Detailed Information
AE-HN2111 - The People who helped make Ireland
This course will look at eight important figures in Irish History: Red Hugh O’Donnell (c. 1572 – 1602), Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery (1621-1679), Patrick Sarsfield (1660-1693), Catherine McAuley (1778-1841), John MacHale, Archbishop of Tuam (1791–1881), John Devoy (1842-1928), Countess Georgine Markievicz (1868–1927), and Ernest Blythe (1889–1975). Together, they did much to shape Ireland’s political, military, social and cultural world, while simultaneously impacting upon other key figures in the country’s story. Studying their lives will thus provide new insights into Irish life, as well as providing a novel way to gain an overview of Irish history.
Some of these individuals are more celebrated than others today. Indeed one or two of them tend to be unfairly overlooked in general surveys of Ireland’s past. Nonetheless, all of these individuals did much to shape Ireland’s political, military, social and cultural world. Simultaneously these persons were both key players in some of the seminal events in Irish History and were important influences on other key figures in the country’s story. Furthermore, in looking at these particular individuals the course will cover a period of some 400 years. When all this is taken together, then, studying their lives will provide new insights into many areas of Irish life, as well as providing a novel way to gain an overview of Irish history, and of gaining an understanding of such key turning points as the Tudor conquest of the sixteenth century, the Land War, and the Irish Revolutionary decade of 1912-1922.
| Tutor | Dates | Schedule | Time | Venue/Location | Fee € | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr John Cronin | 25 Jan 2018 to 15 Mar 2018 | Sessions: 8 8 Thursdays, 7.00pm - 9.00pm Jan 25, Feb 1, 8, 15, 22, Mar 1, 8, 15 |
19:00 | Belfield | 160.00 |
Add to Basket |
BELFIELD
8 Thursdays 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Jan 25, Feb 1, 8, 15, 22, Mar 1, 8, 15
- Red Hugh O’Donnell (c. 1572 – 1602)
- Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery (1621-1679)
- Patrick Sarsfield (1660-1693)
- Catherine McAuley (1778-1841)
- John MacHale, Archbishop of Tuam (1791–1881)
- John Devoy (1842-1928)
- Countess Georgine Markievicz (1868–1927)
- Ernest Blythe (1889–1975).
The course is for anyone who, for whatever reason, is interested in developing a better understanding of the History of Ireland and of some of the major persons who helped shape it. This includes, but is not limited to, persons who have recently moved to Ireland, those who feel they would appreciate a second chance to learn about aspects of the country’s past, or those who simply would like the chance to refresh and supplement the knowledge they already have. Persons who have not heard about, or do not know much about, the individuals under study, but who would like to change this, would also find it appealing. Furthermore, individuals who have a pre-existing interest in any of the persons under study, and who want to develop a better understanding of the historical context in which these people lived will likewise find it appealing. Finally, those persons who are thinking of re-entering education, but who feel they need a friendly, unpressurised re-introduction to learning will also appreciate the opportunity that this course will offer.
The following is a selection of recommended texts for those interested in reading further around the course content. We advise that you do not buy books in advance of the course as your tutor will discuss the list and suggest the most relevant reading for particular interests.
In order to provide proper contextualisation for the lives of the persons under study it is recommended that the student look at a basic introduction to Irish History. Any of the following titles will suffice.
Roy Foster (ed.), The Oxford illustrated history of Ireland (Oxford, 1989).
Seán Duffy, The Concise History of Ireland (Dublin, 2000).
T. W. Moody & F. X. Martin, The Course of Irish History (Cork, 1994).
The multi-volume Dictionary of Irish Biography (Cambridge, 2009) is accessible through most county libraries. Other one volume biographical dictionaries, e.g. Henry Boylan ed., A dictionary of Irish biography (Dublin, 1999), are also available in county libraries.
Further readings shall be recommended/provided in class.
John Cronin has worked with UCD Adult Education for three years. He has also taught History in NUI Galway, UCD, the City of Dublin VEC, and the Oscail programme in Dublin City University. Furthermore, he has worked on the government sponsored "Irish Battlefields Project", the Dictionary of Irish Biography and has supervised local history projects in county Galway. He has likewise published a number of articles on the early-modern era.
At the end of this course, a student should be able to:
- Outline the events that shaped the lives of the persons under study, as well as the major events in the lives of these individuals.
- Evaluate the success and failures of their actions during their lifetime.
- Discuss the factors that made them significant figures in Irish History.
- Explain why they are significant persons.
- Discuss their contribution to, and impact on, Ireland and Irish society.