British state collusion with paramilitaries in Ireland. By Michael Finucane ‘If we open a quarrel between the past and the present we shall find that we have lost the future.’ (Winston Churchill, 18 June 1940) There is no greater quarrel between the past and the present when it comes to the challenges facing the future-makers … Read more
Sir,—Why, after two decades of often acrimonious debate, do the late Peter Hart’s findings on sectarianism in the Irish revolution continue to intrigue, vex or perplex so many history buffs? Each attempt to settle the issue so far has raised more problems than it has solved. Andy Bielenberg’s ‘Platform’ article (HI 25.5, Sept./Oct. 2017) asserts … Read more
By Joseph E.A. Connell Jr On 18 September 1914 Home Rule was enacted and simultaneously postponed for the duration of the First World War, which had begun in August. The Ulster question was ‘solved’ in the same way: through the promise of amending legislation, which was left undefined. Unionists were in disarray, wounded by the … Read more
Sir,—Following your publication of an article by me relating to Arthur Griffith (HI 24.4, May/June 2016), I have been sent the attached undated photograph of Griffith, which gives no location or names. Suggestions are welcome at colum.kenny@dcu.ie. Looking at the photo, I believe that the third person from the left is Seán Milroy and the … Read more
Sir,—John Donoghue’s article (‘The curse of Cromwell: revisiting the Irish slavery debate’, HI 25.4, July/August 2017) includes misquoted and misleadingly contextualised source material relating to William Petty, architect of the Down Survey. The block quotation on pp 26–7 splices material excerpted from works printed 30 years apart, incorrectly implying that the quotation occurred as a … Read more