Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #537499 in Books
• Published on: 1997-06-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 93 pages

Customer Reviews

A balanced review of the impact of this pivotal event.
McBride is careful to be as balanced as possible (even with the vexed issue of what to call the place - he compromises with Derry for the city and Londonderry for the county).
The importance of this key event in British, Irish and European history (for Louis XIV was a key ally of James) is reviewed. Its importance is (or can be) less sectarian than many realise. Although often celebrated for the sectarian significance, with the defeat of Roman Catholic Ireland, its more important and enduring significance is its role in ensuring the establishment of the Williamite revolution from which parliamentary government rather than arbitrary royal rule emerged supreme. The present British constitution (and indeed also that of the Irish Republic) with its tradition of liberal democracy can be traced to this revolution.
The sectarian issues are also more complex, and had more consequences than many realise. Tensions between Episcopalians and Prebyterians at times were severe, and the Presbyterians felt betrayed that their role in the siege was rewarded afterwards by penal laws against them as well as the Roman Catholics. Revolutionary feeling in America was fuelled by many Presbyterians (the Ulster-Scots) who had fled Ulster seeking freedom across the Atlantic.
At different times the sectarian or constitutional elements (which in many respects are opposed to each other) have been supreme in the commemoration of the events of the siege. In 1789 the Protestant and Roman Catholic bishops of Derry were able to take part together in the centenary celebrations. It is difficult to imagine this now, but perhaps as demographic changes make a sectarian celebration not only inappropriate, but also virtually impossible, all sections of the community might again be able to celebrate the end of arbitrary rule (as exemplified by James) and the beginnings of parliamentary government which the siege ensured.
Paradoxically, in today's terms, the Apprentice Boys might be portrayed as early republicans and populists!