History Ireland

While not in the vanguard of armed activity in the revolutionary decade, Wicklow was, nevertheless, active in other respects. Moreover, its unique characteristics—proximity to Dublin, pioneering development of tourism, and one of the highest Protestant populations outside Ulster—make it worthy of study. Join History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham in discussion with Sheila Clarke (Ashford), Brendan Flynn (Wicklow), Kevin Lee (Carnew), Jim Rees (Arklow), Padraig Óg Ó Ruairc (author of several books on the Irish revolution). Supported by the Commemorations Unit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Wicklow County Council’s Archives Service.

Image: Group outside Wicklow Gaol 1920 with republican prisoner William O’Grady back row left with the fine moustache. Image: Courtesy of John Finlay

While not in the vanguard of armed activity in the revolutionary decade, Wicklow was, nevertheless, active in other respects. Moreover, its unique characteristics—proximity to Dublin, pioneering development of tourism, and one of the highest Protestant populations outside Ulster—make it worthy of study. Listen to History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham in discussion with Rosemary Raughter (Greystones), James Scannell (Bray), Brian White (Enniskerry) and John Dorney (editor of ‘The Irish Story’). This podcast is available at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-ireland/id1503109266

and https://www.historyireland.com/hedge-schools/ or wherever you get your podcasts. 
Supported by the Commemorations Unit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Wicklow County Council’s Archives Service.

Originally conceived as a ‘temporary’ amendment to the Third Home Rule Act, on the statute book since 1914, the 1920 Government of Ireland Act was presciently derided by the Freeman’s Journal as ‘the Dismemberment of Ireland Bill’—partition was the only element of it to endure.  How did it come about and what were its effects over the following century?  Listen to History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham, discuss these questions with Dr Martin Mansergh, Cormac Moore, Dr Margaret O’Callaghan and Professor Brian Walker. Image: A National Army soldier and an RUC constable at the border in 1922. This Hedge School is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative.

The events of Sunday 21 November 1920 are well named. Within fifteen hours on that fateful day, 32 people died: in the morning, eleven British intelligence officers killed by Michael Collins’s ‘squad’ (plus two Auxiliaries and two civilians); in the afternoon, fourteen civilians killed by British forces at Croke Park (including player Michael Hogan of Tipperary); and that evening, in murky circumstances in Dublin Castle, two high-ranking IRA officers, Dick McKee and Peadar Clancy, and civilian Conor Clune.  Did these events mark a decisive turning point in the ongoing War of Independence?  How were they presented at the time?  How are they remembered today?  Listen to History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham, discuss these and related matters in a lively and unfettered discussion with Joe Connell Jnr, Dr Siobhán Doyle, Dr Brian Hanley and Professor Fearghal McGarry. This Hedge School, in association with the GAA Museum, is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative.

Image: Glasses belonging to spectator Annie Burke (who survived) damaged on the day by a ricocheting piece of grit and never worn again. (GAA Museum)

As the War of Independence raged in southern Ireland a different type and more deadly form of conflict erupted in the northeast, and in Belfast in particular. Should this be considered part of the overall Irish revolution? Or a separate and distinct conflict with its roots in the sectarian geography of city? What was the long-term effect on community relations and on the formation of Northern Ireland? Join History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham in discussion with Marie Coleman, Kieran Glennon, Brian Hanley and Brian Walker.

 This podcast is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Reconciliation Fund in association with the Linen Hall Library. Image: Military and police in Belfast at the junction of May Street and Joy Street on 23 March 1922.

Founded in Thurles in 1884, the GAA has had a long association with Tipperary, an association intensified by the events of Bloody Sunday, 21 November 1920, when Crown forces attacked a Dublin vs Tipperary football match at Croke Park. Three of the fourteen victims were from Tipperary, including, famously, the only player killed on the day, Michael Hogan. Listen to History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham, in conversation with John Flannery, Aogán Ó Fearghail, Enda O’Sullivan and Jayne Sutcliffe.

 This podcast is produced in association with Tipperary County Council, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative.

Image: Michael Hogan of Grangemockler, Co. Tipperary—the only player killed on Bloody Sunday.

In the early morning of Sunday 21 November 1920 units of Dublin’s IRA assassinated 11 suspected British intelligence agents; two Auxiliaries and two civilians were also killed. That afternoon Crown forces opened fire on the crowd at a Dublin vs Tipperary football match in Croke Park, killing 14 people. Later that evening senior IRA officers Peadar Clancy and Dick McKee, and civilian Conor Clune, were ‘shot while trying to escape’ from Dublin Castle. Collectively these killings became known as Bloody Sunday. To discuss these events, with particular relevance to history teachers, join History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham, in discussion with Donal Fallon, John Gibney, Liz Gillis and Angela Hanratty.

Image: The Dublin football team on Bloody Sunday, 21 November 1920.

Roscommon was one of the first counties to reflect the ‘utter change’ of the post-1916 period, with the election of the first Sinn Féin-backed MP in February 1917; in less than two years that party would win a landslide victory in the general election of 1918. But that mandate for independence was ignored by the British, resulting in the War of Independence. How typical of that transformation was Roscommon and how did it fare in the War of Independence? Join History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham, in discussion with John Burke, Brian Hanley, May Moran and members of the County Roscommon Historical and Archaeological Society (CRHAS). This podcast is produced in association with Roscommon County Council and the CRHAS and supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative.

(image caption) Patrick Moran, from Crossna, Co. Roscommon, in Irish Volunteer uniform—executed in Mountjoy Gaol in March 1921 for his part in the early morning assassinations of Bloody Sunday .

Kevin Barry is one of the most popular, and certainly one of the most sung, of Irish ballads. But who was Kevin Barry? Why was he immortalized in song? And what has been the significance of the ballad tradition generally in the Irish Revolution and, indeed, of the Irish Revolution in the ballad tradition?

Listen to History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham, in discussion with Liz Gillis, Eunan O’Halpin, Padraig Óg Ó Ruairc and Fintan Vallely.

 This Hedge School is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative. 

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 GHQ of 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.

This podcast is supported by the National Library of Ireland as part of the Dublin Festival of History

Photo Credit: Custom House ablaze, 25th May 1921. W. D. Hogan. National Library of Ireland.