Sir,—With reference to Karl Bottigheimer and Ute Lotz-Heumann’s article, ‘Ireland and the European Reformation’ (HI Winter 1998), I believe that Ireland is still unique in resisting the Protestant Reformation in Northern Europe. The people of the two states of Germany quoted, although they resisted conversion from Lutheranism to Calvinism, had not previously resisted conversion to … Read more
Sir,—Re Ian McCabe’s article ‘Leaving the Commonwealth’ in the last issue (HI Winter 1998). In the course of an interview, an esteemed retired practitioner of diplomacy insisted that the Republic of Ireland never, in so many words, procedurally left the Commonwealth. She was locked out by a peppery Britain still trailing clouds of empire grandeur. … Read more
Sir,—I read Frank Foley’s article ‘Controversy and the Cult of Collins’(HI Winter 1998) with great interest. Various points of view concerning the future of the Collins memorial at Béal na mBláth are expressed, except that of the actual visitor. I am what Fr. Twohig would call an outsider and a foreigner but also a frequent … Read more
Sir,—Timothy Bowman’s review of the latest Myles Dungan book (They Shall Not Grow Old: Irish Soldiers and the Great War, HI Winter 1998) is too kind. Dungan’s previous compilation, Irish Voices from the Great War, was a dissapointment to many, including myself. Consider the following passage on page 202: But even in its final moments … Read more