March 2022
 March 2022 NOTICE Some email browsers ‘clip’ the newsletter, making it shorter. If you click ‘View entire message‘ it will open the full newsletter(including Section 5: Publications). 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) 2022 Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023 DETAILS AND LINK HERE New Bursary Scheme for the Decade of Centenaries Programme 2022/2023 The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, announced a new bursary scheme, in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy, for the final phase of the Decade of Centenaries. The objective of the bursary scheme is to encourage new local research and local history studies, and a meaningful examination of local, regional, and national events during the Struggle for Independence and Civil War period. It is a timely opportunity to acknowledge the significant contribution of local historians in furthering fields of study concerning local events and related themes during this period. Applications for the 2022 scheme are now open. The closing date for applications is Wednesday, 27th April 2022 at 5.30pm. A number of bursaries will be awarded to local historians each year in 2022 and 2023, to encourage new local research and local history studies, furthering fields of research relating to the Struggle for Independence and the Civil War period within their communities. A complementary programme of outreach activities to support public engagement will also be curated. It is envisaged that the award recipients for 2022 will be announced in June. It is anticipated that up to 8 awards under the scheme will be made annually. Understanding the varying financial requirements of projects, applications will be invited for amounts ranging from €1,000 to €10,000. FULL DETAILS HERE Border 1921-2021: A Centennial Calibration A century of partition has caused huge changes and left deep scars on both sides of the Irish border. Darach MacDonald’s new book-length poem, Border 1921-2021: A Centennial Calibration, counts the cost of division along the entire length of the frontier in a catalogue of atrocities, remembered vividly in close communities but often forgotten elsewhere. In an inaugural series of readings from Border 1921-2021: A Centennial Calibration, author Darach MacDonald will be joined by guest readers from those local communities. Places are limited and must be booked at the following links Clones Library Wednesday 2nd March at 7.30pm Market House, Monaghan Thursday 3rd March at 7.30pm CLONES WEDNESDAY MONAGHAN THURSDAY Tom Johnson 1872-1963: Seeking No Honours The Irish Labour History Society are hosting a free online talk, via Zoom, on Saturday 5 March at 4PM. Tom Johnson 1872-1963: Seeking No Honours by Shay Cody Tom Johnson played a very significant role throughout the Decade of Centenaries Period. An important eyewitness to the 1916 Rising, Tom Johnson is most widely known for co-authoring the early drafts of the Democratic Programme of the First Dáil, adopted in 1919. As leader of the parliamentary opposition in the third Dáil from 1922 onwards, he played a crucial role in holding the Free State Government to account during the darkest days of the Civil War, the bedding down of democracy and ensuring socio-economic issues of concern continued to be highlighted during the military conflict between the pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty factions of Sinn Féin. This talk will explore Johnson’s prominent role throughout the War of Independence and Civil War, including in the General Strikes, the anti-conscription campaign, the Limerick Soviet & ensuring the Irish Trade Union Congress and Labour Party (successfully) entered the 1922 General Election. Places for this free free talk can be booked through the link below. BOOK HERE ‘The Women’s Mission’: an examination of Irish women’s political movements in the 19th century and their role in the fight for women’s franchise Monday, 7th March @ 7pm, online by Dr Ciara Stewart. This lecture will conduct an examination of nineteenth century Irish women’s political movements and how they contributed to the eventual realisation of the vote for certain women in 1918. Often, when discussing women’s franchise, much of the focus is on the militant actions of twentieth century organisations, such as the Irish Women’s Franchise League. Yet, it is vital that we do not ignore the work done by their forebears who, despite not engaging in militant activities, established a political foundation on which women of the twentieth century could later build on. While some of these organisations, such as the Dublin Women’s Suffrage Association, were more conservative than the IWFL, this does not negate their valuable political contributions. In fact, this lecture will argue that women’s roles expanded from, not in absolute opposition to, traditional expectations. A lecture to mark International Women’s Day on Tuesday 8 March. BOOK HERE Landscapes of Revolution Archaeology Project; The Tipperary Old IRA Map Join Tara Clarke online, on Tuesday, 8th March, 7-8.30pm, to hear about the Landscapes of Revolution