Sean McMahon – författare

As the last presumptive founder of American sociology, Edward Alsworth Ross (1866û1951) was the first to secure its place in public discourse. Originally an economist who strongly criticized monopolies, Ross sought answers to the larger social issues of his day. His theory of social control helped to unify sociology into an independent discipline and elevate social research into an academic necessity. He implored sociologists to explain those social forces that unified people into sustainable groups. This first full analysis of Ross's intellectual legacy uses new sources to explore more broadly the scope of his influence.Throughout his career, Ross remained a controversial figure. Strong critiques of monopolies and immigration led to his dismissal from Stanford in 1900 in a landmark academic freedom case. Never satisfied with qualitative research, Ross traveled the world in search of social changes which he reported back to the American public. A 1910 trip to China yielded profound conclusions on the American economy and on the status of women. As one of the first observers of revolutionary Russia, Ross emerged at once critical of socialism and confident in the American system. Moreover, his articles reached a wide audience to demonstrate the usefulness and scope of American sociology. As Ross gained public favor, however, his academic reputation waned. By the 1920s he was left in the wake of quantitative scholarship. His concept of social control continued to engage academic theorists while new applications emerged in industrial management. After his death, scholars have debated new meanings of social control even as the disciplines of history and sociology have fragmented.In offering this examination of Ross's thought, McMahon draws on new primary materials, including interviews, to recreate the controversies that surrounded his career. The depths of his pursuits have never been so fully explored, and this new look at Ross places him among the giants of American intellectual life. Social Control and Public Intellect will be of interest to sociologists, historians, and American studies specialists.

As the last presumptive founder of American sociology, Edward Alsworth Ross (1866û1951) was the first to secure its place in public discourse. Originally an economist who strongly criticized monopolies, Ross sought answers to the larger social issues of his day. His theory of social control helped to unify sociology into an independent discipline and elevate social research into an academic necessity. He implored sociologists to explain those social forces that unified people into sustainable groups. This first full analysis of Ross's intellectual legacy uses new sources to explore more broadly the scope of his influence.Throughout his career, Ross remained a controversial figure. Strong critiques of monopolies and immigration led to his dismissal from Stanford in 1900 in a landmark academic freedom case. Never satisfied with qualitative research, Ross traveled the world in search of social changes which he reported back to the American public. A 1910 trip to China yielded profound conclusions on the American economy and on the status of women. As one of the first observers of revolutionary Russia, Ross emerged at once critical of socialism and confident in the American system. Moreover, his articles reached a wide audience to demonstrate the usefulness and scope of American sociology. As Ross gained public favor, however, his academic reputation waned. By the 1920s he was left in the wake of quantitative scholarship. His concept of social control continued to engage academic theorists while new applications emerged in industrial management. After his death, scholars have debated new meanings of social control even as the disciplines of history and sociology have fragmented.In offering this examination of Ross's thought, McMahon draws on new primary materials, including interviews, to recreate the controversies that surrounded his career. The depths of his pursuits have never been so fully explored, and this new look at Ross places him among the giants of American intellectual life. Social Control and Public Intellect will be of interest to sociologists, historians, and American studies specialists.

"One of the book's charms is the necessary focus on anecdotes and pen portraits of participants in the battles. These bring to life some of the conflicts, like the story of Lieutenant Bartholomew Teeling and Irish men serving in General Humbert’s French forces in September 1798 who showed immense courage yet was executed by the British after the Battle of Ballinamuck. McMahon reaches a high point if the style in the brief chapter on Knockanross when he discusses the life and times of Murrough O’Brien, Lord Inchiquin." - The Irish Story.Like all guerrilla wars, the Irish War of Independence was characterised by great courage and ruthless brutality. It created many heroes and spawned two of the most hated forces that a British government had ever inflicted on Ireland: the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries. This book traces the cause, development and consequences of the war, which led to the bloody birth of modern Ireland.

