What If ?

What If? Alternative Views of Twentieth Century Ireland, the latest book by St Patrick’s College historian Diarmaid Ferriter, was launched by Mary Hanafin, Minister for Education, at Eason Hannas, Dawson St, on 3 May. We all know that there was nothing inevitable about much of modern Ireland’s history. Things could have turned out very differently; so it is natural to wonder what would have happened if certain events had never occurred or happened in a different way. This is the starting point for Diarmaid Ferriter’s book which is based on the RTE Radio One series of the same name and published by Gill and Macmillan. He looks at twenty events in twentieth century Ireland discusses them with two experts to speculate how things might have developed if circumstances been different. Launching the book, Minister Mary Hanafin described Ferriter as perhaps the finest young historian of his generation who in the best traditions of the profession, brought history to a wider audience.

What If: Gill and Macmillan, 2006. ISBN 0-7171-3990-6

Last Updated: Thursday September 21 2006