A Man with a Mission: Tommy Graham finds out about the man and his message. TG: Could you tell us a little about your background? BB: I was born in Limerick City in 1937, in what local people call ‘the parish’, St. Mary’s, the old medieval part of the city. My father had a very … Read more
Robert Bell In the cramped quarters of the attic of Belfast’s historic Linen Hall Library, a collection of 50,000 items of printed material about the current Northern Ireland troubles is in constant consultation. To the best of our knowledge, it is unique. For those of us who work in the Library, the Collection is therefore … Read more
Harman Murtagh CAUSES The British Factor The war occurred as a result of the fusion of a number of interrelated factors – British, European and Irish. The British factor was the attempt by King James II to use Ireland as a stepping stone to recover the throne he had lost to William of Orange, in … Read more
Trevor Parkhill The documentary evidence in PRONI reflects the European context of the war in Ireland. For example, a letter in September 1690 from William to his cousin, Frederick III, Elector of Brandenberg, outlines his anxiety to be finished with business in Ireland and to return to Europe as quickly as possible: and although I … Read more
Alvin Jackson One central episode in the Unionist campaign of 1912-14 may be used to illustrate the strategic dilemma faced by the leaders of the movement and the success with which setbacks and complexities were concealed. On the night of 24-25 April 1914, militant Unionists, led by the quixotic Major Fred Crawford, landed 25,000 rifles … Read more