Diarmaid Coffey

Life
Author of Douglas Hyde, &c., Irishmen of Today (1917); Douglas Hyde, President of Ireland (Dublin: Talbot 1938), 153pp., with ports.; O’Neill and Ormond: A Chapter in Irish History (Dublin: Maunsel 1914), 246pp.

 

Commentary
Maunsel & Co.: notices included in the publisher’s list appended to the pop. edn. of St. John Ervine, Mrs. Martin’s Man, 1915 [prev. 1914]): O’Neill and Ormond: A chapter in Irish History, by Diarmid [sic] Coffey, demy 8v. 6/- net; ‘deals with confused and controverted period of the turbid and turbulent history of Ireland at once lucidly and judicially. It is besides a most opportune book dealing as it does with the palantations and confiscations … a history of the time as unbiassed as it is interesting.’ (Truth); ‘Mr Coffey writes without partisanship, and congestion is inevitable where there are so many different points of interest. But one gets the whole affair in clear and bold outline.’ (Pall Mall Gazette); ‘[Do.] Will be valued for its careful study of the manuscript and other sources of information .. careful piece of historical investigation done with the aim of impartiality although the author’s sympathies are obviously with Owen Roe O’Neill and his followers’ (Scotsman); ‘sets forth in clear detail, with marked absence of strong prejudice, the events of one of the most stirring periods … between … 1641-1653, and the mere rehearson of the incidents during these twelve years makes interesting reading.’ (Glasgow News).

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