• History Studies University ofLimerick History Society Journal, Volume 2 2000 . ., Editors The University of Limerick History Society would like to David A. Flcming Edward Horgan acknowledge the generous support ofour sponsors: Or, Roger G.H. Downer, President, University of Limerick Advisory Board University of Limerick Foundation Padmig Lcnihan Professor Pat O'Connor, Dcan, College of Humanities, (]cmadcltc Whclan John Logan University of Limerick Depanmcnt of Government and Society Department ofGovernment and Society, University of Limerick University of Limerick University of Limerick Students' Union Bank of Ireland O'Mahony's University Bookshop History Society Committee 1998-9 Fintan Tuohy I fisfory Studies is a referet.-<! publication orthe University of Limerick I li~tory Society Auditor and i~ published annually. It is regi~tered with the Irish International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) Centre at the National Lihrary of Ireland. Caraline Slyne Niamh Hartnett rhe cover design by knnifer Mt.-(:aOi'ey and NOTa McGil1ieuddy. School ofAn and Treasurer Design. Limerick Institute ofTeehnology. incorporatcs the concept of past. present and J'ice-auditor future \\hich is dcpi<..1ed by the usc ofthc Iluddhist ~ymbol Gum, The idea is repre~ented by threc heads looking in dillcrent directions symbolising thc scarch for Tadgh O'Shea Dorccn O'Mahoney history by past prt.'Sent and future historians. Kenneth MeDonagh Secretary Committee Member Public Re/ations Officer Copyright including all biographical references Cl by the contributors listed herein and Nistorv Studies. 2000, Fergal Noonc Edward Horgan Rieky Cosgrove Commil/ee Member Commillee Member No part ol'this publication may be reproduced. stored in a retrieval systcrn. or Commillee Member transmitted in any form. or by any means. electronic. mechanical. photocopying. recording. or otherwise. without the prior permission orthc University of Limerick IlistoT)' Society. All correspondence should be addressed 10: The Editors. History Studies. University or rrintcd by Litho I'rt.'SS Ltd.. Midlcton. Co. Cork. LiTT\ct'iek History Society, Studeni~niOf1., University of Limerick.. Limerick, Ireland. ISSN 1393-7782 Preface Contents Prelace The study of history is not easy. it requires time, elTort, dedication and endless Editorial " patience but it is ultimately a most rewarding and fascinating activity. The In hope and fear: the Victorian prison in perspective reasons are many with the more important ones relating to the search for S!'<in-J'ri/.lfacCdrth(jigh identity (personal. local, national and international) and the search for truth. Kingdom. emporium and town: the impact ofViking Dublin Cicero mote two thousand years ago, 'not to know what took place before you were born is to remain forever a child', thus, it is only in the study ofour past Ifo\\'wd IJ. Clarke 13 that we situate ourselves in the present both as individuals and as part of local Physical-force or parliamentarianism?: Arthur Griflith and the rise of and wider communities. Not only do we claim our identity in the past but we Sinn Fein look to the past to understand the present and we seek the truth in the past. 25 .Iason Hegley The past is uncovered through the studying, researching and miting of Unveiling the cloisters: Augustinian nunneries in twelfth century history. In order to retrieve 'history' and indeed 'herstory', we rely on the Ireland work of historians. This collection of essays results from the enthusiasm. Lllllryl H. Grcen 37 interest and commitment of historians. Celtic and Christian cures: healing wells in County Limerick In 1999, History Studies, challenged readers with the variety and quality ,\fjche61 () IzAodha 50 of the essays. This current volume fulfils the same task. 11 includes From 'castle' bishop to "moral leader'?: Edward O'Dwyer and Irish contributions from historians based in educational institutions located throughout Ireland. The scholarship of undergraduate and postgraduate nationalism, 1914-7 post~primary .Jero/1U.' aan de IVie( 55 students, university faculty and teachers is represented herein. Essays are included on a range of periods from the medieval, early modern 10 Relinquishing educational dominance: the Catholic Church and modern. on a range of themes such as incarceration, urbanisation, ideology, Irish secondary schools religion. education, diplomacy and conflict and finally, the essays are situated Annelta Slack 69 within an Irish, British, European, American and Asian contexts. Carthagian Peace: the Treaty of Versailles. 