Dunedin is set to mark street fighting in Ireland a century ago with heated debate.
Professors from New Zealand and Ireland will commemorate the Easter Rising - an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week in 1916.
University of Cork Emeritus Prof Dermot Keogh is in Dunedin to speak in a lecture today and at a conference next week about the rebellion.
Prof Keogh does not expect any ‘‘street trouble'' will rise for the commemoration.
‘‘I think there will be heat in terms of debate; there will be frank exchanges of views, but why not?''
The conference will explore the political, religious and social context leading to the conflict.
Prof Keogh said Irish revolutionary groups had planned for more than a year to stage the armed uprising in Dublin on Easter Sunday in 1916.
A couple of rebel snipers, high above narrow Dublin streets, held back hundreds of British troops.
Despite the successful strategies, the rebels were outnumbered and surrendered a week later, after thousands of British troops were mobilised and extensive bombing turned the centre of Dublin to rubble.
Casualties among the British troops were more than twice the rebels' toll.
University of Otago Eamon Cleary Professor of Irish Studies Peter Kuch, said the British Army was surprised by the fight of the rebels.
‘‘They were impressed by the manliness of the fight - there hadn't been that type of street fighting since the French Revolution.''
Prof Kuch, of Dunedin, said more than 3000 Irish men and woman surrendered and were arrested. About 1500 were interned.
Prof Keogh said the execution of 16 rebel leaders, included a respected school master, trade union leader and poet, galvanised the path towards revolution.
The revolution was successful because many of the Irish people and their descendants living outside Ireland, such as New Zealand, supported the revolution politically and financially, he said.
‘‘The energy from the diaspora could be harnessed.''
● The annual St Patrick's Day lecture, titled ‘‘Ireland 2016 - problems, prospects, hopes'', will be delivered in the University of Otago Burns 2 Lecture Theatre between 6pm and 7pm today. Everyone is welcome at the free event.
● The two-day conference on the New Zealand response to the 1916 Easter Rising will start at Toitu Early Settlers Museum at 2pm on March 22.
