Book Review: Atlas of the Irish Revolution

Authors: John Crowley, Donal Ó Drisceoil and Mike Murphy John Borgonovo
Affiliation: University College Cork
Publication Year: Hardback September 2017
Pages: 984
Size: 299 x 237mm

ISBN: 9781782051176

Price 59 euros

This landmark publication covers the Irish revolution 1913-23 in one thousand pages with contributions from over one hundred historians. Featuring over three hundred original maps it details how topology and location played such an important part in this complex conflict. This book places the Irish revolution in its international context with telling use of several hundred illustrations, and reproductions of rarely seen key documents. It analyses the political and social changes which shaped modern Ireland and details the unspectacular aspects of ordinary Irish life. It will have wide appeal to a specialist and popular readership. 

'Oh Grace just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger

They’ll take me out at dawn and I will die…’

The ballad or narrative song has played an influential role in both the shaping of popular memory and the humanising of key historical events. ‘Grace’ was jointly composed in 1985 by the brothers Frank and Seán O’Meara and popularised subsequently the singer Jim McCann. It tells the story of the marriage of the marriage of Joseph  Mary Plunkett and Grace Gifford in Kilmainham Gaol shortly before Plunkett’s execution. The tenderness and poignancy of that moment is captured in lyrics that have resonated with the public ever since. Joseph’s love for Grace is manifest in a letter (above) written in Moore Street on the ‘sixth day of the Irish Republic’ where he leaves all his possession to her. Their short and intense courtship would be brought to a dramatic end by the events of Easter Week. The centenary commemoration of the Rising showed a willingness by the public to engage with and understand the 1916 participants on their own terms.

So how many active volunteers were there in Dublin during this period? Oscar Traynor who took over the brigade on the deaths of McKee and Clancy, put the number at 1,250. The approximate strength of the various Battalions in early 1921 was 1^st Battalion: 250; 2^nd Battalion: 250; 3^rd Battalion: 250; 4^th Battalion: 300; 5^th, or Engineers’, Battalion: 100. This was the active membership ‘or the strength that was given by the Battalions as being on parade each month’. The 5^th Battalion looked after other specialist activities, such as engineering, logistics and first aid. The most common form of transport for arms was the lowly handcart, notwithstanding  folklore about pregnant women, prams and hearses. By the time of the Truce, every ASU included trained medical orderlies. Volunteers’ membership of the St. John’s Ambulance and the Dublin Fire Brigade provided useful logistical and intelligence resources, as did the large number of Volunteers working in Dublin Port and the railways. It was through this network that the Volunteers were able to ambush trains on which troops were travelling to and from the city.          

Frances Rocks Speech The Desire To Inspire

After 40 years teaching, this keynote speech was delivered by Frances Rocks at the INOTE conference in 2014 to other English Teachers around Ireland. The speech is entitled The Desire To Inspire. Audio recorded by Eoghan Evesson. Visuals sourced by Marcus Howard.

         Frances Rocks Speech iNote 2014 The Desire To Inspire

Diarmuid O'Flynn for MEP election video

Diarmuid O'Flynn of Ballyhea is running for MEP. He has marched every week for over 162 weeks, he has been to Europe 3 times to negotiate debt write down for Ireland, he had a motion proposed in The Dáil in November 2013 and he has inspired Says No marches around all over Ireland. This video is his election poster. Please help him get his message out. www.diarmuidoflynn.com or Facebook Diarmuid O'Flynn From Ballyhea to Brussels. Please vote on May 23rd 2014.

Directed and edited by Marcus Howard

                           Diarmuid O'Flynn for MEP

                                                    Directed and edited by Marcus Howard

Irelands message to ECB for bank debt writeoff

                          

                                                Directed and edited by Marcus Howard

The people of Ballyhea have been marching for 142 weeks to help relieve the Irish people of this burden. They have been to Europe 3 times to find out the best way to negotiate for debt writedown for Ireland. They are asking you to stand with them between 6-10pm on the 27th November outside Government buildings.

Ballyhea and Technical Group to ask Irish Government for destruction of Promissory Note bonds

Well done to Ballyhea and Tralee Says NO and to all the members in the Technical Group who are using the Ballyhea proposals to get the Irish Government to destroy the Promissory Note bonds. And fair play to Paula Geraghty for recording this.

98FM/Newstalk were the only other media in attendance.

November 27th 7.30-9pm show them some peaceful support outside the Dáil if you can make it. You really don't have much time left to stop this.

Press conference calling for destruction of Promissory Note Bonds

This clip was filmed by Paula Geraghty


Here are some documentaries I made about them when I went down to visit them a few times in 2013.

