From East Belfast to the Gresham Hotel

TALK

When James Mitchell travelled from his home in East Belfast to Dublin on Easter Weekend of 1916 his main objective was to enlist in the British Army for service in the Great War. Having become a soldier of the King on Easter Sunday, he enjoyed a winning streak at Fairyhouse races on Easter Monday where rumours began to spread of ‘trouble’ in the city centre. Over the course of the next week Mitchell found himself marooned in The Gresham Hotel and witnessed first-hand the ‘ghastly sights’ that unfolded on Dublin’s streets. Incredibly, he penned an ongoing and evocative account of the events of Easter Week on Gresham Hotel headed notepaper. Join historian Jason Burke as he examines Mitchell’s account of that remarkable week.

Friday 19 April, 1 pm | £5.00 – £6.50

About Jason Burke

Jason Burke is a Historian and proud native of East Belfast. He holds an MA in History from Queen’s University Belfast. A dedicated researcher and content creator, Jason is committed to making history accessible and engaging for all. He is the host of the critically acclaimed Historical Belfast Podcast, described in one review as a ‘Belfast Tardis’, transporting listeners through time to explore the city’s rich history. He is renowned for his guest talks, and he occasionally writes columns for the Belfast Telegraph and leads historical walking tours of Belfast City Cemetery.