Welcome back
As Mark Twain might have said, ‘. . . rumours of our death have been grossly exaggerated’. After a brief interruption of transmission, normal service has been resumed. History Ireland is back under new management. We appreciate the loyalty and patience of our readers, and our subscribers in particular should rest assured that all advance subscriptions will be honoured in full.
In January 2003 the History Ireland title was acquired by Wordwell Ltd (managing director Nick Maxwell), which is involved in the publication of Archaeology Ireland. This secures the future of the magazine. History Ireland’s former publisher, Rod Eley, and its designer, Joy Arden, will continue to publish History Scotland, and we wish them well in that enterprise. Without the vision, hard work and dedication of Rod and Joy there would have been no History Ireland.
The same can be said of Hiram Morgan, who, after ten years as joint editor, has decided to retire from an active role. For years Hiram had pestered sceptical publishers with his idea for a popular illustrated history magazine, until he met Rod Eley, who shared his vision. Hiram’s academic excellence, sound judgement and eye for what makes a good article will be sorely missed, particularly by Tommy Graham, who remains on as editor of History Ireland. Both the publisher and editor, however, are delighted to welcome Dr Seán Duffy of TCD as Consulting Editor.
Also missed will be the trusted contribution on the administrative side of former History Ireland employees Henry Dent, Mícheál Mac Aonghusa and Eamonn Dunne, who, unfortunately, owing to financial constraints, could not be accommo-dated under the new arrangements.
But the winning formula will remain the same. History Ireland will continue in its mission to take Irish history out of the academic ivory tower and to make the best of scholarship, from Ireland and around the world, available to the widest possible audience both at home and abroad.