By Raymond M. Keogh “For historians, the objective definition unburdens them of the impossible task of trying to reify Irish identity from the ever-changing narrative of its people or visualise it through the whims of shifting political and cultural perspectives over time.” Four years before the anniversary of the Easter Rising in 2016, … Read more
The 1972 Northern Ireland twopence piece By Mark Stocker “The timing of the coin, closely coinciding with the onset of the Troubles, was unfortunate for its proponents …” Decimalisation of the United Kingdom coinage was so successful that it was dubbed ‘the non-event of 1971’, and the coins themselves were seamlessly circulated and accepted. Northern … Read more
Gene Autry’s 1939 tour By Ronan Doheny “The films were vehicles for his songs and immensely popular escapism for children, who adored the handsome, well-dressed Autry and his prized horse, ‘Champion’.” In August 1939, amidst fear of war and calls for air warden volunteers, the ‘Singing Cowboy’, Gene Autry, visited Europe for the first time … Read more
The case of Night Watch Constable John O’Brien By Tadhg Moloney “… the ‘small man’ was out of his depth when dealing with the political nuances in local authority structures.” The clash between different political loyalties and class interests at local level comes across in a controversy involving the Limerick City Night Watch between 1915 … Read more
The creation of the Ulster Special Constabulary, 1920 By Seán Bernard Newman “As an official and authorised force, the USC gave Craig the means to defend the border, consolidate Ulster unionist power and guarantee Northern Ireland’s long-term future.” The Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) is a fundamental institution in Northern Ireland’s history. Historians cannot overstate its … Read more