In Dueling Dragons: The Struggle for Ireland 1849 – 1875, author Marjorie Harshaw Robie completes the story of three Irishmen – varied in their political beliefs, but held together by their Irish heritage, friendships, and proximity, being residents of the town of Newry. Although I never had the opportunity to read the book, the story begins with Dwelling Place of Dragons, which was finished twelve years ago.
Driven by a passion for things Irish and ancestral ties to Ulster, Marjorie spent 26 years researching the writings of John Martin, George Henderson and James Harshaw. Their story is one of living through the turbulent middle years of 19th-century Ireland, as well as Australian exile.
Dueling Dragons picks up where Dwelling Place of Dragons left off. In 1849, George Henderson, editor of a major Irish newspaper, wrote skillfully in defense of the union of Ireland with the British. As did many at that time, he liked the status quo, the British Empire and the Protestant Church. While John Martin and George Henderson were friends, John struggled to free Ireland from what he believed was English and Protestant tyranny. Starting with his participation in the Young Irelander movement, his activism extended through years of exile in Australia to ultimate triumph as a member of the Parliament of Meath. He expressed his views of events in many letters to friends, political allies, and newspapers. His views were shared by many Catholics, who were the majority of the population. The intense division represented by George and John negatively impacted the lives of Irish farmers, such as James Harshaw and his large extended family. James’ views were recorded in years worth of diaries.
This book is a great read for anyone interested in Irish history, and covers the period of 1849 through 1875 – potato famine years and all. The author skillfully interweaves the lives of the three men, all of whom left their mark in some important way. The period is seen through their eyes: Politician, Writer, and Farmer. The changes and confrontations during these years were the foundation for division that extended into the 20th-century and the fighting that erupted into open warfare over much of the century, culminating in the 30 years of the Troubles.
The book has 516 pages; August 30, 2018; sells for $23.95; ISBN-13: 978-1722422943. Dueling Dragons: The Struggle for Ireland 1849-1875 may be purchased at Amazon.com. Click on the illustration or links to order.
About the Author
Marjorie Harshaw Robie was born in Minneapolis Minnesota to parents of Irish ancestry. Her interest in history led first to years of service on the Ipswich Historical Commission, then to a personal journey of family and Irish history that caught fire in the discovery of her relative’s diaries. Proclaimed “an Irish treasure” upon their return to Ireland where Ms. Robie donated them to the Public Record Office in Belfast. The diaries formed the structure of Dwelling Place of Dragons (Nov 2006) and the new Dueling Dragons. Ms. Robie is a sought-after speaker on Irish history, ancestral research and the critical clash of politics and religion.
