Sir,—With regard to Tony Canavan’s review of the Central Bank Visitor Centre (HI 26.1, Jan./Feb. 2018) and the design of the new coinage for the Irish Free State, my impression was that W.B. Yeats, given his family connection to visual art and his pre-eminence as a poet, overshadowed everybody on the committee, including the secretary … Read more
Sir,—I read with interest the article ‘What happened to Redmond’s National Volunteers?’ (HI 26.1, Jan./Feb. 2018). The article seemed to be preoccupied with the internal administration of the movement. References to the movement in Dooley’s, Finnan’s and Meleady’s biographies of John Redmond paint a different picture of his efforts to use the Volunteer movement to … Read more
Sir,—I wish to comment on Joseph E.A. Connell Jr’s ‘Force-feeding of prisoners and hunger strikes’ (HI 26.1, Jan./Feb. 2018). Of course, the article represents another fine contribution from Dr Connell, which now collectively represents an impressive body of work during this decade of centennials. It is stated in the article: ‘What is certain is that … Read more
By Joe Culley Breasal Ó Caollaí, Niall O’Hagan and Ken Finlay (eds), The last voyage of the Leinster: remembering the Dún Laoghaire and Holyhead mailboat (Leinster Centenary Committee, €15 hb, 48pp, ISBN 9781909751767). Patrick F. O’Donovan, Stanley’s letter: the national school system and inspectors in Ireland 1831–1922 (Galway Education Centre, €38 hb, 358pp, ISBN 9781999754006). … Read more
Sir,—In 2016, Sir Bob Geldof stated that the men of 1916 were the same as Muslim Jihadis. At about the same time, an eminent, well-respected British journalist reinforced this view. While still getting over the shock of that insight, I was doubly shocked to read Aidan Beatty’s (HI 26.1, Jan./Feb. 2018) revelation that Gaelgeoirí in … Read more