When examining the histories of particular marchlands (border regions) through the medieval and early modern periods, it is best practice to avoid sweeping and speculative theses and to begin by employing that much-maligned and least fashionable of historical approaches—the historical narrative. The most important, yet most neglected, of these interfaces were those of the Irish … Read more
History Ireland goes global (and bi-monthly) A medievalist colleague of mine once remarked that in his line of work one event was an isolated incident, two was a trend. In that sense it is only with the publication of this March/April 2005 issue that we can truly claim to have gone bi-monthly. Not only will … Read more
Sir, —I am currently in the process of carrying out research on formermembers of Limerick County Council with a view to publishing a bookthat will contain a brief biographical profile of the 350 or so men andwomen who have been members of the council since 1899. I would begrateful if any History Ireland readers would … Read more
Sir, —Your January/February 2005 issue provided food for thought. ‘Shotat Dawn’ by Peter Mulvany established that, when it came to militarydiscipline in the Great War, there were ‘different spanks for differentranks’. The ‘Londonderry Herr’ by Neil Fleming recalled the NaziRibbentrop’s frolics at Mountstewart with the marquess of Londonderry,ex-British air minister, ex-Stormont education minister, ex-Carsonite‘rebel’. In … Read more
Sir, —W.J. Lowe’s ‘Who were the Black-and-Tans?’ (HI 12.3, Autumn 2004) is—like all his work on Irish police history—solid, salutary and illuminating. His findings on the substantial Irish element among men who joined the RIC from the beginning of 1920 are particularly valuable. The ‘folk memory’ that assumed the Black-and-Tans and Auxiliaries (ADRIC) ‘to be … Read more