Sir,—The suggestion of a joint remembrance of the 1916 Rising and the Battle of the Somme would definitely be inappropriate, if not divisive. Gerry McAllister’s statement in his letter (HI 23.2, March/April 2015) that the Battle of the Somme was fought as part of an imperial war may be correct, but it is still being … Read more
Sir,—In the course of last issue’s Platform piece (‘Who fears to speak of 1916?’, HI 23.2, March/April 2015) Brian Hanley mentions the 50th anniversary in 1966. Things were not quite as peaceful as they seemed to the general public then. I was privileged to march in the Easter Sunday parade in Dublin as acting adjutant … Read more
Sir,—So Myles Dungan (Book reviews, HI 23.2, March/April 2015) could only name one Irishman, John Redmond, who had fought in the First World War? I grew up in a working-class area of Dublin in the ’60s/’70s, where most, if not all, youngsters were educated to primary and/or Intermediate Cert level only. I was lucky enough … Read more
Sir,—May I congratulate you on publishing the article by Altay ¸Cengizer, ‘The road to Gallipoli—a Turkish perspective’ (HI 23.2, March/April 2015). It was a greatly informative account that provided much-needed historical context for the Gallipoli tragedy. A few years ago I had the pleasure to hear the ambassador speak at Collins Barracks and he made … Read more
The National Museum and National Library are nominally autonomous bodies, thought of as staffed mainly by professionals. They are frequently called upon, however, to provide substance for government policy initiatives. The decade of remembrance and the 1916 commemoration is a case in point. The Museum, National Library and other institutions had to ride to the … Read more