This nostalgic collection of Irish ballads and poems celebrates the rich history and culture of the Irish-American experience. Spanning the early 19th century through the 1930s, these carefully selected pieces capture the hopes, dreams, and struggles of Irish immigrants as they built new lives in America. From the decorous parlours of the Irish middle class to the tumultuous vaudeville halls, these songs and verses paint a vivid picture of a people finding their place in a new land. Iconic figures like 'Irish Molly-Os,' 'Mother Machrees,' and 'Dacent Irish Boys' come to life, embodying the spirit of a proud and resilient community. Many of these pieces, such as ‘My Wild Irish Rose’ and ‘My Irish Molly’, still figure in the repertoire of Irish traditional groups. However, they owe far more to the era of vaudeville, music hall and Tin Pan Alley than to any Irish Music Tradition. While some entries may lean into the "Oirishness" that purists love to critique, this collection embraces the sentimental charm that endeared these works to generations of Irish Americans. For them, these ballads and poems were a cherished connection to the green hills of a distant homeland, a badge of honour in their adopted country. Compiled with love and unapologetic nostalgia, A Little Bit of Heaven: An Irish American Anthology pays tribute to the enduring legacy of the Irish on both sides of the Atlantic. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the Irish-American experience through the power of song and verse.

Two hands clasp a heart, a crown poised above. For centuries, the Claddagh ring has been a global talisman of love, loyalty, and friendship, its origins steeped in romantic folklore. But what if the cherished tales of pirates, star-crossed lovers, and noble goldsmiths are just the beginning of the story —or a complete fabrication?In The Story of the Claddagh Ring, historian and master storyteller Sean McMahon embarks on a captivating investigation to untangle the true history of this beloved icon. Journeying from the bustling, tribal quays of medieval Galway to the fiercely independent fishing village of the Claddagh itself, McMahon sifts through centuries of archives, ballads, and scholarly debate. With the tenacity of a detective and the warmth of a natural narrator, he challenges long-held assumptions and unearths startling revelations that rewrite the ring’s biography.Why were the earliest surviving rings all made for men? How did a simple, local custom transform into an international symbol of Irish identity? And who truly deserves credit for its creation?McMahon reveals a history far more intriguing and complex than the familiar myths, demonstrating how the ring’s power lies not just in its mysterious past, but in the meaning we forge for it today. The quest to find the truth behind the Claddagh ultimately uncovers a deeper story about how the most powerful legends are not simply discovered, but made.

The stories of these conflicts, with their scores of killings, torture, reprisals and long lasting bitterness are told concisely in this book. "Easter 1916" - features the rebellion which took place in Ireland 90 years ago was arguably the most momentous event in this country's history. "The War of Independence" - features the guerrilla war, characterised by marvellous courage and miserable cruelty. "The Civil War" - features few episodes in Irish history are as poignant, bloody and unnecessary. This book traces the causes, events and consequences of these events. It will help a peaceful generation for which the bloody birth of modern Ireland's ancient history, to gain a better understanding of the essence of their nation.

This book presents an overview of current views on the origin of life and its earliest evolution. This book combines the bottom-up and the top-down approaches to life including the origin of key chemical and structural features of living cells and the nature of abiotic factors that shaped these features in primordial environments.

This book presents an overview of current views on the origin of life and its earliest evolution. This book combines the bottom-up and the top-down approaches to life including the origin of key chemical and structural features of living cells and the nature of abiotic factors that shaped these features in primordial environments.

From Collins to Cú Chulainn and from Dev to Daniel O'Connell, this is a collection of short biographies of some of the most admirable Irishmen and women in history. The heroes range across time and offer an exceptional overview of Irish history, including well-known figures from the worlds of medicine, science, politics, the Arts and education, as well as some of the lesser-known but equally brave and heroic characters from our history. Designed to inform and entertain both the new reader and those familiar with Irish culture, it features: Michael Davitt, Constance Markievicz, Charles Stewart Parnell, Mary Aikenhead, Éamon de Valera, Patrick Pearse, Brian Boru, George Boole, James Gandon, Henry Joy McCracken, Patrick Sarsfield, Betsy Gray, St Brendan, Henry Grattan, Nano Nagle, Michael Collins, Douglas Hyde, Daniel O'Connell, James Connolly, Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, Jonathan Swift, Cú Chulainn, Liam Lynch and Theobald Wolfe Tone, among others.