Archaeology Project: The Tipperary Old IRA Map In late 2021 the Tipperary County Council Heritage Officer and the Landscapes of Revolution Project at Abarta Heritage were alerted to the existence of an early 20th century Ordnance Survey map that appeared to bear annotations from the Revolutionary period. These markings, in different coloured inks, include what seem to be trails and routes together with the specific locations. The map was subsequently placed on loan with Tipperary Studies, and can be viewed by clicking here. It is apparent that the map holds significant potential for revealing new insights into the revolutionary landscape of large tracts of the Tipperary 3rd Brigade area. Tipperary County Council have commissioned the Landscapes of Revolution Project to raise awareness about the map and work with the public to uncover more details about the map. As well as gathering new data on the map, it is hoped that the project can add to our knowledge of precisely what the map depicts, when and why it was created, and who created it. DETAILS & REGISTRATION HERE Material Legacies: The Archaeology of the Irish Revolutionary Period UCD School of Archaeology in association with Abarta Heritage and the Landscapes of Revolution Project are hosting a one-day FREE online public conference titled: Material Legacies: The Archaeology of the Irish Revolutionary Period Saturday 26 March, 9.30 – 4 pm. The conference will highlight past and current archaeological projects from across the country that examine aspects of the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence, and the Civil War. Featuring a range of varied and innovative approaches, these talks will aim to demonstrate the important contribution that archaeology can make to our understanding of the revolutionary decade. The topics covered range from studies of prisons and internment through to analyses of sites of conflict. In addition, the conference will also seek to shed light on the extreme vulnerability of this revolutionary archaeology, and the major potential it holds for a unique engagement with Ireland’s revolutionary past. DETAILS & REGISTRATION HERE Burning the Big House ‘Burning the Country House’Online Lecture Series A series of lectures hosted by the Centre for the Study of Historic Irish houses and Estates, History Department, Maynooth University. The lecture series is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Historical Strand of the Decade of Centenaries Programme. These talks run in tandem with the exhibition Burning the Big House: The Story of the Irish Country House in Revolution, 1920-23, curated by Professor Terence Dooley and hosted by the Irish Architectural Archives from 21 March to 29 April 2022, and Maynooth University Library in May 2022. Tickets to attend the lecture series are FREE but those wishing to make a donation to the CSHIHE research programme can do so by selecting the donation option when registering for your ticket. Thank you for your support. SCHEDULE OF LECTURES Two lectures will be delivered live: the inaugural lecture by Terence Dooley on 24 March 2022 and the last in the series by Christopher Ridgway on 19 May 2022. The remaining six lectures will be pre-recorded and aired according to the following schedule. 24 MARCH Terence Dooley Burning the Big House: the story of the country house during the Irish Revolution, 1920-23 31 MARCH Ann O’Riordan Revolution, agrarianism and the burning of Ballydugan House, Co Galway, 1922 7 APRIL Jean Young ‘A barbarous mania of incendiarism’: house burnings in Co Louth, 1921-23 14 APRIL Ciarán Reilly ‘A smouldering mass of charred stones’: The burning of country houses in Offaly, 1920-1923 21 APRIL Gemma Clark Munster’s ‘Campaign of Fire’: Big House burnings in Counties Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford, 1922–23 28 APRIL Glascott Symes ‘Ours must go in time’: the burning of Sir John Keane’s Cappoquin House, Co Waterford 5 MAY Robert O’Byrne The ruined Irish country house: reality and perception 12 MAY Olwen Purdue ‘Such troubled times’: the burning of big houses in Northern Ireland 1921-1981 19 MAY Christopher Ridgway Ablaze! Fire and the country house: a perspective beyond Ireland DETAILS & REGISTRATION HERE 2. Exhibitions/Projects The ‘Decade of Centenaries’ All Island History Competition for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2021/2022 DETAILS HERE Evidence on Conditions in Ireland Commemorative Documentary -The County Cork Connection A video documentary, highlighting the importance of the role people in County Cork played in the hearings given on hardships endured during the War of Independence has been launched as part of Cork County Council’s Commemorations Programme. The documentary, titled, ‘Evidence on Conditions in Ireland Commemorative Documentary – The County Cork Connection’ features interviews with the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan; Dr. John Borgonovo, School of History, UCC as well as many other local historians. Between November 1920 and January 1921, an American Commission hearing on the hardships being endured by people in Ireland during