27 - 30 June 2024
On the morning of 28 June 1922, Dubliners woke to the sound of the National Army shelling the Four Courts, Headquarters of the anti-Treaty IRA Executive. Three days later, the garrison surrendered - the Four Courts lay in ruins, the Public Records Office was destroyed. Historian Liz Gillis will discuss the opening battle (for the capital city) of the Irish Civil War. It was eight days of a war that lasted eleven months but which affected this country for generations.
After the initial phase of conventional warfare the conflict moved into a chapter reminiscent of the guerrilla/official reprisal struggle of the War of Independence. While Anti-Treaty Republican forces were responsible for atrocities it was the Free State which wreaked most havoc with 77 executions, extra-judicial killings (Ballyseedy) and unsanctioned murder (Oriel House). It was this phase of the conflict that led to the real bitterness that persisted for decades.
After the retreat from Dublin of the anti-Treaty IRA Ireland witnessed the first conventional warfare on its soil since the Williamite/Jacobite war of the late 17th century. Artillery and seaborne landings, briefly replaced ‘hit and run’ guerilla tactics as the two sides tried to take or hold territory. UCC historian John Borgonovo describes this opening phase of the bitter Civil War.
Almost 200 alleged civilian spies were killed by the IRA during the War of Independence and these killings have been one of the most controversial aspects of the conflict debated by historians for decades. By contrast very little is known about the intelligence struggle between the Republican and Free State Forces during the Irish Civil War. Dr Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc will examine the approximately 20 alleged civilian spies executed by the Anti-Treaty IRA to see what their deaths can tell us about that conflict.
We are Delighted to “Now” be back with you to celebrate the launch of this years TypeTrail in person, come join us as we once again turn the streets of Kells into a canvas of Type. Kells TypeTrail brings together a wide range of artforms highlighting our unique heritage of lettering as a form of communication.
Each year one word is translated into a variety of languages reflecting the diversity of the community in Kells with the aim of providing a means to bring individuals and groups together. This year’s word is ‘ Now’.
