As the next phase in the Decade of Commemoration approaches, Wexford County Council Public Library Service invites you to a lecture titled Wexford and the War of Independence: who died and why? with Professor Eunan O’ Halpin, TCD, on Thursday, October 24^th in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, at 7 pm.

The War of Independence in County Wexford is remembered as a turbulent and difficult period in our history. Eunan O’Halpin’s presentation will look at political violence in County Wexford between 1917 and 1921 as measured by deaths caused, in comparison with the national picture.   

He will discuss issues including the killing of alleged spies and informers, and the Saltmills disaster, by far the biggest instance of death arising from mishaps with explosives during the revolutionary era. 

Professor O’Halpin will use data from his forthcoming book The Dead of the Irish Revolution, 1916-1921, which will be published by Yale University Press next year.  

A discussion about how the next phase of the Decade of Centenaries can be commemorated in County Wexford will follow his lecture.

County Librarian Eileen Morrissey says; ‘Wexford County Council Library Service is delighted to work with Professor O’Halpin to reflect on the War of Independence in County Wexford. We invite you to join us in this conversation, as we set out to capture the family stories that sit alongside the historical record of events here in County Wexford.

“It only by understands the personal stories that we make sense of our shared history and the politics of the time. This is your opportunity to contribute to our understanding of the events of that period and help shape the collection of those stories. We look forward to welcoming you to the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy on Thursday October 24th at 7 pm.”  

All are welcome to attend this free event but booking is essential. Please contact Enniscorthy Library on 053-9196730 to secure your place.

Eunan O’Halpin is Bank of Ireland Professor of Contemporary Irish History in Trinity College Dublin.  Educated at University College Dublin and the University of Cambridge, his research interests cover twentieth century Irish and British history, and intelligence studies. He is a Member (2003) of the Royal Irish Academy and a Fellow (2003) of Trinity College Dublin. He is also a member of the government’s Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations (2012- ). In addition to The Dead of the Irish Revolution, he is preparing a new study, with Siofra O’Donovan, of their shared grand uncle Kevin Barry. He has regional connections with Wexford in the revolutionary era, as his great uncle Kevin Barry came from Carlow. Another great uncle, Paddy Moloney, was killed in Tipperary in May 1921.