History lecture series – Patrick Pearse: Reality and Myth

Dr Roisín Higgins (Teesside University)

15 February 2017  7.30pm Free

Patrick Pearse: Reality and Myth 

Patrick Pearse became the iconic figure of the Easter Rising. As its symbol he has been used and abused by Irish politicians; revered and reviled by the public, and often dismissed by historians. This talk will look at the man behind the myth. It will explore the life and writings of Pearse, his childhood, his activism and the events which led to his execution. It will also look at the myth created by the man, and the ways Pearse went about constructing a historical image. Pearse is one of the most complex figures in Irish history. This talk will ask if it can still be said that he is also one of the most important.