They haven't gone away
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
vil 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)
other 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.
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