The Irish Nation Lives by James Nagle
A podcast series focusing on the events of the Irish Revolution 1918-1923
Episode 7 - February 1919: De Valera's Jailbreak, Labour at Berne and the Monaghan Soviet.
On the 3rd of February 1919 Éamon de Valera escaped from Lincoln Prison where he had been interned since May. The escape involved cryptic clues hidden in a cartoon and the delivery of a number of cakes to the prisoners containing keys and files. On his return the Ireland de Valera set about planning his trip to the United States of America to petition Woodrow Wilson to recognise Irish independence. As this jailbreak was going on the Irish Labour Party was traveling to Berne in Switzerland to take part in the Socialist International and in county Monaghan staff had barricaded themselves inside an insane asylum and hoisted the Red Flag of Revolution. |
Episode 8 - February 1919: Paris Peace Conference and the Irish Race Convention.
Following the first meeting of Dáil Éireann a number of attempts were made to gain international recognition of the Republic. Seán T. O’Kelly travelled to Paris to seek a hearing before the Peace Conference. Nationalists from around the world, from Korea, Vietnam, Egypt and others were also in Paris as the new postwar world was drawn up. While the Irish in Paris had very little success there were a number of early victories in the United States. A major hearing took place before the Committee on Foreign Affairs in December and in February the Friends of Irish Freedom held an Irish Race Convention attended by over 5000 delegates. This set the groundwork for Éamon de Valera’s arrival in America in June 1919. |
Episode 5 - Waging Insurgent Warfare in Ireland
In this episode, as we approach the anniversary of the War of Independence, I take a look at modern research into what factors lead to insurgent campaigns. Using this research we can examine the years leading up to the War of Independence and see how and why events like the Home Rule Crisis affected the outbreak of violence. |
Episode 6 - January 1919: Soloheadbeg and the opening of Dáil Éireann
At the October 1918 Ard Fheis Sinn Féin committed itself to calling a meeting of Dáil Éireann following the General Election. Convening on the 21st of January 1919 the Dáil ratified the Irish Republic declared in 1916 and called on the Paris Peace Conference for recognition. But in county Tipperary the ambush of a consignment of explosives and the killing of two policemen escorting it would mark the beginning of the War of Independence. |
Episode 3 - Revenge for Gortatlea
In April of 1918 two Irish Volunteers were killed in raid on an R.I.C. station at Gortatlea in County Kerry. Months before Soloheadbeg this was an early action in the War of Independence. On the 18th of June the Ballymacelligott Company set out to take revenge for their fallen comrades. |
Episode 4 - Ireland and the United States
By 1918 there was a substantial Irish population in the United States of America and in the years ahead they would play a major role in the struggle for Irish independence. Following the Great Hunger of 1845 -1851 millions of Irish would emigrate to the United States and establish themselves in politics and industry. They took with them memories of Ireland and though most would never return home again they maintained a love of their country and culture while becoming thoroughly American. After 1880 leaders in Ireland began to realise the political power and financial wealth possessed by the “Second Irish Nation” and those dedicated to Home Rule and revolution would collect millions of dollars there in the decades ahead. This episode takes a brief look at Irish America in the run up to the Irish War of Independence. |
Episode 1 - Éamon de Valera - Who's who in the Irish Revolution
Éamon de Valera led Ireland through the War of Independence and many view his actions around the Treaty debates as leading to the Civil War. He would go on to found one of the most successful political parties in Western Europe and establish the Irish Constitution through which he continues to cast a long shadow over modern Irish society. But who was he and how did he rise to power in the years before the Irish Revolution? |
Episode 2 - The German Plot
Britain has suffered heavy casualties in the Spring Offensive and attempts to introduce conscription to Ireland has been hampered by Nationalist opposition there. The new administration in Dublin Castle will use the appearance of a mysterious figure off on the west coast of Ireland to accuse Sinn Féin of being part of a German plot and on the 16-17th of May 1918 it will move to arrest it's entire leadership. On this episode of The Irish Nation Lives we will look at what evidence existed for such a move and examine witness statements to see if there was indeed communication with Imperial Germany. |