The Rise of Sinn Fein & the Irish War of Independence

Four Wednesdays, beginning June 12 from 7:15-8:15pm
Cost:  $70.00 Member/$75.00 Non-Member

Sinn Fein was formed in 1905 by Arthur Griffith. The execution of the leaders of the 1916 Rebellion changed the political situation in Ireland forever. The Rebellion had drawn attention to the long history of British injustice in Ireland and had demonstrated that the cause of Irish freedom was not illusory.

In 1917 the death of Thomas Ashe from being force fed while on hunger strike and the attempted conscription of Irish people were two of the main events post 1916. The Home Rule party was by now discredited. Sinn Fein became the organization for those who wanted a free and independent Ireland.

The landslide victory by Sinn Fein in the general election of December 1918 led to the formation in 1919 of the First Dail Eireann which approved a provisional constitution for an Irish Republic. The British refused to recognize the Irish Republic and so the Irish War of Independence began in January 1919. The course will include audio visual materials. All students will receive a PowerPoint presentation for each class.

This class meets in the Photography & Digital Arts Studio on the lower level of the Education Wing.

MATERIALS
No materials required other than a notebook and pen.

SEAN MURPHY
Sean Murphy is from Ireland and has studied the Economic, Social and Political History of Ireland and has a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree in Sociology and Politics. He teaches Irish set and ceile dancing and traditional Irish music at venues on Cape Cod and Nantucket. He is also involved in promoting Irish music sessions and cultural events. In 2014 he was awarded the Thomas P McCann “Altruism Award” trophy by the Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Committee for his “support and commitment to the Culture and Heritage of Ireland and its people.”