Format

"A Liberal Legacy - Carson, the Ulster Reform Club,Liberal Unionism and their influence on the setting up of the Northern Ireland state."

Influence of Liberal Unionism on the strategy and policies of the first Government of Northern Ireland looking at key personalities of the period-Craigavon, Churchill ,Pollock and Andrews and their focus on securing the border,the security situation and the finances of the fledgling state .Debates within Government over dominion statues vs parity within the UK which led to the Reinsurance Agreement of 1926 and the inclusion of Northern Ireland in the incoming UK wide welfare benefits following World War I.

The influence of liberal principles of social reform and parity within the Government which enabled Northern Ireland to participate fully in the creation of the Welfare State in 1946 with representations to the Beveridge report and co-operation with the incoming Labour Government .

Books and monographs

· Land and the National Question in Ireland, 1858–82.

· C.S. Parnell. 1980. .

· Sean Lemass and the Making of Modern Ireland, 1945–66. (with Henry Patterson)

· The British State and the Ulster Crisis: From Wilson to Thatcher. 1985. (with Henry Patterson)

· Northern Ireland 1921–2001: Political Power and Social Classes. Serif. 2002.

· Ireland: The Politics of Enmity 1789–2006. Oxford University Press. 2007.

· Enigma: A New Life of Charles Stewart Parnell. 2011.

· Churchill & Ireland. Oxford University Press. 2016.