Trouble in Ireland

This newsreel is a compilation of events that happened in Ireland between 1916 and 1922. The order of the events is not presented sequentially, but it gives a glimpse of the level of military presence and destruction in Ireland (predominantly Dublin city) during this time.

The first segment shows British soldiers leaving Athlone Barracks following its takeover by General Sean MacEoin in the summer of 1922. Following this, soldiers are shown setting up barbed wire fences near City Hall, Dublin, and in Dun Laoghaire horses are being groomed near Martello Tower.

In the last segment, circa 1916, the devastating impact the Easter Rising had on O’Connell Street is shown. The newsreel depicts the destruction of many buildings as the camera slowly pans the main thoroughfare and pedestrians wander around the street. A shot of the first issue of Irish War News can be seen, displaying the date April 25th 1916. This was printed in the GPO by Drogheda businessman Joe Stanley.