                  Ireland Says No To Bank Debt
                                                Directed and edited by Marcus Howard


                        Ballyhea in Brussels

                                                Directed and edited by Marcus Howard

           Ballyhea The longest march in Ireland

                                              Directed and edited by Marcus Howard

          Ballyhea Says No 132 weeks marching strong

                                              Directed and edited by Marcus Howard

Dublin Council of Trade Unions Pre budget demo Oct 12th 2013

Here is some footage I shot of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions pre-budget demo on October 12th. Just click the link below:

Dublin Council of Trade Unions Pre budget march Oct 2013

Filmed by Marcus Howard, independent documentary maker

The People of Eire Documentary

Here is a new video I made about a new initiative called thepeopleofeire.com
The video looks at some interesting statistics and facts from the banking crisis. The video will play on laptops but not on mobiles.


The People of Éire - Time for Truth

Directed and edited by Marcus Howard


Here is another video about them made by Stephen Kerr of Reality Ireland if you click the link below.

The People of Eire - Talk

Dundalk Says No Week 1 documentary

Directed and edited by Marcus Howard. Dundalk Says No is part of a network of campaigns saying No all around the country. These are non-political party, non electoral campaigns. They will meet every Friday at 3pm at the courthouse. They are a peaceful campaign of people from within the local community saying no to the Government, austerity, evictions and the bailing out of bondholders. You are not asked to march every week but to march whenever you can and help your local community and Irish people to find a voice. 

                 Dundalk Says NO Week 1
                                        Directed and edited by Marcus Howard

Ireland 2016 The European Rising Part 4 is now online

In this episode I explore the Household charge protests that took place nationwide as well as speeches from some Irish people who have taken the law into their own hands to fight the banks. 

Ireland 2016 The European Rising Part 4 Documentary

Directed and edited by Marcus Howard

Uploaded by Jim Murphy Feb 27 2013

Ignored by the Irish media - Tom Darcy vs A.I.B

Uploaded by Reality Ireland Feb 25 2013

Ireland 2016 The European Rising Part 2 now online

I recently posted a 2nd part to my documentary "Ireland 2016 The European Rising". Part 2 looks at the rights of Irish citizens in tough eonomic times and what lawmakers of the past would make of Irish law today. I thought it would be a relevant topic for discussion as the concept of Irish sovereignty is being discussed more and more in 2013. Part 2 features footage concerning the Irish Constitution, the Irish Proclamation, the Lisbon Treaty as well as debates within the European Parliament about Ireland originally voting No and being asked to vote again. The video concludes with a speech by JFK about what Irish independence means to the world.

Ireland 2016 The European Rising Part 2

Uploaded by Jim Murphy Feb 1st 2013

Here is part 1

Ireland 2016 The European Rising Documentary Part 1 

 Marcus Howard published on Dec 30, 2012

Ireland 2016 The European Rising Documentary and your constitutional rights

Ever wonder what the leaders of Ireland's past would have made of Ireland today? I made a documentary exploring this as a topic for education. Please have a look as what has happened Ireland is affecting everyone. The video also questions the tactics of national and European politicians, banks, global financial services and how the Irish people have reacted to it. It's 17 minutes long but it might spark your interest.

Ireland 2016 The European Rising

Published on Dec 30, 2012 by Marcus Howard

Here is part 2 with the disputed content removed. Hopefully it will stay up this time.

Ireland 2016 The European Rising Part 2

Debtoptions was formed in late 2012 by Clare Cullinane. The process is as follows: Ordinary people who find themselves with massive amounts of unpayable debt, who the banks put enormous amounts of pressure on despite being directly responsible for the people's inability to pay in the first place, individually sue the banks for €1,000,000 each.

The Irish Sue the Banks

Published on Oct 23, 2012 by Jim Flynn

Irish homeowners sue banks for €250 Million and counting

Published on Nov 6, 2012 by RealityIreland

Ireland is seeing a growth in housing repossession but it is also seeing an education of it's population, where everyday people are learning about the constitution and their rights. This video is an example of how the constitution may help prevent a family from getting evicted from their home.

Constitution Halts Sheriff

                                          Uploaded on Feb 21, 2012 by Ben Gilroy

For business owners unaware of their rights, there are also significant legal rights you are entitled to if in danger of receivership. In this video, People For Economic Justice Ben Gilroy mentions in this video that "You cannot have a receiver forced upon you that does not provide and act on a duty of care to you!" 

Ben Gilroy Halts Receivers

Published on May 17, 2012 by Ben Gilroy

Another interesting video about The European financial crisis is an enlightening educational video about the options Europe is facing regarding Greece from the globally respected Khan Academy.

Why Europe is worried about Greece

Published on May 21, 2012 by Khan Academy

Ireland Lost and Leaving Documentary and it's impact on young people

An excellent documentary on how the recession in Ireland is having an impact on young people across the country by Stacey Dooley. This would be a great documentary to show in schools so young people could talk about and get interested in Ireland's future.

