Last week we showed you a few of the commemorations for the Easter Rising, one of the most prominent moments in Irish history. But what exactly happened 100 years ago? Leave it to YouTube to provide answers.
While many timelines and stories of the heroes and days following Easter Monday can be found online, it is safe to assume that many people outside of Ireland are not entirely familiar with the specifics of the Easter Rising, as well as the events both leading up to and immediately after the rebellion. American textbooks hardly dedicate more than a few sentences to it during high school history, meaning millions of those with Irish ancestry may be unaware of the events that occured.
Thankfully for those individuals, they can brush up on their history and have the Easter Rising explained to them in just 8 minutes time. A quick talking video by self proclaimed artist, actor and educator John D. Ruddy provides not only a detailed account of the rebellion, but puts it in context with other aspects of the country’s history. His illustrated video is as fun to watch as it is educational, and he fits more facts, dates, and people into 8 minutes than most history professors could in an entire semester.
The video starts in medieval Ireland, and moves through from the Parliament of Ireland to the move to England, the potato famine, and the cultural Gaelic Revival and subsequent desire to bring rule back to being based in Ireland. It walks through the growing debate during WWI, and the planning and execution of the Easter Rising.
Though Ruddy moves quickly from one event to the next, the illustrations, maps, and fact focused graphics helps the viewer to get a good handle on what happened, including brief successes and the fall of the rebels to British reinforcements. With all the facts and information in this video, even those well-versed in history are sure to learn something. The literal moment of silence for the executed leaders is especially powerful, leaving an odd quiet after the ear has become used to the fast paced voiceover.
Ruddy creates fascinating videos that average over 120 illustrations per video, and currently has over 25 videos on his YouTube page. These videos take the viewer on a whirlwind historical tour of Ireland, Europe, and beyond.
What other moments from Irish history would you like to see condense into a video just long enough to enjoy a cup of coffee? Tell us in the comments below!