The story of Mary O’Dwyer. By Oisín Ó Síocháin Mary O’Dwyer was born Mary Breen, and married Ned O’Dwyer. She was born in Dualla, South Tipperary, in 1902, and was one of six children. She lived in a small, two-roomed house which still survives, though it is unoccupied. She became politically active in 1918 when … Read more
The composition of the jury that tried and convicted Roger Casement. By Niamh Howlin Once the authorities had decided to try Roger Casement in the English civil courts, his solicitor, George Gavan Duffy, set about trying to secure defence counsel. This was not straightforward, however, as a number of leading barristers refused to represent him. … Read more
The life of John Roy Lynch, whose political career during Reconstruction is one of the most remarkable achievements in the pantheon of Irish-American politics. By Joe Regan On 3 November 1939, the New York Times reflected on the political career of the recently deceased John Roy Lynch, remarking that he was ‘one of the most … Read more
The life and times of John Philpot Curran. By Patrick Gageby Sadly, barristers are not now as popular as they used to be. John Philpot Curran was probably the most widely known barrister, Irish or British, in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. His speeches were reprinted throughout the nineteenth century, and in Ireland … Read more
Earliest Theobald Wolfe Tone manuscripts (1783) recently discovered. By Sylvie Kleinman When Theobald Wolfe Tone’s son William published his father’s papers as the Life in 1826, he admitted suppressing ‘the account of some early amours’ and evidence of youthful wildness. Indeed, Tone himself had recorded in his brief autobiographical ‘Memorandums’ behaviour both reckless and risky. … Read more