The story of the Irish in Scottish history is marginalised and "encrusted with myth and distortion" contends Scottish historian Professor Thomas Devine. In fact their immigration had a massive effect on the making of modern Scottish society:
Professor Devine is to present his revisionist view of the Irish role at special Royal Society of Edinburgh lecture at the University of Dundee next month (21 Nov).
"Well over a million Scots can claim descent from the vast numbers of Irish who left poverty, hunger and unemployment in their native land for a new life in Scotland. This great movement of people had a massive effect on the making of modern Scottish society. Despite this the Irish have been marginalised in Scottish historiography until recent times. As a result their story is encrusted with myth and distortion."
Based on new research and fresh interpretations, Professor Devine's analysis forms the basis of the lecture, "Strangers in a Strange Land? Two Centuries of the Irish in Scotland".
The lecture will be delivered at the Tower Extension Lecture Theatre at 6pm on Wednesday 21 November. The event is free but tickets are required and can be obtained from the Reception Desk, Tower Building, University of Dundee.
Professor Devine FRSE is research professor in Scottish history and director of the Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Aberdeen.