August 2022
 August 2022 NOTICE Some email browsers ‘clip’ the newsletter, making it shorter. If you click ‘View entire message‘ it will open the full newsletter News and updates on the programme of commemorations relating to the events in Irish history that took place between 1912 and 1923. If you would like to inform us of any suitable material for future newsletters – anything related to the Decade of Centenaries – please feel free to email [email protected]. 1. Lectures and Events (some require registration) Harry Boland Centenary Commemoration Weekend Harry Boland died in St. Vincent’s Hospital on 1 August 1922 after being shot by Free State troops the night before in a Skerries hotel. A veteran of the 1916 Rising and close ally of Michael Collins and Éamon de Valera during the War of Independence, Harry opposed the Treaty and paid for it with his life. To mark the centenary of his death, a committee made up of descendants of Harry’s brother Gerald and sister Kathleen and friends organised three days of events. Saturday 30th July – The Old School, Skerries: Harry Boland Centenary Conference A one-day conference featuring talks on Harry’s life and family, as well as other stories from the Irish revolutionary and civil war period. Sunday 31st July – Faughs GAA Club: Harry Boland and the GAA A day of GAA sport, followed by music, celebrating Harry’s connections to the GAA. Monday 1st August – Glasnevin Cemetery: Harry Boland Centenary Commemoration A graveside oration, followed by a recording of the History Ireland Hedge School podcast (to be broadcast a few days later). FULL PROGRAMME DETAILS Féile An Phobail 2022 4th – 14th August Taking place in Belfast from 4-14th August, Féile an Phobail has a variety of talks on Irish history, and various walks, including, for example: (4th August) THE VIOLENT BIRTH OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND STATE The panel, historians Jim McDermott and Myrtle Hill, will examine these events with chair Fergus O’Hare. No booking required. (4th August) FREE STATISM & THE GOOD OLD IRAFrom Free State to Éire, to the Republic of Ireland, the establishment and mainstream media in the South have promoted a partitionist mind-set – Free Statism, says Danny Morrison in his new book – and abandoned the nationalist community to its fate. Successive governments commemorated and honoured the Tan War IRA whilst demonising Irish republicans, even more so with the electoral rise of Sinn Féin. Discussion with Andrée Murphy, writer and commentator. No booking required. (Fri 5th, Sat 6th, Wed 10th, Fri 12th & Sat 13th)THE JAMES CONNOLLY HERITAGE TRAIL 10:30am The tour begins at Belfast City Hall and lasts approximately 3 hours at a steady pace. £10pp. Booking in advance essential *here* (5th August) UNMANAGEABLE REVOLUTIONARIES: WOMEN AND IRISH NATIONALISM 1880-1980 Mairéad Farrell Sinn Féin TD in conversation with feminist historian Dr Margaret Ward, discussing Margaret’s recently re-published book Unmanageable Revolutionaries: Women and Irish Nationalism 1880-1980, a landmark study of the role of women in Irish political history. Margaret will give a short presentation on the book before the conversation with Mairéad. No booking required. FULL PROGRAMME DETAILS —– West Cork History Festival The programme this year has two themes: 175 years since Black ’47 and events in West Cork in 1922. There will be a number of talks and panel discussions around both of these themes. This year’s Festival will have a very limited in-person audience and a high-quality live stream for all events. Friday 5th August Evening: Festival Concert Long-time Festival friend and collaborator Jessie Kennedy and fellow musicians the Celestial Quartet will perform a concert of specially-composed music ‘Thus she shall go to the stars’. This is inspired by the life of pioneering astronomer and scientist Agnes Clerke, born in Skibbereen 180 years ago. The Festival Concert is kindly sponsored by the Arts Council Saturday 6th August Afternoon: Black ’47 This begins with a screening of a pre-recorded reading by Bob Geldof of the N.M Cummins letter to the London Times, one of the most well-known documents of the Famine period, and his reflections on it and South Reen today. This will be recorded for the Festival in advance. The the following live contributions with a talk from each speaker, followed by a panel discussion and questions from the audience: Professor Breandán Mac Suibhne on the experience of Black ’47 in Skibbereen and the social impact of the Famine in Ireland Professor Melissa Fegan on how writers have approached the Famine through literature Dr Charles Read on the Famine and the financial crisis of 1847John Kelly on his artistic responses to An Gorta Mór Evening: Festival Concert Jessie Kennedy and fellow musicians for a second performance of their concert ‘Thus she shall go to the stars’, inspired by the life of pioneering astronomer and scientist Agnes Clerke, born in Skibbereen 180 years ago. Sunday 7th August Afternoon: West Cork in 1922 – the Bandon Valley Killings The following live contributions with a talk from each speaker, followed by a panel discussion and questions from the audience: Dr Gemma Clark on “Sectarianism” as an interpretative framework: Placing the Bandon Valley Massacre in historical and historiographical perspective