November 2021
 November 2021 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) Negotiation, Diaspora, and Empire: The Anglo-Irish Treaty Thursday, 4th November, 6-9.30pm In-person event in:Embassy of Ireland17 Grosvenor Place London In this centenary roundtable discussion, a panel of experts will explore the context of the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, consider the terms of the settlement, and evaluate its impact on Irish and British politics and culture. Panelists: Dr. Shahmima Akhtar (Royal Holloway, University of London)Dr. Darragh Gannon (University College Dublin)Prof. Alvin Jackson (University of Edinburgh)Prof. Heather Jones (University College London)Dr. Edward Madigan (Royal Holloway, University of London) Chair: Adrian O’Neill, Ambassador of Ireland to the United Kingdom DETAILS & REGISTRATION HERE Ireland 1921 – Preparing for Peace…Ready for War? This year’s UI Conference explores the themes of Truce, Treaty, Consolidation of Northern Ireland and Partition & Socio Economic Dimensions On Saturday 6 November, Universities Ireland will host the tenth annual Decade of Centenaries conference online. This year, Universities Ireland will be running the Decade of Centenaries Conference online where panellists will present via Zoom. The format of each session will encompass a presentation by each speaker and then a Q&A session with all speakers on that panel facilitated by the chair. DETAILS & REGISTRATION HERE South County Dublin Decade of Centenaries Lectures November Lectures: John Dorney The Rise and Fall of the Dáil Courts, 1921-2 Thursday 4th November, 7pm. Liz Gillis Margaret Pearse and Revolutionary Women Thursday 11th November, 7pm. REGISTRATION HERE Border 100 One of the final events of the Louth County Council Decade of Centenaries Programme for 2021 is the Border 100 virtual symposium that runs from the 27th October to the 6th November. The symposium consists of lectures and panel discussions on various aspects of the creation of the Border and partition of Northern Ireland 100 years ago. Please see the remaining list of lectures below: 1st Nov @ 17:00 – The Church of Ireland, Irish Anglicans, and Partition – a Panel Discussion https://www.crowdcast.io/e/churchofirelandpartition 1st Nov @ 19:15 – Understanding the Orange Order and Partition by Dexter Govan https://www.crowdcast.io/e/docdextergovan 2nd Nov @ 16:15 – Constitutional Nationalism and Partition by Colin Reid https://www.crowdcast.io/e/doccolinreid 2nd Nov @ 19:15 – Partition: Ireland and Poland Compared by Róisín Healyhttps://www.crowdcast.io/e/docrisnhealy 4th Nov @ 16:15 – Political Propaganda: the ‘Frontier State’ in the writings of Dorothy Macardle by Leean Lane https://www.crowdcast.io/e/docleeanlane 4th Nov @ 19:15 – The Trade Unions and Partition by Peter Rigney https://www.crowdcast.io/e/docpeterrigney 5th Nov @ 19:15 – “The South and not the North is responsible for Partition” (James Craig, 1923), How the Border became a Land Frontier 1921-24 by Donal Hall https://www.crowdcast.io/e/docdonalhall ] 6th Nov @ 14:15 – The North in Southern Politics – a Panel Discussion https://www.crowdcast.io/e/docnorthinsouthern FULL DETAILS HERE 1921: Partition, Truce and Treaty County Longford Decade of Centenaries Programme Conference entitled ‘1921: Partition, Truce and Treaty’ Saturday, 6th November (via MS Teams) Please email [email protected] for the link or call 043-3341124 for further information. Burning of the Custom House Centenary Conference 2021 The Terror War Author, historian and public speaker Joe Connell will discuss the effects of the actions of both sides of the Irish War of Independence, during which the British and the Irish sides often reflected one another. They both did well in some areas, and were deficient in others. Further, it must be emphasised that both sides used terror – burnings – murder – shearing women’s hair etc. – to intimidate the Irish population. British Field Marshal Henry Wilson said of the Black and Tans: “reprisals were being carried out without anyone being responsible; men were being murdered, houses burnt, villages wrecked … It was the business of the Government to govern.If these men ought to be murdered, then the Government ought to murder them”. Michael Collins could equally chillingly say: “Careful application of terrorism is also an excellent form of total communication”. The actions of the British and Irish frequently mirrored one another – an uncomfortable reality of the war. This talk will examine the trauma of the times – both the exceptional and the ordinary – through a diverse range of topics, including one of the major IRA attacks, the burning of the Custom House on May 25, 1921 and its effect on those who executed it and those who suffered by it. Joseph E. A. Connell Jnr. Is the author of several acclaimed books on the Irish revolutionary years 1916-1923, including Where’s Where In Dublin; Who’s Who in the Dublin Rising 1916; Dublin Rising 1916; Michael Collins: Dublin 1916-22; Dublin In Rebellion; The Shadow War; Rebels’ Priests; Unequal Patriots; Teaching Rebels; Who Shot Michael Collins? and is a regular contributor to “History Ireland” and other publications. VIEWING HERE REGISTER FOR THE LAUNCHBUY BOOK Theatre