Launch of "Northern Ireland: what is it? Professor Mansergh changes his mind"

national | history and heritage | event notice Thursday October 18, 2012 12:12 by Jack Lane - Athol Books

Teachers Club

What was 'Northern Ireland' for? That is a question which has never been considered. This book considers what was established in Northern Ireland and why. The why is important. It had—and continues to have—to do with the handling of the bit of Ireland which broke with the Imperial State: an Ireland which had to cope with seeing a national minority misgoverned across the Border.

Professor Nicholas Mansergh was a historian, constitutional expert, and part of the inner ruling class of Britain. He wrote a book on Northern Ireland in 1936 which correctly described the constitutional form while misconceiving its politics. In 1983 he altered his opinion of 'Northern Ireland' and endorsed an academic description of it as an takes issue with their approach.