The Dictionary of Irish Biography
Over the past decade my research activities have been almost exclusively devoted to editing the Royal Irish Academy’sDictionary of Irish Biography. This is a major scholarly project involving collaboration with scholars from all the Irish universities and universities in Britain, USA, Canada, France, South Africa and Australia. Under an arrangement with UCD, the Dictionary project has been based in offices at UCD Earlsfort Terrace. The Executive Editor is James Quinn, the biographer of Thomas Russell and John Mitchel, a UCD history graduate (BA 1993 and PhD 2005). Ronan Fanning, professor of modern history at UCD (1986–2006) is an editor. A full account of this major research project is given below.
7 VOLUMES AND ON-LINE
The Royal Irish Academy’s Dictionary of Irish Biography will be an indispensable work of reference. To be published in seven volumes and on-line by Cambridge University Press, the RIADictionary of Irish Biography will be the internationally recognised biographical reference work for Ireland. It will put the lives of people who made a significant contribution in Ireland or overseas, or who had careers of enduring interest, into every major library in the world and on the shelves of scholars, journalists, teachers, broadcasters, diplomats and general readers. It will be especially important in helping to sustain Irish studies courses in universities throughout the world.
9,800 LIVES
In more than 9,000 entries, covering 9,800 lives, the RIADictionary of Irish Biography will outline the careers at home and overseas of prominent men and women born in Ireland, north and south, and the noteworthy Irish careers of those born outside Ireland. Biographical entries will range in length from 200 words to 10,000. The chronological scope of the RIADictionary of Irish Biography extends from the earliest times to the beginning of the twenty-first century. The living are not included.
BREADTH, DEPTH AND VARIETY
Biographical subjects include artists, architects, scientists, journalists, actors, musicians and composers, bankers, sports men and women, religious figures, writers in Irish and English, engineers, criminals, public servants, politicians and philanthropists. If Ailbe, early sixth-century patron of Emly, is included, so too are Maureen O’Sullivan (1911-98), film actress, David Huddie (1916-98), Rolls-Royce engineer, Luke Wadding (1588-1657) Franciscan friar and historian, Christy Ring (1920-79), hurler, Thekla Beere (1901-91), civil servant, Hugh MacCurtin (c.1680-1755), poet, Louie Bennett (1870-1956), trade unionist, Seán Ó Riada (1931-71) composer, Frank O’Connor (1903-66), author, Arthur Guinness (1725-1803), brewer, Terence O’Neill (1914-90), politician, Roderick O’Flaherty (1629-1718), historiographer, Norah McGuinness (1903-80), painter, Paddy Brosnan (1917-95), Kerry footballer, Ernest Walton (1903-95), physicist and Nobel laureate, James Ussher (1581-1656), scholar and prelate, Paul O’Dwyer (1907-98), lawyer and political activist, and Danny Blanchflower (1925-93), soccer international.
WRITING THE ENTRIES: PROGRESS
The major biographical entries were written externally by expert contributors, while most of the shorter entries were written in-house by the project’s staff. Publication is in October 2009.
EDITORIAL BOARD
The General Editors are Professor Aidan Clarke, MRIA (Trinity College, Dublin), Professor Ronan Fanning, MRIA (University College, Dublin), Professor K. T. Hoppen, FBA (University of Hull). Professor Edith Johnston-Liik (Ulster Historical Foundation and formerly of Macquarie University, New South Wales), Professor Maureen Murphy (Hofstra University, New York), James McGuire (University College, Dublin), who is also Managing Editor, and James Quinn, Executive Editor.
