A full programme of events for Clare County Library History Week has been unveiled.
Running from October 16th to 22nd, the history week covers the revolutionary period in Clare and will consist of exhibitions, online lectures, music and talks.
Artist Marie Connole’s exhibition ‘ Irrepressible Women of Clare’ at Clare Museum is the first event and it begins at 12pm on Saturday and will run until November 9th, the project is supported by the Clare Arts Office.
Inspired by the stories of women from the Cuimhneamh an Chláir archive, musician Tim Collins of the Kilfenora Céilí Band has created an original piece ‘I fought the War – Re-voicing Clare Women in the Revolutionary Period’ which will be released online this Saturday.
Stockton’s Wing frontman Mike Hanrahan will end his Clare: Songs of Independence project with The Ballad of the Crimson Warrior’ as part of an online event at 2pm on Monday. Historian, Dr Sinéad McCoole who specialises in the history of Irish women will discuss Mná100 as she explores a century of change in an online lecture at 7pm on Monday.
An online radio documentary by Ennis based journalist Joe Ó Muircheartaigh entitled ‘Brigades at War’ looks at the friction between the East and Mid Clare Brigades during the War of Independence, it will be available online from 2pm on Tuesday.
Kilrush Library will host an exhibition on the County Clare Nursery which was the only Mother and Baby Home in the county, it will run from October 20th to November 9th and is marked by an online lecture on Tuesday by West Clare historian Rita McCarthy at 6:30pm on Tuesday.
Feakle’s Paula Carroll will host a live Zoom event on Tuesday at 7.30pm called Joe Kenneally – Child of 1921: stories from the Cuimhneamh an Chláir archive. Booking is required at eventsclarecac@gmail.com. Joe was born in Kilshanny at the end of the War of Independence in July 1921, he still lives in the house he was born in 100 years ago. His was an ordinary farming life in many ways and was reflective of the lives of many born into the new Irish State. But no lives are really ordinary. Joe has been recorded by three different collectors for Cuimhneamh an Chláir, by the National Folklore Archive in UCD and by many other song collectors. The story that emerges is of a man with an intense artistic engagement with the songs and stories carried by generations of his family.
Ennis teacher, Brian Spring will launch his primary school resource pack ‘The Brave and the Bold: the War of Independence in County Clare’ on Wednesday, this will be made available online. John Rattigan, Curator of Clare Museum will give snapshot of some museum artefacts from the revolutionary period including Kathleen Griffin’s autograph book. Dr Joe Power will speak on Clare and the Civil War in an online lecture at 7pm on Wednesday.
Director of the Gender Studies Programme at UCD, Dr Mary McAuliffe presents an online lecture on Thursday (October 21st) looking at Republican surveillance of women during the War of Independence and features case studies of gendered violence in Clare.
Traditional Irish music presenter, Áine Hensey analyses the roles of Fr Pat Gaynor and Fr Michael McKenna during the War of Independence in a lecture entitled ‘The Rebel Priests of Mullagh’ which takes place online at 7pm on Friday (October 22nd).
The majority of the programme is virtual with all content accessible at www.clarelibrary.ie
