The world of Thomas Ward

Sex and scandal in late-17th century Co. Antrim

Eamon Darcy

'The Maynooth Studies in Local History have brought about a quiet revolution in Irish local studies, and have changed the larger landscape too. Working from fascinating and little-known sources, and mobilizing the resources of energetic and imaginative scholarship, an extraordinary range of subjects has been identified, illuminated, and brought into focus. These 100 [plus] publications not only explore little-known local episodes and phenomena; they constitute a major contribution to the mainstream of Irish history', R.F. Foster.

'As a study of 'early modern community and local talk', as Darcy frames it, this is an exceptionally interesting work and one which deserves to be widely read', William Gibson, Archives (2017).