‘Red Triangle; Workers, Loyalists and Partition – A North of Ireland History’ by Dr Fearghal Mac Bhloscaidh as part of Féile na Carraige

Dr Fearghal Mac Bhloscaidh is Senior Lecturer in History at St. Mary’s University, Belfast and the author of two previous monographs on the revolutionary period in Ireland, Fenians and Ribbonmen and Tyrone: The Irish Revolution. Originally from East Tyrone, he taught for ten years at Coláiste Feirste, the largest Irish-language secondary school on the Island and makes frequent contributions to historical television documentaries and news programmes. He was previously a Research Fellow at the National University of Ireland, Galway. This event in Féile na Carraige will launch his new book Red Triangle, a major social history and the backstory to Britain’s partition of Ireland in 1921. It captures the wave of labour militancy that swept across the north during the struggle for Irish independence. From Belfast and Ulster’s linen triangle, this movement radiated outwards as socialist trade unionists forged an unlikely alliance between Catholics and Protestants, challenging sectarian divisions and imperial authority. The mass strikes offered a tantalising glimpse of a democratic future for Ulster before the movement was crushed by loyalist violence.

Is é Léachtóir Sinsearach in Ollscoil Naomh Mhuire, Béal Feirste agus staraí mór le rá é an Dr Fearghal Mac Bhloscaidh a scríobh dhá leabhar ar réabhlóid na hÉireann ‘Fenians and Ribbonmen’ agus ‘Tyrone: The Irish Revolution’. Is de bhunadh Oirthear Thír Eoghain é Fearghal a theagasc i gColáiste Feirste, an mheánscoil Ghaeilge is mó in Éirinn, ar feadh leathscór bliain agus labhraíonn sé go minic ar chláir fhaisnéise agus nuachta. I rith an imeachta, seolfaidh Fearghal a leabhar nua ‘Red Triangle’, stair shóisialta suntasach agus scéal na críochdheighilte in Éirinn. Déanann sé taifead ar an bhorradh a tháinig ar rabharta de mhíleatacht na n-oibrithe ó thuaidh le linn na réabhlóide. D’eascair an ghluaiseacht seo amach ó thriantán an linéadaigh i mBéal Feirste agus Uladh de réir mar a chothaigh ceardchumannaithe sóisialacha comhghuaillíocht idir Caitliceacaigh agus Protastúnaigh, ag tabhairt dúshlán ar dheighilt sheicteach agus forlámhas an impiriúlachais. Thairg na hollstailceanna spléachadh mealltach de thodhchaí dhaonlathach do na hUltaigh sular scrios foréigean na ndílseoirí an ghluaiseacht. Bígí linn don seoladh speisialta seo!

Description supplied by the event organiser.