Collection

History

36 items

1m 22s

Ireland's Agony

The Burning of Cork by British forces took place on the night of December 11th and 12th 1920 , during the Irish War of Independence. It followed an Irish Republican Army ambush of a British Auxiliary patrol in the city, which wounded twelve auxiliaries, one fatally. In retaliation the Auxiliaries, Black and Tans and British soldiers looted and burnt numerous buildings in the city center. Many civilians reported being beaten, shot at, and robbed by British forces. Firefighters testified that British forces hindered their attempts to tackle the blazes through intimidation, cutting their hoses and shooting at them. More than 40 business premises, 300 residential properties, the City Hall and Carnegie Library were destroyed by the fire. Over £3 million worth of damage (equivalent to €172 million today) was wrought, 2,000 people were left jobless and many more became homeless.

42s

The Seat of All The Trouble

This newsreel shows the first images of the 'much debated' Ulster border wall. A member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary stands guard, looking over the dry stone wall in Belleek, County Fermanagh. Another stands guard at the top of a turret under an Irish National Flag. The border wall was a delicate issue and the Irish Boundary Commission was set up and met on numerous occasions between 1924 and 1925, to discuss the exact delineation of the border between the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. On December 3rd 1925 the final agreement on the border was signed.

1m 37s

Ireland Healing Her Wounds

October 1925, 3 years after the “Battle of the Four Courts’’ , when it was nearly destroyed by shellfire in a republican outbreak, Ireland’s main courthouse building is rising from its ashes as work is carried out to rebuild and repair it to its former glory. Following the War of Independence, much of Dublin city centre was destroyed with many buildings having been completely demolished.

1m 13s

Free State or Republic

Scenes of Polling stations at the Irish general election are shown in this newsreel, where the main issue being voted on was whether the country should remain as a Free State or become a full Republic – the goal of de Valera’s Fianna Fáil party. Crowds of people gather on Marlborough Street and Free state soldiers stand guard at the exterior of a polling station. Inside, men are seen distributing ballots as the count progresses. General Richard Mulcahy, Minister for Defence is returned. At Stephen’s Green Mrs Charlotte Despard, noted republican and suffragette stands and speaks to camera. Ms Despard was sister of former Viceroy Lord French and president of the Women’s Freedom League. Final intertitle introduces young Vivian (sic properly Vivion) de Valera, son of Eamon. Richard Mulcahy was an army general and commander-in-chief for the Irish Republican Army. He later served in the cabinets of W. T. Cosgrave and John A. Costello. He fought in the 1916 Easter Rising, served as Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army during the War of Independence and became commander of the pro-treaty forces in the Irish Civil War after the death of Michael Collins. The uniform of General Mulcahy’s from 1922 is currently held by the National Museum of Ireland.

55s

Rebirth of a Nation

This newsreel shows British troops unpacking lorries at the docks (Possibly Dublin Port) and leaving Ireland, following the Anglo-Irish War. The interesting aspect of this footage is that it shows that British troops did not all leave immediately after the signing of The Treaty. Here they are departing in the middle of the Civil War in December 1922. Tim Healy, Veteran Irish Patriot, can be seen towards the end of the newsreel. Tim Healy was an Irish nationalist politician, journalist, author, barrister and one of the most controversial Irish Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom and Ireland. His political career began in the 1880s under Charles Stewart Parnell’s leadership of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and continued into the 1920s, when he was the first Governor-General of the Irish Free State.

2m 46s

Michael Collins Crowds

In this newsreel from August 1922: More than half a million people line O’Connell street to pay their respects to Michael Collins and silently bid farewell to “Ireland’s Soldier Statesman”. His brother Seán Collins can be seen behind the coffin as it leaves the Pro-Cathedral on Marlborough Street Dublin, on its way to Glasnevin Cemetary. Michael Collins was an Irish revolutionary, soldier and politician who was a leading figure in the early 20th century Irish struggle for independence. He was Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State from January 1922. He was assassinated on August 22nd 1922 in Cork.

23s

General Michael Collins

This brief newsreel focuses on Michael Collins at the funeral of President Arthur Griffith in August 1922. Standing in full uniform, this is the last moving picture ever taken of General Collins. He would be assassinated 10 days after this image was taken. Both Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith were considered two ‘Giants’ of Irish history for their work in Irish politics and during the Peace Treaty negotiations. Arthur Griffith famously stated “If my name is to go down in history I want it to be associated with Michael Collins”.

1m 46s

Dublin Ireland in the Wake of the Battle

The Battle of Dublin was a week of street battles in Dublin from June 28th to July 5th 1922 that marked the beginning of the Irish Civil War. Six months after the Anglo-Irish Treaty ended the recent Irish War of Independence, Civil War was fought between the forces of the new Provisional Government and a section of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) that opposed the Treaty. This remarkable footage highlights the events that happened in Dublin, the devastating use of artillery by the rebels against the Four Courts, and the shootings and battles around O’Connell Street.

