The committee members of HTANI are shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Eamon Phoenix.
Although a commitment to critical historical scholarship underpinned everything he did, Dr Phoenix was much more than a good historian. He enlightened and enthused ordinary people in the study of history at community level. His combination as scholar and popular communicator was a great gift to a society emerging from conflict. He engaged regularly with local groups in all parts of Northern Ireland. While others talked a good game in committees, Eamon placed himself at interfaces and, due to the trust placed in his integrity, no questions were asked about his background or motivations.
The contribution Eamon made to helping people understand the historical and contemporary implications of the recent Decade of Centenaries cannot be underestimated.
Also, unlike some academic historians, his years working as a school teacher and at Stranmillis gave him a keen insight into the challenges of teaching history in schools. Here, too, his talks to teachers and school students connected historical scholarship to contemporary events in such an accessible way that they allowed listeners to better make sense of the present in the light of the past.
Eamon was always helpful towards HTANI and his sudden loss will be missed at all levels within the NI history community. Over the last 40 years Eamon has made an enormous contribution, especially to all students/teachers studying and teaching the Partition of Ireland.