How much of our national consciousness has been formed by artists, from the early days of the century and especially in the wake of the national revival and the formation of the State? Sir Hugh Lane early indicated that Ireland needed a school of painters prepared to commit themselves to Irish art in order to foster a growing sense of national consciousness. The West was the area painted by many - Jack Yeats, Orpen, John Lavery, Paul Henry, Sean Keating, Gerard Dillon and Maurice Mac Gonigal are named by Marie Burke in an article in the Spring issue of History Ireland, to which she adds and gives serious consideration to Charles Lamb. The front cover of the publication is dominated by Lamb's "Dancing at a Northern Crossroads". And the whole article pivots around him. Interesting and instructive, for Marie Burke is the Keeper and Head of Education at the National Gallery of Ireland. (Interesting that several outstanding figures came from an area not too far from Portadown: A.E., Bulmer Hobson, Ernest Blythe.) Some of the spirit of the artists is embodied in a book Saorstat Eireann, The Irish Free State beautifully printed, edited by Bulmer Hobson and sent around our missions abroad, a record of the first 10 years of self-rule.
Another compelling article in this issue of History Ireland is "The Mulcahy Tapes and Papers by Risteard Mulcahy". Those who have read his book Richard Mulcahy (1886-1971) - a Family Memoir will be aware of much in the article but will still read it with interest. Apart from its political content and revelations, the book is appealing in its warm family atmosphere. Of the famous occasion when Griffith told the British that he would sign the Treaty even if no one else on the delegation did Dick Mulcahy commented: "The question arose in my mind as to whether these are not the most valiant words ever spoken in the course of Irish history. They were the words of a man who, in an unquenched gaiety of spirit, had suffered poverty and degradation and apparently fruitless labours for years, entirely devoted to the service of the uplift of the people in terms of spirit, economic wellbeing, social happiness, political strength." There have been many very good issues of this journal. There are yet more good things in this issue. Y