On 1 November 1913 Eoin MacNeill (Professor of Early Irish History at University College Dublin) published an article in An Claidheamh Soluis newspaper entitled ‘The North Began’. In this article MacNeill called for the creation of the Irish Volunteers, modelled on the Ulster Volunteers who had mobilized in opposition to Home Rule for Ireland. In the aftermath of his article, MacNeill was asked to take a central role in organising the Irish Volunteers. The launch of this organization at the Rotunda Rink on the northside of Dublin on 25 November 1913 was a pivotal moment in modern Irish history.

In this special commemorative series, HistoryHub.ie looks at the political and academic careers of Eoin MacNeill:

Part 1 – Prof. Michael Laffan’s analysis of ‘The North Began’.

Part 2 – Prof. Diarmaid Ferriter on the legacy of Eoin MacNeill.

Part 3 – A video by Prof. Diarmaid Ferriter on Eoin MacNeill’s life and career.

Part 4 – DIB entry for Eoin MacNeill by Dr Patrick Maume and Prof. Thomas Charles-Edwards (Published by Dictionary of Irish Biography)

Part 5 – An article by Dr Elva Johnston on Eoin MacNeill the historian.

Part 6 – An audio documentary on the scholarly legacy of Eoin MacNeill.

Part 7 – Eoin MacNeill: Scholar and Revivalist by Dr Regina Uí Chollatáin.

Part 8 – Eoin MacNeill and the promotion of Celtic Studies in America.

Image: LA30/PH/399 Photograph of Eoin MacNeill at the Eucharistic Congress 1932, Dublin. Images from the Tierney/MacNeill Photographs were reproduced by UCD Digital Library from the originals held in UCD Archives, University College Dublin. © University College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Dublin.