CLARE County Library’s History Week is running from October 16-22, with its programme covering the county during the revolutionary period.
There will be exhibitions, online lectures, music and talks, with most of the programme accessible at www.clarelibrary.ie.
Dr Joe Power will speak on Clare and the Civil War, Áine Hensey will speak on the Rebel Priests ofMullagh – Fr Pat Gaynor and Fr Michael McKenna and Rita McCarthy on the County ClareNursery (Mother and Baby Home).
Distinguished historian Mary McAuliffe will talk on Republican Surveillance of Women during the War of Independence with reference to Co Clare and Sinéad McCoole, who specialises in the history of Irish women, talks about Mná100 – Explore a Century of Change.
Joe Ó Muircheartaigh will present an audio documentary about the friction between the
East and Mid Clare Brigades during the War of Independence called Brigades at War and
Brian Spring will launch his Primary School Resource Pack The Brave and the Bold: the War of Independence in County Clare.
Artist Marie Connole will host an exhibition in Clare Museum from Saturday, 16 October to 9
November called Irrepressible Women of Clare, a project supported by Clare Arts Office.
Musician Tim Collins has created an original piece entitled I fought the War – Re-voicing Clare
Women in the Revolutionary Period. Tim was inspired by the women’s stories on the archive of Cuimhneamh an Chláir.
Mike Hanrahan ends his Clare: Songs of Independence project with The Ballad of the Crimson Warrior where he looks back at the project since 2019 and John Rattigan, Curator of Clare Museum, gives a snapshot of some Museum artefacts from the revolutionary period.
Cuimhneamh an Chláir will host a live Zoom event on Tuesday, October 19 at 7.30pm called Joe Kenneally – Child of 1921: stories from the Cuimhneamh an Chláir archive.
Booking is required at eventsclarecac@gmail.com . Joe recently celebrated his 100th birthday.
Lastly, a number of exhibitions will be held during the week which are open to the public.
DeValera Library will display a list of the members of the Mid Clare Brigade and Cumann na mBan courtesy of the Mid Clare Commemoration Group from 16-22 October; Clare Museum will host Banner in Turmoil: Co Clare and the War of Independence and also, Marie Connole’s aforementioned project which will have an accompanying online video.
Finally Kilrush Library will host an exhibition on the Co Clare Nursery (Mother and Baby Home) from October 20 until November 9.
Further information from decadeofcentenaries@clarecoco.ie.