RSS
News


Home Page > News > Famous Irish War of Independence photo is a fake

Famous Irish War of Independence photo is a fake

By
JOHN O'BRIEN,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Saturday, May 29, 2010, 7:22 AM
Updated Saturday, May 29, 2010, 12:02 PM

print this article Print
email this articleE-mail
comment on article 8 Comments
 

This is a still from a 1926 movie called "Irish Destiny"


One of the most iconic photographs of the Irish War of Independence has been revealed to be a still from a film.

For decades it was thought to show a key moment in Irish history.

It supposedly showed British intelligence officer Lt Gilbert Arthur Price shooting at the IRA, moments before he was killed in a gun battle on Dublin's Talbot Street on October 14, 1920.

The photograph was on the cover of  Dan Breen's book “My Fight for Irish Freedom” (1973) and more recently on the book “The War For Ireland 1913-1923” published just last year. It has been widely used in history books for close to ninety years.

The picture had long been attributed to John Horgan, then a 15-year-old apprentice photographer who went on to become famous.

However, research at the Irish Film Institute has revealed this dramatic picture is a still from a 1926 film called “Irish Destiny.”

It was the first movie set in Ireland about the War of Independence.

The hero of the film is an IRA man named O'Hara, played by Paddy Dunne Cullivan.

In the film, O'Hara is involved in a shootout with British forces. It is the  still from that scene that was  long thought to be a scene from a real shoot-out, and it has confused Irish historians for decades.

Historian Tommy Graham, editor of the magazine “History Ireland” says the mix-up happened  due to a newspaper article, which featured it among a series of pictures from the War of Independence.

A spokesman for Osprey Publishing, which produced “The War for Ireland: 1913-1923,” stated they was unaware of the real background of the picture it choose for the cover.

"It's a very striking image of the period. That was why we choose it," he told the Irish Independent.
 

​
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail


8 Comments

See all comments

liliying | Jun 11, 2010, 09:30 PM EDT
╮WELCOME -----http://www.fashionclothe.com~ ¤ ╭⌒╮ ╭⌒╮ ╭⌒╭⌒╮╭⌒╮～╭⌒╮ ,））））,''）~~ ,''~） ╱◥█◣ ╱◥█◣ ｜田｜田｜｜田｜田｜ ╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬ ╬╬╬ http://www.fashionclothe.com╬╬╬ ╰════════════════════╯ Wholesale and reatail all kinds of world brand shoes,jeans,t-shirts,bikini,beach pants,handbags,wallets,sunglasses,belt,caps,watches etc.. ---------------If you think our website is good , you can put this website to your bookmarks or other places ,easy to find ... ╭══════════════╮ http://www.fashionclothe.com ╰══════════════╯ Air jordan(1-24)shoes $33 Nike shox(R4,NZ,OZ,TL1,TL2,TL3) $35 Handbags(Coach lv fendi d&g) $35 Tshirts (Polo ,ed hardy,lacoste) $16 Jean(True Religion,ed hardy,coogi) $30 Sunglasses(Oakey,coach,gucci,Armaini) $16 New era cap $15 Bikini (Ed hardy,polo) $25 FREE sHIPPING ╭══════════════╮ http://www.fashionclothe.com

Report abuse

johnymac60 | Jun 02, 2010, 07:53 AM EDT
Cromwell. Honorable? Are you joking? Obviously you are ignorant of the facts. Read another book or two, will ya?

Report abuse

killowen | May 31, 2010, 09:51 PM EDT
cromwell was england's hitler - henry 8 was a close second - saxon types have that tendency.

Report abuse

killowen | May 31, 2010, 09:49 PM EDT
bottom of the barrel - desperate for a nothing story.

Report abuse

linlili | May 31, 2010, 08:37 AM EDT
t8hygiuoio

Report abuse

Realist | May 30, 2010, 05:24 AM EDT
manofaran: Lol....did you even read Reilly's book? Come back when you have a point to make.

Report abuse

manofaran | May 29, 2010, 07:57 PM EDT
Did he not write another book, "Custer, Indians best friend"

Report abuse

Realist | May 29, 2010, 01:38 PM EDT
Irish historians have a sweet tooth for the sentimental. Their accounts tend to read like song lyrics with the Irish ever portrayed as the 'victims'. One notable exception is Tom Reilly. I have yet to see any credible rebuttal to the case made in his excellent book, "Cromwell: An Honourable Enemy". The way it was attacked in the Irish press was nothing short of laughable and is indicative of a country's collective chip on its shoulder.

Report abuse

 


IrishCentral logo
"Like" IrishCentral
IrishCentral Mobile QR code


Connect to IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or Sign-Up directly

Already Registered? Sign-In!

Welcome to IrishCentral!
Please provide the following information in order to create your account

Username:
E-Mail Address:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy


Already Registered? Sign-In!
Forgot my password

Welcome to IrishCentral!
All we need is the following information and you will be part of the #1 Irish community in the US

E-Mail Address:
First select a unique username:
Username:
Now choose a password:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Thank you!

Just one more step and you will be part of the largest Irish community in America! Tell us a little more about you to start enjoying all the features of IrishCentral.

Additional Information:

First Name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Zip:
Gender: Male  Female 
Country:
Degree of Irishness:
Household Income:
Level of Education:

Subscribe to our newsletters:

The Best of IrishCentral - Daily Newsletter
Special Offers from our sponsors

or
Skip

You can edit your information at any time, just go to "my account" when you're logged in.

Log into IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or sign-in directly

E-Mail:
Password:
 Remember me Forgot my password
Not a member? Register Now!
submit to reddit
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail