Bracknagh in 1921 at the heart of efforts to prevent a Land War - Free event Rathangan December 3rd
Following October's screening of the 1921 Pathe Film about the Bracknagh Cooperative Society in Bracknagh Hall, new information reveals that it was at the heart of efforts by the Dáil to prevent a land war from diverting energy from the National Cause and undermine the legitimacy of the Dáil. The Dáil had established the National Land Bank to help restart land distribution as the existing process under British legal and financial schemes had ground to a halt.
In 1921 the Bracknagh Cooperative Society commissioned Pathe to make a film about the Society and its plans to raise funds by selling turf in America. The film referenced the exhumation of the ‘Ballynowlart Martyrs’ in 1917 and the ‘Cattle Drives’ on the ‘Ballynowlart Estate’ some four years earlier. The film was never completed and was stored in a number of seemingly disconnected sections in the Pathe archives. However, the biggest gap in Pathe’s records concerns the reason for the establishment of the Bracknagh Cooperative Society and the fact that it had recently purchased the Ballynowlart Estate with a loan provided by The National Land Bank. This fact probably explains the presence of Desmond Fitzgerald (the Dáil’s Director of Publicity) and Kevin O’Higgins in the film.
Join us on Saturday December 3rd for ‘Working to Prevent a Land War - The National Land Bank and the Bracknagh Cooperative Society.’ It will involve a screening of a newly edited version of the film, and Declan Aungier will perform his specially composed score which includes the poignant 'Lament for Ballynowlart.' There will also be a talk on the background to the film and an exhibition of still taken from the film.
This is a free event. To book a place email [email protected]
Picture attached shows Fr Kennedy Chair of teh Coop, Desmond Fitzgerald, Kevin O'Higgins and another at the ruins of Ballynowlart Church.