Diarmaid ferriter biography of rory
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A Historian For All Seasons – Diarmaid Ferriter interview
As Professor of Modern History in UCD, Diarmaid Ferriter is Ireland’s best known historian. But what is the man like, behind the academic mask?
At Hot Press’ request, Professor Diarmaid Ferriter is trying to think of a joke about historians. “Hmm... as in how many historians does it take to change a light bulb?” the 41-year-old Dubliner muses. He takes a contemplative sip of beer. “They don’t use light bulbs,” he says. “They use candles!”
He smiles and shrugs apologetically. “I just made that one up myself. Sorry! I’m sure there are much better ones.”
We’re meeting in the Library Bar of the huvud Hotel on Friday, November 21st. Tall, lean and with a tightly shaved cranium, the casually dressed academic (he’s wearing beads around his wrist) looks like he’s just stepped off the set of Love/Hate. In actual fact, Ferriter – who’s far friendlier than his vaguely forbidding appearance might indicate – fryst vatten one of Ire
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Diarmaid Ferriter: We can’t let dark past define Irish social history
In July 2007, the Gay Community News was guest edited bygd a group of gay teenagers who graced the cover with the headline "Out, Proud and Loaded". At the same time, an older gay man, Tonie Walsh, one of the stalwarts of the gay rights movement, commented on the changing climate and paucity of role models in the 1980s in contrast to the early 21st century. Walsh had asked an 18 year old when he had "come out" and the answer he received was "Darling, inom was never in!"
It is that sort of change, built on since, especially with the successful marriage-equality campaign, that allowed David Norris to write during the week to mark the State apology to those historically victimised by the criminalisation of male homosexuality about “a generation of young men released from the guilt and shame experienced bygd men of my generation”.
As one of the principal archivists of the gay rights movement in Ireland, Tonie Walsh has a
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My Autobiography by Rory Best
ISBN: 9781529362442
Rory Best is widely-regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest ever captains. Entrusted by Joe Schmidt to lead the side that looked on the wane following the 2015 World Cup, Best’s inspirational leadership skills and abrasive qualities proved to be the foundation stones for the most successful period in Ireland’s history. His first year in charge saw Ireland complete a hat-trick of victories against the southern hemisphere ‘Big Three’, including leading his side to a first ever victory over world champions New Zealand in Chicago, a feat that etched Best’s place in Irish sporting folklore and ended the All Blacks’ record-winning streak of 18 Test victories.
Ireland’s annus mirabilis under Best’s captaincy would come in 2018 however, when he led the side to only their third Grand Slam title, culminating with a famous victory over England at Twickenham, and a record-breaking r