Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1088536 in Books
• Published on: 2002-11-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

Synopsis
Although many books have been written about the IRA, little attention has been paid to the rank and file of the organisation as well as the movement in 1930s Ireland. Thanks to the availability of records keep by Moss Twomey, leader from 1926 to 1936, much is now known. Twomey, as chief of staff, kept in his possession a vast quantity of correspondence, orders, and minutes from this particular period. Allied with the papers of such luminaries such as Sighle Humphreys, Sean MacEntee, Desmond FitzGerald, as well as a host of other people, a broad picture can be pieced together. Despite its military defeat in 1923 and the subsequent departure of members to Fianna Fail, by its very existence through the period as an armed political force, dedicated to the overthrow of both states, the IRA remained a significant factor in Irish political life. As a result of this activity and the records that remain, we now know who was involved and at what level: membership numbers throughout Ireland (and in particular the Ulster counties) and to what degree these people were active for the 'cause', are discussed.

We learn about Brian Corrigan in Mayo, Terry Ward in Derry, David Matthews in Belfast, and Sean McGuinness in Offaly, among many others. With many interesting facts and figures, this book could become the definitive account of the IRA in the 1930s.

Customer Reviews

Excellent book
This is a good book and addresses the organsation in a period that has not been written about in much detail to date. Although there are memoirs (Ernie O Malley and Frank Ryan jump to mind) there is little out there about the IRA in the late 20s and 1930s. This book, I feel, addresses this problem. There's interesting stuff on culture and the IRA in Northern Ireland, and there is also stuff on how Fianna Fail used the IRA in 1932 when they came to power.

You get to find out abour Peadar O Donnell, Moss Twomey, DOnal O'Donoghue, George Gilmore, Frank RYan, Sighle Humphreys, Sean MacBride and many more. Anyone interested in the IRA (and Ireland in the 1930s) should buy this book.

There's much here that the present peace process could use too!

Good history of the period
This is a welcome book on studies of the IRA. It contains photographs that I've not seen before, and it also uses information and sources that were not previously used by other historians (like Tim Pat Coogan, Roy Foster or Peter Hart).

It looks at society in Ireland and how it coped with the threat of the IRA, and has interesting details describing the organisation in the north - it even gives evidence to show that the IRA helped some elements of the B Specials during the Outdoor Relief strike of 1933.

If you are interested in republicanism and/or Ireland in the 1920s and 1930s, then this book is one to have. The jacket is also great!!