Sir,—Iam researching the history of commercial brewing in the North-West ofIreland. In particular I am looking for information on Martin JosephMadden Jr, a native of Sligo who resided in Bray, County Wicklow, fromthe 1880s onwards, and Kathleen V. Davys, another native of Sligo whoresided in Bangor, County Down, up to the 1920s. Martin JosephMadden Jr, … Read more

The Catholics of Ulster

Sir,—I found it odd that you did not aska historian to review The Catholics of Ulster by Marianne Elliott whois not only a noted historian but one of History Ireland’s patrons. Others better qualified or at least possessing ‘the nobility of theGaelic mind’ (to use just one of Mons. Murray’s unhistorical phrases)will, no doubt take … Read more

A Public Voice of History

AB:    What early influences contributed to your interest in history? JAM:    Growing up in a strongly nationalist household in the 1930s, my first introduction to history was history as nationalism. Quite separately, however, there was a particularly inspiring teacher at primary school named Paddy Desmond who made the history of the locality come alive, for … Read more

The Irishwoman’s Headscarf in the Twentieth Century

Sir,—I am looking for information in relation to the headscarf worn byIrish women from 1900 to the year 2000. I am eager to hear from countrywomen who wore or still wear a headscarf or have memories or oldphotographs of loved ones wearing the headscarf. I am also interestedto hear the various ways in which they … Read more