and Treaty: Arthur Griffith’s Reputation as Impugned by W.B. Yeats and Frank Pakenham Join Professor Colum Kenny as he looks at the remarkable relationship between Arthur Griffith and W.B. Yeats, in the context of Griffith’s reputation. Tuesday 9th November, 7pm. Hosted by the National Library of Ireland. REGISTRATION HERE Ireland 1922: Women in Independence, Debate and Civil War Part of Dublin Book Festival Wednesday 10th November, 1-2pm (online event) Author and academic Marie Coleman is joined by a panel of three Irish historians to discuss the role and impact of women in Ireland 1922. With: Diarmuid Ferriter Hillary Dully Caoimhe Nic Dháibhéid REGISTER HERE ‘The Irish Revolution and the making of a new world order: what the archives tell us’ ‘The Irish Revolution and the making of a new world order: what the archives tell us’ 23 November 2021Speakers: Dr Linda Connolly [pictured] (Professor of Sociology, Maynooth University) Dr Brian Hanley (Assistant Professor in Twentieth Century Irish History, Trinity College Dublin) Dr Fearghal McGarry (Professor in Modern Irish History, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, Queen’s University, Belfast) Moderator: Dr Patrick Geoghegan (Professor in Modern History, Trinity College Dublin) Date: Tuesday 23 November 2021 Time: 6pm Venue: National Archives, Bishop Street, Dublin 8, D08 DF85. Booking link: Booking will be available from Tuesday 2nd November. Check https://www.nationalarchives.ie/ for further details from that date. The 20th century was defined by the decline of empire and the emergence of new nations and social and political movements founded on principles of democracy, equality and self-government. Some of the questions arising from this seismic shift in global politics and society will ask what the historical records tell us about the way events occurring in Ireland spoke to the wider dynamics of change that were sweeping the world, from revolutionary struggles to decolonisation and women’s suffrage. Also, how did Ireland’s new political leadership use news and information to mobilise its population and project Ireland to a global public in the brave new world of mass media? This roundtable will bring together a distinguished group of academics to discuss what archival records can tell us about the ideas of the men and women who built the Irish nation and how they were shaped by and within the new world that was emerging after the First World War and the Irish revolution. Linda Connolly is Professor of Sociology at Maynooth University. She is the author of several recent publications exploring gender-based violence women experienced in the Irish Revolution (1919–1923) and she led the Irish Research Council-funded ‘Women and the Irish Revolution’ project. Professor Connolly has published a number of books including The Irish Women’s Movement: From Revolution to Devolution (London and New York: Palgrave/Macmillan, 2003); Documenting Irish Feminisms: the Second Wave (with Tina O’Toole, republished in 2020, Galway: Arlen Press); Social Movements and Ireland (with Niamh Hourigan, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2006); The Irish Family (London: Routledge, 2014) and Women and the Irish Revolution: Feminism, Activism, Violence (Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 2020). Brian Hanley is Assistant Professor in Twentieth Century Irish History at Trinity College Dublin. Much of his research has been focused on Irish republicanism and radicalism, particularly on the politics and activity of the Irish Republican Army. His most recent work has examined the impact of the conflict in Northern Ireland on politics and society in the Republic while his current research investigates the global impact of the Irish revolution (1916–1923). Fearghal McGarry is Professor in Modern Irish History at Queen’s University, Belfast and a member of the Royal Irish Academy. His books include The Abbey Rebels of 1916: a Lost Revolution (2015) and The Rising: Ireland, Easter 1916 (2016). He recently led the major Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) research project, ‘A Global History of Irish Revolution, 1916–1923’. With Darragh Gannon, he is editor of Ireland 1922: Independence, Partition, Civil War recently published by the Royal Irish Academy. Moderator Patrick Geoghegan is Professor in Modern History and teaches in the Department of History at Trinity College Dublin. He presents the award-winning Talking History on Newstalk radio and is the author of books on Robert Emmet, the Act of Union and a two-volume study of Daniel O’Connell. Professor Geoghegan was a special adviser to the Taoiseach between June 2017 and June 2020. Confessions of a disappointed Irish unificationist Paul Bew MRIA faces up to the polarising impact of Brexit and more surprisingly the recent historical commemorations North and South Hosted by Royal Irish Academy Thursday, 25 November, 6pm. Lord Bew comes from a family of mixed heritage with a Cork born mother and a Belfast born father. He served for long spells as a member of an all-Ireland party and all-Ireland bodies. His talk faces up to the polarising impact of Brexit and more surprisingly the recent historical commemorations north and south. He