[Depicted in Love’s Sweet Song, the 7th episode from the Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, produced by George Lucas - released in 2000 - it’s original edit is from The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles; Episode: Ireland, April 1916 - released in 1993]
Disillusioned from his latest escapades in Mexico, Indiana decides to accompany his new friend Remy into the Belgian army, however they’re held over in Ireland where they work as busboys to save up for the next leg of their journey.
At some point Indiana is out on the town when he stumbles upon two pretty girls who mistake him for an American millionaire, a clear misinterpretation that he entertains and doesn’t dispel. One of the young ladies is soon accompanied by her brother named Seán Lemass , a self proclaimed 'Irish Volunteer' whom the girls explained was a revolutionary group who hoped to overthrow British rule.
The next day Indy joins his new friends at a music hall, where they hear a rendition of “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” that stays in Indiana’s head throughout the day. Later at work a patron scorns him for singing the melody, introducing himself as Seán O'Casey who proclaims that he hates all Irish stereotypes that portray his culture as the laughingstock of the world.
O’Casey then takes it upon himself to show Indiana some “real theatre” through the works of playwright William Butler Yeats, whose material is also symbolic of how Ireland was taken over by the British.
As the days go on a rift is formed between Lemass & O’Casey regarding dissenting views on what’s best for Ireland, and through the turmoil Indy is warned by Lemass to never court his sister again. Indiana ignores the warning yet is ultimately curved once it’s revealed that he’s not a millionaire, and inevitably truces with Lemass after an impromptu boxing match.
Time passed until the day of Easter Sunday, and by now Indy & Remy have saved enough money to continue their journey to London, Before they leave, however, they witness a demonstration at the Post Office, and it’s explained that the Irish Volunteers had taken over the building in the name of calling for a free Irish Republic.
At the pub, O’Casey proclaims that the volunteers didn’t wish to gain anything from the takeover, other than respect and to go out like martyrs. The fighting continues for a week with the Volunteers surrendering, and Lemass is ultimately captured by British soldiers.
At the prison Lemass tells Indiana that most of the Irish prisoners had already been executed, though still with honor and integrity he wishes Indy safe travels through the rest of Europe.
The next day while boarding the ferry to London, O’Casey arrives and tells Indy to take one last look at his beloved homeland, as Ireland was changing and would never be the same.
During his stay in Ireland, Indiana directly interacts with:
Seán Lemass - One of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century, he was a participant in the Easter Rising, War of Independence, and Civil War, and is widely regarded as the father of modern Ireland.
Seán O'Casey - Irish dramatist, memoirist, and socialist who was the first playwright to write about the Dublin working classes. O’Casey was inspired to write after the Easter Rebellion and after losing a friend to a hunger strike, and his subsequent plays were showcased at Abbey Theatre, including Juno and the Paycock which would later be adapted into an Alfred Hitchcock film
William Butler Yeats - Irish poet and one of the most renowned figures of 20th century literature, for his celebrated work he was awarded the Nobel Prize of Literature in 1923.
Irish Volunteers - military organization established in 1913 by Irish nationalists, it’s primary aim was to “maintain the rights and liberties common to whole people of Ireland”
The adventure itself also revolves around:
Easter Rebellion - aka Easter Rising - an armed insurrection of Ireland during the Easter week of 1916. The rising was demonstrated by the Irish Volunteers who wanted to end British rule in Ireland while the UK was heavily preoccupied in WWI. Still the British had far more artillery and resources, thus after a week of fighting the Irish surrendered, leading to approximately 3,500 arrests (many of whom took no part in the rebellion), where more than half were sent to internment camps or prisons - and many of the leaders were court martialed and executed. Although the week didn’t end in victory for the Irish, it’s remembered for being the most significant uprising in the country since the rebellion of 1798, and for being the first armed action of the Irish Revolutionary period.
“When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” - tribute song to Ireland written by Chauncey Olcott & George Graff Jr, set to music composed by Ernest Ball. It premiered in Olcott’s production of The Isle O’ Dreams and was later adapted by famed singers John McCormack, Connie Francis, Roger Whittaker, & Bing Crosby.
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