Sir,—Adrian Grant takes me to task (letters, HI 21.6, Nov./Dec. 2013) for my review of his book Irish socialist republicanism, 1909–1936 for my claim that he asserts that ‘Larkin’s arrival in Ireland and the establishment of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union heralded the advent of a united Labour movement with a socialist republic … Read more
Sir,—The recent letter regarding James Byrne (HI 21.5, Sept./Oct. 2013) prompted me to write concerning Frank Moss, another forgotten figure of 1913, who was the ITGWU organiser for the Swords district farm labourers. Throughout September and October 1913, the Swords farm labourers, under Moss’s leadership, engaged in violent clashes with police in Swords and took … Read more
Sir,—May I make a small comment on Michael Kennedy’s article, ‘Neutrality: “the very essence of Irish independence”?’ (HI 21.5, Sept./Oct. 2013)? He mentions the Irish Naval Service defending Irish waters during World War II. This arm of the Defence Forces did not come into existence until 1946. Its forerunner was the Marine Service, an ad … Read more
Sir,—I am compiling information for a future publication and would be grateful for any information from readers on families that were assisted in emigrating from the Clones Estate during the Famine.—Yours etc., DERMOT McCABE 8 Roslea Road Clones Co. Monaghan
Sir,—Brendan Ó Cathaoir wondered in his letter (HI 21.6, Nov./Dec. 2013, ‘Britain’s offer on unity: missed opportunity?’) whether a more secure statesman than de Valera would at least have explored the British offer in 1940 of their new commitment to the principle of Irish unity—in return for Ireland agreeing to join the British war effort … Read more