The People’s College is pleased to present a three‑part History Lecture Series this February, led by noted historian and History Ireland contributor Joseph E. A. Connell Jnr. The series explores key moments of Ireland’s revolutionary period, offering fresh insight into the events that shaped the nation.
Admission is free of charge, with places available on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
Lecture Programme
Wednesday 4 February — 6.30pm to 8.30pm
How Michael Collins used the politics of violence in Dublin and in the Irish War of Independence
Tuesday 10 February — 6.30pm to 8.30pm
What led the Irish and the British to declare a truce in July 1921? How was the Anglo‑Irish Treaty negotiated?
Wednesday 18 February — 6.30pm to 8.30pm
What was the role of women in the rebellion period? What could they expect in the Irish Free State? What was their treatment throughout the whole period?
Venue
The Teachers Club, Club Na Múinteoirí
36 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Meet in Lounge on First Floor
About Joseph E. A. Connell Jnr.
After serving in the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, Joe graduated as a Juris Doctor Cum Laude from Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, CA in June 1979.
Joe’s interest in Ireland and particularly in its history reflects his Irish heritage, and his interest in Ireland and its people and history has deepened over the years.
In time he came to concentrate his research/ interest on early 20th Century Ireland – with a particular focus on the period prior to the Rising up to the founding and early days of the Irish nation.
Joe is a regular visitor to Ireland. This gives him the opportunity to maintain contact with 21st Century Ireland and also the many Irish friends and colleagues he has come to know through the years.
In 2006 Dublin City Council, in association with Four Courts Press, published Joe’s “Where’s Where in Dublin” as their official commemoration volume for the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising.
His second book, the critically acclaimed “Dublin in Rebellion”, was published by Lilliput Press in 2009, and has become an essential reference source for all who study Dublin 1913-24.
Joe also has written several books for Kilmainham Tales, including the best-selling “Ministering to Republicans,” about the priests, mainly Capuchins, who ministered to the spiritual needs of the rebels during the Easter Rising, War of Independence and the Civil War, “Unequal Patriots,” about some of the women involved in the Irish freedom struggle, “Teaching Rebels,” which looks at the role of education, teachers and pupils in the early revolutionary years of the 20th century, and “Who Killed Michael Collins?”, examining one of the most controversial events in Irish history.
Joe is a columnist in History Ireland. His column “Countdown to 2016” appeared in each issue from 2009-2016. Now the column is titled “100 Years ago”, and is a somewhat chronological march throughout the revolutionary period. The column is intended to give the reader a feeling for the continuity of events of the whole period.
Two further books on the Easter Rising were published by Wordwell Books – “Dublin Rising 1916”; and “Who’s Who in the Dublin Rising 1916”, and “Michael Collins, Dublin 1916-1923” and was Number 1 on the best seller list at Hodges and Figgis for four weeks. His latest book is “The Shadow War”, on the Irish War of Independence, and published by Eastwood Books. Eastwood released his latest book, ‘The Terror War’ in November 2021.
Joe has given lectures to many historical societies, the Irish Defense forces, and schools. His talks are on the Rising, the War of Independence, the Civil War, and the guerrilla aspects of the whole period, as well as the early years of the Irish Free State.
