Nor is the history of a diocese the history of its bishops any more than the history of a country is the history of its kings. The religious orders are of enormous importance, as too are often powerful lay associations. What is important is that it be a history of the Church. There is all the world of difference between a history of the Church carrying some account of events in Ireland, a history of Ireland carrying some account of events in the Church. The point of view is different, and in history the point of view is everything.
History is always history as seen by .
The present book is a brilliant start to a vast undertaking. I commend it highly. Our thanks must go to the Archbishop of Dublin who invited the editors to take on this task, and to the editors and other authors for having responded so splendidly to this invitation' Prof Michael Nolan, Irish Catholic .