History Studies: University of Limerick History Society Journal Vol (8)

With the publication of History Studies volume eight the editors are pleased to present an interesting and diverse array of articles. The nine contributions that have been selected for publication in this volume are the result uf a call-for papers that was circulated to over one hundred centres around the world in the spring of 2007. This led to an unprecedented response with high-quality articles received from researchers in several continents. The high number of submissions from within Ireland demonstrates the abundance of postgraduate history researchers working in the country's academic institutions at this time. This brought about the inevitable difficult decisions for the editors in having to reject many exceptional contributions wholly on the basis of a lack of space. Over the past eight years History Studies has played an important role in providing an outlet for the publication of post-graduate historical research. The response to this call-for-papers provides strong evidence for the argument made by the editors of volume seven that there is an ever-increasing need for the post-graduate history research community to respond to its own greatest need by expanding the means through which researchers can disseminate their work. Academic institutions, funding authorities and post-graduate researchers themselves all have an active role to play in this process. This year's publication marks the largest volume of History Studies to date and its position as the standard-bearer for the publication of post-graduate historical research in Ireland has becn consolidated by the inclusion of these outstanding papers. Adrian Cormican Dr Conor Reidy