By Damian Murphy The neo-Palladian Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon, was built c. 1730 for John French (d. 1734) or his son Arthur (d. 1761), its design attributable to Richard Castle (d. 1751), although a lunette on its pedimented red-brick façade recorded a pedigree dating back to 1667, when the estate was inherited by Dominick French (d. … Read more
By John Marshall What did William Marshal ever do for us? Described by renowned historian A.J. Otway-Ruthven as ‘perhaps the ablest and most remarkable of all the Norman leaders’, Marshal (d. 1219) first set foot in Ireland in 1200. He obtained the lordship of Leinster through his marriage to Isabel de Clare, Strongbow’s daughter, in … Read more
By Aileen Bowe The relationship between Ireland and the UK could best be described as ‘complicated’. Reams and reams have been written about various historical events involving both countries, sometimes peaceful but often violent. Recent history would suggest that the relationship is currently being redefined in a way that is markedly different from the last … Read more
By Kevin Whelan Seamus Deane was born in 1940 in the Bogside in Derry, on the border between north and south. For centuries the Bogside had been a festering Catholic slum, as he himself described it: ‘The Bogside and its neighbouring streets lay flat on the floor of a narrowed valley. Above it towards … Read more
Sir,—The Teaching Council of Ireland currently requires that Irish history comprise a quarter of history modules taken in the university study of history in second and third year by aspirant teachers at second level. But new requirements which take effect from 1 January 2023 ask only that ‘the degree must include the specific study of … Read more