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Open Educational Resources (OER)

Material for Victory: The memoirs of Andrew J Kettle

This project will create a newly annotated, digital version of Material for Victory: The Memoirs of Andrew J. Kettle. Currently out-of-print, the memoirs were edited by Kettle's son Laurence and published by CJ Fallon in 1958. Despite its limited availability, Material for Victory has become a much-cited primary source especially by historians of Parnell.

This digital project will ensure wider availability of this unique resource for scholars of the period. Andrew Kettle (1833-1916) wrote his memoirs during the latter years of an eventful life bookended by the Great Famine and the Great War. A well-known champion of tenant farmers’ rights and land reform, Kettle was a co-founder of the Land League with Davitt and Parnell, an advocate of Irish Home Rule, a progressive farmer and prolific writer of letters to The Freeman’s Journal.

The 16-chapter memoir recounts Kettle’s involvement in and observations about key actors and events leading up to and during the ‘Land War’ (1879-1881) and the subsequent decade. It also contains a ‘Biographical Note’ and appendix ‘Irish Land War Legislation’ by the editor, as well as twelve photographs of principal figures or sites.

Michael D Higgins has agreed to write a foreword to the new annotated digital edition.


Political Science and Sociology

Authors and Partners

Professor Niamh Reilly

Editor
Political Science and Sociology, NUI Galway

Niamh Reilly is Established Professor of Political Science and Sociology at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Her research interests focus on the relationship between theory and practice and the role of ideas in emancipatory projects. She is currently working on the political and social thought of essayist and activist public intellectual Thomas Kettle (1880-1916). She has published widely on issues of human rights and gender; feminist political and social theory; religion in the public sphere; transnational movements and the United Nations; and women, peace and security.

"The OER grant will enable us to reintroduce this fascinating historical memoir to new audiences of researchers and learners and, using accessible annotation, bring to life the rich cast of characters and side stories behind the rise and fall of the Land League not found in conventional print histories."

President Michael D. Higgins

Foreword Author

 

Declan & Trish Kettle

Community Partners and Contributors
Kettles Heritage Society

 

Students in history, politics and publishing

Co-Authors and Contributors
NUI Galway students

 

Image Source: Detail from Illuminated address presented to Charles Stewart Parnell by the Land League on his return from the United States, March 1880. Signed by A. J. Kettle et al. Artist: Thomas J. Lynch, 90 x 63 cm. National Library of Ireland, MS L 355. http://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000579892.