Remembering the Irish Revolution: Dissent, Culture, and Nationalism in the Irish Free State (Oxford Historical Monographs)

"Remembering the Irish Revolution chronicles the ways in which the Irish revolution was remembered in the first two decades of Irish independence. While tales of heroism and martyrdom dominated popular accounts of the revolution, a handful of nationalists reflected on the period in more ambivalent terms. For them, the freedoms won in revolution came with great costs: the grievous loss of civilian lives, the brutalisation of Irish society, and the loss of hope for a united and prosperous independent nation. To many nationalists, their views on the revolution were traitorous. For others, they were the courageous expression of some uncomfortable truths. This volume explores these struggles over revolutionary memory through the lives of four significant, but under-researched nationalist intellectuals: Eimar O'Duffy, P. S. O'Hegarty, George Russell, and Desmond Ryan. It provides a lively account of their controversial critiques of the Irish revolution, and an intimate portrait of the friends, enemies, institutions and influences that shaped them. Based on wide-ranging archival research, Remembering the Irish Revolution puts the history of Irish revolutionary memory in a transnational context. It shows the ways in which international debates about war, human progress, and the fragility of Western civilisation were crucial in shaping the understandings of the revolution in Ireland. It provides a fresh context for analysis the major writers of the period, such as Sean O'Casey, W. B. Yeats, and Sean O'Faolain, as well as a new outlook on the genesis of the revisionist/nationalist schism that continues to resonate in Irish society today" -- Provided by publisher's website Remembering the Revolution chronicles the ways in which the Irish revolution was remembered in the first two decades of irish independence. While tales of heroism and martyrdom dominated popular accounts of the revolution, a handful of nationalists reflected on the period in more ambivalent terms. For them, the freedoms won in revolution came with great costs: the grievous loss of civilian lives, the brutalisation of Irish society, and the loss of hope, for a united and prosperous independent nation. To many nationalists, their views on the revolution were traitorous. For others, they were the courageous expression of some uncomfortable truths. This volume explores these struggles over revolutionary memory through the lives of four significant nationalist intellectuals: Eimar O'Duffy, P.S. O'Hegarty, George Russell, and Desmond Ryan. It provides a lively account of their controversial critiques of the Irish revolution, and an intimate portrait of the friends, enemies, institutions, and influences that shaped them. Based on wide-ranging archival research, Remembering the Revolution puts the history of Irish revolutionary memory in a transnational context. It shows the ways in which international debates about war, human progress, and the fragility of Western civilisation were crucial in shaping the understandings of the revolution in Ireland, It provides a fresh context for analysis of the major writers of the period, such as Sean O'Casey, W.B. Yeats, and Sean O'Faolain, as well as a new outlook on the genesis of the revisionist/nationalist schism that continues to resonate in Irish society today. Jacket illustration: 'Exiles' by Patrick Hennessy (1943). From the collection at Dublin City Gallery. The Hugh Lane. Book jacket __Remembering the Irish Revolution__This volume explores these struggles over revolutionary memory through the lives of four significant, but under-researched nationalist intellectuals: Eimar O'Duffy, P. S. O'Hegarty, George Russell, and Desmond Ryan. It provides a lively account of their controversial critiques of the Irish revolution, and an intimate portrait of the friends, enemies, institutions and influences that shaped them. Based on wide-ranging archival research, puts the history of Irish revolutionary memory in a transnational context. It shows the ways in which international debates about war, human progress, and the fragility of Western civilisation were crucial in shaping the understandings of the revolution in Ireland. It provides a fresh context for analysis the major writers of the period, such as Sean O'Casey, W. B. Yeats, and Sean O'Faolain, as well as a new outlook on the genesis of the revisionist/nationalist schism that continues to resonate in Irish society today. This Work Chronicles The Ways In Which The Irish Revolution Was Remembered In The First Two Decades Of Independence By Significant Nationalist Intellectuals: Eimar O'duffy, P.s. O'hegarty, George Russell, And Desmond Ryan. It Provides A Lively Account Of Their Controversial Critiques Of The Revolution, And An Intimate Portrait Of Their Lives And Times. Writing The Revolution In The Irish Free State -- Eimar O'duffy And The Waste Of 1916 -- Clean Minded Separatists And The Mob: P.s. O'hegarty And The Ambiguous Victory Of Sinn Fein -- Shivering Elders And The Exploits Of Youth: George Russell's Interpretations Of The Irish Revolution -- Remembering Sion: Desmond Ryan's Therapeutic Revolution -- Conclusion: Dissent, Disillusionment, And The Nationalist Ideal. Frances Flanagan. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [205]-237) And Index.