The Boyle family archive, known as the Lismore Papers, is one of the most important archival collections for the study of seventeenth-century Ireland. It is split into two collections, one of which is located in the National Library of Ireland in Dublin, and the other at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. The archive comprises thousands of … Read more
In 2012 the Irish Research Council agreed to fund an interdisciplinary project on ‘The Colonial Landscapes of Richard Boyle, First Earl of Cork, c. 1602–1643’, involving a team of historians and archaeologists at University College Cork under the leadership of Dr David Edwards. The project set out to reconstruct Boyle’s vast estate, charting its extent, … Read more
In historical circles there has been disagreement over Tyrone’s role in the war prior to February 1595. There is no known document that definitively shows that he was directing the conflict in 1593 and 1594, but there is substantial circumstantial evidence. Aside from the wholesale involvement by members of his household and family, Tyrone attended … Read more
The new issue is out! 2015 falls between two centenary years, but there are some big events to be marked this year and we’re trying to do our bit: Gallipoli looms large in our current issue, but there are a few others things between its cover, including: Brian Hanley on commemorating 1916 Fiona Fitzsimons … Read more
On coming to power Thatcher knew very little about Ireland, North or South. Prior to becoming prime minister she had visited Ireland only a handful of times and had failed to strike up a relationship with the leaders in either Belfast or Dublin. In private, she had once conceded that ‘If the Irish want to … Read more