16 December 1999 Edition
New in print
By Aengus Ó Snodaigh
``They haven't gone away you know'' to coin a phrase used elsewhere about a different generation. The revolutionary past of Ireland and Irish men and women abroad is very much alive, if we are to go by the continuous flow of new publications dealing with especially the first two decades of this century.
Many are no more than memories, but these have a value and can often help explain decisions people made and their reactions to events. Other books are scholarly works on subjects trawled through before or on themes neglected because of the anti-republican atmosphere created in the past. The standard in the main is improving and most of the books are accessible to all. The continuing tide of works on republican topics and characters may encourage others to tackle subjects in Irish history still not given the attention they deserve. An Phoblacht will review a second batch of such works in our first issue of the New Year.
The Irish Republic
By Dorothy Macardle
Wolfhound
£40 (Hb)
The bible of revolutionary Ireland for decades, Wolfhound did us a great service in republishing Macardle's monumental work, which details the transition from colony to republic to neo-colony. It is packed to the seams with very important details about events and characters, which moulded Irish history.
Macardle said of her work, ``this is not a narrative of battles and ambushes, it is with the political rather than the military aspect that the book deals''. And politically it was a very turbulent and exciting time. This first complete history of the struggle from the late 1890s till 1925 is must for republicans.
Harry Boland: A Biography
By Jim Maher
Mercier Books
£9.99
Harry Boland was probably the most influential organiser of the Irish Republican Movement between 1916 and 1922. A prominent hurler, he was convicted and jailed for his part in the 1916 Rising and afterwards he was central to the rebuilding of the revolutionary movement. His work for the Irish cause in America has often been underemphasised, while his friendship with Michael Collins has been played up. His tragic death in Skerries, County Dublin at the hands of Free State assassins answerable to the then Commander-in-chief Michael Collins ended a promising life too early. This is a story worth telling and it is told well by Jim Maher. Another book on the man is forthcoming from David Fitzpatrick. Thankfully, the Michael Collins film seems to have rehabilitated more than Collins himself.
The IRA & its Enemies: Violence and Community in Cork, 1916-1923
By Peter Hart
Oxford University Press
This book when it appeared in hardback first, resulted in controversy, because of the line Hart took regarding the Kilmichael ambush by Commandant Tom Barry and his men. The ensuing exchange of letters between the author and Dr Brian Murphy, Pádraig Ó Cuanacháin and others has now been published by Aubane Press and makes for a lively read. Hart's book continues the theme of re-examining the past, the reasoning of Volunteers for joining the IRA, the effects of the war on the community and their perceptions of the combatants. Joost Augustjein's From Public Defiance to Guerrilla Warfare set the standard and Hart has tried to follow.
The Road to Crossbarry: The Decisive Battle of the War of Independence
By Diarmuid Begley
Desco Publications, Bandon, Co. Cork
Many who took part in the activities of 1916-1923 were loath to talk about it, not claiming credit or wishing to boast. Others of course did. It was the silent majority who had the full tale to tell and some of their accounts written for their children or just for themselves, which are now emerging. Diarmuid recounts much of the role his father and others played in this the most crucial of battles in County Cork during the Tan War. While very little of the book is new, it is good to see the facts reconfirmed from another source. On 19 March 1921, the flying column was being pursued by near 1,000 soldiers and in the ensuing ambush by the IRA Commandant Tom Barry's Volunteers excelled, with the sounds of pipes playing with them. Three soldiers of Ireland fell that day, while 35 British soldiers were killed and many more captured. Written with local knowledge and an obvious feeling for the subject, Diarmuid Begley's book reminded me of Dan Breen, Tom Barry, and Sean Treacy's reminiscences in the Anvil books some of which were republished lately. This book will do much do redeem the reputation of Tom Barry who is under attack in Hart's book.
