BY AODHÁN CREALEY NOVEMBER 27/1812 John Dunlap (c. 65), County Tyrone-born printer and property developer, died. Best remembered for printing the first copy of the American Declaration of Independence—written in the hand of County Derry-born Charles Thomson—Dunlap’s success was down to family connections, hard work and good luck. Emigrating to Philadelphia at the age of … Read more
By Felix M. Larkin History Ireland has celebrated 30 years of almost continuous publication with an exhibition of its front covers in the Lexicon Library and Cultural Centre in Dún Laoghaire. The exhibition was launched by the cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, Councillor Denis O’Callaghan, on 4 October 2023. There have been 160 issues … Read more
By Michael Brabazon One of the half-forgotten national historical monuments, saved from ruination twice in the twentieth century, standing proudly on Thomas Street in the Liberties of Dublin is the Georgian church of St Catherine of Alexandria. Unfortunately, as well as the structure of the church itself, its history has been neglected, a situation about … Read more
The Wolfe Tones’ record-breaking crowd at this year’s Electric Picnic drew considerable media attention—a lot more than our more modestly attended History Ireland Hedge School (held at the same time) on the life and legacy of the man himself (https://staging.historyireland.com/hedge-schools/). Yet in the longue durée of history the latter was far more significant, one of … Read more
MARK COEN, KATHERINE O’DONNELL and MAEVE O’ROURKE Bloomsbury ISBN 9781350279063 £19.99 Reviewed by Sheila Ahern Sheila Ahern is a freelance researcher, writer and broadcaster, formerly with RTÉ (1987–2000). In the twentieth century there were ten Magdalene laundries in Ireland, run by four religious orders. Here the editors explain that ‘by focusing on this one institution—on … Read more