The Enigma of Arthur Griffith - Colum Kenny - Ryan Research Podcast Ep. 24

Colum Kenny is a journalist, barrister and historian. He is Emeritus Professor at Dublin City University (DCU), in Dublin, Ireland. He was formerly chair of the Masters in Journalism programme at DCU in the School of Communications 1982-2015. He is the author of a variety books and essays. Most relevant to this podcast episode are his 2020 book “The Enigma of Arthur Griffith” and his 2022 essay “‘A Man Who Has Both Arms’: Arthur Griffith, the Economy and the Anglo-Irish Treaty Agreement 1921.”

Here is the link to buy Kenny’s book on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Enigma-Arthur-Griffith-Father-All/dp/B07Y4K7CPW

Kenny was a member of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland 2010-2015 and of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland/IRTC 1998-2003. A former employee of RTE, he was a founding board member of the E.U. Media Desk in Ireland and is a council member of the Irish Legal History Society. He was a member of the Media Mergers Advisory Group that reported to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in 2008. The author of many academic articles on cultural and media matters, he is also a member of the National Union of Journalists and a frequent contributor to media debates and a consultant on communications.

In our chat, we discuss why Kenny was led to write a book about one of Ireland’s most influential yet under-examined nationalist leader, why Griffith and his ideas have been neglected, what Griffith’s ideology was, Griffith’s more nuanced economic doctrines, and why Griffith matters for present-day Ireland and its future. 

Other relevant writings referenced in the chat were:

https://ryanresearch.substack.com/p/irish-anti-imperialist-and-nationalist

https://ryanresearch.substack.com/p/what-irelands-mainstream-narrative