I will attend and present a paper at the American Conference for Irish Studies, June 2-5. Unfortunately, the conference is switched to virtual from in-person at Derry city, Northern Ireland, as originally scheduled. I am taking some time away from the blog to finalize my presentation about the Irish diaspora witnesses at the American Commission on Conditions in Ireland hearings, 1920-21. I will post a limited amount of new content this summer as I work on several projects. As the weather warms and COVID restrictions continue ease, it’s a good time to get outside and away from the screens that have become too ubiquitous in our lives. Below, some of my work from the first part of the year. MH
A Journey In Ireland, 1921, Revisited
Novelist and journalist Wilfrid Ewart traveled through Ireland from mid-April to early May 1921. His dispatches for London newspapers were later collected and revised in the book, A Journey in Ireland, 1921. This series revisits aspects of his journey at its 100th anniversary, though the book was not published until a year later.
- An introduction
- Dublin arrival
- In Cork
- Twice detained
- Murdered mayors
- Ulster attitude
- Rising & partition
- Mysterious Mr. X.
- Ewart reviewed
- Final thoughts
American Committee for Relief in Ireland
I’ve written three posts about the American Committee for Relief in Ireland and intend to add a few more before the end of the year.
- American investigators visit Ireland, February 1921
- St. Patrick’s Day, 1921: ‘A Summons to Service’
- American visitors describe ‘Distress in Ireland,’ April 1921
Cardinal Gibbons Centenary
I gave a virtual presentation in March about Cardinal James Gibbons for the Irish Railroad Workers Museum, Baltimore. He was born in the Maryland city in 1834, lived in Ireland with his family during the Great Famine, then returned to America. Cardinal Gibbons became involved in the cause of Irish freedom and humanitarian relief as the leading churchman in the United States. He died March 24, 1921, age 86.
My story for the Catholic Review (Baltimore):
Cardinal Gibbons, who died 100 years ago, was committed to Ireland