Saorstát Éireann Official Handbook, 1932
The lavish handbook issued in 1932 by Saorstát Éireann (the Irish Free State) seems to have been a real publicity statement for the relatively new (founded 1922 after the war of Independance) and often struggling state. The 1920s and early '30s were hard years for many countries and for the IFS, after a civil war, and with little industrial base whilst at the same time developing systems of governance alongside a sense of independence arguably this was doubly so.
In 1937 the Government introduced constitutional changes that abolished the IFS replacing it with the fully sovereign state of Éire.
The very lavishly illustrated book has this very colourful cover - drawing, as was the fashion of the time, very heavily on the Celtic and Medieval tradition of irish art - partailly to bolster the sense of a 'native' vernacular. The artwork introduces many elements and themes of the great medieval manuscripts, many of which are in the Library of Trintiy College, Dublin, and where as a student I was priviledged enough to both see and handle some of the originals. The artist is Art O'Murnaghan - that wonderful Dublin character, born in England in 1875, who died in 1953 and who was at times a playright, librarian, chemist, artist and illuminator. His great work was the Leabhar na hAiseirghe (Book of Resurrection) - now, finally, after years of obscurity on display in Dublin.
Saorstát Éireann Official Handbook, 1932
The lavish handbook issued in 1932 by Saorstát Éireann (the Irish Free State) seems to have been a real publicity statement for the relatively new (founded 1922 after the war of Independance) and often struggling state. The 1920s and early '30s were hard years for many countries and for the IFS, after a civil war, and with little industrial base whilst at the same time developing systems of governance alongside a sense of independence arguably this was doubly so.
In 1937 the Government introduced constitutional changes that abolished the IFS replacing it with the fully sovereign state of Éire.
The very lavishly illustrated book has this very colourful cover - drawing, as was the fashion of the time, very heavily on the Celtic and Medieval tradition of irish art - partailly to bolster the sense of a 'native' vernacular. The artwork introduces many elements and themes of the great medieval manuscripts, many of which are in the Library of Trintiy College, Dublin, and where as a student I was priviledged enough to both see and handle some of the originals. The artist is Art O'Murnaghan - that wonderful Dublin character, born in England in 1875, who died in 1953 and who was at times a playright, librarian, chemist, artist and illuminator. His great work was the Leabhar na hAiseirghe (Book of Resurrection) - now, finally, after years of obscurity on display in Dublin.