Page 108 - Weiss, Jernej, ur. 2020. Konservatoriji: profesionalizacija in specializacija glasbenega dela ▪︎ The conservatories: professionalisation and specialisation of musical activity. Koper/Ljubljana: Založba Univerze na Primorskem in Festival Ljubljana. Studia musicologica Labacensia, 4
P. 108
konservator iji: profesionalizacija in specializacija glasbenega dela
A final introductory point is that for a long time the Irish conserva-
tories had no power to confer third-level degrees; they were restricted to
awarding certificates and diplomas while at a later stage (beyond the scope
of this essay) higher degrees had to be externally approved by a university.
The Inter-War Period in Ireland
The Irish inter-war period is in many ways quite different from that in oth-
er European countries. During the First World War Ireland was still part of
the United Kingdom. Unlike in Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)
there was no conscription in Ireland, yet the British army traditionally in-
cluded particularly large contingents of Irish and Scottish soldiers. At the
same time attempts to break away from British rule continued in Ireland it-
self, culminating in the unsuccessful Easter Rising in Dublin in April 1916.
Yet the real fighting in Ireland itself began after the formal end of the World
War, when the Irish War of Independence broke out in January 1919. In
1921, Northern Ireland – with its local Protestant majority – was created,
while in 1922 the rest of the island formed the Irish Free State (Saorstát Éire-
ann) which immediately engaged in a year-long Civil War between those
who insisted on Northern Ireland being part of the new independent state
and those who were in favour of the compromise that had been agreed with
the British; the latter side won the war.
When the Second World War broke out Ireland decided to remain
neutral (there were still significant animosities towards the British, so be-
coming an ally of the United Kingdom was out of the question – although
many Irish volunteered to join the British army). Ireland had no significant
armed forces and could not have contributed much to the war effort any-
way, yet its strategic location would have made it a valuable partner for the
allies. Today the period of the Second World War is remembered in Ireland
as “The Emergency,” after emergency legislation that gave the government
a closer control of the economy (there was widespread rationing of many
goods during and after the war years), also allowing for censorship and oth-
er special measures.
All of this means that 1916 and 1922/23 are far more important years
in Irish history than any date related to the First or Second World Wars.
Gaining independence from the United Kingdom was the most important
event in Irish history during the first half of the twentieth century, and this
achievement had a huge impact on all levels of society and all institutions,
including the conservatories.
106
A final introductory point is that for a long time the Irish conserva-
tories had no power to confer third-level degrees; they were restricted to
awarding certificates and diplomas while at a later stage (beyond the scope
of this essay) higher degrees had to be externally approved by a university.
The Inter-War Period in Ireland
The Irish inter-war period is in many ways quite different from that in oth-
er European countries. During the First World War Ireland was still part of
the United Kingdom. Unlike in Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)
there was no conscription in Ireland, yet the British army traditionally in-
cluded particularly large contingents of Irish and Scottish soldiers. At the
same time attempts to break away from British rule continued in Ireland it-
self, culminating in the unsuccessful Easter Rising in Dublin in April 1916.
Yet the real fighting in Ireland itself began after the formal end of the World
War, when the Irish War of Independence broke out in January 1919. In
1921, Northern Ireland – with its local Protestant majority – was created,
while in 1922 the rest of the island formed the Irish Free State (Saorstát Éire-
ann) which immediately engaged in a year-long Civil War between those
who insisted on Northern Ireland being part of the new independent state
and those who were in favour of the compromise that had been agreed with
the British; the latter side won the war.
When the Second World War broke out Ireland decided to remain
neutral (there were still significant animosities towards the British, so be-
coming an ally of the United Kingdom was out of the question – although
many Irish volunteered to join the British army). Ireland had no significant
armed forces and could not have contributed much to the war effort any-
way, yet its strategic location would have made it a valuable partner for the
allies. Today the period of the Second World War is remembered in Ireland
as “The Emergency,” after emergency legislation that gave the government
a closer control of the economy (there was widespread rationing of many
goods during and after the war years), also allowing for censorship and oth-
er special measures.
All of this means that 1916 and 1922/23 are far more important years
in Irish history than any date related to the First or Second World Wars.
Gaining independence from the United Kingdom was the most important
event in Irish history during the first half of the twentieth century, and this
achievement had a huge impact on all levels of society and all institutions,
including the conservatories.
106
