimed at driving them out. Both sides of the treaty debates condemned the killings, and immediate steps were taken by the local … Read more
Sir, —I read Tim Pat Coogan’s review of Judging Dev by Diarmaid Ferriter (HI 16.3, May/June 2008) as an inevitable response to a state-sponsored coup in seeking to peddle a particular version of history. When one party is in government so long, it is natural that it elicits actions, which aim to please, from a … Read more
Sir, —Michael Doorley’s interesting article on the Friends of IrishFreedom (HI 16.2, March/April 2008) refers in passing to the supportersof John Devoy and Judge Daniel Cohalan referring to de Valera as ‘aforeign potentate’ but seems to regard this choice of words as a merecuriosity. In fact, they were making a specific reference to the UnitedStates … Read more
Sir, —I was pleasantly surprised to see the portrait of the IRA GHQstaff in your May/June 2008 edition. David O’Donoghue’s assertionsabout their work are correct. I am currently researching the life ofDirector of Organisation Eamon ‘Bob’ Price for inclusion in anexpanded, revised edition of my father Ted Kenny’s book, The splendidyears. The book recounted my … Read more