This book for the first time compares the way in
which ordinary
people in various parts of the
country became involved with the IRA and what they did once they had joined. It
thus provides an insight
into the reasons why
some young men became increasingly willing to
use violence, and offers a new explanation for the dominance of
south-western units in the War of Independence, on the basis of
their actual experiences. It also reappraises the impact of the less
well-known units in the North, East and West which have so far
been widely ignored.
This
book uses only original sources (many previously unused)
including police reports, internal IRA communications and many
reminiscences as well as the large number of interviews with rank-and-file Volunteers carried out by the author.
Augusteijn copes
skilfully with the inevitable incompleteness and inconsistency of
the available material. His arguments are generally
well founded and evidenced, and his assessments judicious. ... His conclusions
may be seen as 'revisionist' in
that they clearly
undermine more than one of the dominant myths of the national
struggle. ... But if some heroic myths are punctured, an important - and
not heroic - reality is more firmly established.
Charles Townshend, Saothar
Agusteijn and several
others are historians who re-evaluate the facts and present
them for what they are - warts and all. Rightly so!
... [he has] destroyed the myth
of a "good old
IRA" as all heroes, all active, all united and all saintly characters. ...
Aengus O Snodaigh, An Phoblacht
Augusteijn's book has
long been awaited with high expectation. ... In considerable
measure the expectations are justified; it is a
meticulous, thorough source-based
account ...
low key unemotional and matter of fact. ... Now that we have this book
... we are beginning to make some progress in our understanding of this
era.
Paul Bew, Changing
Times
This book is certain to remain an essential source for students of this
formative
Marcus Bourke, Tipperary Historical
...
a marvelous book ...
Irish Literary Supplement
Joost Augusteijn, a
graduate of the University of Amsterdam, currently lectures in
modern Irish history at the Queen's University of Belfast.