The 9th Irish Military Seminar will take place in Naas and Newbridge on the 13, 16 and 17 of May 2005. The programme, with details of bookings, is available on eHistory https://kildarelibraries.ie/ehistory/ or https://kildarelibraries.ie/ehistory/9th-irish-military-seminar-13th-16th-and-17th-may-2025/
Programme Summery
Tuesday 13 May, Naas Library and Cultural Centre at 19.00
‘The Rathbride Flying Column. Kildare in the Civil War’
Film documentary of the Rathbride Flying Column from Kildare, and it’s executed members during the Civil War.
‘The Land’
During the Great War of 1914-18 two men struggle to survive the aftermath of a failed mission.
Author and film historian Wayne Byrne will interview Joe Murphy of Prosperous Heritage Society and Richie Kearney and Dave Butler of FrameIt Productions.
Friday 16 May: Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge
19.00: Reception & Tea/Coffee
Book-signing by guest speaker Ray Lane
Launch of 9th Irish Military Seminar by Cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council, Councillor Kevin Duffy
19.30: Guest Speaker Ray Lane
‘Only a soldier knows’
From the darkest depths of humanity to the pinnacle of bravery Ray Lane’s
memoir explores the nature of warfare, duty and the courage and mental
strength it takes to be the person who overrides every natural human instinct
and walks towards an improvised explosive device.
Saturday 17 May: Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge
9.00-9.30: Registration and Bookshop.
9.30: Welcome.
9.40-10.20: The Irish Military in France, 1690-1815.
Stephen McGarry
Around 50,000 Irishmen served in the armies of France, Spain and Austria from 1690 until the disbandment of the Irish Brigade in the Spanish Service in 1818. The Irish Brigade in the French Service gained a reputation as crack troops and served France with distinction for one hundred years. They were followed by Napoleon’s Irish Legion, a new unit raised for an anticipated invasion of Ireland.
10.25-11.05: The Irish in the Resistance
Clodagh Finn and John Morgan
The untold story of how ordinary Irish people who were caught up in extraordinary situations in Nazi-occupied Europe joined resistance movements in France, Belgium, Holland and Italy and helped to win the Second World War.
11.05-11.30: Tea/Coffee Break
11.35-12.15: ‘I hope to die like a soldier.’ The life and death of IRA leader Rory O’Connor
Gerard Shannon
Rory O’Connor had several key roles in the revolutionary movement, but it was
his opposition to the Anglo-Irish Treaty that brought him to public prominence
and began his path to civil war, eventual execution and the endurance of his
memory within Irish republican commemoration.
12.20-13.00 Colour of Conflict. Ireland 1922-1945
Michael B. Barry and John O’Byrne
Conflict on the island of Ireland from 1922-45 revealed using photographs
carefully selected from archives and private collections. Hand-coloured by John
O’Byrne, each image is brought further to life by Michael B. Barry’s informative
captions. The images give a fresh perspective to the events from the Civil War,
through to the Emergency.
13.00: Close of seminar