Aftermath: Post-rebellion insurgency in Wicklow 1799-1803
By Ruan O'Donnell
Irish Academic Press
£35 (Hb)/£15 (pb)
While revolution was widespread throughout Ireland in 1798, outside of County Wicklow and the Liberties of Dublin, very few areas continued to be centres of republicanism and of opposition to British rule. Ruan's latest work continues the theme tackled in his books published as part of last year's commemorations - revolutionary activity in County Wicklow. For five years, many of the remaining United Irishmen remained on the run in the Wicklow Mountains following the collapse of their rebellion. From here and in liaison with the Dublin rebels and scattering around the country, a further United Irish rising was planned for 1803. O'Donnell also outlines the campaign by the state against the rebels by both the British military and their resident loyalists in what became know as the `White Terror'.
The 1916 Proclamation
By John O'Connor
Anvil Books
£5.99
The most identifiable republican document of the century would be the best description of the 1916 Proclamation. This small book set out to detail the who, why and where. The story of its printing is related, as is some of the detail of how it was drawn up. A nice read, it has several failings, not least of which is the failure to include a full copy of the original amongst its illustrations. O'Connor also fails to include a bibliography, which would probably have included the more detailed The 1916 Proclamation by J.J. Bouch.
The spy in the Castle
By David Neligan
Prendeville Publishing
£8.50 (stg)
Another reprint and another one to join the Michael Collins library. This time it is an autobiographical account by someone who must be regarded as one of the most important and successful IRA Intelligence Officers. David Neligan from Templeglantine, County Limerick, worked from within the British administration, more specifically within the special detective force which was hampering IRA operations in Dublin city, the `G' Division. Neligan's role placed him in precarious situations often, yet he succeeded in continuing to keep the IRA's Intelligence Department abreast of developments in British military circles.
The part played by Neligan and the many other IRA agents in gathering information on British policy in Ireland, on military manoeuvres, on troop movements etc has often being ignored or played down. Neligan besmirched his good name by the part he played in the Free State army atrocities against his former comrades in the IRA and as head of the Garda Síochána Special Branch, the Broy Harriers
Here is one man's story (though only the first and most interesting half) as told by himself.
``They haven't gone away you know'' to coin a phrase used elsewhere about a different generation. The revolutionary past of Ireland and Irish men and women abroad is very much alive, if we are to go by the continuous flow of new publications dealing with especially the first two decades of this century.
Many are no more than memories, but these have a value and can often help explain decisions people made and their reactions to events. Other books are scholarly works on subjects trawled through before or on themes neglected because of the anti-republican atmosphere created in the past. The standard in the main is improving and most of the books are accessible to all. The continuing tide of works on republican topics and characters may encourage others to tackle subjects in Irish history still not given the attention they deserve. An Phoblacht will review a second batch of such works in our first issue of the New Year.
The Irish Republic
By Dorothy Macardle
Wolfhound
£40 (Hb)
The bible of revolutionary Ireland for decades, Wolfhound did us a great service in republishing Macardle's monumental work, which details the transition from colony to republic to neo-colony. It is packed to the seams with very important details about events and characters, which moulded Irish history.
Macardle said of her work, ``this is not a narrative of battles and ambushes, it is with the political rather than the military aspect that the book deals''. And politically it was a very turbulent and exciting time. This first complete history of the struggle from the late 1890s till 1925 is must for republicans.
Harry Boland: A Biography
By Jim Maher
Mercier Books
£9.99
Harry Boland was probably the most influential organiser of the Irish Republican Movement between 1916 and 1922. A prominent hurler, he was convicted and jailed for his part in the 1916 Rising and afterwards he was central to the rebuilding of the revolutionary movement. His work for the Irish cause in America has often been underemphasised, while his friendship with Michael Collins has been played up. His tragic death in Skerries, County Dublin at the hands of Free State assassins answerable to the then Commander-in-chief Michael Collins ended a promising life too early. This is a story worth telling and it is told well by Jim Maher. Another book on the man is forthcoming from David Fitzpatrick. Thankfully, the Michael Collins film seems to have rehabilitated more than Collins himself.
