We would like to express our sadness at the death of Gordon McCoy, independent scholar, gaeilgeoir, author of the popular Gaelic History of East Belfast, and a considerable body of academic work on the politics of language and identity.
White Row author Roy Greer writes: 'Gordon was generous with his support and insights when I was researching Con O'Neill's story. I am glad our paths crossed, if only but briefly.' Peter Carr recalled Gordon mentioning in conversation that it was the sympathetic portrayal of the O'Neills in The Most Unpretending of Places that first interested him in that great dynasty, an interest that he would go on to richly develop, and which stayed with him for the rest of his life.