Sir,—In response to the news item on the national flag and the city of Waterford (HI, March/April 2011), the following account might be of interest. In a letter written aboard HMS Lucifer at Waterford on 19 July 1845, to Rear Admiral Sir Hugh Pigot at Cove, her captain, Commander George Alexander Frazier, reported that … Read more
Sir,—As usual, I settled down in an armchair this evening to read the latest edition of History Ireland, always eagerly absorbed and a credit to the team. Alas, I think we are going to need a Hedge School on Irish railways, in which I confess to having more than a passing interest. My good friend … Read more
Sir,—Re your editorial, ‘Counting down to 2016’ (HI 19.1, Jan./Feb. 2011). Forget about merely jumping the gun, you have obviously opted to leap completely over the entire arsenal in your enthusiastic haste to arrive at 2016, as your countdown gathers pace and the Dictionary of Irish Biography column heads for the hills! I do, however, … Read more
Founded by Patrick Pearse and Thomas MacDonagh, the first site of St Enda’s (Scoil Éanna) was Cullenswood House on Oakley Road, Ranelagh, Dublin. The school opened on 8 September 1908. It was originally conceived as St Lorcan’s School but took the name of St Enda of Aran, who abandoned the heroic life of a warrior … Read more
Although only in existence for seven years and never amounting to more than a few hundred members, the Democratic Left (DL) alumni of two Labour leaders as well as numerous other prominent figures in Irish progressive politics make the party an interesting subject for study. There are harshly differing views on what the DL project … Read more