A chara, —I am researching the life of the author, poet and playwrightWinifred M. Verschoyle, née Letts (1882–1972). Her two great-nieceshave kindly allowed me access to her papers, but I am sure that manyother people would have their own stories to tell about her. Ms Lettswas a great friend of my late mother’s. Despite having … Read more
Sir, —I am researching the history of St Patrick’s Benevolent RegisteredAssociation, which was based in Henry Street, Kilrush, Co. Clare, inthe late 1800s. According to Bassett’s Directory, 1880–1, its officersat that time were: president, John O’Brien; vice-president, P.J. Boyle,proprietor of the Kilrush Gazette, who lived at 58 John Street;secretary, John R. MacNamara, who may have … Read more
Sir, —While in full agreement with Tim Carey’s platform (HI 14.1, Jan./Feb. 2006) that Mountjoy jail must not be demolished, I wish to correct the statement that: ‘The first four republicans to be executed during the Civil War were shot there by firing squad on 8 December 1922’. That invidious distinction belongs to four young … Read more
TG: Tell us a bit about your background. BM: I was typically London Irish. My father, John, came from a farming family with land at Tarelton and Inchigeelagh, Co. Cork. He graduated as a doctor at University College Cork in 1928 and came to England to practise. My mother, Kathleen O’Brien, was born in London … Read more
High-frequency history This issue marks the start of the second year of History Ireland as a bi-monthly publication. Judging by the response to last issue’s readers’ survey (and thank you to all those who took the time to respond—we are still poring over the entrails), this new departure has gone down very well with our … Read more