the War of Independence took place. In December 1920 and January 1921, seven key witnesses from County Cork gave testimony, which contributed greatly to the efforts of raising awareness internationally towards Ireland’s struggle for freedom. Less than one year later, on December 6th, 1921, the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed. This documentary highlights the importance of these hearings. The Evidence on Conditions in Ireland video documentary was supported by the Department of tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and was undertaken with thanks to Wombat Media, working with Cork County Council’s Commemorations Office. WATCH HERE Last month of this exhibition – see new accompanying publication below The Treaty, 1921: Records from the Archives Presented by the National Archives in partnership with the Royal Irish Academy, the National Library of Ireland and the Office of Public Works, with records from the collections of the Military Archives, Dublin and University College Dublin Archives. In the Coach House Gallery, Dublin Castle. Exhibition launch: 6 December 2021Exhibition dates: 7 December – 27 March 2022Opening hours: 10am – 5pm, daily Admission free. DETAILS HERE 3. Podcasts A century of An Garda Síochána ‘Dublin Castle has fallen!’—the handover, 16 January 1922 Under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, a Provisional Government, led by Michael Collins, was to oversee the transition of power until the Irish Free State formally came into being in December 1922. What was involved in the ‘handover’ that took place on 16 January 1922? Who was involved and what were their roles? To address these and related questions join Tommy Graham in discussion with John Gibney, Kate O’Malley, Edward Madigan, and Padraig Óg Ó Ruairc. This Hedge School is supported by the Office of Public Works. Image: Cover of The Handover: Dublin Castle and the British withdrawal from Ireland, 1922 by John Gibney and Kate O’Malley, published by The Royal Irish Academy, 2021. LISTEN HERE Centenary of the Irish Race Congress, Paris, 21-28 January 1922 Within weeks of the ratification of the Treaty by Dáil Éireann an ‘Irish Race Congress’ assembled in Paris representing Irish organizations from twenty-two countries. Inevitably the Treaty split overshadowed its proceedings. Did global Irish experiences moderate or radicalise expectations of Irish independence? What legacy did Irish sovereignty bequeath to the historical memory of the Irish diaspora? To address these and related questions join History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham, in discussion with David Brundage, Darragh Gannon, Donal McCracken, and Anne Marie O’Brien. [See below in the newsletter for details of The Split, which contains an article by Darragh Gannon on the Irish Race Congress] Image: Irish delegates enjoying Parisian hospitality at the Palais d’Orsey, including (L-R) Seán T. O’Kelly, Mary MacSwiney, Eamon de Valera, Countess Markievicz and Lord Ashbourne. (NLI) LISTEN HERE 5. Publications AVAILABLE HERE AVAILABLE HERE Four Courts Press Revolution Series MORE DETAILS HERE AVAILABLE HERE This book illustrates the 1922 handover of power by the outgoing British administration to the Provisional Government of Ireland led by Michael Collins in early 1922. The handover fell between the Treaty split of January 1922 and the outbreak of the Civil War in June 1922 and is usually overshadowed by both. The book bridges this gap by telling a relatively unfamiliar but hugely important story. BUY HERE Ireland 1922 provides a snapshot of a year of turmoil, tragedy and, amidst it all, state-building as the Irish revolution drew to a close. BUY HERE The fourth volume in the History Ireland commemorative series on aspects of the Irish Revolution. The Treaty, Civil War and partition profoundly shaped the Ireland in which we live. To mark the centenary of the Treaty and Civil War, History Ireland has produced a special supplement, The Split: From Treaty to Civil War 1921–23, featuring historians and writers. The Split introduces ground-breaking articles on women and the Treaty, the role of Eamon de Valera, the establishment of the Gardaí, the dead of the Civil War, the global reaction to Ireland’s independence, and the violence inside the new Northern Ireland state and along the border. It discusses controversial questions regarding Michael Collins and military dictatorship, why the Free State won the Civil War and how Northern Ireland came into being. It looks at how the war has been remembered and asks whether the era of Civil War politics has ended. Featuring contributions from:President Michael D. Higgins / David McCullagh / Mary McAuliffe / Rob Delaney / John Gibney / Kate O’Malley / Darragh Gannon / John Borgonovo / Lar Joye / Kieran Glennon / Paddy Mulroe / Charles Townsend / Bill Kissane / John M. Regan / Robert Gerwarth / Elizabeth Malcolm / Niamh Puirséil / Alison Martin / John Dorney / Margaret O’Callaghan / Ciara Chambers / Caitlin White / Frank Barry / Brian Hanley / Theo Dorgan Available in newsagents and bookshops, or online at the link below. BUY HERE |