Digitised history sites like Trinity’s 1641 Depositions and Letters of 1916 have made it easier for historians to access primary sources from the comfort of their own homes. They are not unique. In the past few years two major digital history portals have emerged—the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and Europeana. The latter, which … Read more
A revolver belonging to Arthur Griffith, founder of Sinn Féin, has come to light and is now in the hands of County Cavan Museum, Ballyjamesduff. When discovered by the sister in charge in St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin, where Griffith died on 12 August 1922, the revolver was handed to the Garda sergeant on duty outside … Read more
‘Something has gone wrong since our friend came into External Affairs . . . From the first day this man’s appalling insincerity struck me as a very positive evil for the country. The worst feature of the situation is that he seems to have fooled quite a lot of people.’ Ireland’s ambassador to the Holy … Read more
What’s the difference between an ‘informer’ and a ‘whistleblower’? Whilst historically in Ireland the former was seen as a villain to be excoriated, the latter is now viewed sympathetically (beyond governing élites at least), whether it be Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe, civil servant Gerard Ryan or, further afield, Edward Snowden and Julian Assange. Whatever the … Read more