By John Gibney In November 1971 Harold Wilson, the former (and future) British prime minister whose Labour Party was then in opposition, visited Dublin, where he attended a dinner hosted by Taoiseach Jack Lynch. Also present was Minister for Foreign Affairs Patrick Hillery, who wrote that ‘the impression I had left was one of almost … Read more
By Kyle McCreanor A tale of false passports, international espionage and grandiose plots in Jazz Age Paris, the story of two Irish republicans aiding a joint Basque and Catalan nationalist initiative to establish independent republics by arms has been shrouded in secrecy and largely unknown to historians. This article sheds light on the intriguing case … Read more
By Tom Dillon Described as ‘Ireland’s airwoman No.1’, Lillie Dillon from Listowel, Co. Kerry, was a pioneer of Irish aviation. Living at a time when societal attitudes imposed many restrictions on women, her exploits throughout her colourful life made her a remarkable individual. She was born as Elizabeth Mary de Courcy Dillon on 27 October … Read more
By Mary MacDiarmada Art O’Brien was born in London in 1872. His father was from Cork city and his mother was English. O’Brien senior joined the British Army at a young age and eventually settled in London when he returned to civilian life. His father died when O’Brien was just five years old, but his … Read more
By Margaret Ward Lloyd George, speaking in the House of Commons debate on the Treaty on 14 December 1921, had instanced ‘a little area of Catholics right up in the North-east of Antrim, cut off completely from the South’. Nobody proposed taking that away from the north, he said. It was evident, therefore, even before … Read more