Gun and Irish Politics

The Author: Raita Merivirta is writing a doctoral thesis on Indian literature in English at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. She holds an M.A. in English literature and an M.A. in history from the University of Turku, Finland. She was awarded a Licentiate of Philosophy degree in Indian English literature in 2007 and a Licentiate of Philosophy degree in history in 2009, both by the University of Turku. This book is based on her history Licentiate thesis. She has published several articles on Irish cinema and history, as well as on Indian literature in English.

• Contents: Irish national cinema – The treatment of history in films – Conventions of mainstream historical film – Questions of historical accuracy – Emphasis on the more military side of Michael Collins – The makings of a romantic national hero – Liam Neeson’s star image – The use of political violence in founding the Irish state – Easter Rising as the beginning of the struggle for independence – Michael Collins as the mastermind of the Irish War of Independence – Dublin’s urban guerrilla warfare – The Irish Republican Army’s campaign of terror – The atrocities committed by the Black and Tans – The anachronistic car bomb – The armoured vehicle in the Croke Park scene – The British as villains – Eamon de Valera setting Michael Collins up – The Anglo-Irish Treaty – The necessity to compromise – Collins’s transformation from an uncompromising soldier to a statesman who wants peace – De Valera’s fanatic Republicanism accountable for the Civil War – Irish Civil War on screen – Challenging old representations of Ireland on film.