Felix Larkin, “Cartoons and the Irish: ‘Twist a Few Tails’”

Irish historian Felix Larkin outlines the history of Irish cartoons, from Mathew Carey’s Volunteers’ Journal to Martyn Turner, and cartoons about the Irish, from Daniel O’Connell to Brexit.
Cartoons tend to be undervalued as historical sources. While good history - like good journalism - must be nuanced, reflecting the complexity of issues and situations, good cartoons cut through the verbiage with simple truths that override complexity and get to the heart of the matter. Cartoons can provide great insight into contemporary perceptions of past events, and the arguments - and passions - engendered by those events, as well as opportunities for historians to enhance their work with engaging images.
Felix M. Larkin is a former chairman of the Newspaper and Periodical History Forum of Ireland, and has published widely on the history of the press in Ireland and other topics.