irish military - county kildare...the battle of at tiri a panel discussion with veterans facilitated...

PART OF KILDARE COUNTY COUNCIL’S DECADE OF COMMEMORATIONS PROGRAMME AND A CREATIVE IRELAND KILDARE INITIATIVE

BOOKING ESSENTIAL: [email protected] / 045-448327

RIVERBANK ARTS CENTRE & NEWBRIDGE COMMUNITY

LIBRARY6–15 JUNE 2019

I R E L A N D ’ S H I S T O R YG R E A T E P I S O D E S in

IRISH MILITARYS E M I N A R

IN ASSOCIATION WITH MERRION PRESS, JUNE FEST AND INTO KILDARE

The County Kildare Decade of Commemorations Committee was established by Kildare County Council in 2015. Its remit was to seek new and interesting ways to celebrate the centenary of the 1916 Rising. Our work continues as we enter the period commemorating the anniversaries of the War of Independence, the Civil War and the birth of the Irish state. The Committee remains committed to developing a strategy of commemoration and coordinating events in line with the national programme 2019-2023.

We reiterate the positive approach of the National Expert Advisory Group and its position that commemorations should be inclusive, relevant and offer an objective exploration of our history, while recognising that possible difficulties and challenges lie ahead

Kildare Decade of Commemorations Committee — Mission Statement

The aim of the programme is to establish the most appropriate way in which to mark the centenaries within the county. The nature of the programme is expansive, delivering a series of commemorative events, school programmes, publications, etc., but with the unique intention of creating a legacy of research and cultural and artistic material for future generations. The delivery of the programme should be inclusive, appropriate and sensitive, to take account of all aspects of life in Co. Kildare in the period 1913-1923.

www.kildare.ie/ehistory KildareDecadeofCommemorations Twitter: @cilldara2016

MESSAGE from the CHAIR

Cllr. Pádraig McEvoyChair of the Co. Kildare Decade of Commemorations Committee, 8 May 2019

Front Cover: Irish Warriors and peasants, Albrecht Durer, 1521.

IRISH MILITARY SEMINAR 2019

WELCOME

OPENING REMARKS

Marian Higgins, County Librarian and County Co-ordinator for Kildare Decade of Commemorations.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome

people to the third Irish Military Seminar. I wish it every success. Ireland and Co. Kildare have a long, proud military tradition. This seminar will look at various aspects of Irish military history and examine exciting episodes at home and on the beaches of Normandy, the veldt of South Africa and the plains of Montana Territory.

In Kildare we have a military heritage stretching back to Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Fianna who played for sport on the Curragh Plains. It is our intention to celebrate all facets of military history and associated social and political aspects of life in various periods.

Alongside the main Friday and Saturday events, we have extended the Seminar to include two new events in Newbridge Community Library. To mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day we will launch Dan Harvey’s new book A Bloody Dawn: The Irish at D-Day on Thursday, 6 June. The following Thursday, 13 June, we are

providing a platform for well-known local historians, which we hope to host annually. The inaugural event features Michael Rowley, Liam Kenny and Michael Murphy.

On Friday we continue with our focus on the Irish Defence forces and are proud to welcome Leo Quinlan to talk about the Heroes of Jadotville. Sgt Wayne Fitzgerald, Editor of An Cosantóir, will lead a discussion on the Battle of At Tiri.

Saturday remains a day to host some of the leading historians in Ireland in Co. Kildare: Dr. Myles Dungan, Dr. Ruán O’Donnell, Dr. Leeann Lane, Des Ekin, Dr. T. Ryle Dwyer and Dr. Mary McAuliffe. Topics include The Battle of Kinsale, Dorothy Mcardle, Irish Neutrality in WWII, the origins of the IRA Border Campaign, Margaret Skinnider and The Irish at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

I would like to thank our partners and sponsors who make this marvellous event possible; Kildare County Council and the Co. Kildare Decade of Commemorations Committee, June Fest, Lord Edward’s Own Re-enactment Group, Prosperous Heritage Festival, Farrell and Nephew Bookshop, Merrion Press, The Irish Military Heritage Foundation, Creative Ireland, Into Kildare and Riverbank Arts Centre.

Marian Higgins

From planned historic settlements to thriving town centres and canal villages, Kildare really is ‘the best of Ireland in one County’ and is within a stone's throw of the capital. For a day trip or weekend away, enjoy the accessibility from all parts of Ireland. Discover the magic of the rich hinterland, racing establishments and racecourses, golf courses and sporting fields, museums and heritage centres, family fun centres, canal and forest walks. intokildare.ie COUNTY KILDARE TOURISM BOARD

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2 IRISH MILITARY SEMINAR 2018

Thursday, 6 June | 19:00 pm

SEMINAR LAUNCH By Clem Ryan, KFM Newbridge Community Library, Athgarvan Road, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Book Launch Thursday, 6 June | 19:15 pm

A BLOODY DAWN: THE IRISH AT D-DAY Kevin Myers will launch Dan Harvey’s new book to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings. Published by Merrion Press

D-Day 6th June 1944 marked the beginning of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in order to restore freedom, liberate Europe and make the world safe for democracy. This epic event had a little known, but not insignificant Irish dimension to it. Thousands of Irish-born and members of the Irish Diaspora were amongst the U.K., U.S. and Canadian units on D-Day. They were part of the airborne and glider-borne infantry landings; they were on the beaches from dawn, in and amongst the first and subsequent assault waves; they were in the skies in bombers and fighter aircraft; and standing off at sea on naval vessels all along the Normandy coastline.

Dan HarveyLieutenant Colonel (Retired) Dan Harvey, now Paris-based, has had 40 years service in the Irish Defence Forces, during which he has been involved in a wide variety of operations both at home and overseas. A highly qualified heritage practitioner, he has been associated with many worthy projects, most notably a number of military museum exhibitions. Dan is a regular contributor to An Cosantóir, the Defence Forces magazine. He has written and published a number of successful books on the involvement of the Irish Defence Forces overseas. Dan has also had a lifelong interest in the role of those ‘forgotten Irish’ in what were some of the greatest land battles in world history.

Publications: Soldiering Against Subversion; The Irish Defence Forces and Internal Security During the Troubles, 1969–1998 (2018); Into Action; Irish Peacekeepers Under Fire (2017); A Bloody Day: The Irish at Waterloo (2017); A Bloody Night: The Irish at Rorke’s Drift (2017); Soldiers of the Short Grass: A History of the Curragh Camp (2016).

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Thursday, 13 June | 19:15 pm

KILDARE HISTORY SHORTS

THE STORY OF THE CRASH OF A LUFTWAFFE BOMBER NEAR KILTEALY, CO. WEXFORD, OCTOBER 1941

Michael Rowley Michael works as an artist and has held a number of solo exhibitions, most recently at the Curragh Military Museum in 2016. He is currently working towards an exhibition, revisiting the landscape where ‘Saving Private Ryan’ was filmed, near Curracloe Beach, Co. Wexford. Michael is a former Chairman of the Curragh Local History Group. He is interested in WW2 military aviation in Ireland, internment of German and Allied servicemen at the Curragh and the history of the Curragh Camp, 1856–1945. He has a B.A. Hons. and Masters in Fine Art, Masters in Art History, Masters in Education and Masters in Military History.

THE ADVENT OF FIREPOWER ON THE BATTLEFIELD 1899: Fire and manoeuvre in the early battles of the Boer War

Liam KennyLiam has written and spoken widely on the late 19th century and on military history. He wrote a weekly column for the Leinster Leader for a decade and has contributed to publications including The Irish Times and An Cosantóir. He has delivered lectures to events for the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin City Council, the National Federation of Local History Societies and the Co. Kildare Federation of Local History Groups.

THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT REPUBLICAN ACTIVITY IN CO. KILDARE DURING THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

Michael Murphy Michael studied History and Geography in Trinity College Dublin and completed the Master of Education (Post-Primary) programme in Maynooth University. He specialised in the study of Revolution and Terror in Ireland 1919-1923 and the impact of WWI on Ireland. He published the essay, ‘Revolution and terror in Kildare, 1919–1923’ to the Trinity History Workshop volume, Terror in Ireland, 1916–1923, edited by Professor David Fitzpatrick. He completed his dissertation on Kildare during the Irish Revolution, 1916–1923 under the supervision of Dr. Anne Dolan.

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First Session Friday, 14 June | 18:45–20:00 pm

HEROES OF JADOTVILLE

Leo QuinlanCommandant (Retired) Leo Quinlan is the son of the late Colonel Patrick Quinlan, who commanded “A” Company, 35th Irish Battalion, ONUC at Jadotville in the Congo in 1961. Since retiring from the Defence Forces he has worked for the European Commission in 47 countries ranging from Eastern Europe, Africa to Asia Minor and the Balkans.

Leo Quinlan is also a professional artist who specialises in Irish landscape paintings. He divides his time between Galway and Kerry

Second Session Friday, 14 June | 20:00 pm

THE BATTLE OF AT TIRI A panel discussion with veterans facilitated by Sgt. Wayne Fitzgerald, editor of An Cosantóir

Sgt. Wayne FitzgeraldWayne joined the Defence Forces in 1990 and served with the 5 Infantry Battalion until 1997. Since then he has been posted to 2 E Bde HQ, working in Administration / HR / Records until May 2005 when he joined Air Corps HQ in Baldonnel. In February 2011 Wayne was detached to DFHQ to work on military.ie as a content manager. In 2002 he became Editor of the KFOR Dialogue military newspaper and in 2005 was part of the Air Corps Wings Newsletter team. He worked on the Defence Forces Connect Newsletter and then in 2011 became editor of An Cosantóir. He has served overseas in Lebanon, Kosovo and Bosnia.

The County Kildare Federation of Local History Groups was formed in 1999 in order to exchange ideas, share information and raise awareness of local history groups and their activities within the county, as well as improve accessibility and representation on relevant county committees concerned with heritage.

www.kildarelocalhistory.ie


1919 Revisited A symposium in honour of

John Devoy 28 September

2019

McAuley Place, Naas, Co. Kildare

9:30–1:15 p.m.

David McCullagh, author & broadcasterDe Valera in America

Liz Gillis, author & historianThe Squad, G-men & the attack on Lord French

James Lawless T.D. The politics of commemoration

Mario CorriganJames Durney

The Death of John Redmond Lt. Cousins in White Russia

The Dáil Loan Fund

The seminar will be opened by

Senator Anthony Lawlor

Booking essential: [email protected] or 045-448350; Cover charge: 5.00, includes tea/coffee/scones. Places limited.

With thanks to the Co. Kildare Decade of Commemorations Committee, the Kildare Association of New York, Kildare County Council and the Friends of John Devoy.

Kildare LocalStudies


THURSDAY, 6 June, Newbridge Community Library

19:00 pm Official opening of Seminar 75th anniversary of D-Day Landings Book Launch: A Bloody Dawn: The Irish at D-Day — Dan Harvey

THURSDAY, 13 June, Newbridge Community Library

KILDARE HISTORY SHORTS

19:15 pm The story of the crash of a Luftwaffe bomber near Kiltealy, Co. Wexford, October 1941 — Michael Rowley

19:55 pm The advent of firepower on the battlefield 1899: fire and manoeuvre in the early battles of the Boer War — Liam Kenny

20:45 pm That there was significant republican activity in Co. Kildare during the War of Independence — Michael Murphy

FRIDAY, 14 June, Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge

18:00 pm Reception

18:45 pm The Heroes of Jadotville — Leo Quinlan

20:00 pm The Battle of At Tiri — Sgt. Wayne Fitzgerald, Editor of An Cosantóir in conversation with veterans / historians

Established in 1957, Farrell & Nephew has been a part of the Main Street in Newbridge for almost 60 years.