The IRA & its Enemies: Violence and Community in Cork, 1916-1923
By Peter Hart
Oxford University Press
This book when it appeared in hardback first, resulted in controversy, because of the line Hart took regarding the Kilmichael ambush by Commandant Tom Barry and his men. The ensuing exchange of letters between the author and Dr Brian Murphy, Pádraig Ó Cuanacháin and others has now been published by Aubane Press and makes for a lively read. Hart's book continues the theme of re-examining the past, the reasoning of Volunteers for joining the IRA, the effects of the war on the community and their perceptions of the combatants. Joost Augustjein's From Public Defiance to Guerrilla Warfare set the standard and Hart has tried to follow.
The Road to Crossbarry: The Decisive Battle of the War of Independence
By Diarmuid Begley
Desco Publications, Bandon, Co. Cork
Many who took part in the activities of 1916-1923 were loath to talk about it, not claiming credit or wishing to boast. Others of course did. It was the silent majority who had the full tale to tell and some of their accounts written for their children or just for themselves, which are now emerging. Diarmuid recounts much of the role his father and others played in this the most crucial of battles in County Cork during the Tan War. While very little of the book is new, it is good to see the facts reconfirmed from another source. On 19 March 1921, the flying column was being pursued by near 1,000 soldiers and in the ensuing ambush by the IRA Commandant Tom Barry's Volunteers excelled, with the sounds of pipes playing with them. Three soldiers of Ireland fell that day, while 35 British soldiers were killed and many more captured. Written with local knowledge and an obvious feeling for the subject, Diarmuid Begley's book reminded me of Dan Breen, Tom Barry, and Sean Treacy's reminiscences in the Anvil books some of which were republished lately. This book will do much do redeem the reputation of Tom Barry who is under attack in Hart's book.
Aftermath: Post-rebellion insurgency in Wicklow 1799-1803
By Ruan O'Donnell
Irish Academic Press
£35 (Hb)/£15 (pb)
While revolution was widespread throughout Ireland in 1798, outside of County Wicklow and the Liberties of Dublin, very few areas continued to be centres of republicanism and of opposition to British rule. Ruan's latest work continues the theme tackled in his books published as part of last year's commemorations - revolutionary activity in County Wicklow. For five years, many of the remaining United Irishmen remained on the run in the Wicklow Mountains following the collapse of their rebellion. From here and in liaison with the Dublin rebels and scattering around the country, a further United Irish rising was planned for 1803. O'Donnell also outlines the campaign by the state against the rebels by both the British military and their resident loyalists in what became know as the `White Terror'.
The 1916 Proclamation
By John O'Connor
Anvil Books
£5.99
The most identifiable republican document of the century would be the best description of the 1916 Proclamation. This small book set out to detail the who, why and where. The story of its printing is related, as is some of the detail of how it was drawn up. A nice read, it has several failings, not least of which is the failure to include a full copy of the original amongst its illustrations. O'Connor also fails to include a bibliography, which would probably have included the more detailed The 1916 Proclamation by J.J. Bouch.
The spy in the Castle
By David Neligan
Prendeville Publishing
£8.50 (stg)
Another reprint and another one to join the Michael Collins library. This time it is an autobiographical account by someone who must be regarded as one of the most important and successful IRA Intelligence Officers. David Neligan from Templeglantine, County Limerick, worked from within the British administration, more specifically within the special detective force which was hampering IRA operations in Dublin city, the `G' Division. Neligan's role placed him in precarious situations often, yet he succeeded in continuing to keep the IRA's Intelligence Department abreast of developments in British military circles.
The part played by Neligan and the many other IRA agents in gathering information on British policy in Ireland, on military manoeuvres, on troop movements etc has often being ignored or played down. Neligan besmirched his good name by the part he played in the Free State army atrocities against his former comrades in the IRA and as head of the Garda Síochána Special Branch, the Broy Harriers
Here is one man's story (though only the first and most interesting half) as told by himself.