History teaching in Northern Ireland

History teaching in Northern Ireland recent second-level school texts Peter Collins As we saw in the last issue of History Ireland (Winter 1994) Irish history has constituted a major area in the curriculum in the South since the formation of the state. In the North the situation has been more problematic, with schools divided essentially … Read more

Who fears to speak of ’98

Who fears to speak of ‘98? 1998 will mark the bicentenary of the United Irish rising of 1798 and preparations for its commemoration are already underway, especially in County Wexford where the bicentenary holds special significance. A commemoration association, Comóradh ‘98, backed by the local authorities and numerous county organisations and societies, has been active … Read more

Ireland and the First World War

Sir,—I feel I should step in between Mr Bowman and Professor Boyce, if only to declare a ‘no contest’ (HI Winter 1994). As I said in my book on the 16th (Irish) Division (Ireland’s unknown soldiers), the formation’s infantry (as distinct from its supporting arms) was always largely Catholic Irish. Bowman should not cite my … Read more

The Cause of Ireland, from the United Irishmen to Partition Liz Curtis

(Beyond the Pale Publications, £12.95) (3:1) Reviewed by Tony Canavan In the wake of the revisionist/anti-revisionist debate in Irish history, one approaches any book with a title like The Cause of Ireland with a certain trepidation, especially when the author’s previous works include Ireland: the Propaganda War. What one is afraid of is a romanticised … Read more