INTRODUCTION

The history of Ireland has been entertainment, hobby, profession, and a source of division and inspiration for as long as the written word has existed on this island, and undoubtedly also long before then. It seems at times that, where an Irish person has at least one non-fiction book in their posession it is sure to be a book of Irish history. Certainly, there are few Irish people who do not feel comfortable discussing some aspect - or many - of Ireland's recorded past. This enthusiasm is reflected in both the range of discussion groups detailed below and in the fact that, of all the IRQUAS discussion groups it is a history group - 'Early Medieval Ireland' - which has remained the clear leader in terms of subscribed members which, at the time of writing number 260.

And why not? Ireland's past is surely fascinating... Gaelic kingdoms, Viking raids and towns, Anglo-Norman settlements, Elizabethan plantations, the fall of the Gaelic order, the Cromwellian campaigns, the United Irishmen, the Great Hunger, Parnell and Home Rule, the War of Independence and the Civil War, the Emergency, the Troubles... and those dates: 1916, 1801, 1690, 1847, 1601, 1921, 1798... The stuff of secondary school history classes. Undoubtedly there is something in there to engage the mind of any Irish person. True history, however, requires more than interest and an ability to recite names and dates.

Though derided again and again for their approach and aspirations alike, 'revisionist' historians have endeavoured these last few decades to revisit the assumptions of their forebears and examine anew the actual evidence in the cold light of day. There is no doubt that their efforts have rewarded us all with new insights, broader perspectives and fresh theories. The anti-revisionist camp, however, have not been utterly misguided in their criticisms of revisionism. Without challenge and debate, however, history becomes a stale recitation of assumptions; without open-mindedness and a readiness to learn, history will remain the tool of division it has so often been in Ireland. These are the principles that guide discussions on all the IRQUAS history groups.

RELATED DISCUSSION GROUP HOMEPAGES

• Iron Age Ireland: the archaeology of the iron age period in Ireland (c.500BC - 400AD)
  
  
• Early Medieval Ireland: the archaeology and history of medieval Ireland (c.400 - 1200AD)
  
  
• Late Gaelic Ireland: the history and archaeology of late medieval and pre-modern Ireland (c.1000 - 1700AD)
  
  
• Early Modern Ireland: the history and archaeology of early modern Ireland (c.1600 - 1900AD)
  
  
• Irish Economic History: the history - and prehistory - of Ireland's economy
  
  
• Irish Social History: the history - and prehistory - of Ireland's society
  
  
• Irish Archaeology: the archaeology of Ireland of all periods
  
  
• Settlement Studies: the archaeology, geography and history of settlement in Ireland of all periods

LINKS

DOCUMENTS & DATABASES

Page last updated 30 September 2001