Event Details
Date & Time
Thursday, Sep 12, 2019 7:00 PM
Department
History
Cost
FREE and open to the public.
Location
Magnuson Theater, Gonzaga University
Contact/Registration
Dr. Caoimhín De Barra
debarra@gonzaga.edu
(509) 313-5227
Event Type & Tags
About This Event
De Valera’s American Tour of 1919
In November of 1919, Éamon de Valera visited Spokane, staying at the Davenport Hotel and giving a speech at City Hall.
One hundred years ago, Irish rebels began a political and military campaign to break Britain’s control of Ireland and to establish an independent Irish republic. Éamon de Valera was declared to be the president of this aspirational republic, and in June of 1919, he travelled to the United States on an eighteen-month tour. His purpose was to raise money in support of the campaign in Ireland, and to persuade the government of the United States to recognize the independent Irish republic. To commemorate the one-hundred-year anniversary of this event, Éamon Ó Cúiv, de Valera’s grandson and Teachta Dála (member of the Irish parliament) is giving a series of lectures to explore the significance of the tour and the role that the United States played in helping establish an independent Irish state.