Don Wood on the impact of the events of 1922 on the Protestant community in West Cork Dr Andy Bielenberg on ‘100 years on; The Dunmanway massacre revisited’ Professor Brian Walker on the Bandon Valley Massacre in its all-island context FULL DETAILS HERE —– Doomed Inheritance History Centenary of the Burning of Mitchelstown Castle Doomed Inheritance History Conference to mark the Centenary of the Burning of Mitchelstown Castle in August 1922 Mitchelstown Castle was the biggest house ever burned in Ireland. In the hours before its destruction, it was wantonly looted. This conference aims to bring together a number of leading historians and experts in the period of the Civil War to present a conference of lectures over the weekend. Friday 12th – Sunday 14th August REGISTRATION HERE —– Men of the South at 100: An Oral History Oral historian Maurice O’Keeffe (Irish Life & Lore) and curator Michael Waldron (Crawford Art Gallery) will discuss fascinating stories surrounding Men of the South, Seán Keating’s iconic group portrait of members of the Cork No. 2 Brigade, which is 100 years old in 2022. Thursday 18th August @ 5.30pm. FULL DETAILS HERE —– Centenary Commemoration Béal na Bláth This year’s event will be the Centenary Commemoration, which will take place at the monument in Béal na Bláth on Sunday, 21st August. There will be two orations this year, which will be given by Taoiseach Mícheál Martin T. D. and Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar T.D. The Commemoration will commence at 3.00 pm. MORE DETAILS HERE —– Exploring the Civil War in Sligo ‘Exploring the Civil War in Sligo’ on Thursday 22nd September at 8pm in the Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo is a journey with four local historians, whose published works deal with the period. It gives an overview of the Civil War in Sligo and deals with specific aspects of it. Speakers include Dr Michael Farry, Cian Harte, Dr Padraig Deignan and Dr Marion Dowd. Dr Michael Farry, author of “The Irish Revolution Sligo 1912-1923” will deliver an overview of the events of 1922: the onset of the Civil War and how it impacted the county. Cian Harte, author of “The Lost Tales: Riverstown’s Troubles 1919-1923” will examine the impact of the Civil War on the IRA brigades from the area who had fought during the War of Independence. How did these forces divide and why? Dr Padraig Deignan, author of “The Protestant Community in Sligo, 1914-1949”,examines how the Protestant community were impacted with the county in turmoil. Having been overwhelmingly Unionist in outlook they were now in a position where no matter who won they were sundered from the certainties of their past. Dr Marion Dowd, author of The Archaeology of Caves in Ireland which won Book of the Year at the 2016 Archaeology Awards will talk on Tomour Cave a Civil War time capsule. The cave was used by anti-treaty forces living off the land during the guerrilla fighting that characterised the later part of the military activities of the anti-treaty forces in Sligo. Tickets for this event are free but limited to two per person from the Hawk’s Well Theatre Box Office from the 29th August 2022 MORE DETAILS HERE —– Cumann Le Seandacht Átha CliathThe Old Dublin Society Wednesday September 14th‘The Battle for Dublin, 1922’–Liz Gillis. Wednesday September 28th‘Sarah Cecilia Harrison, Dublin’s First Female Councillor’ – Thomas Burke. Wednesday October 12th‘Thomas Early, manufacturer of ecclesiastical furniture and stained-glass windows, Upper Camden Street, Dublin – Max Cannon. Wednesday October 19th Incident in Skerries, Co. Dublin, 1922: The Life and Times of Harry Boland – Eugene Coyle Zoom presentation Register with [email protected] to receive a link. Wednesday October 26th ‘The Famine in Dublin’ – Professor Cormac Ó Gráda. Wednesday November 9th ‘Dublin’s Tramways – The First Generation’ – Clifton Flewitt. Wednesday November 23rd ‘A Visit to Dalkey Island’ – Peadar Curran, followed by the AGM MORE DETAILS 2. Exhibitions/Projects 1922 – 1972 – 2022: Years of Chaos and Hope at The Linen Hall The Linen Hall Library is putting on an exhibition to commemorate the 100 and 50 year anniversaries of conflict in Northern Ireland. 1922 – 1972 – 2022: Years of Chaos and Hope will be on display at the library from 1-31 August, alongside some events which delve further into these years. EXHIBITION 1922 – 1972 – 2022: Years of Chaos and Hope An exhibition by the Linen Hall Library funded by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs 1-31 August • Vertical Gallery • FREE 2022 marks poignant anniversaries in the history of Northern Ireland. 1922 and 1972 were the two deadliest years of the Twenties’ Troubles and the recent conflict. 100 and 50 years on, Years of Chaos and Hope reflects on the conflicting identities, protests, backlash, arrests, evictions, expulsions, shootings, and bombs which contributed to the chaos of 1922 and 1972. Using material from its archive, this exhibition explores the troubled times through which the Linen Hall Library and its visitors endured. EXHIBITION LAUNCH ‘1922 and 1972: Years of Turmoil, Loss and Hope Deferred’ with Dr Eamon Phoenix Monday 1 August, 7.00pm • Performance Area • FREE1 922 and 1972 were violent and pivotal years in Northern Ireland. Launching the Years of Chaos and Hope exhibition, Dr Eamon Phoenix will deliver a keynote lecture exploring the shared experiences of turmoil which characterised these two years. PANEL DISCUSSIONThe Troubled Twenties Monday 8 August, 1.00pm • Performance Area • FREE Political violence engulfed Northern Ireland in the early nineteen-twenties. Fuelled by mistrust, sectarian evictions, expulsions, and murder peaked in 1922, the deadliest year of conflict until 1972. A panel of historians will examine issues such as civil unrest, reprisals, internment, and the border, all of which contributed to the chaos of 1922. CURATOR TOURS A tour of the ‘Years of Chaos and Hope’ exhibition A guided tour of the exhibition with its curator, Melissa Baird, which will give further insight into the years 1922 and 1972, the artefacts on display, and the wider collections held by the Linen Hall Library. Wednesday 10 August, 1.00pm • FREE Wednesday 31 August, 1.00pm • FREE *Numbers are limited and advanced booking is required. LIVE EVENT Pop Goes Northern Ireland (1972) at the Linen Hall with Tim McGarry and Malachi O’Doherty Monday 15 August, 7.00pm • Performance Area • £5 1972 was the year in which the chaos came to the Linen Hall Library. First the bookstore on College Square North was bombed in January, and then the library building was damaged by a blast in Fountain Street in May. This reflected the wider experience in Belfast and beyond as the violence escalated throughout the year.Showing live footage from the year, comedian Tim McGarry and commentator Malachi O’Doherty reflect on the chaos of 1972. PANEL DISCUSSIONArrests and Internment in the 1970s Wednesday 17 August, 1.00pm • Performance Area • FREE In August 1971, internment without trial was re-introduced in Northern Ireland to clamp down on paramilitary activity. The consequences were counterproductive and served to heighten sectarian tensions. The legacy of internment and its aftermath polarised communities, but imprisonment and its effects on individuals, families and communities generated shared experiences across traditional divides.In this panel discussion, a group of ex-prisoners share stories from their own troubled times, and the hopes they have for the future. *panellists to be announced in due course PANEL DISCUSSION Years of Hope: 2022 and 2072 Monday 22 August, 1.00pm • Performance Area • FREE From the chaos of Brexit, the pandemic, and climate change, a group of young activists discuss the contemporary issues of 2022, and their hopes for life in 2072. *panellists to be announced in due course FULL DETAILS HERE —– National Archives-Irish Architectural Archive joint exhibition‘Public Record Office of Ireland: The Story of a Building’ Exhibition telling the story of the destruction of the Public Record Office of Ireland in June 1922 opens at the Irish Architectural Archive A unique exhibition of photographs, architectural plans and drawings, maps and elevations, video and salvaged records was opened by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD on 30June last, marking the centenary of the destruction of the Public Record Office of Ireland on 30 June 1922. The exhibition is presented by the National Archives in partnership with the Irish Architectural Archive and tells the story of the once magnificent building that was the Public Record Office of Ireland, from its construction to its burning during the Battle of the Four Courts in June 1922 to its final reconstruction. The exhibition is part of the Government of Ireland’s Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012–2023. On display in the Irish Architectural Archive, 45 Merrion Square, Dublin 230 June–19 August (Mon–Fri 10:00am–5:00pm) MORE DETAILS HERE 3. Podcasts MNÁ 100 Through Mná100.ie we will introduce you to the stories of the Irish women who took part in events 100 hundred years ago. LISTEN HERE —– The assassination of Sir Henry Wilson and the Irish Civil War On 22 June 1922 Field Marshall Sir Henry Wilson, former Chief of the Imperial General Staff, and Unionist MP for North Down, was assassinated outside his London home in Eaton Square. The anti-Treaty IRA were blamed and six days later, under pressure from the British, Michael Collins ordered the bombardment of the Four Courts, the opening salvos of the Irish Civil War.But who was Henry Wilson? Was he, as was alleged, the mastermind behind the anti-Catholic pogroms in Belfast 1920-22?And who ordered the hit? To address these and other questions listen to History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham, in discussion with John Dorney, Caoimhe Nic Dhaibhéid, Padraig Óg Ó Ruairc, John Regan. (Recorded at St Peter’s, North Main Street, Cork, as part of the National Civil War Conference, UCC, on Saturday 18 June 2022) LISTEN HERE —– Civil War anniversary: the role of women With the centenary of the start of the Civil War here, and the conflict having been marked by a major conference in UCC recently, this podcast looks at the role of women in what unfolded at the time. For most of the last hundred years, women were largely written out of the period but that is now changing. Apart from the general omissions there were women who played particularly prominent roles in the Civil War. Dr Mary McAuliffe and Dr Hilary Dully joined Mick on the podcast for some fascinating insights in the role of women in the Civil War. LISTEN HERE |