I Dolours

RTÉ1, 10 June 2019 Directed by Maurice Sweeney By Brian Hanley Angst has been expressed by some commentators regarding the difficulties that the forthcoming centenary of the Irish Civil War will present. I Dolours is a timely reminder that the most contentious anniversaries will actually be those of the more recent Irish conflict. The continuing … Read more

The role of flags and emblems in Irish commemorations

In this ‘decade of commemorations’, it is worth reflecting on Ireland’s long, contentious yet colourful history of commemorations and the role that flags and emblems have played throughout it. By Stan Zamyatin Flags, emblems and commemorations have represented the aspirations of Irish people over centuries, reflecting the political movements that have taken place on all … Read more

MUSEUM EYE: Monaghan County Museum

1–2 Hill Street, Monaghan monaghan.ie/museum By Tony Canavan Monaghan County Museum is located in a substantial nineteenth-century building in the heart of the town. The fabric of the building has been respected, meaning that the museum’s exhibits are divided over a number of rooms on different floors. Far from being a hindrance, this adds to … Read more

Home Rule in Hollywood

John Stahl’s Parnell (1937). By Tony Tracy Prior to Michael Collins (1996), one has to go back over half a century to find a Hollywood-funded drama dealing with an Irish political figure: the MGM production Parnell (1937), a lavishly produced bio-pic covering the period between Charles Stewart Parnell’s visit to the US in early 1880 … Read more

BOOKWORM

By Joe Culley @TheRealCulls In October 1921, in the midst of the Treaty negotiations, a Pathé newsreel shown in Irish cinemas featured (on the intertitle) ‘Commandant McKeon’ wearing his IRA uniform while throwing in the sliotar for a match. This might seem innocuous except that, from the (still) governing British perspective at least, McKeon had … Read more