First World War

The Great War - 1914 to 1918 - one of the deadliest conflicts in human history

This collection focuses on the Irish experience during the First World War. Some 210,000 Irishmen served in the British forces during the conflict. In total, around 35,000 Irish died during The Great War. From North and South, Irishmen enlisted for a multitude of reasons. Local considerations played an important part. Many Northern Unionists – who had been part of the recently-formed Ulster Volunteer Force – went on to join the 36^th (Ulster) Division. Southern Nationalists, heeding the call-to-arms of John Redmond, joined the other two ‘New Army’ divisions raised in Ireland, the 10^th and 16^th (Irish) Divisions.

This collection includes footage of the Irish (16^th) and 36^th Ulster Divisions at the front and film depicting the rising tensions at home between 1914-18.