Historian should respond to critics

ONE wonders why some revisionist historians try to distort the facts of the Kilmichael ambush.

In her recent oration at the Kilmichael site Meda Ryan captured the mood and events of that day 84 years ago.

It was a history of the ambush in a nutshell.

But her challenge to historian Peter Hart requires a response from him.

It’s not good enough that Mr Hart should use anonymous sources to denigrate Tom Barry and his comrades by stating that the Auxiliaries did not engage in a false surrender, despite evidence to the contrary, including the admission of Gen Crozier, commander of the Auxiliary forces in Ireland at the time (November, 1920).

Tom Barry was as important a national figure as Michael Collins, Eamon de Valera or any other of the leading personalities of that period.

Christina O’Connor

Cullenmore

Fermoy

Co Cork