Donegal 1912–1923: A Decade of Commemorations

The years 1912-1923 were hugely significant in Irish history, encompassing the War of Independence, the Civil War and WWI. The geographic position of Donegal gave this decade particular significance to the county and shaped modern politics, culture, and society to this day. Of course, there is no one, singular perspective on any event, let alone at periods of disruption and change and although nationally and internationally significant they were experienced at a very personal, intimate level. 

As part of the A Decade of Commemoration programme, Donegal County Council sought to empathetically remember this time in the county’s history and to deliver a publication that will not only inform but also inspire a deeper appreciation for a shared heritage. Our brief was to design a book that serves as a comprehensive and visually compelling tribute to these historical milestones and presents the research in an engaging, visually sensitive and appealing manner. We took the unifying trope of the timeline as the starting point for the book’s visual language—the design element of a vertical line joining 1912 and 1923 on the cover page has been used on key pages in combination with a soft palette throughout the document to develop a simple accessible design narrative.