Related Course: HIST 335: Finding Ireland’s Past, Prof. Susannah Ottaway (Fall 2023)
By: Will Mirza
This zine was created to encapsulate an aspect of the 1916 Easter Rising that is often understated within academic discourse: The Great Fires. Although the Easter Rising is widely regarded as a failed insurrection, it is remembered as a watershed moment in Irish history, recognized as the catalyst for revolution. Few political entities leveraged British retaliation to the Rising better than Sinn Féin. The nationalist party published several Easter Rising handbooks between 1916 and 1918, which served as comprehensive collections of information regarding the event. A significant amount of the primary source material in this zine was pulled directly from these handbooks. While coverage of The Great Fires comprises only a small portion of the Sinn Féin publication, the fact that this underrepresented aspect of the rebellion is recounted in such detail is a testament to the thoroughness of this primary source, and its dedication to the historical preservation of the Easter Rising.
These fires, set both intentionally and as a result of the conflict, played a crucial role in the urban landscape and the psychological warfare of the Rising. The destruction they caused had lasting impacts on the city’s infrastructure and the public’s perception of the British response. By delving into these often-overlooked details, this zine aims to shed light on the nuanced nature of the Easter Rising and honor the complexity of Ireland’s fight for independence.
Works Cited
Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook, Easter, 1916 : A Complete and Connected Narrative of the Rising, with Detailed Accounts of the Fighting at All Points in Dublin and in the Country … 2nd ed. Dublin: Irish Times, 1916. Special Collections (Books, Quarto) ; DA962 .I73 1916