OFFICIAL SEMINAR BOOKSTORE



SATURDAY, 15 June, Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge

9:00–9:25 am Tea & Coffee, Welcome

9:30–10:15 am Dorothy Mcardle — Dr. Leeann Lane

10:20–11:05 am The Reality of Ireland’s “Neutrality” during the Second World War — T. Ryle Dwyer

11:05–11:30 am Tea / Coffee Break

11:35am–12:20pm Hell or Some Worse Place: The 1601 Spanish Invasion of Ireland and The Battle of Kinsale — Des Ekin

12:25–13:10 pm The IRA Border Campaign: Origins and Strategy — Dr. Ruán O’Donnell

13:10–14:25 pm LUNCH

14:30–15:15 pm Margaret Skinnider: Uncovering Female Militant Activities 1912–1923 — Dr. Mary McAuliffe

15:20–16:05 pm The Irish at the Battle of the Little Bighorn — Dr. Myles Dungan

16:30 pm Close of Seminar

THURSDAY & FRIDAY

FREESATURDAY

€5.00 Includes complimentary tea and coffee break. Lunch at own expense.

SEMINAR ADMISSION:

Booking essential via Riverbank Arts Centre Box Office.

[email protected] 045-448327

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First Session Saturday, 15 June | 9:30–10:15 am

DOROTHY MCARDLE

Dr. Leeann LaneLeeann is a lecturer in the School of History and Geography, Dublin City University. She is the author of Rosamond Jacob: Third Person Singular, published in 2010 by UCD Press.

In 2012 she was appointed by the Taoiseach to the Expert Advisory Group on the Decade of Commemorations. Her latest book, Dorothy Macardle, will be published by UCD Press in 2019.

First Session Saturday, 15 June | 10:20–11:05 am

THE REALITY OF IRELAND’S “NEUTRALITY” DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR

T. Ryle DwyerBorn in the United States of American parents, T. Ryle Dwyer’s father was killed while serving as an officer in the US Army in Germany in January 1945 during the Second World War. Following a family holiday in Ireland in 1948, his mother decided to settle in Tralee to rear her two children.

After his early education in Tralee, Ryle attended the University of North Texas, where he received B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history. He has published over twenty books on Irish history. The most recent were Behind the Green Curtain: Ireland’s Phony Neutrality, Big Fellow, Long Fellow: A Joint Biography of Collins and De Valera; and The Squad: and the Intelligence Operations of Michael Collins; as well as three books on the life of Michael Collins — Michael Collins: The Man Who Won the War; “I Signed My Death Warrant;” and Michael Collins and the Civil War; as well as Éamon de Valera in the ‘Great Biographies’ series published in conjunction with the Irish Independent.

For many years Ryle was a leader writer and columnist with the Irish Examiner to which he is still a frequent contributor.


Second Session Saturday, 15 June | 11:35 am–12:20 pm

HELL OR SOME WORSE PLACE The 1601 Spanish Invasion of Ireland and the Battle of Kinsale

Des EkinDes is the author of three true-life history books and two novels. His bestselling history, The Stolen Village, deals with the 1631 pirate raid on Baltimore, Co. Cork, in which 107 villagers were abducted and sold as slaves in North Africa. It was shortlisted for the Argosy Irish Non-fiction Book of the Year and also nominated for Book of the Decade in the Irish Book Awards. His internationally-acclaimed book about the 1601 siege and battle of Kinsale, Hell or Some Worse Place, (a.k.a. The Last Armada) was shortlisted for Non-fiction Book of the Year. For his latest book, Ireland’s Pirate Trail, he travelled around the Irish coast to collect true-life stories of piracy in Ireland. Born in Co. Down, Des began his career as a reporter and rose to become Deputy Editor of the Belfast Sunday News before moving to his current home in Dublin, where he worked as a columnist and political correspondent for the Sunday World until 2012.

