Talks & Films – Waterford Decade of Centenaries

The Siege of Waterford in July 1922 was a highly significant event in the Civil War. Key locations involved in the Siege were Mount Misery (site of Free State Artillery), the site of the old Gaol, Gyle's Quay and Ferrybank where Free State troops crossed the river, Granville Hotel, Reginald’s Tower and the Munster Express Office were all buildings wired to be demolished by Anti Treaty forces and two barracks were damaged in the fighting. Local historian James Doherty traces the sequences of events in this documentary.

"The Dying Days - The Final Journey Of General Liam Lynch 1923" was produced by Dungarvan based Videographer John Foley and directed by Deirdre Collender. The film evocatively captures the principles and ideals of those who fought for and against the treaty and the ordinary people whose lives and homes became intertwined in the activity around the Knockmealdown and Comeragh Mountains. The film weaves the national and local historical context provided by the excellent Gerard Shannon, Michael Desmond and Nora Levis with vivid re-enactments and accounts by family descendants of the safe houses and premises used by Liam Lynch and the IRA in March-April 1923 before his capture and death leading to suspension of operations, a ceasefire and the end of the Civil War.

1920 was a very turbulent year for local authorities in Ireland. It was an election year for local government and newly elected councils, including Waterford Corporation and Waterford County Council, immediately pledged their allegiance to Dáil Éireann. This resulted in the withdrawal of funding by the British Local Government Board; raids on local authorities and the arrest of elected members and staff. Local authorities struggled to collect rates but continued to provide services as best they could and maintained their commitment to Dáil Éireann. This network of local political and administrative support was an important part of the success of Dáil Éireann and demonstrated the commitment of the Irish people to the goal of an independent Ireland.

At the same time local government was pledging to Dáil Éireann a new courts system was established for the nascent state, operating under the radar and parallel to the official courts system and were soon leaving the officially sanctioned courts with no cases as the Irish people moved to have their voices heard and their legal cases handled in the Dáil Courts. 1920 also saw significant labour unrest and what has been referred to as a Waterford “soviet” was fighting to have its voice heard. Cumann na mBan too were hard at work in Waterford in 1920, supporting and serving the War of Independence and trying to make a place for women in the new Ireland they were struggling to create. Our speakers will explore 1920 in Waterford looking at the issues of the time and exploring the voices seeking to be heard in the 1920 local elections. Click on the link to watch each talk on You Tube.