Conference - 'Paris: Capital of Irish Culture'.

I recently attended the conference 'Paris: Capital of Irish Culture' in O'Connell House, Notre-Dame Center for Irish Studies, Merrion Square, Dublin. It was part of a double-conference (the first part took place in the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris) and was organised by (amongst others) the Embassy of France in Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in France.

Conference poster.

In seeking to highlight links between the two countries in this important centenary year, the conference addressed some of the important literary and historic links between France and Ireland. The opening lecture entitled, 'Paris, Terre promise des Irlandais', was given by the preeminent French scholar of Irish studies, Pierre Joannon. The lecture was a tour de force, covering many different aspects of the shared history between Ireland and France. For instance, we were reminded that the French writer, Honoré de Balzac, said that Irishman, Daniel O'Connell, and Napoleon were the two great men of the 19th century.

Seamus Deane spoke about the roots of Irish republicanism in France in the 19th century and specifically about the connections built up between Irishmen like Daniel O'Connell and Frenchmen, such as Lamennais, Lacordaire and Montalembert. In his lecture, Barry McCrea spoke about the similarities between the life and work of the Irish writer, James Joyce and the French writer, Marcel Proust.

The historical panel looked at several other areas that link the two countries. Topics included French newspaper reporting of the 1916 Rising, the life and work of the French academic who worked in Ireland for many years, Roger Chauviré, and the history of the Irish College in Paris (now the Centre Culturel Irlandais). The conference was very well organised and provided plenty of food for thought. I really enjoyed it.

For more information on the conference and to view the programme see: http://www.ambafrance-ie.org/Conference-Paris-Capital-of-Irish-Culture

History Ireland article - French bishops' mission to Ireland, Oct. 1916

It is only really in recent years that Irish people have begun to engage with the role played by Ireland in the First World War. At the outbreak of the War, Ireland was still part of the United Kingdom, but it was at this time that Irish people started to make a push for independence from Britain.

Over two hundred thousand Irishmen served in the British army during the War and when they returned home, things had changed profoundly (utterly!). Ireland had experienced an uprising (Easter Rising, 24-29 April 1916) and the seeds of the Irish War of Independence had been sown.

My article in the September / October 2016 edition of History Ireland magazine looks at a visit payed to Ireland one hundred years ago by a small group of French clergymen. They came to meet the Irish Catholic hierarchy and to try and boost recruitment to the British army from Ireland.

Image of pamphlet written by one of the French priests, Fr Pierre Batiffol, about their trip to Ireland. Image source.

The October 1916 propaganda mission to Ireland by the French clergymen was not as successful as they had planned. It was not very well timed. The Rising and more importantly, the subsequent execution of the Rising's leaders, had turned Irish public opinion against Britain and the Union. If joining the British army was unpopular before the Rising, it was definitely more so now.

The account of the visit to Ireland written by one of the French priests is well worth reading. It details where they went, who they met and what was said. Just click on the link above. Happy reading!

Irishman's Diary - Kenelm Lee Guinness

I have just written a new Irishman's Diary in today's Irish Times newspaper. It's about the award-winning racing driver and automotive engineer, Kenelm (Bill) Lee Guinness (1887-1937). Here is a link to the article.

This is a photograph of Kenelm Lee Guinness driving a Sunbeam, accompanied by his mechanic, Bill Perkins. Image source: Gallica, BnF

Michelin Guide to the British Isles 1911 - Irishman's Diary

I have just written an Irishman's Diary in today's Irish Times newspaper about one of the earliest guides for motorists in Ireland. The Michelin Guide to the British Isles was first published in 1911.

Photograph of 'Bibendum': Michelin's mascot, aka 'The Michelin Man'. Image Source.

The guide, while it looks relatively basic by today's standards, contained information on relevant facilities in towns and villages all over Ireland, as well as some information on car maintenance. Read my article here.

Edwin Lawrence Godkin - An Irishman's Diary

Edwin Lawrence Godkin (1831-1902) was a journalist and editor, who wasn't afraid to take on vested interests and fight for a better kind of journalism. Born in Ireland, most of his life was spent in America. 

Caricuture of EL Godkin from 1898. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Today, Godkin is perhaps best know as the founding editor of The Nation, a liberal, weekly US magazine. He was editor of The Nation from its launch in 1865 until his retirement in 1899. In that time, he took on vested interests and several forms of political corruption, such as Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed. He also opposed US territorial expansion and advocated for US currency reform and civil service reform. 

Read about his life in my Irishman's Diary in the Irish Times newspaper.

French Newspaper Cartoons - Ireland's Easter Rising

Ireland's Easter Rising was reported in the French press through the form of articles, photographs and even some editorial / political cartoons. Editorial cartoons have long been a regular feature of many popular French newspapers.

Here, we can see cartoons on the front pages of Le Matin from 1 May 1916 and from Le Petit Journal from 27 April 1916 and 5 May 1916. In the first cartoon we can see what appears to be a soldier complete with German style military helmet with a sword marked 'Dublin'. The caption reads 'un coup d'épée dans l'eau'. This is an idiomatic expression that means - a complete waste of time.

The second cartoon shows the Kaiser and suggests that there is an error in a newspaper report relating to the Rising and the landing of German arms in Ireland. Should it not read that the Germans were repelled from Ireland, they wonder. The last cartoon again refers to the German army and shows a soldier (or possibly Kaiser Wilhelm) being attacked by Asquith's project.

Le Petit Journal was one of the main four dailies in France during the first half of the 20th century. It was a conservative newspaper that sold around 2 million copies at the beginning of the 20th century. Le Matin was one of France's main dailies between the 1910s and 1920s, selling around 1 million copies in 1914.

Le Matin, 1 May 1916. Source: Gallica, BnF.

Le Petit Journal, 27 April 1916. Source: Gallica, BnF.

Le Petit Journal, 5 May 1916. Source: Gallica, BnF.

Ireland's Easter Rising in France's Le Monde illustré

Le Monde illustré was the leading French illustrated weekly news magazine of the late 19th and early 20th century. It began publication in 1857 and was similar in style to The Illustrated London News, which was the world's first illustrated news magazine. By 1916, Le Monde illustré ran to 14 pages and cost 60 centimes. The format normally consisted of a mix of full page illustrations, a selection of several different illustrations grouped together and text articles.

Ireland's Easter Rising was covered on several occasions in the news magazine, beginning on 6 May 1916 and again on the following two weeks, 13 May 1916, 20 May 1916. In much of the French press at the time, the rising was portrayed simply as a German inspired plot to attack France's ally, Great Britain, and not as a push for Irish independence. The Germans are mentioned frequently in the coverage and Roger Casement, the man who uncovered large scale human rights abuses in the Belgian Congo, was labeled a traitor.

Le Monde illustré, 6 May 1916. Source: Gallica BnF.

Le Monde illustré, 13 May 1916. Source: Gallica BnF.

Le Monde illustré, 20 May 1916. Source Gallica BnF.

Gallica is the digital library of the Bibliothèque nationale de France [French National Library]. It contains a wealth of material including books, newspapers, magazines, photographs, letters, manuscripts and sound recordings. Here, you can search 58 years of Le Monde illustré - http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb32818319d/date