The 1918-19 influenza pandemic killed at least 23,000 Irish people, and probably infected about 800,000 people on the island, about one fifth of the population. It silenced entire towns and communities as it passed through. It inserted itself into every running story, including the shambolic Poor Law dispensary service, war, the conscription crisis and the general election. But most of all, it damaged and changed families, in ways that had long reaching effects, as memory captured by survivors and victims’ families 90 years later testifies. Ida Milne’s book is entitled; Stacking the Coffins, influenza, war and revolution in Ireland, 1918-19
Dr Milne is an historian who currently holds an ELEVATE: Irish Research Council International Career Development Fellowship – co-funded by Marie Cure Actions at Maynooth University and author of a monograph, Stacking the coffins – influenza, war and revolution in Ireland 1918-19 which will be published by Manchester University Press in May 2018, 100 years after influenza first came into Ireland.
The talk, which is organised by Maynooth University History Department, will be open to staff, students and the general public.
Contact: Prof. Marian Lyons, Department of History marian.lyons@mu.ie