28.06.2016
Speaking of Eoin MacNeill, his grandson Senator Michael McDowell said ‘MacNeill deserves close and debated study; his influence on Irish history is significant. In more than one sense he was a foremost author of Irish history’. Senator McDowell was speaking at the seminar Eoin MacNeill: a Reassessment of the Scholar Revolutionary. The seminar organised by the National University of Ireland explored aspects of the life and career of Eoin MacNeill (1867-1945), a member of the first Senate of the National University of Ireland (1908 – 1914) and first Professor of Early Irish History in University College Dublin.
At the seminar, which was chaired by NUI Chancellor, Dr Maurice Manning, Dr Elva Johnston of the School of History UCD emphasised MacNeill’s central importance to the study of Early Irish History. Professor Liam MacMathúna outlined MacNeill’s pioneering role in the Irish Language movement. Ted Hallett, former Deputy British Ambassador to Ireland, spoke of MacNeill’s participation in, and ultimate resignation from, the Boundary Commission. Dr Michael Kennedy, Executive Director, Documents on Irish Foreign Policy, Royal Irish Academy covered MacNeill’s dynamic leadership of the Irish Manuscripts Commission.
The event was organised by NUI as part of its Decade of Commemorations programme.
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