We Declare: Landmark Documents in Ireland's History

by Richard Aldous, Niamh Puirseil, Fintan O'Toole (Foreword)

From St. Patrick’s confession to the harrowing reports of the Famine Relief Commission, the dramatic Proclamation of the Republic and the controversial 1921 Anglo-Irish treaty, and the road to peace and the Good Friday agreement, the most momentous and stirring documents in the history of Ireland are collected here. Presented chronologically, and embellished with images of the actual documents alongside transcripts of the key passages, each document is preceded by an introduction placing the text in its historical context and explaining its significance. From early chapters showing the efforts of British monarchs and governments to establish their authority and the efforts of Irishmen to resist, to documents recording the creation of the newly independent Irish state, to documents that have helped create the Irish national identity, these are gripping snapshots of their times.

216 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Richard Aldous, the author of The Lion and the Unicorn, is Eugene Meyer Professor of British History and Literature at Bard College. He has been a fellow at the Royal Historical Society, a trustee of the Gladstone Library, and advisor to the British Council, and commentator for the Irish Times and the BBC.

Reviews

[Fiona]

Irish history buffs will love this. Some of the actual documents can be tedious to read through, but the introduction, explanations and background to each document was superb.
I learned a lot of new things about Irish history and really enjoyed it.

[Niall]

A short history of Ireland as told by the documents that defined their time.