Sir, —I refer to the letter from Gerry McAlister in the March/April 2009 edition. I was at that game and indeed remember the ‘unusual’ goal. Mr McAlister’s recollection is slightly in error. The headed goal was actually scored by the Dublin half-forward Eamonn Breslin (Ballyfermot Gaels), though Brian McDonald and Jackie Gilroy had been involved … Read more
Sir, —I am researching the life of John Roche (1848–1914), whorepresented Galway East as a Nationalist MP from 1890 until his death.He was a leading member of the Plan of Campaign in 1886 and a closecolleague of John Dillon. I am looking for any letters or othermaterial written by him (or possibly written to him … Read more
Sir, —In his review of Coolacrease (HI 17.2, March/April 2009) JoostAugusteijn attempts to be fair. But he falls into a trap laid byBritish politicians and journalists, and noted by Edward MacLysaght inhis diary for 28 January 1919, exactly one week after the first meetingof Dáil Éireann: ‘In quoting statistics for last year’s general election they … Read more
Sir, —In relation to Joost Augusteijn’s review (HI 17.2, March/April2009) on the controversy over the June 1921 shootings of the Pearsonbrothers at their family farm in Coolacrease, Co. Offaly, by the IRA,your readers may be interested in a scrap of information that I cameacross when editing Wilfrid Ewart’s A Journey in Ireland 1921 for UCDPress … Read more
Sir, —In his review of Coolacrease (HI 17.2, March/April 2009) JoostAugusteijn presents himself as a neutral arbiter between the authors ofthe work and the writers of the tradition it criticises. In fact, it isclear that he is as committed as Philip O’Connor and his contributors,only from an opposing pole and in a more subtle manner. … Read more