Second Session Saturday, 15 June | 12:25–13:10 pm

THE IRA BORDER CAMPAIGN Origins and Strategy

Dr. Ruán O’DonnellRuán is a Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Limerick. Former Visiting Chair of Irish Studies at the University of Notre Dame and Fulbright Scholar at the University of Montana, he has written extensively on the history of Irish republicanism worldwide.

Recent publications include Patrick Pearse from the ‘16 Lives’ series by O’Brien Press, The IRA in English Prisons, Vol. 1: 1968-1978 and The IRA in English Prisons, Vol. 2: 1978-1985.

13:10–14:25 pm

LUNCH (At own expense)


Third Session Saturday, 15 June | 14:30–15:15 pm

MARGARET SKINNIDER Uncovering Female Militant Activities 1912–1923

Dr. Mary McAuliffeMary is an Assistant Professor in Gender Studies at UCD. Her latest publications were We were there; 77 women of the Easter Rising (co-written with Liz Gillis) and Kerry 1916; Histories and Legacies of the Easter Rising on which she was co-editor. She was the historical consultant on two major 2016 commemorative projects; Richmond Barracks and the Royal College of Surgeons. She is a past President of the Women’s History Association of Ireland (2011–2014) and on the advisory board of the Irish Association of Professional Historians. Her latest research includes a forthcoming biography of Margaret Skinnider (UCD Press, 2019), and a research project on gender and sexual violence during the Irish revolutionary period.

Saturday, 15 June | 15:20–16:05 pm

THE IRISH AT THE BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN

Dr. Myles DunganMyles Dungan is a writer, lecturer and broadcaster and is also Programme Director of the annual Hinterland Festival in Kells, Co. Meath. He currently presents the weekly RTÉ Radio 1 programme The History Show, writes a weekly column ‘Fake Histories’ for the RTÉ Radio 1 Drivetime programme, and has worked as presenter of various RTÉ radio and TV programmes for the last thirty years. He is an Adjunct Lecturer in the UCD School of History and is the recipient of two Fulbright Awards. He has taught Irish history in UCD, Trinity College and the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of more than a dozen books on Irish and American history, including Irish Voices from the Great War, How the Irish Won the West and Mr. Parnell’s Rottweiler. In 1985 he co-founded the Dublin Film Festival with film critic Michael Dwyer. He also chaired the advisory committee of the IFI’s Stranger Than Fiction Festival in its early years and is a member of the advisory committee of the annual Guth Gafa documentary film festival.

16:30 p.m.

Close of Seminar



“James Durney once again brings forth a less well-known aspect of the War of Independence, that of internment.

Vital reading for anyone interested in the Irish Revolution”— Liz Gillis.

BOOK LAUNCH BY COL. BRENDAN DELANEYON 25 JULY 2019 AT 19:30 PM, CURRAGH MILITARY MUSEUM


The County Kildare Archaeological Society was founded in 1891, with the purpose of studying and promoting the knowledge of the antiquities and objects of interest in the county and surrounding districts.

www.kildarearchsoc.ie

Conor Graham Conor Graham is the publisher and owner of Irish Academic Press and its imprint, Merrion Press. He has been involved in the Irish book industry for almost twenty-five years, beginning his career as a bookseller with Dillon’s Bookstore in his native Belfast in 1993. Following a managerial position with Waterstones Booksellers in their University of Ulster branch, he left bookselling for the publishing sector in 2000 with McGraw-Hill Education, where he worked in sales and then as an Acquisitions Editor for their European Education Division. Ten further years in sales and marketing with the Irish agency, Brookside Publishing Services and its sister publisher, New Island Books, led him to acquire Irish Academic Press in 2012 where he continues to expand the publishing list and grow the business from its Co. Kildare base in Newbridge. With a core focus on Irish history, biography, arts, heritage and culture, and new genres such as current affairs, memoirs and autobiography, Irish Academic Press and Merrion Press are recognised as two of the leading imprints in Irish non-fiction publishing.

