Ideal or Burden: The War of the Irish in Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme

Frank McGuinness’ Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards Somme (1985) presents struggle eight Ulstermen, Unionists and Protestants, at Battle in 1916 during First World War. The aim this paper is to demonstrate that McGuinness, an Irish nationalist, makes audience/reader see issues war heroism from Unionist perspective. Ulstermen who enlist military support Britain honour both Ireland abandon their ideals as they witness horrors recognise possibility losing comrades. characters pairs depend on each other, have a strong sense brotherhood march death Somme. In sense, fighting for no longer act heroism, which becomes illusionary, but show risk lives save other one another difficult circumstances. Hence, it will be argued McGuinness uses ‘illusion heroism’ deconstruct military, national, political, religious cultural differences lose meaning face death, reference separation between Protestants Nationalist Catholics with regard political affiliation. respect, historical background information conflicts within lead Southern part become Republic Northern remain given questions not only recruitment soldiers fight War also Ulstermen’s devotion Britain.