Reading Brendan Clifford’s article about the BICO in the August issue of the Irish Political Review jogged a few memories. I was a comrade of Eddy Spence in the Sixties: He was a member of the Communist Party of Northern Ireland (CPNI) and I was in its youth wing the Communist Youth League (CYL). As Brendan Clifford points out, Eddy … Continue reading Red Eddy—Gusty’s Brother
Irish History
Casement: The Scientific Proof of Forgery?
Is it possible to identify a writer from the words of a text? Or more to the point, in the case of forgery, is it possible to prove that a person could not have written a text? The premiss of forensic linguistics is that an individual expresses himself in a unique way. Similar, to the … Continue reading Casement: The Scientific Proof of Forgery?
Béal na Bláthair
David McCullough, the radio journalist, was the chief speaker at the Béal na Bláth celebration of Michael Collins' War against opponents of the 1921 'Treaty' this year. However, according to the Irish Times report (24 August), he did not actually mention that War. But that was the one big thing for which Collins had definite … Continue reading Béal na Bláthair
Letter To The President: Choose Your Casement!
Introduction In his 2016 lecture on Casement, former Attorney General Michael McDowell cordially invited listeners “to imagine and even to judge his real character as we choose …”: in short, he invited us to ignore verified facts about the historical person and to thereby deceive ourselves by freely choosing whatever imaginary Casement took our fancy. Essentially the choice was … Continue reading Letter To The President: Choose Your Casement!
Roger Casement: . . . Witnesses – No Thanks!
In a debate in the Irish Political Review earlier this year about the typescripts—but no diary—sent by the Police to the DPP, Jeff Dudgeon stated that this “does not preclude the typed versions existing before the diary manuscripts” (Irish Political Review, April 2026). Together with other letters in the Irish Political Review, serious doubts were thereby cast upon the existence … Continue reading Roger Casement: . . . Witnesses – No Thanks!
“ Hanged By A Comma ! ”
Many books, plays and articles have been written over the last one hundred years concerning the life and death of Roger Casement, the great Irish patriot—who has been described as the “father of 20th century human rights investigations“—was knighted by the British authorities in 1911 for his investigations into human rights abuses in the Congo and … Continue reading “ Hanged By A Comma ! ”
The Brian P. Murphy OSB Archive (Series 9)
The Evolution Of British Policy And The Emergence Of A Sinn Fein Publicity Department In The Years After The Easter Rising. Mss Notes, Part 31 A New British Administration, May 1920 The appointment of Hamar Greenwood to succeed Ian Macpherson as Chief Secretary on 2nd April 1920, and the arrival in Ireland of General Macready to … Continue reading The Brian P. Murphy OSB Archive (Series 9)
Profile Of Robert Barton
(1905-74) Became A Nationalist At Oxford The IRISH PRESS Archive: No. 1 The IRISH PRESS Archive (We are indebted to Jack Lane for this look into the past! Editor) Robert Barton Became A Nationalist At Oxford At first sight a man like Robert Barton seems out of place in the First Dáil. … Continue reading Profile Of Robert Barton
A Clear Picture Of Roger Casement
Book ReviewSir Roger Casement’s Heart Of Darkness, The 1911 Documents, Angus Mitchell While the student of Roger Casement’s life must engage with the 'Black Diaries', it is important not to neglect the real Casement as distinct from the false one portrayed in those diaries and various biographies. Casement must be allowed speak for himself, which … Continue reading A Clear Picture Of Roger Casement
The Brian P. Murphy OSB Archive. (Series 9)
The evolution of British policy and the emergence of a Sinn Fein Publicity Department in the years after the Easter Rising. Mss notes, Part 30 Further Changes In Dublin Castle The attention of British officialdom was also drawn to Dublin Castle as a result of the meeting of William Wylie with Lord French. As recounted by … Continue reading The Brian P. Murphy OSB Archive. (Series 9)
