Academic historians tend to be sceptical and at times begrudging about historical novels, suspiciously dissecting the text for sloppy research methods and pouncing on convenient writer’s licence, but also secretly envious, knowing that the book will reach much larger audiences than anything their own often narrowly trained minds could produce. Before historians balk at the … Read more
On Monday 12 April l920, the Irish Labour Party and Trade Union Congress called a twenty-four-hour general strike for the following day. The aim of the stoppage was to voice indignation at the detention of republicans on hunger-strike. Sixty-six prisoners being held in Mountjoy without charge or trial had begun the hunger-strike for political status … Read more
Work has been completed on the £1 million restoration of the MillmountMartello Tower, Drogheda, which dates from the Napoleonic War. Therestoration was part of Drogheda’s millennium celebrations and providesmagnificent views of the town and the historic Boyne Valley. A graphicdesigner is currently working on an exhibition of Millmount’s militaryhistory and a collection of Fenian guns—a … Read more
In 1709 several hundred families of German origin settled in Ireland. Known as the Palatines, they established roots mainly in Counties Limerick, Kerry, Tipperary and Wexford. From there they emigrated to many parts of the English-speaking world—Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand and the USA. Since its inception in March 1989, the Irish Palatine Association has … Read more
Born in Cologne, Germany, in 1577, Mathew de Renzi claimed descent from Albania’s national hero, George Castriott, also known as Scanderberg (d.1468), who defended his homeland against the Turks. De Renzi was a cloth merchant and operated from Antwerp, one of many foreigners who controlled trade in that city. But Antwerp’s trade declined as a … Read more