Cillian Murphy to narrate War of Independence documentary

Cillian Murphy

Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy is set to narrate a documentary about the Irish War of Independence.

It will be the second major project to do with the War of Independence that the Irish actor has worked on.

In 2006, he starred in the movie The Wind That Shakes the Barley, which saw his character Damien O’Donovan join the war after initially being reluctant to do so.

Cillian Murphy

Dr Donal Ó Drisceoil was a historical consultant on the critically acclaimed movie and was also an editor of the book Atlas of the Irish Revolution by John Crowley.

The book is set to be made into a three-part documentary series which will be narrated by Murphy.

Ó Drisceoil says the series will mainly cover the years 1919-1921 which saw the formation of the First Dáil and the War of Independence.

The Easter Rising, which led to the War of Independence, and the Irish Civil War, which followed, will also feature in the documentary.

Ó Drisceoil told the Irish Times: “The focus will be very much on the War of Independence period and will include some never before broadcast archive footage as well as contributions from some 20 plus academics including many who contributed to the Atlas.

“It’s hoped to have the first episode ready for broadcast early next year to mark the centenary of the sitting of the First Dáil – it will use mainly contributors to the Atlas but some others as well and it will also make good use of maps which will form the spine of it.”

We are approaching the centenary of the War of Independence which began on 21st January 1919.
More about the War of independence 

Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling