Illustrations of Irish History and Topography, Mainly of the Seventeenth Century (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Illustrations of Irish History and Topography, Mainly of the Seventeenth Century

But, apart from this consideration, it is certain that the elucidation of the social and topographical history of Ireland has failed to keep pace with the growth of scientific archaeology and the extension of antiquarian studies. No one who considers the point to which these studies had attained under the guidance of such writers as Ware and Petty can be satisfied with the progress made since their time in the spheres of their respective inquiries. Nor will a perusal of Bishop Nicholson's Irish Historical Library make us entirely satisfied with the advance effected in the interval Of almost two centuries which has elapsed since the publication of that meagre, yet still useful, analysis of the materials then existing for historical research. Sixty years ago there were signs of a genuine revival of interest in Irish historical studies. But the encouragement which historical inquiry seemed likely to receive from the Young Ireland movement was deprived of its principal impetus by the premature death of its founder. There are still no better summaries Of the main sources of knowledge, as there are certainly no more stimulating exhortations to the study of Irish history, than are to be found in the Essays of Davis, whose fine historical instinct was seldom mastered by his political prepossessions. But Davis did not live to aecom plish the work he planned, and little has since been done to give effect to his views.

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