By Daniel Curley The late fourteenth-century composition Leabhar Ua Maine serves as a high-water mark in the fortunes of the O’Kelly kings of Uí Maine. It is a carefully chosen expression of the wealth and authority that these eastern Connacht lords commanded. This ‘great book’ was commissioned by Muircertach O’Kelly, bishop of Clonfert and archbishop of … Read more
History to be retained as a core subject in the new junior cycle. By Deirdre Mac Mathúna Isn’t it ironic that the introduction of the framework document on the new junior cycle in 2012 by then Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn coincided with the launch of the State’s commemoration of the ‘decade of centenaries’? National … Read more
Sir,—In a previous letter (HI 27.3, May/June 2019), Padraig Yeates seemed to assert that the Irish bore chief responsibility for the 1919–21 war with Britain. Now (HI 27.5, Sept./Oct. 2019) he states merely that the said war was the main cause of partition. This is an improvement; it is still mistaken. The war was simply a … Read more
Sir,—I read with more than passing interest the fine summary of the potential negative implications of open access publishing, especially page charges, by Jacqueline Hill (HI 27.5, Sept./Oct. 2019). She describes, without exaggeration, the consequences for academic researchers trying to publish when not in receipt of research grants to cover these page charges. Although not … Read more
Sir,—Tony Tracy’s article on Hollywood’s view of Parnell (HI 27.5, Sept./Oct. 2019) brings to mind an anecdote by León Ó Broin. A senior civil servant by day, in his leisure time he wrote books, including a biography of Parnell in Irish. His next-door neighbour was Jimmy Montgomery, the state’s film censor and a noted wit. … Read more