Ireland Hedge School 'Captain Bligh, hero or villain?'

Few figures in maritime history have generated as much debate as Captain William Bligh. Best known for the infamous Mutiny on the Bounty, Bligh has been portrayed variously as a tyrant, an exceptional navigator, a reformer, and a victim of circumstance. But how much of what we think we know is based on historical fact, and how much has been shaped by novels, films and popular culture?

This Hedge School brings together historians and maritime experts to examine the life, career and legacy of one of the most controversial figures of the Age of Sail. The discussion will explore Bligh's role in the Royal Navy, his involvement in the Bounty voyage, his connection to the political and social upheavals of the late eighteenth century, and his lesser-known contribution to the development of Dublin Port. Join us for a lively debate on the man behind the myth and the enduring question: was Captain Bligh a hero or a villain?