A Pocket History of Northern Ireland

by Gill Books, Allan Leonard (Photographer)

The book tells the history of Northern Ireland from the Third Home Rule Bill right through to Derry Girls. Covering all aspects of the beginnings of Northern Ireland as a separate state to gerrymandering and World War II and on to the emergence of the Troubles and finally peace this book is a guide to all the dramatic events of the past 100 years. Leaders such as Terrence O’Neill Gerry Fitt Ian Paisley Gerry Adams David Trimble and John Hume are profiled along with terrorist organisations and political parties. The cultural history of Northern Ireland is also celebrated from Seamus Heaney to Derry Girls and Game of Thrones.

256 pages, Hardcover

Published October 18, 2019

Reviews

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great and quick historical account of a troubled and beautiful place. I think they did fair in acknowledging horrific acts carried out by all parties and well as positive deeds by both parties. I do wish some events had more detail but I understand it is a pocket history.

[Allan Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Occasionally I am approached for an image to be used in a book publication. Recently, this was for one that I made of a mural celebrating the television series, Derry Girls. Disclosure: I granted permission, with payment, for the image in A Pocket History of Northern Ireland, by Richard Killeen and published by Gill Books.

A Pocket History of Northern Ireland is an addition to the “pocket history” series by Gill Books. The format is a hardcover, 5”x6” volume with two-page chapters of about 250 words each, laden with archival and contemporary imagery (about 300 images in this volume). This is a traditional chronological history, with the first two pages providing a 17th and 18th century background, continuing with the Act of Union 1801. The contents are organised into six parts: (1) The Union Unravels; (2) Consolidation; (3) Decline & Fall; (4) 1969: The Troubles; (5) Lone Suffering; and (6) Turning the Tide. There are 25 chapters over 256 pages; the book took me about three hours to complete.

With any book on the history and politics of Northern Ireland, those familiar with the topic will consciously or subconsciously gage the ideological perspective of the author. There is no issue with the accuracy of what Killeen presents; the facts are all there. But there is an apparent lens of a southern Irish person. Positively, there is an equal disdain, if not disgust, of both ‘militant republicanism’ (see chapter: Enniskillen) and the ‘psychopathic’ elements of loyalism (see chapter: Shankill Butchers). But a southern bewilderment of the quagmire of northern politics is also obvious. Killeen guides the reader through the elements of the post-ceasefire multi-party talks that resulted in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

There is a separate chapter on Bernadette Devlin, as expected. What I didn’t expect was how frequently she was referred to in subsequent chapters: a sympathy I haven’t seen in other concise histories of Northern Ireland.

Speaking of surprises, it heartened me to see my image of the Derry Girls mural as the final image of the book. Killeen’s tone in this last chapter is spot on — while Northern Ireland remains segregated and dissident republicans are still murdering (including that of the talented young journalist, Lyra McKee), the northern tradition of producing excellent literature and arts continues (including Anna Burns’ novel, Milkman, and the award winning television comedy, Derry Girls).

Perhaps an updated edition of A Pocket History of Northern Ireland will add a chapter on legalisation of abortion as well as same-sex marriage, and how a new generation of ‘peace babies’ are forging a different agenda from the shibboleths of the past.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an interesting overview of the history of Northern Ireland. Picked this up on our travels at a museum in Dublin actually. There is a lot of information and unless you’re Irish perhaps a bit challenging to follow all of it. The book that I read about Ireland and loved was ‘Say Nothing’. There are so many books about all of these troubles and I think I’ve read and watched enough now. So much heartache and violence and death. I remember as a girl hearing about the ‘troubles’ and couldn’t understand how this could happen in the name of religion. I do love Ireland and the Irish people however. The last pages of this book are titled ‘Milkman and Derry Girls’. Derry Girls being the TV show that is quite entertaining for sure. Milkman was the Booker winning novel that is one of the few books I’ve abandoned. I tried and couldn’t make sense of it.