1. Jasper King
THE IRISH BATTLE FOR
INDEPENDENCE,
PARTICULARLY RECENT
HISTORY IN THE EASTER
UPRISING AND THE
ROLE OF DE VALERA

2. The Irish war of independence was a guerrilla war fought between the Irish
Republican Army and the British Government and it’s forces in Ireland. The
war was fought between 21 November 1919 to 11 July 1921. It was caused
when the Irish Republicans won a landslide victory in the December 1918
election, consequently they formed a breakaway government and through
this wanted independence from Britain. It was a rather bloody war with up to
300 people dead in 1920. Violence escalated during that year in November
now known as Bloody Sunday. Fourteen British Intelligence operatives were
assassinated and the RIC opened fire on a crowd at a football match in the
afternoon. The result by 1921 was a ceasefire which resulted in the Anglo-
Irish Treaty and the creation of the Irish Free State. By the end of the war
total dead was 2,014.
IRISH BATTLE FOR INDEPENDENCE

3. From the beginning of the play we know that Kate was involved
in the War of Independence. We learn this through the quote
that Michael says ‘But Aunt Kate had been involved in the War
of Independence, so Father Jack's brief career in the British
army was never referred to in that house’. Of course if Kate was
fighting for the war of independence then she would disapprove
of Jack’s involvement in the British Army because he was
fighting for Britain who were of course in Ireland’s eyes the
‘enemy’. That’s why Jack’s involvement is hushed down because
it brings shame upon the family because they would support
Ireland’s actions for independence from Britain. Violence in the
North and especially Belfast was notable for its sectarian
character and its high number of Catholic civilian victims. This
may of prompted Kate to fight in the War of Independence
because she believes in Catholicism.
LINKS TO DANCING AT LUGHNASA

4. The Easter Rising was the plan to revolt in Easter 1916, in
which the Volunteers, now explicitly declaring a republic,
launched an insurrection whose aim was to end British rule and
to found an Irish Republic. The rising in which 400 people were
killed was confined to Dublin. However, the killing of volunteers
by the British Army meant support for the British Army was
wane, and Irish public opinion was shocked and outraged by
some of the actions committed by British troops this led to
further support for the Sinn Fein party and their leader Eamon
de Valera.
EASTER RISING

5. We know that Aunt Kate had been involved in the War of Independence.
However, there is further evidence that she may have also been a
volunteer during the Easter Rising. Michael comments that she was
involved ‘locally’. After all, The Easter Rising was only confined to Dublin,
so this could suggest that she was involved in the early stages of the War
of Independence, therefore she was a strong believer that Ireland should
have independence and this could come down to her strong beliefs in
Catholicism again. This is supported through the fact that the play is set
during the festival of Lughnasa, a local pagan dance festival which Kate
strongly disagrees with. This is further supported when the sisters want
to go to the festival but Kate doesn’t, She comments ‘And they’ll be no
more discussion about it. The matter’s over. I don’t want it mentioned
again’. This suggests she is strongly against paganism and doesn’t want
it mentioned within the household or let the sister’s show that they are in
support of paganism by attending the festival. This shows her strong faith
for Catholicism and ultimately why she was involved in the Easter
Uprising and the War of Independence.
LINKS TO DANCING AT LUGHNASA

6. De Valera was the leader in the 1916 Easter Rising which
proclaimed an Irish republic. He later stood as a Sinn Fein
candidate in the 1918 general election. Most importantly he won
seats outside Ulster, however refused to take their seats at
Westminster. Instead he established an independent parliament
to govern Ireland and this was a catalyst for the Irish War of
Independence. He became president of the Dail. De Valera was
ultimately an inspirational figure to many Irish people who fought
for independence in Ireland. During his final few years he
changed the cultural identity of the Irish Republic as Roman
Catholic and Gaelic was asserted. He died on 29 August 1975,
however in his lifetime he revolutionised Ireland and it’s
importance in the world.
EAMON DE VALERA (1882-1975)

7. During the beginning of the play it is evident that De Valera’s
influence is supported by the sisters. Maggie sings ‘Will you
vote for De Valera, will you vote? If you don’t, we’ll be like
Gandhi with his goat’. This just supports the fact that many
Irish people, including Maggie and the sisters in Dancing at
Lughnasa were in support of an independent Ireland. Friel uses
the sisters in order to convey this idea, in a way they act as the
majority of the Irish population as it is evident that this was a
popular song during the time.
LINKS TO DANCING AT LUGHNASA

8. It is interesting that through such a simple play that conveys
the everyday lives of ordinary people, Friel ultimately conveys
political ideologies and a wider contextual context throughout
the majority of this play. He presents themes of religion and
politics discretely through characters attitudes and this gives us
a further insight into ideologies that dominated Ireland during
the time this play was set.
OVERVIEW