Éamon Gerard Phoenix (17 May 1953 – 13 November 2022)[1][2] was one of Northern Ireland’s leading social and political historians specialising in the history of the North-East part of the island. He was a regular broadcaster with BBC Northern Ireland[3] and a prolific contributor to Irish News.[4]

Éamon Phoenix
Born(1953-05-17)17 May 1953
Belfast, Northern Ireland
DiedNovember 13, 2022(2022-11-13) (aged 69)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
NationalityIrish
Occupation(s)Writer, Lecturer
TitleDr.
Board member ofEdmund Rice Schools Trust Northern Ireland
SpouseAlice Phoenix
ChildrenMary-Alice
Parent(s)James and Margaret Phoenix (nee Napier)
Academic background
EducationSt Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast
Alma materQueen's University Belfast
ThesisThe Nationalist movement in Northern Ireland 1914-28 (1983)
Academic work
DisciplineIrish history; Adult education
InstitutionsStranmillis University College

Biography edit

Éamon Phoenix attended St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast[5] and subsequently Queen’s University Belfast. He was awarded a B.A. (Hons) in History followed by a Ph.D. in 1983. The topic of his PhD thesis was Irish nationalism.[6]

He taught history at St Michael's College, Enniskillen and then at St Malachy's College, Belfast. He also worked as a Fellow at the Institute of Irish Studies at Queen's University Belfast before taking up a permanent appointment at Stranmillis University College.[7][8]

He published extensively on aspects of Irish history and regularly gave public lectures on the subject.[9] He wrote articles on aspects of Irish history for newspapers and for online publications including the BBC[10] and also contributed to programmes on BBC Radio Ulster.[11]

Public Life edit

Phoenix held a variety of positions. He was Chairperson of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust Northern Ireland.[12] He was a member of the Expert Advisory Group established by the Irish government to advise it on matters related to the Decade of Centenaries.[13]

He also organised a lecture series for the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council. He was a member of the National Famine Committee and the Nomadic Project Board. He was a Trustee of the Ulster Historical Foundation.[14]

Awards edit

  • 2022 - Good Relations Award from the Community Relations Council[15]

Legacy edit

In 2023 Stranmillis University College established the Dr Éamon Phoenix Memorial Lecture dedicated to honouring his legacy. The lecture is designed to attract educators, researchers, students and professionals to engage in discussions on contemporary educational themes.[16]

Bibliography edit

Books edit

  • Phoenix, E.G., McAuley, E., & McSparran, N. (2021). Feis na nGleann: A Century of Gaelic Culture in the Antrim Glens. Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation.
  • Phoenix, E.G. (2000). Two Acres of Irish History: Study Through Time of Friar's Bush and Belfast, 1570–1918. Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation.
  • Phoenix, E.G. (1995). A Century of Northern Life: Irish News and 100 Years of Ulster History, 1890s-1990s. Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation.
  • Phoenix, E.G. (1994). Northern Nationalism: Nationalist Politics, Partition and the Catholic Minority in Northern Ireland, 1890–1940. Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation.

Articles edit

  • McMinn, R., & Phoenix, E. (2005). The Chilver Report: unity and diversity. Irish Educational Studies, 24 (1), 5-19.
  • McMinn, R., Phoenix, E., & Beggs, J. (2016). Jeremiah Jordan M.P. (1830–1911): Protestant home ruler or ‘Protestant renegade’?, Irish Historical Studies, 36, 143, 349-367.

References edit

  1. ^ Historian Éamon Phoenix dies aged 69
  2. ^ "Obituary Eamon Phoenix". The Irish Times. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Éamon Phoenix: Historian, author and broadcaster dies". BBC News. 14 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Tributes paid to historian Éamon Phoenix who has died". RTÉ.ie. 14 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Dr Eamon Phoenix RIP (1953-2022)". 15 November 2022.
  6. ^ Phoenix, Eamon Gerard (1983). The Nationalist movement in Northern Ireland 1914-28. British Library EThOS (Ph.D). Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Our authors". BooksIreland. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  8. ^ Leslie, Matthew (17 November 2022). "McCaffrey pays tribute to friend Éamon Phoenix". Fermanagh Herald. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  9. ^ "The Eamon Phoenix Lectures – Belfast and Slavery". Between the Lines Podcast. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  10. ^ Phoenix, Eamon (26 September 2015). "Irish Famine: How Ulster was devastated by its impact". BBC News. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Hidden History: Friar's Bush - Interesting Graves". BBC Radio Ulster. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Trustees (Present and Past)". Edmund Rice Schools Trust NI. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Expert Advisory Group". Decade of Centenaries. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Dr Éamon Phoenix Honoured By CRC". Ulster Historical Foundation. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Dr Éamon Phoenix Honoured By CRC". Ulster Historical Foundation. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Stranmillis University College Establishes Annual Lecture in Education in Memory of Dr Éamon Phoenix". Stranmillis University College. Retrieved 23 August 2023.