Essential for anyone who loves Irish history.
While the relatively recent explosion of popularity in the documentary genre has largely been confined to the true crime genre, there’s no denying the appeal of a good historical feature.
On this note, RTÉ’s new three-part series on the War of Independence couldn’t have a better source.
For many people, The Atlas of the Irish Revolution is one of – if not THE – definitive texts about a seismic period in Irish history and as you may already know, the 2017 Bord Gáis Energy Book of the Year is the inspiration for RTÉ’s new three-part documentary.
As stated in the official synopsis, the book features “contributions from leading scholars across a range of disciplines, incorporating the ‘big issues’ – such as gender, class, community, religion and ethnicity, the nature of violence, periodisation and the geography of revolution – while also maintaining a close focus on events as they impacted at a local level”.
Simply put, every facet of Irish life – political, military, social, cultural and economic – is examined during this fascinating, transformative, and riveting period of Irish history.
Dr Donal Ó Drisceoil was an advisor to Ken Loach on his award-winning film The Wind that Shakes the Barley and he’s also one of the editors of John Crowley’s critically-acclaimed book.
The three-part series will cover the period from the formation of the First Dáil in 1919 until 1921. The Easter Rising and the subsequent Civil War will also be examined.
In a previous interview with the Irish Times, Ó Drisceoil said that the documentary will feature some of the contributors to the book. “The focus will be very much on the War of Independence period and will include some never-before-broadcast archive footage as well as contributions from some 20 plus academics including many who contributed to the Atlas,” he said.
Ó Drisceoil added: “It will use mainly contributors to the Atlas but some others as well and it will also make good use of maps which will form the spine of it.”
Part One airs at 21:35 on Monday, 4 February, but viewers in Cork will have the chance to see it before anyone else as there’s going to be a special preview screening of it in the Cork Opera House on Tuesday, 29 January.
The screening will be accompanied by a Q+A session with a panel of specialists moderated by Dr John Bowman, historian and broadcaster.
Tickets for the screening cost €5 and all funds will go to the charity Cork Penny Dinners.
As for the rest of the Irish public, it’s time to set record because the revolution will be televised.
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