This week: The Irish Civil War as a case study in counterinsurgency; Woodrow Wilson's Sheep; and the markets and lost industries of Dublins Northside

How the Free State Won The Irish Civil War

A recently published book looks at the Irish Civil War through the lens of modern military theory – making the case that the Free State's strategy in that conflict provides important insights into the dynamics of insurgency and counterinsurgency.

It’s called Clear Hold Build: How the Free State Won The Irish Civil War Click here for more information on the book. The author is Dr Gareth Prendergast, who joins Myles in studio. He’s a serving Colonel, currently Head of Stategic Force Design in the Irish Defence Forces, with over 30 years experience at home and abroad in the Middle East, the Balkans and Mali.

Gareth will be giving a talk at 8PM on Friday the 10th of October, at Griffith College in Dublin, that'll be available in person and online, as part of the Dublin Festival of History

Woodrow Wilson's Sheep

Throughout 1918, millions of American troops poured into Europe. America had formally entered World War One the previous year, and their presence helped the Allies reach the decisive phase in that conflict.

Back in the US, citizens were urged to make sacrifices - to cut back on food and fuel, to help sustain the war effort overseas. And even the White House joined in. Woodrow Wilson's administration looked for ways to show solidarity on the home front, from rationing and sewing drives - to some rather unconventional landscaping.

Colm Flynn has been finding out about a flock of new residents that arrived on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that year. He spoke to the President of the White House Historical Association, Stewart McLaurin.

Dublin Festival of History

The Dublin Festival of History is coming back, starting this Friday the 26th of September, and running until the 12th October - with over 250 free events taking place all across the city.

Myles is joined by Mary Muldowney, Dublin City Council Historian in Residence, who’ll be giving a number of talks as part of the festival.

For a full list of events go to the Dublin Festival of History website

Below are the events that Mary is involved in:

Special Event to Mark Publication of 50th Volume of Saothar

Irish Labour History Society Premises, Beggars Bush, D04 DP27 Thursday 9 October, 17:30

Join us for a special event to mark the landmark 50th volume of Saothar: Journal of Irish Labour History, a refereed journal dedicated to the study of Irish working-class history in its broadest sense, including Irish workers abroad and comparative history. This will bea bumper edition, including articles, essays, reviews, source studies and a selection of images from the society's unique archive. The event will feature a wine reception, followed by the formal launch and a discussion on the history of Irish workers and their organisations over the past 50 years and into the future. All are welcome to the launch.

Booking: Email secretary@irishlabourhistorysociety.com

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible

Dublin Street Traders from 1800 to 2000

Drumcondra Library, Millmount Avenue, Drumcondra, D09 PT78 Thursday 2 October, 18:30

Dublin city has a long tradition of street trading, ranging from fruit and vegetable stalls to second-hand clothing to fish and meat among many other products. The street markets where the traders worked have changed a lot in the last 50 years or so but one thing that remains consistent is the extent to which many of the families engaged in the work have passed on their knowledge and their skills from generation to generation. Dublin City Council Historian in Residence Dr Mary Muldowney will discuss their history.

Booking: dublinfestivalofhistory.ie

Duration: 1 hour.

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Contact: 01 222 8344

Memories of the Ballymun Shopping Centre

Ballymun Library, Ballymun Road, D11 DCR7 Saturday 11 October, 14:30

This talk will be based on a lengthy interview with a man who grewup in one of the Tower Blocks and his remarkably sharp recall of the Shopping Centre and the businesses based there. Dublin City Council Historian in Residence Dr Mary Muldowney hopes that members of the audience will share some of their memories of growing up in and working in Ballymun, either at the event or later in a private recording session.

Booking: Email ballymunlibrary@dublincity.ie or call 01 222 8355

Duration: 1 hour

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Contact: 01 222 8355

Lost Industries from Dublin: Some Case Studies from Finglas

Finglas Library, Seamus Ennis Road, Finglas, D11 C603 Monday 29 September, 18:30

In the 1970s the Janelle Centre was a significant employer in North West Dublin. It offered employment to many residents of the then new estates in Finglas, particularly women. When the factory closed, it was replaced by the Janelle Shopping Centre, which included a cinema, opened by then Lord Mayor of Dublin Bertie Ahern in 1987. Dublin City Council Historian in Residence Dr Mary Muldowney will explore the history of Janelle and other significant employers that once played a pivotal role in their communities but have since disappeared.

Booking: Call 01 222 8330

Duration: 1 hour

Contact: 01 222 8330

A Rebel Irishwoman – Edna O'Brien in the Mid- 20th Century

Cabra Library, Navan Rd, D07 AYW1 Saturday 4 October, 14:30

Edna O'Brien's writing challenged sexual repression and the social control of the Catholic Church in Ireland in the 1950s–1970s. Her early books were banned in Ireland, but she achieved international acclaim not only for her revelations about women’s status in her home country but for her imaginative exploration of women’s lives and their relations with men.

Dublin City Historian in Residence Dr Mary Muldowney will discuss how O’Brien’s literary work eventually earned approval in her home country, to such an extent that in the years before her death in 2024 she came to be regarded as a national treasure.

Booking: dublinfestivalofhistory.ie

Duration: 1 hour

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Contact: 01 222 8310