One hundred years ago, Ireland's War of Independence helped end seven centuries of British rule. It also resulted in partition of the island and a civil war. About 14,000 Irish immigrants lived in Pittsburgh at the time, with tens of thousands more first-generation Irish Americans in the city and surrounding region. Journalist Mark Holan will explore their reactions to what was happening in their homeland, including the visits of Irish leaders to Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh native Mark Holan has researched and written about Irish history and contemporary events for over a decade. His work has appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Quarterly magazine, in addition to other U.S. and Irish publications and websites, including his blog, markholan.org. Mark has presented original research at the American Conference of Irish Studies, the American Journalism Historians Association, and the Newspaper and Periodical History Forum of Ireland.