De Valera san Fhásach (De Valera in the Desert) is a new historical documentary series that presents the vital story of de Valera’s Wilderness years from 1924 to 1926 when he was imprisoned, in poor mental health and stripped of his political power.
It is the story of the radical, revolutionary women activists who supported him during this difficult time. These women had been involved in the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence.
Among them were Countess Markiewicz who fought in 1916, Mary MacSwiney, sister of Terence MacSwiney who died on hunger strike in 1919 and Kathleen Clarke, wife of the executed 1916 leader, Tom Clarke.
Then the Anglo-Irish Treaty happened. As suddenly as he had gained power, de Valera was locked out of it. Opposing the Treaty gave these women common ground with de Valera, but who would end up the losers in this political game?
De Valera san Fhásach looks at the part these women played in helping de Valera create one of the most spectacular political u-turns in history – the birth of Fianna Fáil, the party which went on to dominate Irish politics for the next 100 years.
We see how de Valera’s political rebirth unfolds in this incredible story of power and demise. In stark contrast to de Valera’s rising star, we witness the last great swansong of many of the radical women who had been so active in politics and had supported him right up to the foundation of Fianna Fáil and beyond.
It reveals the ultimate betrayal of these women by de Valera and his new party, how they were silenced and pushed out of public life, simply relegated to the home.
The women find themselves in an Ireland, far removed from the vision of equality as laid out in the 1916 proclamation.
Through the poignant stories of these women and of de Valera during his wilderness years, this documentary also takes a sensitive look at the legacy of trauma and the mental health impact of the Irish Revolution.
De Valera San Fhásach is a dramatic story about this key pivotal period in Irish history, a period that, arguably, subsequently changed the entire course of Irish history.
Director of De Valera san Fhásach Ciara Hylands said: "While much attention has not been paid to De Valera's Wilderness Years, they are really pivotal in creating the Ireland we still have today.
"These were the years where anything could have happened and it could have gone any which way. Instead de Valera staged one of the biggest political comebacks ever and regained power.
"Unfortunately his rise meant the last swansong of an entire generation of revolutionary women who had been fighting for equality and we have lived with that legacy ever since".
The series will air on TG4 from Wednesday January 22nd- January 29th at 9:30pm
