The historian, writer and broadcaster Dr Éamon Phoenix has died following a brief illness. He was 69.
The editor of the Irish News, Noel Doran, paid tribute to Dr Phoenix as “one of Ireland’s pre-eminent historians” who “possessed unparalleled insights into the past, present and future of our society”.
A political and social historian of modern Irish history, Dr Phoenix was head of Lifelong Learning at Stranmillis University College in Belfast and was a frequent contributor to the media, particularly during the Decade of Centenaries.
The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Alex Maskey, said his reputation was “based not just on his encyclopedic knowledge but particularly on his ability to communicate our history in an engaging and entertaining way”.
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“He meticulously dealt with the potentially divisive subject of our history in a balanced way, based on the facts and evidence in a way which could not be challenged.
“Éamon’s personal contribution to advancing the understanding of our history cannot be underestimated and he is undoubtedly a huge loss to this society,” he said.
From Belfast and educated at St Mary’s Christian Brothers Grammar School and Queen’s University, Dr Phoenix had a long-standing association with The Irish News and edited the daily column, On This Day, which reproduced archive news reports.
His most recent column appeared on Monday – the day his death was announced - and featured two stories from this day in 1972.
In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph in 2014, Dr Phoenix said one of the best pieces of advice he had ever received came from the Irish historian FSL Lyons.
“He wrote at the outbreak of the Troubles that ‘to understand the past is to cease to live in it’. That has always guided me in trying to de-mythologise history.”
His “best achievement”, he said, was “any contribution I have made to a greater understanding of Irish history”.
“I enjoy bringing public history to audiences all over Northern Ireland and looking for the local connection,” he said.
Dr Phoenix also reported on declassified state papers released by the Northern Ireland Public Records Office for a number of outlets, including The Irish Times, and he was a regular contributor to this newspaper.
The Irish Times’ former northern editor, Gerry Moriarty, said that in more than 30 years covering the Northern Ireland state papers, “Éamon delivered fascinating and illuminating reports about the Troubles for Irish Times readers.
“With his encyclopedic knowledge and his great passion for his subject, he brought history alive,” he said.
“He was a good support to us journalists too, always generously assisting when we needed to check some puzzling fact about the conflict. He will be sorely missed as an historian and as a friend.”
Dr Phoenix was also a member of the Irish Government’s Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations and the National Famine Commemoration Committee.
Minister Catherine Martin said Dr Phoenix had been a “greatly valued member” of these groups and his “thoughtful and measured contributions were always very much appreciated.
“Éamon will be remembered and greatly missed by everyone who had the privilege of working with him,” she said.
Dr Maurice Manning, the chair of the Expert Advisory Group, said Dr Phoenix was “a historian of great integrity and empathy, a skilled communicator whose life was dedicated to building bridges between communities and illuminating the history of his beloved Belfast.
“He was a true gentleman who made an enormous contribution to the study of Irish history,” he said.
Tributes to Dr Phoenix were paid from across the North’s political divide on Monday.
The Sinn Féin vice president and the North’s first minister designate, Michelle O’Neill, said Dr Phoenix’s “valuable writings and insights into our past leave a powerful legacy for future generations”.
The DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said he was “incredibly saddened” by the news of Dr Phoenix’s death. “Éamon takes to the grave an insight into the history of these islands that few will ever rival,” he said.
The SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood, said he was a “remarkable scholar grounded in a love for his work, who brought our island’s complex, challenging, but shared history to everyone. His wisdom will be sorely missed.”
The former Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt described Dr Phoenix as a “great man and fantastic communicator” and said he was “shocked and deeply saddened” to learn of his death. “Could listen all day to his unique blend of deep knowledge, instant recall and breathless passion for our history.”
Mr Doran said he was “deeply saddened” by Dr Phoenix’s death and described him as “a revered colleague and a valued friend”.
“He was the chronicler of all aspects of The Irish News since 1891 - and indeed its predecessor the Belfast Morning News since 1855.
“His On This Day column was cherished by our readers over the decades, and his recent work on the crucial 1922 and 1972 periods epitomised the importance of his role.
“It was always a privilege to welcome Éamon during his regular visits to our office, often wearing his blue gloves to examine the ancient bound files which formed the basis of his research.
“As well as being a gifted writer, Éamon was also an exceptional orator with an ability to bring every subject to life through his anecdotes and observations,” he said, and he would be “hugely missed.”
Dr Phoenix is survived by his wife Alice, daughter Mary Alice and wider family circle.
