Sir Walter Ralegh in Ireland Sir John Pope Hennessy Classics of Irish History series, with introduction by Thomas Herron (University College Dublin Press, €24. Originally published by Kegan Paul, Trench & Co., London, 1883) ISBN 9781906359188 Tom Herron has delivered an enhanced version of this short book by a nineteenth-century Irish politician on a … Read more
The Gaelic Athletic Association 1884–2009 Mike Cronin, Paul Rouse and William Murphy (eds) (Irish Academic Press, E29.95) ISBN 9780716530282 This collection of fourteen articles spanning the history of Gaelic games from the medieval period onwards has been issued to mark the 125th anniversary of the GAA, a pivotal force in Irish life about which … Read more
Notwithstanding the depressive effect of the phrase ‘back to school’ (should it be banned from shop windows?), it’s that time of year again. Leaving Cert, A-level and undergrad history students can take some solace from the latest in the Historical Association of Ireland’s ‘Life and Times New Series’ (general editor Ciaran Brady), Carla King’s Michael … Read more
National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7 www.museum.ie Tues.–Sat. 10am–5pm, Sun. 2pm–5pm by Tony Canavan Among the many good reasons for visiting the National Museum, Collins Barracks, another has been added in the form of the Albert Bender collection. It consists of about 260 items reflecting Asian art in its different forms, from metalworking and pottery … Read more
Directed by Kari Skogland by John Gibney 50 Dead Men Walking is a cinematic depiction of the career of the IRA informer Martin McGartland. The actual details of McGartland’s life and career need not detain us; suffice it to say that his former colleagues in the IRA tried to kill him, thereby vouching for … Read more