Stephen Kelly

This monograph is primarily a biographical examination of Edward Heath’s public and private attitude to Northern Ireland during his time as official leader of the Opposition (1965-1970 & 1974-1975) and U.K. prime minister (1970-1974). It is the first published study of its kind. Due to access to new and previously closed archival files, this book radically challenges the current historiography vis-à-vis Heath’s Northern Ireland policy. It offers readers a fascinating insight into some of the more controversial aspects of the U.K. government’s Northern Ireland policy during the early years of the ‘Troubles’, including Heath’s attitude to the use of the so-called ‘five techniques’ of torture; his pivotal role during the events leading to ‘Bloody Sunday’, on 30 Janaury 1972; and, lastly, his role as one of the leading architects of the Sunningdale Agreement of December 1973. By examining the various topics under consideration, this study provides readers with nuanced insight into how Heath formulated and implemented his Northern Ireland policies, primarily in the political, military, and security realms. For Heath, Northern Ireland was not simply a political preoccupation. The subject, over time, became quite personal, not least given that Heath survived, not one, but two assassination attempts on his life, mounted by Irish Republican terrorists in 1974 and 1975, respectively. For the remainder of his life, Heath remained fearful that a third attempt on his life by Irish Republican paramilitaries would prove to be deadly.

Gerald Boland (Gear id Beol in) Irish militant revolutionary, politician and statesman, has until now ranked amongst the forgotten figures of modern Irish history. This book addresses this historical imbalance. Boland's life story offers readers an insight into the birth and subsequent development of the modern Ireland. From a humble working-class family, steeped in the Irish Republican tradition, Boland played an active role in the Irish Revolution and subsequently was at the forefront of political life in the nascent years of the Irish Free State, first as a Sinn F in elected representative and thereafter within Fianna F il. Boland's story thus offers readers a personal insight into many of the major military and political events which helped shape modern Ireland over the duration of his lifetime (1885-1973).Importantly, this biographical study provides readers with a critical examination regarding Gerald Boland's military adventures, political maneuvers and significantly his forgotten role as one of Ireland's eminent state builders. The picture that is painted is of a patriotic adolescent emerging to become a strong-willed militant young man turned politician and later respected (and sometimes feared) government minister.

We tend to skip by the genealogies in Scripture, but Major Stephen Kelly invites us to slow down, look at the names and the lives they represent, and to discover what they tell us about Christ, the Lord. You will find many of these people are like you, and many teach us lessons that help us prepare to celebrate our Lord's incarnation.

Winner of the 2022 CHOICE Outstanding Academic TitlesThe first woman elected to lead a major Western power and the longest serving British prime minister for 150 years, Margaret Thatcher is arguably one the most dominant and divisive forces in 20th-century British politics. Yet there has been no overarching exploration of the development of Thatcher's views towards Northern Ireland from her appointment as Conservative Party leader in 1975 until her forced retirement in 1990. In this original and much-needed study, Stephen Kelly rectifies this. From Thatcher’s ‘no surrender’ attitude to the Republican hunger strikes to her nurturing role in the early stages of the Northern Ireland peace process, Kelly traces the evolutionary and sometimes contradictory nature of Thatcher’s approach to Northern Ireland. In doing so, this book reflects afresh on the political relationship between Britain and Ireland in the late-20th century. An engaging and nuanced analysis of previously neglected archival and reported sources, Margaret Thatcher, the Conservative Party and the Northern Ireland Conflict, 1975-1990 is a vital resource for those interested in Thatcherism, Anglo-Irish relations, and 20th-century British political history more broadly.

Imagining History in Medieval Britain explores the historical imagination through medieval and early modern writers and texts, from Christian historians such as Bede to secular chronicles; from Geoffrey of Monmouth and other romancers of history, to late medieval historical fiction by Chaucer and Malory. The book deliberately moves away from a chronological approach to assess the writing of history thematically. Chapters are designed to be comprehensive in mapping the major texts of medieval historical writing but are also intended to challenge current understandings by juxtaposing texts with themes which are informed by the postmodern sense of crisis in historical representation. The book frames its exploration of medieval history writing with reference to key thinkers of contemporary historiographical theory including Foucault, de Certeau, Collingwood and Hayden White. The book introduces students to the main currents of medieval history writing but also challenges the strictures imposed by the discipline of History as it has emerged since the eighteenth century. Sidebars will pose additional methodological and theoretical questions and each chapter will have suggestions for further reading.

Exploring the historical imagination through medieval and early modern writers and texts, from Christian historians such as Bede to secular chronicles, Geoffrey of Monmouth to Chaucer and Malory, Imagining History in Medieval Britain moves away from a chronological approach to assess the writing of history thematically. Chapters are designed to be comprehensive in mapping the major texts of medieval historical writing but are also intended to challenge current understandings by juxtaposing texts with themes which are informed by the postmodern sense of crisis in historical representation. The book frames its exploration of medieval history writing with reference to key thinkers of contemporary historiographical theory including Foucault, de Certeau, Collingwood and Hayden White. While introducing students to the main currents of medieval history writing, this book also challenges the strictures imposed by the discipline of history as it has emerged since the 18th century. Sidebars pose additional methodological and theoretical questions and each chapter contains suggestions for further reading.

