On 26 January 1950, Éamon de Valera was asked to be guest of honour at a reception in Birmingham to celebrate the declaration of India as a republic. At first glance it seemed an unusual choice. The organisers were asked why they had not chosen a fellow Indian. Their response was unequivocal: ‘We and the … Read more
In his review of T. Ryle Dwyer’s Behind the Green Curtain (HI 18.2,March/April 2010), Eoin Dillon states that the book ‘allows present-dayneutrality to be presented as contingent, a pragmatic response ratherthan a fixed principle of Southern foreign policy’. In 1939 the FiannaFáil government quoted the Hague Convention of 1907 to support Irishneutrality. It defines in … Read more
Sir, —The photograph on the cover of a recently published book, The War for Ireland 1913–1923 (see also Bookworm), is credited inside thus: ‘This remarkable photograph, taken on 14 October 1920 by 15-year-old John J. Hogan, an apprentice photographer, is of British intelligence officer, Lt Gilbert Arthur Price RTR, only seconds before he was … Read more
Sir,—In late 2010 Dublin City Council’s Arts and Culture Strategic Policy Committee established a commemoration sub-committee to plan how Dublin City Council should commemorate that have significant anniversaries occurring over the next six years. Since this is a Dublin City Council initiative, the events to be commemorated will be those that have a close association with … Read more
G2. In defence of Ireland: Irish military intelligence 1918–1945 Maurice Walsh (Collins Press, €16.99) ISBN 9781848890282 The secret world of the intelligence services is getting ever-increasing attention in a world that is confronted with many elusive threats. Although Ireland has had more than its fair share of subversive activity in the last century, the … Read more