Sir, —It’s good that evidence suppressed by Peter Hart in pursuance ofhis agenda has seen the light of day (‘In defence of Cork’s politicalculture’, HI 13.4, July/August 2005). But why is the Civil War death ofMichael Collins described as an assassination? Collins, in uniform,rifle in hand, had been firing on his attackers, as had his … Read more
TC: Perhaps we can begin by asking you to tell us something about your background. PW: I was born in Askeaton, Co. Limerick, 56 years ago. In 1966 I got a scholarship and chose to go to University College Galway. If it had not been for the scholarship I doubt that I would have got … Read more
History becomes history After 80 years the old Leaving Cert history syllabus was finally laid to rest, but not before a final spasm in the form of an honours exam paper that many teachers and students found disappointing. Few will mourn its passing. Twenty years ago the majority of students took the subject; this year … Read more
A new monument to Michael Joseph (The) O’Rahilly, who was shot during the dying hours of the Easter Rising, was unveiled to an enthusiastic crowd on O’Rahilly Parade on 29 April 2005. The artist, Shane Cullen, was commissioned to celebrate a courageous and gallant individual who died 89 years ago and has done this with … Read more
One of the successes of last year’s ‘Contesting History’ course in Trinity College (sponsored by History Ireland and running on Monday evenings for eighteen weeks from October 2004) was not just the debates that were stimulated on the night but also the homage that is being paid to it in an upcoming RTÉ Radio series, … Read more