The Paper Wall

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‘Kevin Barry Must Die’  -  ‘Armed Forces Of The Crown Kill Player And Spectators In Croke Park’  -  
‘Dublin’s Famous Custom House Destroyed By Fire’  -  ‘Bombs And Fire Wipe Out Cork’s Business Centre’  -  ‘Reprisals: Dreadful Tales From Many Districts’  -  ‘Auxiliaries Mutilated After Cork Ambush’

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What were the stories that lay behind these newspaper headlines from the Irish War of Independence? Who wrote them? What were their motivations and beliefs? Where did they get their information and how did they report on events? What attempts were made to manipulate these headlines? Using contemporary newspapers, archival sources and many newly opened files The Paper Wall attempts to answer these questions and bring a fresh perspective to the period from the first Dáil of 1919 to the Truce in 1921.

Each day, an estimated 500,000 newspapers were sold to an Irish public eager to keep abreast of the latest dramatic developments and this book examines the role of five newspapers – the Irish Independent, Irish Times, Freeman’s Journal, Cork Examiner and The Times of London. These newspapers and their reporters were under constant pressure. The British Government established the ‘Public Information Branch’ in Dublin Castle while Dáil Éireann operated its own ‘Department of Propaganda’, both of which sought to influence and to control the press. Violent intimidation of newspapers was a common occurrence and newspapers offices around the country were attacked and badly damaged. Inevitably, the newspapers became not just a chronicler of events but a participant and sometimes a central protagonist.

The Paper Wall highlights the vital role played by newspapers during these years. The book provides a clear and readable account of how the newspapers worked and reported amidst the storm of suppression, censorship, intimidation, propaganda, and violence. More information on the contents of the book and the situation in Ireland at that time can be found in the drop down menu at the top of the page.

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Some Reviews of The Paper Wall

‘Ian Kenneally in his new book sets an admirable backdrop to the three years, 1919-1921’ – Hugh Oram, Books Ireland

‘...nicely compact and accessible accounts of departments and newspapers will no doubt be turned to many times by historians and students…a valuable and well presented book’ – Peter Hart, Journal of British Studies

‘...an important contribution to the historiography of the Irish Revolution...a sound and innovative study of the Irish media during 1919-21’ – John Borgonovo, Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society

‘The Paper Wall is a well-written and well-researched book and should be read by anyone with an interest in the period or in the Irish media more generally’ – Eoin Ó’Broin, Magill

‘This is a fascinating read’ – The Sunday Tribune

‘Kenneally gives a clear account of how the newspapers gathered the news despite censorship, violence and occasional suppression’ – The Irish Sword

‘This debut work is an intriguing look at the stories that played beneath the surface of the records we have of that time’ – Sunday Business Post

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Publisher: The Collins Press
Edition: Paperback
ISBN: 1905172583
ISBN13: 9781905172580
Weight: 335g
Dimensions: 138mm x 216mm
Pages: 250

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