The Howth Mauser

Heather Jones, specialist in First World War Studies at LSE, explores the deadly symbolism of the Howth Mauser and other guns as the struggles for freedom began in 20th Century Ireland.
The arrival of crate-loads of already out-of-date German rifles in 1914 proved electrifying to the Irish Nationalist struggle and the cult of the gun had deep meaning for all sides in the struggle to come.

'The Irish National Anthem sings of guns. Towards its powerful musical crescendo, in Gaelic, it exhorts us to rally, this night, at the dangerous gap, amid the guns' screech - le gunnaí scréach - to fulfil our national destiny by fighting for freedom. Of Arms and the Man, in Ireland we still sing.'

Producer: Mark Burman.