The invisible man
by planetparker
Some of you will remember a TV series from the 1970s called The Invisible Man, starring David McCallum. I remember a guy with a speech impediment at National School. We used to make fun of him mercilessly when he told us about watching “De invithibel man.”
Invisible, that’s how I’m starting to feel again here in Cavan. I am something of a “high profile” historian, what with my weekly column for the Echo, which I love writing. I don’t give myself airs and graces of expertise, but there is one section of the area’s history that I do consider myself something of an expert on, if only because I’ve spent so much time on it– over twenty years in fact. I’m talking about the later medieval period (c. 1200-1500/50). What’s more the “academic community” consider me a specialist, often referring queries to me. For example, I recently produced a paper in collaboration with archaeologist Paddy O’Donovan.
So imagine how amazed and hurt I was when I read that Cavan’s County Museum are planning to hold an exhibition on the later medieval and early modern history of Cavan at the end of August, without mentioning a word to me. This seems to be the big idea of the museum’s Research Officer, Dr Brendan Scott. Nobody in the museum has had the courtesy to contact me about it, and what’s more my name wasn’t mentioned in the local rag’s article. Some people who read this piece assumed that I must have had something to do with the planned exhibition, as to leave out someone who is an expert on their door-step is ridiculous. But no, not a dicky-bird. When I worked in the museum there was a lot of talk about embracing county Cavan and its people and including them in the museum’s work. That seems to have gone for a Burton.
It would have been basic common courtesy to tell me about it, maybe ask me if I wanted to make any input, or mention me in their publicity.
Dr Brendan Scott may see himself as an expert on the early modern period (c. 1600 – whenever) but he has no right to parade himself as an expert on my period and steal my work.
Relations between Cavan County Museum and myself have not been good, especially since the museum in its infinitesimal wisdom dispensed with my services (though not my work) at the end of 1996. Recently, though, I had started to view the museum with more indulgence. After all, none of the staff there now, such as Dominic or Savina, could be held responsible for my shameful treatment. I have never met Dr Brendan Scott Research Officer, though friends in common have assured me of his affability, and so I convinced myself that he must be a nice guy. It’s true that he holds my old job, but let me assure him that he is more than welcome to it. Had I my full sight and full use of my limbs you wouldn’t see me for the dust; I’d prefer to work as a bouncer at a bar in Burkina Faso rather than in a pokey little museum in the back of beyonds.
Of course the museum’s staff will come up with a whole number of frankly absurd reasons for giving me the cold shoulder. Let’s see… they couldn’t contact me – well admittedly I had to change my telephone number after a former member of staff there kept making threatening ‘phone calls to me and verbally abusing my family; there’s still e-mail and snail-mail. Another excuse might be “I didn’t like the museum”. True, but as I said above I was starting to believe that maybe I should let bygones be bygones and all of that. I have written about the museum in a calm and dispassionate manner without each word being bathed in vitriol. Another excuse might be the “awful things” I said about the museum on my website www.iol.ie/~cparker. I haven’t done any work on my website for years (immediately apparent to anyone who visits it), and as for this blog people will search in vain for references to the museum. One other excuse trotted out in the past was Brian Johnston didn’t like me – more of an urban myth than reality. Poor Brian (may God be good to him) is now in the great Court-house in the sky and I am proud to number his successor among my friends.
Some people have suggested jealousy as a motive – jealousy! Of me? For crying out loud! It’s true that I write well (one of the few things I can do anymore). I just have pride in what I do, and to be able to look back on a job well done. But this is where jealousy seeps in; they feel uneasy about a cripple being able to do anything better than they can – and let’s face it that’s not hard. Not content though, they try and steal what I’ve done and conceal their own mediocrity. This way they are able to justify their positions, their salaries and their membership of the local officer corp.
There may be some perfectly flabby explanation for what has happened, but I’m waiting to hear it. Until then I can only say that Cavan County Museum has once again slighted me, and that the slight was deliberate. I feel I don’t deserve this – for God’s sake I’m in a fucking wheelchair now, have you no bloody decency?
Ummm.. could it be they chose not to include you because you seem to be extremely self-centered, and that is reflected in the quality of your work? That’s my bet. Maybe it’s karma?
I don’t know you or any of the people mentioned in this blog but I feel the need to reply to your passionate outburst.
I have always enjoyed reading your weekly column for the Echo.I can’t comment on your other work for the museum but I writing to tell you that your weekly column is appreciated. It is something we talk about as a family and discuss with other people. You have a special talent of making history interesting so keep up the good work and leave the ‘Cavan politics’ behind you.
Life is too short.
Like the above lady, I don’t know Ciaran Parker or Brendan Scott, but am familiar with their work. I live in Cavan, and am very interested in local history. Dr Scott’s first book, on the reformation in Meath, was on the reading list for history in NUI Maynooth, where I just graduated from, and recommended by Professor Colm Lennon there. I read the article dealing with the conference (I think it was called, not an exhibition) in the ‘local rag’, and saw nothing of Dr Scott claiming to be an expert on anything, unlike Dr Parker, who claims not to give himself ‘airs and graces of expertise’, then counts himself an expert in the same sentance, and later on again in the piece! I also enjoyed Dr Scott’s booklet on Cavan last year (both his books were published by Four Courts Press, a very reputable academic publisher), as well as some of his work published in Archivium Hibernicum, Analecta Hibernica, Riocht na Midhe and Breifne (which I think he edits, but I might be wrong about that). I mightn’t agree with all of his conclusions, but I respect his research, presentation and knowledge. He really is doing a lot to promote history in Cavan.
I also really enjoy Dr Parker’s weekly piece in the Echo – informative and witty. But I do take exception to his claiming early modern Cavan as ‘my period’, as though nobody else can work on this period/place, and that anyone who does is stealing ‘my work’. (Perhaps I’m reading that wrong, but that seems to be the implication). Would Professor Ciaran Brady (TCD), Dr Bernadette Cunningham (RIA), Professor Christopher Maginn (Fordham), Professor Raymond Gillespie (NUIM), Professor Colm Lennon (NUIM), (who have all recently published on the Cavan/Breifne region in the early modern period) and the fantastic line up of academics assembled by the museum to speak at this conference agree with this assertation of Dr Parker’s I wonder?
As for the accusation of stealing, Dr Scott has only published (to my knowledge), two pieces on early modern Cavan – both 17th century pieces-an article on Belturbet (his home town I think) in Breifne (2004) and a booklet on the county (but still centring a lot on Belturbet) (2007). Perhaps I’m wrong, but I don’t know of any academic work published by Dr Parker on this period – he has written some great pieces in the 1990s in the Breifne journal and in the Cavan book edited by Professor Gillespie, but they all seemed to be on an earlier period than the 17th century. But, as I say, perhaps I am wrong there.
I will be booking my place at the conference (although I wasn’t personally invited, it stated clearly in the article that it is open to everyone), and I hope to see Dr Parker there, arguing with Dr Scott about matters historical, not stuff like this. I’m not trying to attack Dr Parker, but his approach here does seem a bit harsh. I will continue to read both historian’s work with interest and enjoyment.
At its simplest, I said life is too short…
Reactions and responses to a situation I understand is different for each individual. Your feelings are valid and quite normal. However, what you do with them is important.
They need acknowledging. I am acknowledging them.
These feelings have to go somewhere. Why not put them to better use? I have found it more beneficial to ‘rage against the machine’ and to communicate my feelings in a way that helps benefit others. I lobby (voluntary) on behalf of disability groups.
It has been my experience that focusing on finding creative responses to life problems can help you find your own power and solutions to your own unique set of circumstances.