Wicklow and the War of Independence

Wicklow County Archives is proud to present the county publication Wicklow and the War of Independence.  The book brings together a collection of essays and images by 12 of the county’s historians who have researched the revolutionary era in their respective localities from a variety of perspectives. The result is a series of interwoven studies that bring the complex tapestry of this significant part of Wicklow history into new and sharper focus.

In his foreword, former Wicklow County Council Chief Executive, Mr. Frank Curran states,

“The Wicklow Decade of Centenaries Programme supports the development of initiatives at county and community level to re-examine and commemorate significant events, individuals and groups during the revolutionary years (1913–23) in County Wicklow.  I believe that as part of this project, this publication Wicklow and the War of Independence, which is focused on Wicklow’s experience of the War of Independence (1919–­21), contributes to this goal by combining local stories and experiences with local research and scholarship via access to local archives. In doing so, it promotes a greater understanding of historical events and their legacies and thus encourages communities toward further exploration and reflection. It is a tangible demonstration of the benefits of free public access to authentic local archival sources, including online access to digitised local archives such as those available on the Wicklow County Council portal www.wicklow.ie .