A Day of Hope is the true story of how one man endured almost five decades of abuse, failed marriages, bullying and addictions. Instead of focusing on the sorrow, he dug deep within himself, reconnected with God, and discovered the path back to the light and finding peace. His journey will tear at your emotions as the story progresses until you feel you are standing beside him at the end of it.The message is simple: no matter how dark the moment becomes, the opportunity for understanding and forgiveness remains. This is a story of healing. A story of Hope.A donation of 10% of all profits from the sale of this book will go towards charities supporting mental health. Please support.

Winner of the 2022 CHOICE Outstanding Academic TitlesThe first woman elected to lead a major Western power and the longest serving British prime minister for 150 years, Margaret Thatcher is arguably one the most dominant and divisive forces in 20th-century British politics. Yet there has been no overarching exploration of the development of Thatcher's views towards Northern Ireland from her appointment as Conservative Party leader in 1975 until her forced retirement in 1990. In this original and much-needed study, Stephen Kelly rectifies this. From Thatcher’s ‘no surrender’ attitude to the Republican hunger strikes to her nurturing role in the early stages of the Northern Ireland peace process, Kelly traces the evolutionary and sometimes contradictory nature of Thatcher’s approach to Northern Ireland. In doing so, this book reflects afresh on the political relationship between Britain and Ireland in the late-20th century. An engaging and nuanced analysis of previously neglected archival and reported sources, Margaret Thatcher, the Conservative Party and the Northern Ireland Conflict, 1975-1990 is a vital resource for those interested in Thatcherism, Anglo-Irish relations, and 20th-century British political history more broadly.

Securing the hearts and minds of ‘dangerous’ populations is a major concern for governments across the world. Governing Literate Populations shows how ‘governmentalities’ have deployed education and literacy in different ways in order to protect their national, social, economic and geopolitical security interests. Presenting a Foucauldian Genealogy of literacy and education, Kelly argues that government apparatuses strategically contain the rise of complex social forces to protect homogenous cultural values.Kelly’s work traces the development of the relationship between liberal governmentalities and the securitization of ‘martial’ literate citizenries from its beginnings in the Enlightenment, starting with Hobbes’ Leviathan in 1651, through to the emergence of human security in 1994. He then examines the situation in Australia from 1995-2007, investigating political statements by the Howard Government and the insurgent Rudd opposition against the backdrop of the ‘age of terror’. The conclusion takes another historical cut by considering how the political uses of literacy can be located in the texts of Plato, before examining how the conceptualization of literate subject as citizen of the state has come to be realized in the United Kingdom and the United States of America.Governing Literate Populations draws on data obtained from historical texts, including political and economic treatises, publications by NGOS, media sites, government policies and archived political speeches. As such, it will appeal to academics, researchers and postgraduate students examining education policy and the political uses of education, as well as literacy education and the history of education. Those with an interest in politics, sociology and history will also find this work a highly informative resource.

Securing the hearts and minds of ‘dangerous’ populations is a major concern for governments across the world. Governing Literate Populations shows how ‘governmentalities’ have deployed education and literacy in different ways in order to protect their national, social, economic and geopolitical security interests. Presenting a Foucauldian Genealogy of literacy and education, Kelly argues that government apparatuses strategically contain the rise of complex social forces to protect homogenous cultural values.Kelly’s work traces the development of the relationship between liberal governmentalities and the securitization of ‘martial’ literate citizenries from its beginnings in the Enlightenment, starting with Hobbes’ Leviathan in 1651, through to the emergence of human security in 1994. He then examines the situation in Australia from 1995-2007, investigating political statements by the Howard Government and the insurgent Rudd opposition against the backdrop of the ‘age of terror’. The conclusion takes another historical cut by considering how the political uses of literacy can be located in the texts of Plato, before examining how the conceptualization of literate subject as citizen of the state has come to be realized in the United Kingdom and the United States of America.Governing Literate Populations draws on data obtained from historical texts, including political and economic treatises, publications by NGOS, media sites, government policies and archived political speeches. As such, it will appeal to academics, researchers and postgraduate students examining education policy and the political uses of education, as well as literacy education and the history of education. Those with an interest in politics, sociology and history will also find this work a highly informative resource.

In 1946, An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCA) was established, providing the Irish Defence Forces with a volunteer reserve force which numbered over 100,000. The FCA participated in training and military exercises, and was an integral feature of life around Ireland for a great many people. In 2004, the FCA was integrated into the regular army, and renamed as the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF). This book is an illustrated history of the FCA, its members and its work, capturing in images the people and their dedication to what became an important part of the fabric of Irish social history.