The Antrim and Down Branch of the Western Front Association and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) are delighted to welcome a presentation by author, journalist and historian, Dr Brian Feeney on his recent book ‘Antrim – The Irish Revolution, 1912-23’, published by Four Courts Press.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Antrim contained the largest Presbyterian population on the island of Ireland. It also contained most of Belfast – the largest city in Ireland – which dominated the economy of the north-east. Belfast was tightly integrated into Britain’s politics and economy, and the vast majority of its inhabitants, who were overwhelmingly Presbyterian and unionist like the rest of the county, were determined to keep it that way. In Antrim there was no land war, the majority of the population supported the Royal Irish Constabulary and Crown forces, and only a minority voted for home rule. Belfast was the centre of Ulster unionist resistance to home rule, and the location of the headquarters of the Ulster Unionist Party and the Ulster Volunteer Force. Dr Feeney’s talk will explore how the Ulster Crisis, Great War and Irish Revolution in Antrim shaped the political, economic and social aspects of people’s lives from 1912 to 1923.

Dr Brian Feeney, a political columnist with the Irish News, was Head of History at St Mary’s University College, Belfast for many years. He is co-author of the award-winning “Lost Lives: the stories of the men, women and children killed in the Northern Ireland Troubles” and author of “Sinn Féin: a hundred turbulent years” (2002), “A Short History of the Troubles” (2007), “Insider: Gerry Bradley’s Life in the IRA” (2011), “Seán Mac Diarmada” (2014).

This event is taking place on Zoom. Registration closes one hour before the event and an invite link will be sent to everyone registered one hour before the beginning of the event.