This article surveys key scholarship concerning Ireland during WWI.
Examines the shift from marginalisation to recognition of the war as pivotal in 20th-century Ireland.
Discusses military participation, home front experiences, and integration into the Irish revolution narrative.
Key Topics
Introduction
National Amnesia: Term coined by Francis X. Martin in 1967 describing Irish reluctance to associate with British Army veterans vs. 1916 Easter Rising heroes.
Public Memory: War marginalised in academic and popular memory until recent decades.
Robert Fitzroy Foster: Argued the war was a decisive event in modern Irish history, a view not widely held until recently.
Historiographical Shift: From external, minor factor to integrated part of Irish revolutionary history.
Military Mobilisation and the Irish Soldier
Early Histories: Focused on military exploits, often commemorative.
Cyril Falls: Notable for first-hand accounts and research on the 36th Ulster Division.
Memoirs and Cultural Responses: Included anti-war sentiments, e.g., Liam O’Flaherty’s novel Return of the Brute.
Subsequent Studies: Examined stereotypes, motivations for enlistment, and socio-political context.
Significant Research: By Bowman, Denman, and Grayson, exploring varied Irish soldier experiences and enlistment motivations.
Home Front and Civil Mobilisation
Social History Emergence: Late 20th century saw growth in studies of socio-economic impacts.
Key Publications: Fitzpatrick’s workshops, Gregory and Paseta’s thematic volumes.
Women’s Role: Increasing attention on women's war work and social roles.
Memory and Commemoration: Examined through Nuala Johnson and Jason Myers' works.
Integrated Histories of War and Revolution
Decade of Centenaries: Commemorations led to increased scholarship, integrating war with Irish revolutionary studies.
John Borgonovo: Cork study synthesises war and revolution narratives.
Regional Studies: Highlighted the local impacts of war across Ireland.
International Context: Comparative studies situating Ireland’s experience in a global context.
Conclusion
Historical Aphasia vs. National Amnesia: David Fitzpatrick suggests inability to discuss the war rather than forgetting.
Current Scholarship: Thriving field with potential for new research due to digitisation of sources.
Fionnuala Walsh: Indicates space for fresh perspectives informed by international scholarship.
Bibliographic Notes
Includes references to key publications and historians relevant to the study of Ireland in WWI.