Raymond was a giant among Irish historians of all periods, but more importantly, he was a thoroughly decent human being, generous to a fault with his expertise, his learning, his hospitality, and his down-to-earth humanity.
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There’s some very sad news from Maynooth this morning, news that has reverberated around the world of Irish history and has left so many of us numb in its wake.
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My wonderful, and utterly irreplaceable doktorvater, mentor, colleague, and dear friend, Raymond Gillespie passed away this morning.
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He was also a terrific raconteur, drawing the most incredibly compelling (and humorous) stories and anecdotes from the vast archives of his wonderful mind.
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What I will also remember about Raymond is just what wonderful table company he was, and how important he considered the social and collegial elements of scholarship to be.
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It’s no accident that one’s doctoral supervisor is also called a doktorvater, and the very best often do fully assume the role of an academic father. I have no hesitation in confirming that Raymond did that for me.
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I lost my biological father in December 2001. I lost my academic father today, and I feel bereft. There is a very real sense in which, when this happens, one becomes academically orphaned.
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A few years ago we published a festschrift in Raymond’s honour. I wrote an appreciation of Raymond for the volume, and I include it below. For those of you who never met Raymond, it will give you some sense of the man he was and how indebted I am to him.
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My deepest sympathies to his wife Bernie and to all who loved Ray dearly.
Somehow, life will never be quite the same again.
RIP Ray. Thank you for everything.
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