Originally published in 1952,
A History of Ireland Under the Union
was written by an historian who played an active part in the political events of the later part of the period. In Ireland there are two national traditions: that of the Kingdom of the Gael, established at the end of the 4
th
Century A.D. and the other colonial tradition evolved by the descendants of various generations of Planters from England. The book provides a full account of 19
Century Irish history and shows how the colonial nationalists discarded their nationalism after 1801 and how the emerging Gael, under Daniel O’ Connell adopted and fused the two traditions into an Irish national tradition which was vitalised by Irish literature and culture. Containing much original source material the book throws light on aspects of Irish history whose significance is often overlooked such as the part played by the RIC and the Secret Societies in Ireland and the USA.