Foreword

In the Summer of 1970 I flew the Atlantic for the first time. Among the many ambitions I hoped to achieve in the New World was a visit to Michael D. O'Sullivan.  "Mick-Denny" O'Sullivan, a Staff Captain in the North Cork Flying Column of the Irish Republican Army, was an idealist and fine soldier who emigrated to the United States after the Trace in 1921, took no part in the. disastrous Civil War and settled down permanently in New York City.

Through the kindness of Mike and Margaret Purtill from North Kerry I succeeded in locating Mr. O'Sullivan's home, only to be told by a few elderly gentlemen on the street outside his locked-up flat that "Mick Denny" had died two weeks previously. Nobody knew anything about him beyond the fact that he was a quiet and good man. Perhaps that was enough. Not a few might covet the comment as a personal epitaph.

Only God knows how many times over Mick-Denny's story could be multiplied. Countless men and women accepted the appeal of Pearse: "Ye shall venture your all, lest ye lose what is more than all". Yet, instead of becoming the nation's heroes, most were destined to eke out a bare existence at home or abroad while lesser men climbed .on their backs to fame and fortune.

This book is a tribute to all the patriotic men and women in my own part of the country, to the named and the nameless, who bore hardship with humour and sought nothing but the liberation of their beloved country and that their children and their children's children might be born free.

As an inheritor of that freedom I salute and thank those who won it.

John J. O'Riordan, C.SS.R., September 27th.  1973.

The author John J. O'Riordain is a member of the Redemptorist community. He was born in Kiskeam, Co Cork and was educated in Limerick, Galway, Seattle and Montreal.

He is a missioner and adult development facilitator, working mainly, but not exclusively in Ireland. He is the author of several books including The Music of What Happens, Early Irish Saints and Irish Catholic Spirituality (all published by The Columba Press).