argues that the mutual willingness to compromise which is at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement is under serious and destabilising threat. REGISTER HERE Women of Independence Women of Independence Two screenings: Online screening to watch at home on Friday 3rd Dec @ 8pm Live Screening on Sunday 5th Dec @ 8pm Women of Independence is a filmed theatrical performance that presents the real-life experiences of four Irish women during the War of Independence through a cast of community actors. Produced by An Táin Arts Centre in association with Upstate Theatre Project Women of Independence is Part II of the Remembrance Trilogy and the follow up to An Easter Service (2016). This performance, from an entirely female perspective, uses the real-life testimonies of Louth Women, Deirdre Spillane, Máire Fitzpatrick, Mary Kate Harte and Marie Lea-Wilson, to explore the female experiences of the War of Independence. Supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Decade of Centenaries, Department of Culture, Creative Ireland and Create Louth, ‘Women of Independence’ will screen for one night only. Tickets €10 (plus €1.50 booking fee per ticket) BOOK HERE FOR FRIDAYBOOK HERE FOR SUNDAY 2. Projects Cork County Council War of Independence and Civil War Memorials As part of the Decade of Centenaries commemorative programme, Cork County Council, in partnership with Mac Conmara Heritage Consulting, is undertaking an exciting project to comprehensively audit commemorative memorials across Cork.The project includes memorials relating to the Irish revolutionary period including the War of Independence and Civil War and will build on records already undertaken. On completion, the audit will provide the county of Cork with a powerful resource to interpret how events of a century ago – sometimes contentious, sometimes unifying – have been remembered ever since.The public is asked to submit details of a site or sites in their locality to [email protected]. Click here to see the Project Statement. This project is being supported by Cork County Council through its Commemorations Committee and the Department of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. DETAILS HERE Bere Island Commemorative Film On Monday September 27th, Bere Island Projects Group launched a short film to commemorate the centenary of the Bere Island Internment Camp, which was in operation from April to December 1921.In 1920, a prison camp was opened on Bere Island on the site of the Fort Berehaven military camp, for convicted Republican prisoners. By April 1921, all convicted prisoners had been transferred to the prison on Spike Island, and the camp on Bere Island became an internment camp only. At one stage 284 men were interned on Bere Island. The camp closed on December 10th 1921 following the signing of the Anglo Irish Treaty. The film outlines the history of the camp, and features leading War of Independence expert, Dr John Borgonovo of University College Cork, and Bere Island historian Ted O’Sullivan who recount what life would have been like for the internees, and outline some audacious escapes. Bere Island Projects Group were awarded €5500 by the Heritage Council’s Community Heritage Grant Scheme to produce the film. The film is one of a number events which Bere Island Projects Group have organised as part of the Decade of Centenaries. Bere Island was once a strategic military base for the British Admiralty who constructed seven gun batteries on the island. Its safe harbour provided shelter during World War One for British warships and also the US Navy while protecting Atlantic convoys. Fort Berehaven, Bere Island was one of Ireland’s three Treaty Ports. The handover of the fort to the Irish Government took place 26th September 1938. AVAILABLE TO VIEW HERE 3. Podcasts The Michael Collins/ Kilkenny Council Papers This podcast delves into two sets of records in the archives to find some Kilkenny related stories. These sources are the Michael Collins papers, held by the Military Archives, and the records of the Kilkenny councils, held by the National Archives. These records give a good oversight of what was going on around County Kilkenny in the day to day lives of people; the revolutionary years weren’t always dramatic, the mundane parts of life still went on! For instance, Michael Collins received information about every post office in Kilkenny, highlighting which ones could be ‘worked on’ in order to glean intelligence. We also see how Collins’ department were writing to the Kilkenny IRA looking for money that went missing, that was supposed to be sent to a bank in Thomastown. Collins also received a list of ‘enemy social institutions’ in Kilkenny which included the golf and tennis clubs! The Council records give us an insight into everyday life in Kilkenny in 1921. Everything from compensation for hay burning to public health are discussed in these files. AVAILABLE HERE 5. Publications BUY 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. Coming 16th January 2022. PRE-ORDER 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. Coming 1st January 2022. PRE-ORDER 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 BUY HERE |
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