“ON OPPOSITE SIDES: CONSTANCE & CASIMIR MARKIEVICZ IN 1917”

“On opposite sides: Constance & Casimir Markievicz in 1917” was a mini-tour of Poland taking in Warsaw, Lublin & Poznan. It really began with a lecture for the Irish Polish Society in the Polish House on 19 February, followed by another in April to the Dublin 15 Historical Society in Blanchardstown Library. The Polish visit was assisted by the Irish Embassy in Poland as part of the Understanding Ireland programme at Lublin Catholic University. Several descendants of the Markievicz family in Poland attended the presentation hosted by Ambassador Gerard Keown. Different people assisted with the different events – Barry Keane organized a reading in Warsaw University. Robbie Looby ensured things ran smoothly in Lublin while Kazia Bazarnik organized a meeting at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. The last event featured a contribution from Tadeusz Malkiewicz, a great grand-nephew of Casimir Markievicz. It was all a bit hectic, but marvellous to see the growing interest in the Markievicz family story in Poland. It may lead to further events to commemorate the centenary of Constance’s election to Westminster in 1918 linked to the 100th anniversary of Poland’s Declaration of Independence. Watch this space for further developments.