Wesley Bourke Wesley Bourke served with and worked for the Irish Defence Forces for nineteen years. He first served with the Air Corps and then as the Defence Forces journalist. He holds a B.A. Hons. in War and Security Studies from the University of Hull, an M.A. in War in the Modern World from King’s College, London and an M.A. in Military History and Strategic Studies from Maynooth University. In 2014 he launched a history magazine: Ireland’s Military Story. He has recently set up The Irish Military Heritage Foundation, a registered charity, dedicated to telling Irish Veterans stories.

28 – 30 June 2019

Prosperous Heritage Festival

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the War of Independence. Many men from Prosperous, Timahoe, Donore, Caragh, Kilmeague, Blackwood and Robertstown were members of the Irish Volunteers. They were involved in weapons and post office raids, roadside trenching and the felling of trees to disrupt British convoys. Volunteers took part in the ambush at the Hill of Allen and an attack

on Crown forces near Hazelhatch, Celbridge.

Prosperous Heritage Festival will host a weekend of history talks, music, battle re-enactments, period museum, football tournaments and much more. For the main event travel back in time to Kildare’s All-Ireland victory in 1919 and the dark days of Bloody Sunday, the Auxiliaries and the Black and

Tans with the ‘Heroes v. Legends’ encounter in Caragh GFC.

For the full programme of events and times see the Prosperous Heritage Festival Facebook page. Photos by John Egan and Paul Loughlin.

EXPERIENCE THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE IN KILDAREwith

LORD EDWARD’S OWN RE-ENACTMENT GROUP & FRIENDS

CARAGH GFC & PROSPEROUS

MERRIONPRESS

COUNTY KILDARE TOURISM BOARD

FURTHER INFORMATION: www.kildare.ie/ehistory EMAIL: [email protected] FACEBOOK: KildareDecadeofCommemorations

23 January: Sworn to be Free: Commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the First Dáil, 21 January 1919.

Osprey Hotel, Naas.

13 May: 120 Years of Local Government: Publication of booklet by Liam Kenny marking the establishment of Kildare Co. Council.

Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas.

6–15 June: Irish Military Seminar

28–30 June: Prosperous Heritage Festival. Including a re-enactment of the 1919 All-Ireland Kildare victory over Galway and also the War of Independence.

25 July: Interned. The Curragh Internment Camps in the War of Independence by James Durney. Published by Mercier Press. Book launch.

Curragh Military Museum.

17–25 August: National Heritage Week

21 August: 1919 All Ireland Blitz. Under-age Football Tournament

St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge

28 September: 1919 Revisited. Morning of presentations and debate with James Lawless, T.D., and historians Dr. David McCullagh, Liz Gillis, James Durney and Mario Corrigan. In association with the Friends of John Devoy.

McAuley Place, Sallins Road, Naas.

12 October: Strikes And Soviets: A Centenary Retrospective. An in-depth look at the Limerick Soviet and land agitation in Co. Kildare in 1919 with Liam Cahill and Terry Dunne. In association with the Co. Kildare Federation of Local History Groups

Kilcullen Heritage Centre.

16 October: The Wind That Shakes The Barley. Screening of Ken Loach’s movie as part of Kildare Readers Festival 10th Anniversary. Followed by a Q & A with historian Liz Gillis who has written on the Hales brothers from Co. Cork who were the inspiration for the film.

Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge.

16 November: Remembrance: The Co. Kildare World War I Dead. Launch of a book as part of the Curragh Seminar in association with Creative Ireland and the Co. Kildare Archaeological Society.

Hotel Keadeen, Newbridge.

CO. KILDARE DECADE OF COMMEMORATIONS PROGRAMME 2019

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irish military - county kildare...the battle of at tiri a panel discussion with veterans facilitated...

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