Blog - Creative Centenaries

Northern Women After Partition

05 April 2022

Northern Women After Partition

Dr Margaret Ward explores life for women in Ireland post-partition.

Sowing the Fourth Green Field: Michael Collins' Northern Policy, January-August 1922

21 March 2022

Sowing the Fourth Green Field: Michael Collins' Northern Policy, January-August 1922

Dr Conleth McCloskey takes an in-depth look at the many roles of Michael Collins throughout the 1920-22 period.

The Road to Civil War

08 February 2022

The Road to Civil War

Dr Brian Hanley traverses the road to Irish Civil War, charting the experience of the IRA.

The Ulster Special Constabulary

02 February 2022

The Ulster Special Constabulary

Dr Brian Barton charts the history of this divisive quasi-military group, examining their crucial role throughout the 1920s.

Ulster Unionism and the constitutional routes not taken

07 January 2022

Ulster Unionism and the constitutional routes not taken

University of Edinburgh PhD candidate James Bright explores the 'unsettled' nature of Ulster Unionism.

It's a Wrap!

20 December 2021

It's a Wrap!

Dr Niamh Gallagher reflects on the Nerve Centre and the Northern Ireland Independent Centenary Historical Advisory Panel's one-year collaboration.

Ending the Scrap: From War of Independence to the Treaty

06 December 2021

Ending the Scrap: From War of Independence to the Treaty

Dr Caoimhe Nic Dháibhéid charts the events which preceded the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

Remembering Terence MacSwiney in the Irish diasporic built environment

30 November 2021

Remembering Terence MacSwiney in the Irish diasporic built environment

Dr Sophie Cooper looks at the Irish diasporas' reaction to the partition of Northern Ireland.

Health services in post-partition Ireland: Diverging trajectories and differing systems

08 November 2021

Health services in post-partition Ireland: Diverging trajectories and differing systems

University College Cork's Dr Sean Lucey evaluates the impact of partition on healthcare.

Focus On... Religion

03 November 2021

Focus On... Religion

Dr Ryan Mallon explores the nuanced history of the meaning and impact of religion within the context of the partition of Northern Ireland.

Governors’ Wives in Northern Ireland

20 October 2021

Governors’ Wives in Northern Ireland

Explore the hidden histories of five women who served as Governor's Wives between 1920-1972 with PhD candidate Katie Tate.

Standing Guard over Ireland’s Unity? Partition and St Patrick

06 October 2021

Standing Guard over Ireland’s Unity? Partition and St Patrick

Dr Tommy Dolan explores the link between Eóin MacNeil, St Patrick and partition.

From Partition to Decriminalisation: Homosexuality in Northern Ireland 1921-1982

22 September 2021

From Partition to Decriminalisation: Homosexuality in Northern Ireland 1921-1982

Abigail Fletcher, a current PhD Research at the University of Edinburgh explores the impact of the partition of Northern Ireland on sexuality in the past century.

Ernest Clark, ‘Midwife’ of the Northern Ireland State

15 September 2021

Ernest Clark, ‘Midwife’ of the Northern Ireland State

Dr Brian Barton looks at the life and career of Ernest Clarke, and his often over-looked role within the formation of Northern Ireland.

Tourism in Ireland

07 September 2021

Tourism in Ireland

PhD candidate at Queens University Belfast, Jamie Nugent, explores the development of tourism in Ireland in the early part of the 20th century.

Focus On... Violence

23 August 2021

Focus On... Violence

Dr Ryan Mallon explores Belfast's early 20th century 'troubles', which culminated in several forms of violence in the period 1920-1922.

Immigrants, Diversity and Race Relations in Twentieth-Century Northern Ireland

03 August 2021

Immigrants, Diversity and Race Relations in Twentieth-Century Northern Ireland

University of Manchester's Dr Jack Crangle explores Northern Ireland's migrant community.

The Northern Ireland Economy Between the Wars

26 July 2021

The Northern Ireland Economy Between the Wars

Professor Henry Patterson explores how the new Northern Ireland state fared economically in the first decades after its creation.

The Forgotten Partition of Orangeism

12 July 2021

The Forgotten Partition of Orangeism

Doctoral candidate and Justin Arbuthnott Scholar from the University of Edinburgh, Dexter Govan, explores the partition within Orangeism during the 20th century.

Women in 1921: Politics, Revolution and Violence

02 July 2021

Women in 1921: Politics, Revolution and Violence

Dr Margaret Ward explores the diverse experiences of Nationalist and Unionist women, and their central role in shaping the events of 1921.

Myth, Memory and Community: Loyalist Great War Remembrance

01 July 2021

Myth, Memory and Community: Loyalist Great War Remembrance

Gareth Lyle explores modes of remembrance for loyalist communities within Ulster over the past century.

Focus On ... Entertainment

24 June 2021

Focus On ... Entertainment

The show must go on ... despite civil unrest, commercial leisure continued to thrive in 1920s Belfast. Dr Sam Manning explores how cinema, theatre and music responded to the challenges of the early 1920s.

The First Northern Ireland Parliament

18 June 2021

The First Northern Ireland Parliament

An introduction to some of the key figures elected to the first Northern Ireland parliament.

The Political Partition of Ireland Was Not Followed by a Social and Cultural One

14 June 2021

The Political Partition of Ireland Was Not Followed by a Social and Cultural One

Dr Cormac Moore explores how the establishment of a border on the island of Ireland affected everyday life after 1921.

Focus On … The Northern Ireland Election

27 May 2021

Focus On … The Northern Ireland Election

100 years on from the first election to the Northern Ireland parliament, Dr Ryan Mallon explores the range of views in 1921 on the election, the campaigns for votes, and reactions to the results.

Class Matters: Aspects of the First Northern Ireland Election

24 May 2021

Class Matters: Aspects of the First Northern Ireland Election

Professor Graham Walker considers the circumstances surrounding the elections to the first Northern Ireland parliament in 1921.

Carson’s Farewell to Ulster

06 May 2021

Carson’s Farewell to Ulster

One hundred years on from partition and the formation of Northern Ireland, Professor John Horne reflects on Edward Carson's views of the new state.

Focus on … Minorities, Partition and the Formation of Northern Ireland

04 May 2021

Focus on … Minorities, Partition and the Formation of Northern Ireland

In this instalment of 'Focus On', we explore how minority communities on the island of Ireland viewed and responded to the events of 1921.

No Single Narrative Can be Drawn from Northern Ireland's Turbulent History

04 May 2021

No Single Narrative Can be Drawn from Northern Ireland's Turbulent History

The Centenary Historical Advisory Panel sets out their vision for approaching the centenary of partition and the formation of Northern Ireland.

Breaking Away: Sport and Partition

22 April 2021

Breaking Away: Sport and Partition

Dr Ryan Mallon explores how partition and the formation of Northern Ireland affected sports on the island.

The Belfast Shipyard Expulsions

29 March 2021

The Belfast Shipyard Expulsions

Professor Henry Patterson examines the violence that erupted in Belfast's shipyards and across the city from July 1920.

Focus On ... Majorities: Northern Unionists

18 March 2021

Focus On ... Majorities: Northern Unionists

In the first of our new 'Focus On' series, we take a look at how Northern Unionists - and their opponents - viewed themselves in the new Northern Ireland state.

Women and the Decade of Centenaries

11 March 2021

Women and the Decade of Centenaries

Exploring some of the women who made history during the period 1912-23.

Two Great Communal Leaders: James Craig (1871–1940) and Joe Devlin (1871–1934)

04 March 2021

Two Great Communal Leaders: James Craig (1871–1940) and Joe Devlin (1871–1934)

Professor Lord Bew explores the lives of the two key political leaders and their role in the events of 100 years ago.

The Partition of Ireland: Context and Content

28 January 2021

The Partition of Ireland: Context and Content

Dr Marie Coleman explores the events leading up to the 1920 Government of Ireland Act.