Book Reviews

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland: a popular history, Finlay Holmes. (Columba Press, £7.99) ISBN 1856072843 Ulster-American Religion: episodes in the history of a cultural tradition, David Livingstone and Ronald A. Wells, University of Notre Da

Professor Finlay Holmes has put us in his debt once again by telling the often very complex story of Irish Presbyterianism in a narrative which is itself a model of clarity. In this book he returns to some themes which he has treated of before in articles in learned journals but which the general reader … Read more

History of the Diocese of Derry

History of the Diocese of Derry, Henry A. Jefferies and Ciaran Devlin (Four Courts Press, hardback £19.95) ISBN 18512824901 Religious Renewal and Reform in the Pastoral  Ministry of Bishop James Doyle of Kildare and Lieghlin, 1786-1834 ,Thomas McGrath (Four Courts Press, £35) ISBN 1851823719 Politics, Interdenominational Relations and Education in the Public Ministry of Bishop … Read more

Irish Television: the political and social origins, Robert J Savage. (Cork University Press, £16.95) ISBN 1859181023 Sean Lemass, Robert J. Savage. (Historical Association of Ireland/Dundalgan Press, £5.99) ISBN 0852211392

New Year’s Eve 1961 may not immediately spring to mind as a significant date in the history of the Ireland. As a phenomenon that has provoked endless debate, argument and discussion ever since, the start of television broadcasting from Dublin on that date was most definitely significant. Loved or hated, television cannot be ignored. Controversy … Read more

Ireland—A Short History, Johnny Connolly, Tommy Graham and Mícheál Ó Siochrú. (Historical Insights Ireland, cassette £6.99, CD £9.99)

Historical Insights Ireland has been organising historical walking tours Dublin for ten years or more. The walks commence at the front gate of Trinity College and are led by history graduates of the college. During the leisurely two-hour perambulation from Trinity to the old parliament (Bank of Ireland), Temple Bar, Dublin Castle, Christchurch and the … Read more