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23 January 1997 Edition

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Naming names

Modern Irish Lives. Dictionary of 20th Century Biography.
General Editor Louis McRedmond.
Published by Gill and Macmillan.

Price £19.99.

Dictionaries of biographies and Who's Whos, like cemeteries, often place personalities incongruously side by side. Thus in this volume we find ex-IRA Chief of Staff and Sticky supremo Cathal Goulding beside British Brigadier General Hubert Gough, and Danny Morrison beside Dermot Morgan. (On second thoughts maybe Bangers and Father Ted are not so incongrouous). No doubt there will be arguments over who is left out but this book is invaluable. All the main names in 20th century Ireland are here with concise pen picutres. It's only been a week in the office and I've used it several times already. A must for journalists and for any Irish reference library.

BY MICHEAL Mac DONNCHA



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