Raiding and Warring in Monastic Ireland

by Liz FitzPatrick The early historic period (fifth to twelfth century) witnessed profound social, economic and cultural changes in Ireland. The denizens of the ‘Golden Age’ were the many large and small monastic communities which spread with apparent ease and acceptance across the length and breadth of the country. The historiography of Irish monasticism emphasises … Read more

The Great Famine and its interpreters, old and new

by James S. Donnelly, Jr For many years now revisionist historians have delighted in debunking nationalist interpretations of the Irish past. In general revisionism has had a triumphal march, slaying one dragon of nationalist historiography after another. But more recently, the revisionist enterprise received a serious challenge from Brenden Bradshaw in that citadel of revisionism, … Read more

Winston Churchill and Michael Collins 1919-22: Admirers or Adversaries?

by Benjamin Kline The relationship between Winston Churchill and Michael Collins has often been characterised as one of mutual respect and rapport which significantly influenced Anglo-Irish relations. Yet, while some form of respect may have developed between these two men, no amount of historical hindsight or sympathetic remembrances should imply that they were anything but … Read more