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AR SON NA POBLACHTA ***FINAL***

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Ar Son na Poblachta returns to RTÉ One as the decade of centenaries continues. Now we will address the next turbulent period of our history – Cogadh na Saoirse / The War of Independence, bringing some fresh insights, fresh narratives of real people that cast light and understanding on our past.

In this three part series Ar Son na Poblachta will explore the issues and forces at play as war unfolded on the city streets and country roads across Ireland. One important episode, which is seared into the public imagination, took place in the same streets, houses and in the same stadium where, 100 years on, we live out our 21st Century lives. That event is “Bloody Sunday” 21st Nov 1920.

The original “Bloody Sunday” is a stark example of the vicious nature of the military campaign for independence and the bloody counter-measures undertaken by the British Authorities, loathe to even acknowledge the “disorder” as a war.

“Bloody Sunday and the murder of 26 people in a single day was a microcosm of the War of Independence, in respect of the role of killing, the role of espionage, heavy civilian casualties, the taking of significant risks, a fiercely fought propaganda battle; its contribution to the building and sustaining of myths about key individuals, its relevance to the debate about whether the war was to be long or short.” Dr. Diarmuid Ferriter – Professor of Modern Irish History UCD.

Episode 3

In the final episode of Ar Son Na Poblachta…

On the eve of the Dublin v Tipperary match, just as final preparations were put in place for Michael Collins’ Squad to assassinate 20 British Intelligence Officers across Dublin, IRA Brigadier Dick McKee and Vice-Brigadier Peadar Clancy were arrested by British forces. Together with Clare man Conor Clune and others they ended up in Dublin Castle and were subjected to the brutal interrogation techniques of Major “Tiny” King and Capt. “Hoppy” Hardy.

“The killing of McKee and Clancy was rooted in vengeance.”

Prof Diarmaid Ferriter

At the time Dublin Castle, HQ of British Government in Ireland, was riven by divisions reflecting the flip-flopping British policy in Ireland which had been characterised by self-interested pragmatism reacting to the political realities in Westminster and on the ground in Ireland. After the 1918 elections the minority Irish Unionist MP’s held sway over a Lloyd George’s Coalition Government while the vast majority of Irish elected MPs, being Sinn Féin remained abstentionist.

“In London what the British government have set out to do is partition Ireland…and anything they do in Ireland itself is really a holding operation.”

Prof Eunan Ó hAilpín

Conor Clune has been variously described as a non-involved Gaeilgeoir and a Volunteer. His uncle who was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth in Australia happened to be in Ireland at the time and became active in efforts to broker a peace with London.

“Conor Clune was completely innocent. He had nothing to do with this. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Liz Gillis

In this decade of centenaries we can now face the shades of grey and examine the fog of war that surrounds our struggle for independence.

Contributors to the series include:

Eunan Ó hAilpín

Anthony Ryan

Ciara Breathnach

Richard Staveley

Diarmaid Ferriter

Aogán Ó Fearghaill

Tómas MacConmara 

Michael Foley   

Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh

Cormac Ó Comhraí

Liz Gillis

Ross O’Carroll

 

Presenter / Reporter :  PÁDRAIG  O’DRISCOLL

Producer / Directors :   FRANK HAND &  DIARMUID GOGGINS

Executive Producer :     KEVIN CUMMINS