Introduction
In the film The Wind That Shakes the Barley, the portrayal of patriotism and the concept of blood sacrifice are both prominent. Throughout the film, there is a great sense of Irish patriotism. The main protagonists are fervent nationalists who want an Ireland free of British authority. Following World War I, there came English troops into Ireland and mistreated the Irish people horribly, putting a halt to the democratic-republican bill. The Irish people became enraged and continued to revolt back. The film depicts the events of Ireland’s war for independence, which culminated in the ratification of the Treaty of Dublin, which established the Irish Socialist Republic, and the subsequent Civil War. This article examines how the Irish people portrayed their nationalism by applying all pertinent methods to resist the British and flee their country.
The Irish Declaration of Independence, often known as the Anglo-Irish War, was a long-running armed conflict between opposing forces of the Irish Republican Brigade and British troops. Ambushes, executions, and assaults on Army and police officers would become almost regular occurrences as bloodshed between the IRA and British troops intensified. Notwithstanding the British’s violent suppression of the Irish Republican Easter Rebellion in 1916, fighting appeared doubtful to decrease given the vast number of deaths they caused. Far from destroying Irish morale, the Rising solidified in the minds of many the belief that triumph over the British might be attained if they were ready to devote. Nationalism in the Irish people made them apply the following tactics to flee their country from the British.
Terrorism and assassination were used effectively
The IRA waged a successful terror campaign towards the British machinery, as portrayed by the court system, the authorities, the magistrate court, and other relevant councils. They deserted their roles and allowed Dáil Éireann leaders to grab control of democratic accountability in their place. The RIC’s near-daily murders resulted in significant reductions and failed to adequately Police or govern Ireland’s cities and farmland. In 1919, 11 people were shot and killed; from January to June 1920, 39 troops were killed; and from July to September, 55 officers were killed (Shiwnarain 67). People began to regard Dáil Éireann as the recognized government, and pleas for the IRA to police them demonstrated that they saw the IRA as their genuine defenders. Irish violence sparked a backlash in the United Kingdom, encouraging more people to support the IRA’s cause.
Devotion to an Ideology
Associations such as the Gaelic Welfare Association, the Gaelic Alliance, the Christian Sisters, the Irish Nationalists Brotherhood, and various elements of the church promoted a subculture in Ireland from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. A resurgence of Gaelic literature reignited a widespread sense of “Irishness” and a unique national identity independent of British control. This concept would become a focal aspect of the Irish fight for independence, were persuading the population that Irish freedom was a cause worthy of suffering.
Irish intellectuals like Padraig Pearse and Michael Collins successfully harnessed and geared Irish nationalistic fervour and glorified the qualities of martyrdom, with the narrative’s effectiveness bolstered by the Irish society’s strong convictions. “Massacre is a cleaning, and sacramental thing and the state that considers it as the ultimate tragedy has gone its masculinity,” Pearse wrote, “and the culture that considers it as the penultimate evil has lost its masculine characteristics (Louch) ” Slavery is one of many things that are more heinous than bloodshed. The British governance, which would become less and less intrigued in the details of retaining Ireland and instead of hiring forces primarily motivated by pay, encountered incredibly hard adversaries who, on the whole, was ready to murder, die, and go to the length for a purpose they saw as just and righteous.
A Political Arm That Is Well-Defined
In the same way that Mao Zedong grasped the necessity of spreading political ideas to promote social harmony and organizational cohesion during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Irish leaders realized. The Irish Democratic Fraternity (IRB), led by Michael Collins in his twin roles as President and Director of Army Organization, was at the centre of the Irish Volunteers. The IRA’s Military, propaganda, and political efforts were directed by the Council, which gave its acts a democratic representation and congressional oversight. It was also aided by Sinn Féin’s initiatives, which offered extra legislative recognition and support. Through a slew of Irish cultural and ideological groups, it funnelled considerable numbers of recruits and funds to IRB and IRA activities.
The General Public’s Support
By the end of the world conflict, it was clear that the Irish people were solidly on the line of self-government, and Irish actions were widely seen as just. The sovereign state was represented by the politically appointed Sinn Féin and Dáil Éireann, and the violence performed against British authorities did little to enhance the sense of British power. Irish Democrats boycotted the security services, refusing to supply them food and gasoline, refusing to provide data or jury duty, and instead relying on Republican cops and tribunals. To escape British reprisals, IRA soldiers were disguised by civilians, and citizens made up a large part of the IRB and IRA information gathering and political forces.
Military Hierarchy That Has Been Developed
A meticulously structured campaign plan guided Irish efforts during the war. The IRB successfully directed Community organizations, emphasizing the competencies and knowledge of various leadership theories of unit deployment, development, and innovation. Ireland was organized into brigade zones, each regiment grouped into four battalions for complete training and administration. General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Army Staff was located in Dublin and got higher, and duties were easily outlined (Eliseev et al. 16). Combat, cycling, reconnaissance, architecture, and first aid were all covered in the Military’s training. Every attempt was undertaken to recruit retired and rely on their experience and knowledge.
Use of Guerrilla Tactics Effectively
Attacks on the police main base and Police and military patrols and cargo ships, mass murder of people, tampering with evidence, and burglary were all everyday IRA activities. Frequent attacks on police army camps by IRA modules restricted the jurisdiction of the Police in the face of the surrounding area. Still, it also provided IRA members with the opportunity to safeguard vital weapons and ammunition.
Conclusion
Finally, the Irish triumph in the Irish Liberation war came from the strengths of the Insurgents discussed in the essay. This war was bloody, and many people died as a result. It was eventually put down by the troops and legitimately elected government of the country. Later, the military and voted into power administration of the Irish Federal Republic repressed it, demonstrating the effectiveness of a powerful local administration recognized as genuine by the public in suppressing a revolutionary organization.
Works Cited
Eliseev, Nikolay et al. “Procedure for evaluation of functioning of the automated information systems of legally relevant electronic document flow”. Voprosy Kiberbezopasnosti, no. 6(34), 2019, pp. 7-16. A.L. Makarenko GI.
Louch, Ken. The Wind That Shakes the Barley. British Film Institute, 2018.
Shiwnarain, Mahendra. “120 pregnant whales were killed by Japan this year in their pursuit of “scientific research”. Science Trends, 2018, pp. 63-71. Science Trends.