1m 38s

Curious Persons

In this newsreel from Dublin July 1922: Rebels have barricaded themselves inside the Four Courts with sandbags stacked up in front of the gates. Passersby gather to try and have a look through the gates and little boys march back and forth with “rifles” (wooden sticks) in hand. The Civil War ravaged the city of Dublin and much of Ireland. This newsreel’s military scenes only hint at the devastation that was caused between the Irish Republicans and Irish Nationalists.

1m 21s

Guerrilla Warfare in Ireland

Guerilla Warfare in Ireland started in August 1922, when the IRA tried to bring down the new Irish government and overturn the Anglo-Irish Treaty. There were many guerrilla attacks, one of the most notable casualties being Commander-in-Chief Michael Collins, who was killed in an ambush in Cork on August 22nd. This newsreel shows several rebels holding people at gunpoint in a muddy country road. Hostages sitting in the back of a truck are handed drinks while some are blindfolded. However many say this is more of a propaganda film made by the British.

8m 55s

The Irish Revolution

This remarkable footage highlights the events that happened in the Battle of Dublin, the devastating use of artillery by the rebels against the Four Courts and the shootings and battles around O’Connell Street. The Battle of Dublin was a week of street battles in Dublin from June 28th to July 5th 1922 that marked the beginning of the Irish Civil War. Six months after the Anglo-Irish Treaty ended the recent Irish War of Independence, it was fought between the forces of the new Provisional Government and a section of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) that opposed the Treaty. This lengthy newsreel is split into 33 Intertitles, please find a breakdown of each in the Read More section below.

1m 27s

City of Terror

In this compilation newsreel from 1920, we see the first pictures from Derry , soldiers on the streets during the War of Independence. “The aftermath” intertitle shows us the devastation the Civil War had on Dublin, showing the many shelled and gutted buildings, many of which can be seen being pulled down by workers to avoid them from collapsing on someone. Michael Collins can then be seen, in footage that appears to be from 1921, giving a speech to a large crowd of people outside the Mansion House in Dublin following the signing of the Anglo Irish Peace Treaty. The final segment is of Rory O’Connor, an Irish Republican activist, seen giving a speech to the Dublin City Brigade at Smithfield, April 1922.

4m 05s

Dublin’s Civil War

Released on 10 July 1922 this newsreel shows dramatic scenes at the Hibernian Insurance Company building on Sackville Street (O’Connell Street) showing Government forces burning out the rebels by firing their “first shell” into a building as soldiers look on. The destroyed shell of a building has its windows blown out and as it begins to burn, a car beside it pulls away. Two members of The Red Cross can be seen running up the street.

1m 00s

The Shelling of the Four Courts

The Battle of Dublin was a week of street battles in Dublin from June 28th to July 5th 1922 that marked the beginning of the Irish Civil War. At this time, the Four Courts were occupied by Republican Forces like Rory O’Connor, who is described here as being “the last of the Rebels”. Six months after the Anglo-Irish Treaty ended the recent Irish War of Independence, the Civil War was fought between the forces of the new Provisional Government and a section of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) that opposed the Treaty. This remarkable footage highlights the events that happened in Dublin, the devastating use of artillery by the rebels against the Four Courts and the shootings and battles around O’Connell Street, Abbey Street and Portobello Bridge.

2m 18s

Battle of the Four Courts

The Battle of Dublin was a week of street battles in Dublin from June 28th to July 5th 1922 that marked the beginning of the Irish Civil War. Six months after the Anglo-Irish Treaty ended the recent Irish War of Independence, Civil War was fought between the forces of the new Provisional Government and a section of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) that opposed the Treaty. This remarkable footage highlights the events that happened in Dublin, the devastating use of artillery by the rebels against the Four Courts and the shootings and battles around O’Connell Street, Abbey Street and Portobello Bridge.

1m 04s

British Evacuate Ireland After Hundreds of Years of Occupation

This newsreel shows the first 60,000 British Troops to leave Ireland and go back to England in May 1922. As soldiers march past, crowds of people line up to cheer and wave. The troops are taken away in a military transporter, most with a smile on their face as they wave and shake hands with the fellow soldiers that stay behind. At the Curragh, troops are packing and removing equipment such as field kitchens onto the train. On August 17th, Dublin Castle was formally handed over to the National Army and the last of the British Army Troops left Ireland.

32s

The Curragh Camp

After the Anglo-Irish War the British Army handed over the Curragh Camp to the Irish Free State Army to a party of Irish troops commanded by Lieutenant General O’Connell, on Tuesday May 16th 1922. The Curragh Camp was the former Headquarters of the British Army in Ireland. In this newsreel General O’Connell can be seen at the top of the water tower hoisting the first tricolour to fly over the Curragh Camp. By tradition the British Army had cut down the flagpole requiring the Irish officers to physically hold the flagpole while the tricolour was raised.

54s

Michael Collins

“Our Cameraman was there”. Michael Collins endorses the Anglo-Irish Treaty to an audience gathered at the Grand Parade in Cork City, where he receives an enthusiastic reception. It’s not too long before the crowd is seen surging backwards as several men begin to fire their guns in the crowd. This is the same footage that’s featured in “The Great Cork Treaty” newsreel. Michael Collins described The Treaty as “the freedom to achieve freedom”. In practice, The Treaty offered most of the symbols and powers of independence. These included a functioning, if disputed, parliamentary democracy with its own executive, judiciary and a written constitution which could be changed by the Oireachtas. Although a Republic was not an option at the time, The Treaty still afforded Ireland more internal independence than it had possessed in over 400 years, and far exceeded the most optimistic goals of the Home Rule movement.

43s

Fighting Speech

This now famous piece of footage, shows Michael Collins addressing the Anglo-Irish Treaty to a huge crowd gathered outside College Green, March 1922. Michael Collins described the Treaty as “the freedom to achieve freedom”. In practice, the Treaty offered most of the symbols and powers of independence. These included a functioning, if disputed, parliamentary democracy with its own executive, judiciary and written constitution which could be changed by the Oireachtas. Although a republic was not an option at the time, the Treaty still afforded Ireland more internal independence than it had possessed in over 400 years, and far exceeded the most optimistic goals of the Home Rule movement.

1m 25s

The Surrender of Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle was originally built at a defensive fortification during the Norman period. It evolved into a symbol and citadel of British rule for centuries, housing the mechanisms of the British government in Ireland. The Viceroy of Ireland, Lord FitzAlan-Howard the representative of the British crown, resided in the Castle and can be seen in this newsreel getting into a car and exiting the gateway to a jeering crowd. In the courtyard soldiers on parade hold their guns raised ready to fire salute (it is unclear if these are British troops). Michael Collins, the Chairman (Prime Minister) of the Provisional Government of Ireland created under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, accepted control of Dublin Castle. The handover symbolised the end of British rule in Ireland, even though the Irish Free State would remain part of the Commonwealth until 1949.

1m 24s

Historic Pictures

This newsreel shows pictures of the elected representatives of Southern Ireland who approved the Anglo -Irish Treaty alongside members of the provisional government. Figures include Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith in the front row. The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed in London on December 6th 1921 and Dáil Éireann voted to approve the treaty on January 7th 1922, following a lengthly debate. The vote was 64 in favour, 57 against, with the Ceann Comhairle (Dáil Éireann chairperson) and three others not voting. The Sinn Féin party split into opposing sides in the aftermath of the Treaty vote, which led to the Irish Civil War from June 1922 to May 1923.

4m 20s

Irish Personalities

This selection of newsreel sequences shows the trial of in August 1920 of Terence Mac Swiney (Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Cork) and other events in Cork in 1920. The opening sequence, unusual for its time, appears to have been shot inside the Cork Courthouse. The Courthouse exterior is seen with a group of children seated on the steps. The following sequence shows Arthur Griffith, founder and leader of Sinn Féin, reading on a porch. He is then seen in conversation with Robert Brennan, Sinn Féin's Chief of Propaganda / Publicity. The final scenes show a group of men and young boys standing near a burnt out train carriage. This may be stock on the West Cork Railway, on which construction began in 1845, which was the railroad most affected by the upheaval of in the 1920s. Signal boxes were burned and tracks and bridges blown up, including the Chetwynd Viaduct.

16s

Side Lights on Sinn Féin

This newsreel from Limerick in 1920 shows a side of Irish history that is rarely spoken about. Here we see May Connolly who has been beaten and had her hair shorn for the crime of speaking to Black and Tans. This method of terrorising and intimidating was used by both IRA and Crown Forces as a way to control and punish.

1m 11s

Martial Law in Ireland

This newsreel shows very rare scenes inside the first concentration camp where members of the Sinn Féin party were treated as prisoners of war. Ballykinlar Internment Camp was the first mass internment camp to be established by the British in Ireland during the War of Independence. Situated on the County Down coast and opened in December 1920, it became home to hundreds of Irish men arrested by the British, often on little more than the suspicion of involvement in the IRA. Held for up to a year, and subjected to often brutal treatment and poor quality food in an attempt to break them both physically and mentally, the interned men instead established a small community within the camp,sharing knowledge and skills to stave off boredom.