Military History Seminar in two towns

There are two parts to the 9th Irish Military Seminar in this coming week, writes Brian Byrne. Between them, they give Naas a space in the programme as well as the traditional Newbridge base.

Two films of Irish military interest will be shown in the Naas Library & Cultural Centre on Tuesday, 13 May, kicking off at 7pm with a screening of The Rathbride Flying Column, Kildare in the Civil War. It's a documentary produced by Prosperous Heritage Society and tells the story of the flying column and its executed members. This will be followed by a showing of The Land, set in the 1914-1918 War and about two men struggling to survive in the aftermath of a failed mission. It was filmed in Kildare. The evening will conclude with interviews about their works with Joe Murphy of Prosperous Heritage Society, and Joseph Butler, who wrote and produced The Land — the interviewer will be author and film historian Wayne Byrne.

The seminar proper will be launched on Friday, 16 May at 7.30pm by the Cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council, Cllr Kevin Duffy, at the Riverbank Arts Centre. There are three events through the evening: Ray Lane will discuss the contents of his memoir Only a Soldier Knows and his experiences in counter-terrorism and UN and NATO service in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lebanon, and Afghanistan. A presentation on the Irish Military in France, 1690-1815 will be given by military history author and historical novelist Stephen McGarry. A discussion on The Irish in the Resistance features author and journalist Clodagh Finn and WW2 historian John Morgan.

The life and death of IRA leader Rory O'Connor will be detailed by historian Gerard Shannon. Author Michael B Barry and colouriser-photographer John O'Byrne will present Colour of Conflict: Ireland 1922-1945.

The seminar will close at 1pm on Saturday.

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