Detailed Information
AE-HN132 - A Terrible Beauty - A New Ireland 1919 - 1932
Over the next few years, we will be celebrating the centenary of key events in modern Irish history. Many of these events were divisive then and still remain so. This course is an attempt to offer a fresh and challenging perspective on the period of Irish history from 1919 until 1932. These were the years when political violence replaced normal democratic procedures, especially during the War of Independence and the Civil War. Much of the violence has become shrouded in myth, e.g. ‘Bloody Sunday 1920’. A number of events from this time still provoke heated debate. This course hopes to continue this but in an objective manner.
The main developments of the War of Independence, Anglo-Irish Treaty and Civil War will be considered. There will a focus on primary source material from these years. This is to get an understanding how unfolding events were viewed by the general public at the time. The course will give attention to the foundation and early years of Northern Ireland. This is a subject area that is often ignored when discussion of this period occurs.
These were years when a new generation of political figures emerged. The course will examine the role and reputations of a number of personalities such as Michael Collins, Eamon de Valera and Sir James Craig. They would leave a legacy that has shaped the political development of this island up to the present day. Participants are encouraged to offer and share their viewpoints. This will contribute to a good and enjoyable learning environment.
8 Tuesdays 11.00am – 1.00pm
Oct 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Nov 7, 14, 21
Course deferred by one week to Oct 3
Topic 1 – Ireland in 1919.
Topic 2 – War of Independence – Escalation of Violence 1920/21
Topic 3 – The Establishment of Northern Ireland.
Topic 4 – The Anglo-Irish Treaty
Topic 5 – The Drift towards Civil War
Topic 6 – Civil War.
Topic 7 – W.T. Cosgrave and the new state.
Topic 8 – De Valera and Fianna Fàil.
Michael Doran graduated from UCD in 1987 with a B.A. in History and Economics. He has been involved with UCD Adult Education since 1993 offering a range of courses. He is also the author of a Leaving Certificate text-book ‘Movements for Political and Social Reform, 1870 – 1914’
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Outline the main key events of Irish history between 1919 and 1932.
- Understand the main political developments of this period
- Evaluate the role played by the main personalities of the period
- Understand the course of the War of Independence
- Understand the roles played by Michael Collins and Eamon de Valera between 1919 -1922
- Understand the main issues during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations
- Understand why Civil War broke out in 1922 and why the pro-Treaty side won
- Examine the partition of Ireland and the early years of Northern Ireland
- Evaluate the leadership of W.T. Cosgrave between 1922 and 1932
- Examine the social policies of the new Irish state from 1923-1932
- Examine the foundation of and electoral success of Fianna Fàil
- The Republic– Charles Townsend – Allen Lane (2015)
- Occasions of Sin – Diarmaid Ferritter – Profile Books (2009)
- The Irish War of Independence – Michael Hopkinson – Gill & Macmillan (2002)
- The Cosgrave Party – Ciara Meehan – Royal Irish Academy (2010)
Other books will be recommended during the course.