The Maamtrasna Murders: Language, Life, and Death in Nineteenth-Century Ireland

by Margaret Kelleher

The Maamtrasna Murders of 1882—in which three men who spoke only Irish were wrongfully sentenced to death after a trial conducted fully in English—stand as one of the gravest miscarriages of justice in Irish history. In this book, Margaret Kelleher uses the Maamtransa case, notorious for its failure to interpretive and translation services to monoglot Irish speakers, as a starting point for an investigation into broader sociolinguistic issues. Uncovering archival materials not previously consulted, this book illuminates a story that has proven to be a much messier social narrative than previously recognized. Kelleher show that, although the wrongful execution of monolingual Irishmen have historically been the best-known feature of the case, the complex significance of language use in an isolated region mirrors the dynamics that continue to influence the fates of monolingual and bilingual people today.  

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime, Ireland, History

352 pages, Paperback

Published March 27, 2020

Reviews

[Aoife ✨️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good study of colonialist attitudes towards language and how linguistic imperialism can be the ruin of someone who does not subscribe to the language of the oppressor.
I had knowledge of the execution prior to reading but this book gave more context and information in order to be able to fully understand the injustice faced by Myles Joyce.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read from Margaret Kelleher who is truly a renowned scholar when it comes to a topic like this. Again, this was a text that I was required to read for one of my university courses but it was still a thoroughly enjoyable experience and sheds light on an important piece of Irish history. As Kelleher points out in this book, the Ireland that existed during the Maamtrasna case was one of great discrimination and injustice. By using reputable sources and her own personal connection to the language spoken by the defendants in this case, Kelleher analyzes how the Maamtrasna case became a great miscarriage of justice in Ireland. Certainly for the Irish history learner this is a must read as it gives invaluable insight into the time period that Kelleher discusses in this book. For the casual reader, maybe read some more general Irish history first but certainly return to this once you are no longer a novice in such faculties.

[Zoë · Rating 5 out of 5]

An in-depth but gripping sociological insight into the complex political, legal and linguistic dimensions of Irish society in the mid to late nineteenth-century, framed through the various narratives of the infamous Maamtrasna Murders in mid 19C Ireland (where five Irish speakers were tried and found guilty for the murder of a family in Joyce Country, Co. Galway/Mayo). A must read for anyone with an interest in legal, linguistic and colonial history.

[Cian Moran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent insights (the sections on the Irish language's status in the 19th century were absolutely outstanding) but it was a heavy read. The parts on James Joyce felt out of kilter with the rest of the text.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary work of historical and literary scholarship. A brilliant telling of a dark chapter in Irish history.

[Kate Costello-Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sad and fascinating story— also a truly brilliant piece of scholarship with exhaustive archival research.

[Seán · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it does drag a little at some points due to the subject it is still very well written and meticulously researched.

[Lughán · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it does drag a little at some points due to the subject it is still very well written and meticulously researched.