The First Dáil

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How a daring decision made the First Dáil happen

In 1914 Ireland was on the path to Home Rule. But just four years later, a previously minor political party called Sinn Féin won a landslide victory and established the …

The First Dail meets at the Mansion House in 1919

GPO veterans, accountants, chemists - who were the first TDs?

The First Dáil at the Mansion House, January 21st 1919

Flags, prayers and cheers: The atmosphere of the First Dáil

Crowds gathered outside the Mansion House to witness the opening of the First Dáil

How the First Dáil was viewed at home - and in Britain

First Dail postcard

Standing Alone: David McCullagh on the First Dáil

Flags, funding and false moustaches

Arthur Griffith arrives at the first Dáil in a still from the archive footage from Grinberg, Paramount and Pathe Newsreels

The First Dáil on film

Arthur Griffith

This archive footage shows Count George Plunkett, Eamon De Valera, Arthur Griffith and others arriving at a session of the First Dáil.

Count Plunkett, Cathal Brugha, Father Michael O'Flanagan, Sean O'hAodha, E. J. [Éamonn] Duggan, Eoin Mac Neill, George Gavan Duffy, Piaras Beaslaí and Alderman Tom Kelly at the Dáil in June 1919, by Frank Leah. Image courtesy of National Library of Irelan

"No robes, no mace, no velvet": Organising the first Dáil meeting

First Dáil Loan stamps, 1919. Image courtesy of the National Library of Ireland

Funding the revolution: how the First Dáil was financed

From farce to insanity: how the media covered the First Dáil

From farce to insanity: how the media covered the First Dáil

The First Dáil - Witness Accounts

Listen to the witnesses of the First Dáil in a a fascinating collection of archive interviews

The First Dáil - Witness Accounts

Who was who in the First Dáil

Arthur Griffith

Constance Markievicz

Michael Collins

Eoin MacNeill

Cathal Brugha

W. T. Cosgrave

George Noble Plunkett

Sean Etchingham

J. J. O'Kelly

Austin Stack

Laurence Ginnell

Ernest Blythe

The History Show explores the First Dáil

The History Show heads to the Mansion House and beyond to explore the story and significance of the First Dáil

The History Show explores the First Dáil

Century Ireland

History as it happened - Century Ireland, January 30th 1919

History as it happened - Century Ireland, January 30th 1919

History as it happened - Century Ireland, January 16th 1919

History as it happened - Century Ireland, January 16th 1919

History as it happened - Century Ireland, January 2nd 1919

History as it happened - Century Ireland, January 2nd 1919

About the War of Independence project

The War of Independence project is a partnership between RTÉ History, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media and The Atlas of the Irish Revolution

The partners of the War of Independence project