In the last issue (HI 13.4, July/August 2005) Peter Hart stated that my views ‘are summed up in the subtitle’ of my biography of Tom Barry—IRA Freedom Fighter. Having researched Barry’s life and career for some years, I believe the title is apt. Whether we agree or disagree, he spent a great part of his … 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
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
Sir, —Kevin Whelan’s list of errors in the Irish material in the new Oxford DNB (HI 13.3, May/June 2005) misses two in the entry on Edmund Dwyer Gray (1845–88), MP and proprietor of Dublin’s Freeman’s Journal. Both errors—which had originally appeared in the old Dictionary of National Biography—relate to the loss of a schooner, the … Read more
Sir, —Thank you for such an interesting magazine. I am delighted that itis being produced more often and am looking forward to some good andchallenging reading. I particularly like the letters pages. There issome real sparky debate there, much more so than the usual bland toneof similar magazines. It has the effect of making me … Read more