Ireland, Germany and the Nazis: politics and diplomacy, 1919–1939

Ireland, Germany and the Nazis:  politics and diplomacy, 1919–1939 Mervyn O’Driscoll (Four Courts Press, £55) ISBN 185 1 824804 Ireland, Europe and the Marshall Plan Till Geiger and Michael Kennedy (eds.) (Four Courts Press, £55) ISBN 185 1 825193   Mervyn O’Driscoll’s Ireland, Germany and the Nazis is a positive contribution to the existing corpus … Read more

Film Eye: The Wind that Shakes the Barley

The Wind that Shakes the Barley Director: Ken Loach by Brian Hanley Film reviews by historians should carry a warning. Aside from the array of personal, political and other prejudices that all reviewers bring to bear on their subject, there is the fact that most historical films will influence far more people’s view of history … Read more

The Christian Brothers and Gaelic corporal punishment

Sir,—I take exception to the gratuitously insulting cartoon by ‘doll’ on page nine of the autumn 1996 issue of History Ireland. The cartoon depicts a figure pushing over a pedestal on which is inscribed ‘Na Bráithre Críostaí Irish Christian Brothers, 1820-’. The figure is saying ‘Corporal punishment was bad enough, but Gaelic corporal punishment…’Now, as … Read more

Women active in IRA flying columns?

Sir,—The caption—’Women continued to play an active role in the War of Independence’—under the photograph on page 41 of the last issue (Autumn 1996) is misleading on two counts. In the first place, it does not depict a War of Independence flying column but a Civil War one—the Third Battalion flying column (‘Plunkett’s Own’), No. … Read more

First-ever inventory of Northern Ireland’s ancient woodland

Northern Ireland’s oldest woods have been a well-kept secret for many years. Remarkably, there has never been a comprehensive record of the country’s ancient woodland, meaning that this rare resource is afforded little or no protection. Now, thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Environment and Heritage Service, the Woodland Trust is … Read more