Denis Rolleston Gwynn
Encyclopedia
Denis Roleston Gwynn was an Irish
journalist, writer and professor
of modern Irish history. He served in World War I
.
He was the second son of Stephen Gwynn, writer and scholar. He was educated at St. Enda's School
Rathfarnham
, Clongowes Wood College
and at University College Dublin
where he graduated B.A.
(1914), M.A.
(1915) and D.Litt (1932).
Gwynn served from 1916-17 on the Western Front
in France
during World War I
(as did his father), but was invalided home when he worked at the British Ministry of Information. He began work as a journalist in London and in Dublin where he was editor of The Dublin Review. During World War II
he farmed in Hampshire
.
He returned to Ireland and was appointed as research professor of Modern Irish History at University College Cork in 1948, a position he held until his retirement in 1962. He acted as editor of the Cork University Press (1954–1962) and wrote a regular column called "Now and Then" in the Cork Examiner. As well as being a writer of history he was a writer of biography.
The novelist Jessie Victor Rickard
lived the latter years of her life, until her death in 1963, in his Mentenotte home in Cork. Jessie Rickard was a close friend of his wife's, a daughter of Lady Hazel Lavery
by her first marriage.
He died at his home in Malahide
Dublin, on 10 January 1973 and was buried at Stanmullen Cemetery co. Meath
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
journalist, writer and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of modern Irish history. He served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
He was the second son of Stephen Gwynn, writer and scholar. He was educated at St. Enda's School
St. Enda's School
St. Enda's School, or Scoil Éanna, was a Secondary school for boys set up by Irish nationalist Patrick Pearse in 1908.-Background:Pearse, generally known as a leader of the Easter Rising in 1916, had long been critical of the educational system in Ireland, which he believed taught Irish children to...
Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham
Rathfarnham or Rathfarnam is a Southside suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is south of Terenure, east of Templeogue, and is in the postal districts of Dublin 14 and 16. It is within the administrative areas of both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin County Councils.The area of Rathfarnham...
, Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College is a voluntary secondary boarding school for boys, located near Clane in County Kildare, Ireland. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1814, it is one of Ireland's oldest Catholic schools, and featured prominently in James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the...
and at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
where he graduated B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(1914), M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(1915) and D.Litt (1932).
Gwynn served from 1916-17 on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
(as did his father), but was invalided home when he worked at the British Ministry of Information. He began work as a journalist in London and in Dublin where he was editor of The Dublin Review. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he farmed in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
.
He returned to Ireland and was appointed as research professor of Modern Irish History at University College Cork in 1948, a position he held until his retirement in 1962. He acted as editor of the Cork University Press (1954–1962) and wrote a regular column called "Now and Then" in the Cork Examiner. As well as being a writer of history he was a writer of biography.
The novelist Jessie Victor Rickard
Jessie Louisa Rickard
Jessie Louisa Rickard, also known as Mrs Victor Rickard , was an Irish literary novelist. During her lifetime she became a versatile writer who produced over forty novels, some of which found a large reading public.-Early life:...
lived the latter years of her life, until her death in 1963, in his Mentenotte home in Cork. Jessie Rickard was a close friend of his wife's, a daughter of Lady Hazel Lavery
Hazel Lavery
Hazel, Lady Lavery was a painter and the second wife of the celebrated portrait artist Sir John Lavery. She is remembered for having her likeness appearing on Banknotes of the Republic of Ireland for much of the 20th century.- Life :Born in Chicago, Hazel Martyn was the only daughter of Edward...
by her first marriage.
He died at his home in Malahide
Malahide
Malahide is a coastal suburban town, near Dublin city, located in the administrative county of Fingal, within the traditional County Dublin, Ireland. It has a village-like centre and extensive residential areas to the south, west and northwest.-Name:...
Dublin, on 10 January 1973 and was buried at Stanmullen Cemetery co. Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
Works
- The Catholic Reaction in France(1924)
- The Irish Free StateIrish Free StateThe Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
, 1922-1927 (1928) - A Hundred Years of Catholic Emancipation (1929)
- Daniel O’Connell, the Irish Liberator (1929)
- The Life and death of Roger CasementRoger CasementRoger David Casement —Sir Roger Casement CMG between 1911 and shortly before his execution for treason, when he was stripped of his British honours—was an Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary, and nationalist....
(1930) - John KeoghJohn Keogh-Biography:Keogh was a leading Irish campaigner who struggled to get Irish Roman Catholics the right to vote and the repeal of the Penal Laws. He was of an obscure family and made his considerable fortune in land speculation, brewing, and silk trading...
: the pioneer of Catholic Emancipation (1930) (1934) - Daniel O’Connell and Ellen Courtney (1930)
- The Life of John RedmondJohn RedmondJohn Edward Redmond was an Irish nationalist politician, barrister, MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918...
(1932) - De ValeraÉamon de ValeraÉamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
(1933) - The O'Gorman Mahon (1934)
- The Vatican and the War in Europe (1940)
- William Smith O'BrienWilliam Smith O'BrienWilliam Smith O'Brien was an Irish Nationalist and Member of Parliament and leader of the Young Ireland movement. He was convicted of sedition for his part in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848, but his sentence of death was commuted to deportation to Van Diemen's Land. In 1854, he was...
(1946) - Young Ireland and 1848 (1949)
- Cardinal Wiseman (1950)
- The history of PartitionPartition of IrelandThe partition of Ireland was the division of the island of Ireland into two distinct territories, now Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . Partition occurred when the British Parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act 1920...
(1950)
Biographical sources
- A Dictionary of Irish History since 1800, D. J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty , Gill & MacMillan (1980)
- A Biographical Dictionary of Cork, Tim Cadogan & Jeremiah Falvey (2006), p. 117