Arthur Griffith, ‘father of us all’

So said Michael Collins, yet despite his central role in the development of the Irish nationalism from which the Irish State would emerge, Arthur Griffith has had to settle for a side-line role in the national historical memory. How fair or accurate are accusations of anti-Semitism, misogyny or ‘selling the pass’ at the Treaty negotiations? … Read more

The life and times of Harry Boland

One of the most engaging figures of the revolutionary period, Harry Boland, along with his brother Gerry, joined the IRB in 1904 and participated in the 1916 Rising. He was centrally involved in the subsequent reorganization of Sinn Féin and the Volunteers and was uniquely close to the two dominant figures of the period, Eamon … Read more

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

Aontacht Éireann will be organised in the 32 Counties of Ireland. Its policies will be derived from the following FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES: To unite the people of Ireland in an Independent Republic. To restore the Irish Language and to preserve and develop Gaeltacht areas. To guarantee the Fundamental Human Rights of every citizen. To ensure by … Read more

Ellis Lynch: wife, manager and head tenant

Ellis Lynch was a companion and business partner to Peregrine Tasburgh and connected her English husband with the Catholic society of Connacht. When Peregrine was summoned to the Church of Ireland consistory courts of Tuam and of Killala, it being ‘impossible for him to be at both places at one time’, Ellis wrote that she … Read more

Cong Abbey estate: extent and value

The estate included lands in the counties of Mayo and Galway, some quite widely dispersed but mostly around the town of Cong, as well as fisheries and ‘impropriate’ tithes (that is, tithes enjoyed by lay owners rather than the clergy). The lands were reckoned to comprise 2,502 acres in 1698 and 7,770 acres in 1852. … Read more