Acclaimed Civil War Historian Headlines Irish History Event at Gettysburg
Apr 17, 2025
Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation will welcome and co-host renowned historian and author Damian Shiels, Ph.D., for a special presentation, Green and Blue: Irish Americans in the Union Military Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center.
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Based on Shiels’ new book of the same name (LSU Press, 2025), the talk will highlight untold stories of Irish American soldiers who fought for the Union during the Civil War, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice at the Battle of Gettysburg. Drawing from hundreds of rarely seen wartime letters, Shiels sheds new light on the personal lives, motivations and battlefield experiences of Irish immigrants who helped shape American history.
Damian Shiels, Ph.D.
“This is a story about belonging, sacrifice and identity,” said Shiels. “I’m honored to return to Gettysburg to share the voices of Irish immigrants whose courage and loss helped define the legacy of this battlefield.
The free public program begins at 7 p.m. in the Museum & Visitor Center’s theater, and doors open at 6:30 p.m. A book signing with Shiels will follow at 8 p.m., with copies of his new book, Green and Blue: Irish Americans in the Union Military, 1861–1865, available to purchase.
Free tickets are required for theater seating and can be reserved by calling the Gettysburg Foundation, 717-334-2436, or by visiting GettysburgFoundation.org.
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