The Fight for Irish Freedom: An Illustrated History of the War of Independence is a lavishly illustrated book which brings the War of Independence to life.
This volume completes the trilogy of acclaimed books by Michael B. Barry which tell the story of the Irish Revolution in illustrated form over the period from 1916 to 1923.
Barry was influenced by his father, Michael, who, as they drove around West Cork, would point out ‘a field where a man was shot dead by a passing group of Black and Tans’ or how Crown Forces forced the inhabitants of Ballydehob kneel down in the square and say a decade of the Rosary in a humiliating event which ‘further etched resentment in the local psyche’.
This writer brings the reader on a similar rich journey through the War of Independence accompanied by 650 images, engrossing photographs, detailed maps, illustrations from continental magazines and contemporary photographs. Nuanced captions enable the reader to better understand the War of Independence, its origins and the bloody struggle for freedom 191-1921.
Extract:
‘Just a lad of 18 summers’. Kevin Barry in a Belvedere rugby jersey.
Photo above: Kevin Barry
On 20 September, Volunteers of the 1st Battalion, Dublin Brigade. Intercepted a ration party (with an armed escort), as they headed to Monk’s Bakery, Upper Church Street. Instructed to raise their hands and surrender their weapons, the soldiers grabbed their rifles and there was an exchange of fire. The attackers escaped, leaving one British private dead and two other fatally wounded. Kevin Barry, a first-year UCD medical student, was found hiding under the British lorry, with a Parabellum in hand and was taken into custody. On 20 October, Barry was court-martialled at Marlborough (now McKee) Barracks. Found guilty of the murder of one of the soldiers, he was sentence to be hanged.
Photo above: Women praying outside Mountjoy for Kevin Barry on day of his execution
The writer comments that the British wished to resolve the ‘Irish question’ – but on their own terms. ‘They were hampered by a constricted view of the world, seen through the prism of Empire’. Lloyd George wrote in 1920 ‘Ireland was a hell’s broth – Potas y Diafol’. Arrogance, condescension and racism characterised the British attitude to Ireland. Set out chronologically the riveting story of the war, the renaissance of Republicanism, the First Dáil and the new ruthlessness in the struggle for freedom and the increased tempo of the conflict up to the Truce in July1921 culminating in the Treaty of December 1921.
Barry guides the reader from the daring ambush at Solohead Beg to an intriguing account of the exceptional leader Michael Collins who saw the importance of intelligence and the need to maintain security by eliminating spies. They had sunk every previous Irish attempt at independence. The IRA developed a form of guerrilla war which proved particularly effective.
Photo above: Ambush at Ballyturnin House May 25th 1921
1919 moved into 1920, the RIC up to then the effective garrison for the British in Ireland, now came under severe assault. They were boycotted, RIC barracks were attacked. Morale plummeted, there were many resignations and recruitment came to a halt. Thousands of ex- service men were recruited in Britain and the Black and Tans arrived in Ireland.
Photo above: Aftermath of raid on Carrigtwohill Police Barracks
Photo above: British troops jostling civilians on Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street)
New information is given to the curious case of the alleged IRA Typhoid plot is revealed.
Author and historian Michael B. Barry was born in Ireland and studied engineering and economics at Trinity College, Dublin. He has written many books including the best-selling Victorian Dublin Revealed. In recent years he has written two critically acclaimed books on the Irish Revolution: The Green Divide, an Illustrated History of the Irish Civil War and Courage Boys, We are Winning, an Illustrated History of the 1916 Rising.
Available from amazon.com, dubraybooks.ie, omahony’s.ie 24.99 euros
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Review by Marcus Howard
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