Speaking Ill of the Dead

Another New Island/RTÉ collaboration that is bound to have the living and the dead up in arms!

The passing of great historical figures nearly always brings out a stream of platitudes, of warm recollections and reminiscence of their great achievements. As such, it is only with considerable passing of time that the true legacy of these major figures can be looked at in all objectivity and fair mindedness, free from the distorting elements of nostalgia and hysteria. And sometimes, the results are not quite so positive!

Edited by Myles Dungan, Speaking Ill of the Dead is taken from the series of lectures aired last year on RTÉ Radio 1 where historians were asked to choose a figure from Irish history (though not necessarily Irish born) for whom they had an aversion and to speak about them before an audience.

Among the historians featuring in this new book are Prof. Tom Bartlett, Prof Paul Bew, Senator Martin Mansergh, Senator David Norris, Ruth Dudley Edwards and Museum Director, Dr. Pat Wallace. Among the reputations under attack are those of Edward Carson, William Gladstone, Kevin O'Higgins, Arthur Balfour and Countess Markievicz.