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'The book is divided into five main sections: Christian Brothers education and the patriotic challenge; the education of the rural elite; the ideology of resistance; the language revival and nationalism; and the brothers faced with political questions. . . what was decisive in the medium term (regarding political implications) was that an entire segment of society was receiving an education previously restricted to their "social superiors. " ' McKay, E. 'Review of Faith and Fatherland', Author (Dublin), No. 1, 1988, pp. 64-65.

 

"The leaders who emerged in 1916 and the subsequent years were largely past pupils of the Christian Brothers schools. . . due recognition has not yet been given to the Irish Christian Brothers for their part in the nationalist struggle, especially for their unqualified support of the Gaelic revival. "

 

"Long and detailed research has borne out Professor F. X. Martin's claim; past students of the CBS were involved in nationalist activities out of all proportion to their numbers in the Irish Catholic population. " 'Limerick and the "Scarlet Pimpernels" of patriotism', Limerick Leader, 2 January 1988, p. 4.

 

'Irish oriented Readers told Irish boys, possibly for the first time, all about the Red branch Knights, the Fianna, Fiall of the Nine Hostages. . . What the author has done is to produce an unusual and thought provoking work covering a hitherto unchartered voyage through modern Irish History. ' McGrath, W. 'The Brothers-fount of Nationalism', Cork Examiner, 20 February 1988, p. 10.

 

'That little nugget about Patrick Pearse is symbolic of how richly rewarding is the line of historical enquiry that brother Coldrey has elected to pursue. Faith and the Fatherland is a major contribution to Irish historiography in four spheres: religious, educational, social and political. It is also a book to interest the general reader. Brother Coldrey wears his learning lightly and the story he has to tell is a fascinating one. ' O'Brien, C. C. 'The Brothers', Irish Independent, 11 June 1988, p. 11.

 

'Without the groundwork of the CBS it is improbable that there would have been a 1916 rising, and certain that the subsequent fight for independence would not have been carried through successfully. The leadership of the (Old) IRA came largely from those who received their education from the Brothers and got it for free. ' Andrews, T. Dublin Made Me, Mercier, Dublin, 1979, p. 73.

 

'Brother Coldrey's book is an extremely well-documented work of scholarship which captures the spirit which drove the Christian Brothers to embark on their massive undertaking. ' Westmore, P. 'The Christian Brothers in Historical Perspective', AD 2000, September 1988, p. 18.

 

'The Brothers' emphasis on Irish History and Irish language as well as the Catholic faith provide a combustible combination, perhaps, but not conducive to the self-identity and self-respect of youngsters who all too often had few enough props in life to give them confidence. Brother Coldrey summarises: " Education in a colonial setting among the oppressed has always had an explosive content. "So it was in Ireland. McRedmond, L. "Schoolroom Nationalism', The Tablet, 4 June 1988, p. 649.

 

'The article "Voices from the Past is cited in Barry M Coldrey's seminal work, Faith and Fatherland. In general, the contribution of the Irish Christian brothers to Irish Education has been enormous and to a great extent positive. O'Brien, C. C. Ancestral Voices. Religion and Nationalism in Ireland, Poolbeg, Dublin, 1994, p9.

 

'Lengthy overseas reviews of Dr. Barry Coldrey's book, Faith and Fatherland, have reached Australia. . . the thrust of the book shows that the Brothers' achieved their success not by personal involvement in political and military activity but by the power of education. 'Duffy, J. B. 'Brothers in politics', Catholic Weekly, 27 July 1988, p. 18.

 

 

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