1919 Each of these essays offers new insights and interpretations and makes a Gerard IJmmcs 78 valuable contribution to the cannon of history. I commend the collection and The Treaty of Rapallo: an assessment ofWcimar foreign policy, 1922 congratulate the University of Limerick History Society and the journal editors /feather .lanes 84 for maintaining such high production and scholarship values. The United Fruit Company: United States intervention in Central America. 1899-1970 .Uexal/der Gray 94 Bcrnadette Whe1an M.A. Ph.D. R('Surgence of Islam: the Iran ian revoll<tion. 1979 Patron Mark DOWf/eS 102 History Society .~~ Institutions. idl.'Ologies and principles: Balkan national ism, 1918-90 University of Limerick , Rory Keane 110 Advertisements 119 Contributors 125 In hope and fear Editorial The Victorian prison in perspective Building on the success of History Swdies. volume one, we are happy to Sean-Pol Mac Carthaigh introduce this second volume of history containing the work of students from around Ireland. The collection presents the work of both undergraduate and The sophistication or otherwise with which a society formulates a critique of postrgraduatc students on a range of topics and themes. The collection is deviancy and the manner in which it proceeds to combat the challenges that enriched by the inclusion ora paper read to the 'Vikings' Symposium hosted criminality pose, provides the onlooker wilh a telling insight into its calibre. by University of Limerick History Society in April 2000. This paper charts the assumptions. prejudices and perceptions that impacted While the essays vary in both style and content, all portray the author's on the area ofcriminal activity and the role of the prison system in Victorian perspective on a particular historical theme. This may sometimes lead the Ireland and Britain. h challenges the assumption that the Victorian prison and reader to question the arguments and reasoning of the author. This is to be the wider intellectual matrix from which it sprung was both irrational. encouraged. Indeed. in selecting these essays, we hope that readers will ~ inhumane and essentially worthless. It hopes to illustrate the extent to which infused with a sense of critical analysis which may prompt some to wrIte popular and sincerely held notions about the nature and extent of criminal papers for subsequent volumes, in response 10 the views stated herein. The behaviour made certain aspects of the penal system not only rational but long-term success of History Studies rests less with the editors than with those imperalive in the prevailing context. Taking as a starting point the principle who dare 10 submit their views ofhistory 10 the scrutiny ofpublication. thal "the historian cannot look down, but only look around,' a central refrain Wc wish to acknowlege the valuable support and advice given to us by ofthe paper is the notion Ihat the Victorian prison was based on the belief that members of the history faculty at the University of Limerick and our generous punishment be accompanied by the hope of reformation. I Several works on ben factors. Finally, we thank the authors. We hope that the reader will enjoy Ihis system have concentrated upon the punitive side of the equation. This this collection and that pleasure and knowledge can be gleaned from it. paper will consider the other side, emphasising Ihe notions of hope and humanity that underpinned the work of many men within this structure. It seeks to stress the manner in which the prison system was predicated upon the David A. Fleming profoundly ideological and optimistic determination that man was essentially a perfectible creature with the active assistance of a benevolent state.2 Its true Edward Horgan significance will be highlighted with reference to eighteenth century penal administration. By scrutinising the situation in Irish prisons, particularly from 3 I October 2000 1850 to 1880, and by setting the prison syslem within the wider Victorian mentality, it is hoped that the reader will come to a just verdict on a bold instrument of social engineering. The development ofa prison system during the nineteenth century, based upon a religious mission, a rigorous labour regime, an educational programme embracing industrial training and basic literacy skills, each subsumed within a .. --:'" I U. Lee as quoted in foreword to Nicholas Manscrgh. NationDlism and independence: selected Irish papers (Cork, 1997) p. xvii. 2 Paul O'Mahony, 'Punishing poverty and personal adversity' pp. 49-52 in Ivana 13acik and Micheal O'Connell (OOs.). Crime andpoverty in Ireland (Dublin. 1998), 1 ii c!assification and separation, the adoption of prison education facilities a grand grade system, designed to reward those who showed signs of ~Imple yet statutorily established system of prison labour, the inertia ~nd improvement and encourage certain character traits. marked a seismic shift in Incoherence that marked Ihe inherited system disappeared. Such scenes as notions of criminal justice