October
| October 2020 All those involved in the provision of heritage services in Ireland deserve a huge amount of praise for how they have adapted and continue to adapt to provide continued public access to their collections. Listed below are some of the events happening around the country – most are online, but some museums have opened physical exhibitions. Included below are the podcast details of three History Ireland Hedge Schools which have taken place over the previous few weeks. As Local Authorities throughout the country amend and update their centenary plans for 2020 these will be available on the Decade of Centenaries website [under the Programmes tab]; many local authorities have already provided these details. It would originally have been envisaged that many of these events would have taken place ‘in person’ – but the advantage of providing them online is that they can be attended by people who would never have been able to travel for them. Do please support the culture and heritage sectors in any way you can. As always, if you would like to inform us of any suitable material – anything related to the Decade of Centenaries – please feel free to email [email protected]. |
| The GAA Museum in Croke Park is remembering Bloody Sunday, 21st November 1920, with an extensive programme of events throughout October and November. An ‘in-person’ lecture series has been moved online – the first lecture, by Prof Diarmaid Ferriter and the second lecture, by Dr Anne Dolan can both be accessed *here* They have also compiled a timeline to explain the events of the day and a short piece on each victim. Available *here* A temporary exhibition is also in place: ‘Remember & Honour: Remembering Bloody Sunday Exhibition In their own words: Artefacts and documents on display includes letters sent to family members in the aftermath of the shootings, medals from players who played for both Tipperary and Dublin on the day, portraits of those who lost their lives, and personal items belonging to the victims and those in attendance. There is also a cymbal from the band that played on the day, which is on loan from the Brother Allen Collection in the Military Archives, as well as a burial register from Glasnevin Cemetery Museum. Under current Covid-19 restrictions in Dublin the Museum has had to close to physical attendees – please check on the Musuem website for updates. The September/October History Ireland issue is now available online to subscribers and in newsagents/bookshops. To subscribe to receive a digital edition of the History Ireland magazine every month, click *here* to see the available options. This also gives full access to the archive of articles. There is also a single subscription offer at the moment -for €5 you can receive a digital/physical edition of the current issue. The current issue includes several articles which cover the Decade of Centenaries timespan, including: —a review of the Virtual Tour of the Pop Up Women’s Museum, curated by Dr Sineád McCoole, available to view on the Decade of Centenaries website, *here*.. —two articles about Terence MacSwiney (also see podcast below) —The Swanzy Riots of 1920 in Lisburn and their connection to the murder of Tomás MacCurtain in Cork (see piece about a new exhibition in Lisburn below). Exhibition: The Swanzy Riots, 1920 The Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum introduce their excellent new online exhibition: This exhibition explores one of the most difficult episodes in Lisburn’s recent past: the Swanzy Riots of August 1920. The assassination of R.I.C. District Inspector Swanzy on a quiet, sunny Sunday in Lisburn led to days of vicious looting and rioting, forcing many of the town’s Catholics to flee. While a significant, but not well known, event in Lisburn’s rich history, the Riots are part of the wider story of the War of Independence (1919-1922) on the island of Ireland. This exhibition features, for the first time, a database of 300+ compensation claims relating to the Riots, and an interactive map developed in conjunction with local historians, Pearse Lawlor and Pat Geary, and Charlie Roche (University College Cork/Atlas of the Irish Revolution). Follow the link *here* ‘Better a state without public records than public records without a state’? — state formation, archives and commemoration So said Winston Churchill in reference to the Irish Free State on hearing news of the destruction of the Public Records Office in the Four Courts in June 1922 at the outbreak of the Civil War. But in many respects, thisalso applies to Northern Ireland whose Public RecordsOffice Northern Ireland (PRONI) didn’t open its doors until 1924. How did these two institutions overcome thisinitial setback and what has been their significance in state formation, archives and commemoration? Listen to Tommy Graham , editor of History Ireland, in discussion with Marie Coleman, Catriona Crowe, Ray Gillespie and Neil Johnston. This Hedge School is a part of a wider digital event hosted by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, in conjunction with Beyond 2022. Available on Spotify *here* On the History Ireland wesbite *here* ‘Eye of the storm?’—Dublin and the War of Independence Seat of Crown administration since the twelfth century, and still bearing the physical scars of the 1916 Rising, during the War of Independence Dublin was also GHQof the IRA and the location of the underground Dáil administration. To find out how the conflict played out between the two sides join History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham, in discussion with Donal Fallon, John Gibney, Liz Gillis and Padraig Yeates. Supported by the National Library of Ireland as part of the Dublin Festival of History. Available in all the usual podcast places: Spotify link *here* Available on the History Ireland website *here* |
| Nenagh and North Tipperary during the revolutionary decade Having considered the ‘global’ impact of the Irish revolution in the Dev in America podcast (available here), this Hedge School zooms in on the ‘local’—the market town of Nenagh and the surrounding North Tipperary area during the revolutionary decade—but also sets events in the wider national context. Listen to Tommy Graham, editor of History Ireland, in discussion with Gerard Dooley, John Flannery, Seán Hogan and Caitlin White. Available in all the usual podcast places: Spotify link *here* Available on the History Ireland website *here* Clare County Libraries have a very active Decade of Centenaries programme – some details of events past and future below: Decade of Centenaries Project Awards 2020  Inis Cathaigh Week of 1920 Remembrance through Music and Song from 23rd-25th October 2020. Lissycasey 1920 Remembrance Day on Sunday, 1 November 2020. Connolly Commemoration of death of Charles Lynch and local events during Heritage Week 2020. Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage and Wildlife Group – Heritage Week publication on Clarecastle Protestant Church which/s destroyed by fire in April 1920. Oidhreacht an Chláir lecture: ‘The War of Independence: incidents in Miltown Malbay and district, 1920’ by Pádraig ÓgÓ Ruairc on 17 October 2020.This lecture will be recorded for online viewing. Mid Clare Brigade Commemoration Committee. Programeme of events includes Martin Devitt Commemoration on 23rd February 2020.Remaining events postponed until 2021. Ruan/Dysart History Group commemoration of raid on Ruan Barracks in October 2020. East Clare Memorial Committee commemoration of Scariff Martyrs in November 2020. Dúchas na Sionna commemoration of incarceration of Brig Gen Lucas in August 2020. Whitegate Community Council commemoration of Scariff Martyrs at Williamstown in November 2020. Feakle Ambush Commemorative Committee lecture and booklet for October 2020. Rineen Reprisals – a documentary by Clare FM will be broadcast on 22 September 2020 at 6pm. Louth Festival of History 2020 Louth Library Service has launched their 2020 Festival of History which will run from September 26th – October 26th, online. Bringing together historians from across the country, the talks will go beyond the traditional political and military histories of the Irish Revolution and instead bring to life the personal lived histories of the period. The range of topics covered is particularly topical, engaging with issues of border, political violence and national identity, at a time when these issues are as important as ever. The topics chosen are also extremely current representing the forefront of modern thinking on the period. There are currently three lectures remaining in the excellent series curated by Cavan Library Service. The previous three lectures are available *here* Launch of Trim, September 1920 Meath County Council held its first virtual event to launch the publication of Trim, September 1920 in Trim Library. The Chief Executive was joined by the Cathaoirleach, by the editor of the book, local studies librarian Tom French, contributor Cllr. Noel French and by writer and broadcaster Myles Dungan. Meath County Council is very proud to have supported the publication of this book and it is one of the centre pieces of their Decade of Centenaries programme for 2020. The book is available to purchase from Trim Library at €10 or from Antonia’s Bookstore in Trim, who also takes online orders *here*. |