Ireland Lost and Leaving Part 1

Uploaded by ErmmNI Published on Jul 4, 2012
Ireland Lost and Leaving Part 2

Uploaded by ErmmNI Published on Jul 4, 2012

Ireland Lost and Leaving Part 3

Uploaded by ErmmNI Published on Jul 4, 2012

Ireland Lost and Leaving Part 4

Uploaded by ErmmNI Published on Jul 4, 2012

Spirit Store Guitar Lessons Xmas Vouchers available

Always wanted to learn guitar or stuck for a Christmas present? Why not learn in The Spirit Store on Monday nights 7.30-8.30? Vouchers available for €50 for 5 lessons. 10 week course beginning in January. Relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Visit http://spiritstore.ie/bios/guitar_lessons.html or contact Marcus 087-2186127

Spirit Store Guitar Lessons

Also check out this documentary about the Spirit Store made by Tim Shearwood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pT5dFnM8DA

Be Rewarded for Introducing Ireland

An Irish Government programme, Succeed in Ireland, will offer a financial reward of €1,500 per job up to a maximum of 100 jobs to people who can host introductions to overseas companies which subsequently invest and create new sustainable jobs in Ireland.

ConnectIreland is implementing an incentivised global referral model asking individuals to make contact with family, friends and business connections, to identify and make introductions between ConnectIreland and overseas companies considering international expansion. 

Open to all nationalities, Ireland is the first country in the world to offer an incentivised referral programme to boost efforts to attract foreign direct investment. ConnectIreland is also targeting the Irish Diaspora estimated to be 70 million worldwide to drive introductions to companies considering international expansion. 
 

Almost six months after launching over 300 companies have been suggested to ConnectIreland via the referral marketing programme, creating a strong pipeline of potential investors. Ireland was not on the radar of these companies prior to introductions. These companies were introduced to ConnectIreland by Connectors from Ireland and all over the world. FDI specialists in ConnectIreland are currently examining the viability of between 10 and 12 of these possible investment projects with decisions expected by year end. The ConnectIreland programme will predominantly seek to target small-to-medium overseas companies looking for growth internationally.

ConnectIreland welcomed its first success story in May when Carlow based Eddie Horkan’s contacts led to US engineering firm Intergeo Services creating 30 jobs in Carlow. Under the initiative Mr Horkan will receive a payment of €45,000 from the Irish Government for helping to bring the new jobs to Ireland.

IDA Ireland has appointed ConnectIreland to deliver the Succeed in Ireland initiative as part of the Irish Government’s Action Plan for Jobs 2012 which aims to create a minimum of 5,000 new jobs over five years.

What can you do right now to help create new jobs in Ireland?

1. Register your support on www.connectireland.com

2. Ask your employer to send a ConnectIreland message to staff

3. Tell at least 3 friends about ConnectIreland

4. Keep your eyes and ears open for Ireland

For further information on Succeed in Ireland or to register your support call 056 7797 322 or see www.connectireland.com

ConnectIreland - Ireland by the numbers

  Published on Mar 7, 2012 by ConnectIrelandCom

Censoring the Internet: SOPA Stopping Online Piracy

You have probably seen the blacking out of Wikipedia and other sites on the internet this week and wonder what it is all about. Many of you may be wondering what everyone is objecting to, what SOPA is and what has this got to do with Ireland. This new proposed regulation if passed will affect how you use the internet and the following articles are included to highlight what this could mean and to encourage classroom debate and discussion.

Click the links to further your knowledge below.

http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/column-will-ireland-block-the-internet-to-save-cds/

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/comms/item/25382-internet-on-strike/

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0118/us_wikipedia.html

http://sopastrike.com/

Wikiout! English Wikipedia anti-SOPA blackout

Uploaded by RussiaToday on 17 Jan 2012

Here are thoughts from one of the co-founders of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, who criticises the Sopa bill on CNN as the wrong way to stop internet piracy.

Wikipedia founder: SOPA bad for Internet 

 Published on 17 Jan 2012 by CNN

 

Here is an interview with Alexis Ohanian , co-founder of Reddit who also shut down their website in protest to the bill.

 

[SOPA] - Reddit Founder talking about SOPA/PIPA - Jan 18th, 2012 

 Uploaded by DavidLightman5 on 18 Jan 2012

WorldIrish.com

Worldirish.com is a social media site set up by John McColgan of Riverdance which launched on October 7th 2011 and was promoted at the Global Irish Economic Forum. The social media start up will source together content from Facebook, Twitter and others to make a massive Irish online community. Cybercom figures have predicted that the site will make €20 million in 5 years. Worldirish.com is backed up by Denis O'Brien, Dermot Desmond.

If you want to be part of Ireland's global tribe the website is http://www.worldirish.com/
If you do tell them http://irish21stcenturystudents.blogspot.com/ sent you!


WorldIrish.com - Ireland's Hour

Uploaded by WorldIrishOfficial on Sep 28, 2011

The video was made by Jim Coffey of Spirit Enterprises

Here is an article by Nick Webb regarding information about their site
http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/riverdance-boss-eyes-euro20m-worldirishcom-profit-2900554.html