Myth and the Irish State
- ISBN-10
- 0716532549
- ISBN-13
- 9780716532545
- Category
- History
- Pages
- 304
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2013-12-03
- Publisher
- Irish Academic Press
- Author
- John M. Regan
Description
When we read a history we believe ourselves to be reading cold, hard, facts of the events that took place and how they occurred. But there is no real, truthful way to know the approach our historian has taken with the historical sources. This book deals with the uncertainty in writing history in the context of Irish history in particular. Regan argues in this book that the notion of elision, simply ignoring unhelpful evidence, threatens Irish history today. Regan believes that some historians have ignored unhelpful facts that perhaps do not further their point or perhaps contradict them altogether. Each chapter focuses on a period of Irish history that Regan believes to be inconsistent or incomplete in its facts. He asks the controversial questions about the period of history such as why do some historians deny or marginalise the British threat of war and re-conquest in 1922?, why do so many Irish historians describe Michael Collins as a constitutionalist or a democrat when the evidence argues otherwise? Was the Irish Civil War really fought between democrats defending the state, against dictators attempting its overthrow? Did the new state briefly experience a military-dictatorship under Collins in 1922? Thinking historically is not about learning history or accepting the past as it is presented to us it is, as Regan argues in his thought-provoking work, about developing the critical skills to interpret history for ourselves.
Get the book
Similar books
-
Myth and the Irish State: Historical Problems and Other Essays
By John M. ReganThis book deals with the uncertainty in writing history, in the context of Irish history in particular. Author John M. Regan argues that the notion of elision - simply ignoring unhelpful evidence - threatens Irish history today.
-
The Irish Myth of the Second World War
By Bernard KellyThis is an important contribution to the history of the Second World War.
-
The Myth of Manliness in Irish National Culture, 1880-1922
By Joseph ValenteTo this end, Joseph Valente focuses upon the Victorian ethos of manliness or manhood, the specific moral and political logic of which proved crucial to both the translation of British rule into British hegemony and the expression of Irish ...
-
The Celtic Tiger: The Myth of Social Partnership in Ireland
By Kieran AllenThis critical look at the Celtic tiger challenges many myths about Ireland's success story and brings its class divisions into sharp focus.
-
Myths and Legends of the Celts
By James MacKillopMag Rath (magh, maγ, Modlr. moi; rath)Scene of an Irish dynastic battle, AD 637, where Suibne goes mad. Mag Slécht (magh, Modlr. moi shlaykht)Plain in Co. Cavan, near present town of Ballymagauran thought to be site of worship of Crom ...
-
Discrimination in Northern Ireland, 1920-1939: Myth or Reality?
By John O’BrienThis book aims to examine these nationalist allegations and assess whether or not discrimination did occur and if so, the extent to which the minority became disadvantaged as a result.
-
The Myth of an Irish Cinema: Approaching Irish-Themed Films
By Michael Patrick GillespieDenis Donoghue sums up this dilemma in a commentary on what he infers to be Seamus Deane's critique of essentialism in the concept of Irishness : “ Indeed , I am not sure that Deane or anyone else could indicate the point at which an ...
-
Ireland's Immortals: A History of the Gods of Irish Myth
By Mark WilliamsClifford, 24. 152 An 'F' is written in the MSS when the word fid (or variations on it) is used, as if to underscore the double meaning. 153 Bó Bithblicht', ed. & trans. Clifford, 14, 27. Rúscach, 'barky' (there are no length marks in ...
-
Education and Celtic Myth: National Self-image and Schoolbooks in 20th Century Ireland
By Pádraic FrehanThis volume is of interest for all those working in Irish school literature, Irish studies – especially cultural, intellectual and educational history of Ireland, imagology and European studies.
-
Early Irish Myths and Sagas
First written down in the eighth century AD, these early Irish stories depict a far older world - part myth, part legend and part history.