Sir,—May I correct one factual error in the review of my book, Carson:the man who divided Ireland, by Mark Coalter in the last issue (HI13.5, Sept/Oct 2005)? The reviewer says he is confused about why Ishould consider Carson in 1922 should feel that the Conservative Party‘threw him over’ by making Bonar Law its leader. The … Read more
A chara, —The most significant controversies that have sprung up aroundthe Kilmichael ambush have revolved around two questions. The first iswhether there was or was not a false surrender by the Auxiliaries, withthe subsequent killing by the Auxiliaries of IRA men when they went totake this surrender. Tom Barry, who led the IRA ambushers atKilmichael, … Read more
Sir, —I noted with interest your use of the term ‘armed blackmail’ to describe the Ulster Volunteer Force campaign against home rule (editorial, HI 13.5, Sept./Oct. 2005). Your comments were in the context of trying to establish the origins of the Irish troubles that have led to IRA decommissioning. In the course of your analysis, … Read more
A chara, —I wish to respond to Patrick Garry’s article ‘Cá bhfuil mé?: Dublin’s Irish street names under threat’ (HI 13.3, May/June 2005). Mr Garry’s article primarily seeks to undermine the reliability of Irish forms of street names in Sráidainmneacha Bhaile Átha Cliath/Dublin City Streetnames, which was published by Dublin City Council in 2004. The … Read more
Sir, —I enjoyed Ms Kahn’s account of the Yelverton affair (HI 13.1,Jan./Feb. 2005), but may I correct some unexpected inaccuracies? TheHon. (William) Charles Yelverton’s date of birth (‘c. 1820’) is easilyfound in standard sources as 27 September 1824. He was not ‘the secondson’ but the third and eldest surviving of the four sons of the … Read more