“Here is a shared memory that we didn't share, forgot to share, for almost ninety years.” Quote by Mary McAleese
“I joined the British Army because she stood between Ireland and an enemy common to our civilization, and I would not have her (Britain) say that she defended us while we did nothing at home but pass resolutions.” HomeCommonEnemyHistoryCivilizationArmyBritishBritainResolutionIrelandBritish Army Author:Francis Ledwidge
“More Irishmen died fighting for Britain in World War I than died fighting against her in all of Ireland's bids for independence combined.” WorldWarFightingHistoryDiedIndependenceWar Of The WorldsBritainIrelandWorld War IIrishmen Author:David Frum
“An independent Ireland would see its own independence in jeopardy the moment it saw the independence of Britain seriously threatened. Mutual self-interest would make the peoples of these two islands, if both independent, the closest possible allies in a moment of real national danger to either.” IfsTwoRealSelfMomentsInterestHistorySawsDangerIndependentIndependenceIslandsBritainMutualAlliesIrelandClosestThreatenedSelf InterestJeopardy Author:Eamon de Valera
“We were the most conservative revolutionaries in history.” HistoryConservativeRevolutionary Author:Kevin O'Higgins
“The Irish Free State was one of dozens of new European democracies to emerge from the cauldron of the 1914-1918 war. It was one of the very few that was still democratic in 1939. This book shows how the steely determination of one man, Kevin O'Higgins, made this possible. O'Higgins faced down mutinies in both the Gardai and the Army. He dissolved the Dáil Courts which were a parallel system that might easily have undermined the conventional courts. With WT Cosgrave, he put through a constitution which reconciled the local opponents of independence with the new State.” MenMadeStillsBookWarStatesShowsMightHistoryDemocracyDeterminationConstitutionArmyIndependenceCourtDemocraticLocalsOpponentsOne ManDozenConventionalParallelsKevinMutinyCauldronsFree State Author:John Bruton
“The Rising was mainly a piece of streat theatre designed by poets for dramatic effect. For better or worse, it became part of the founding myth which states need - but which they should move on from after a time. Major John MacBride, in a cameo performance in which he left Jacobs Mill, as he had entered it, immaculately dressed down to the white spats, told his colleagues Next time lads, don't shut yourself up behind four walls. It was good advice.” NeedsShouldStatesMovingNextLeftWhiteBehindsHistoryPiecesFourAdviceEffectsPoetWallMajorsPerformancesMythTheatreDramaticRisingNext TimeColleaguesFoundingGood AdviceMillsJacobLadSpatsFour WallsCameos Author:Maurice Hayes
“Pearl Harbor is strenuously respectful of contemporary sensitivities, sometimes at the cost of accuracy.” SometimesHistoryCostContemporarySensitivityPearlsHarborsRespectfulAccuracy Author:A. O. Scott
“All my life I've been aware of the Second World War humming in the background. I was born 10 years after it was finished, and without ever seeing it. It formed my generation and the world we lived in. I played Hurricanes and Spitfires in the playground, and war films still form the basis of all my moral philosophy. All the men I've ever got to my feet for or called sir had been in the war.” MenWorldYearsStillsWarPhilosophyFilmFormBornMoralHistorySeeingGenerationsFeetHe ManBasesFinishedBackgroundsWar Of The WorldsHurricanesMy GenerationSecond World WarPlaygroundsHummingMoral Philosophy Author:A. A. Gill
“Augustus gradually increased his powers, taking over those of the senate, the executives and the laws. The aristocracy received wealth and position in proportion to their willingness to accept slavery. The state had been transformed, and the old Roman character gone for ever. Equality among citizens was completely abandoned. All now waited on the imperial command.” StatesCharacterLawWealthAcceptingHistoryGonePositionCitizensSlaveryCommandProportionExecutivesWillingnessAbandonedSenateTransformedAristocracyAugustus Author:Tacitus
“I do get bottled up in interviews. You're thinking about what you're saying, and suddenly you get all tangled. So people think I'm sullen, or that I don't have much to say. But my friends will tell you: a lot of times I talk too much.” PeopleThinkingToo MuchMy FriendsInterviewsTangledSullen Author:Matt Dillon