This book tells of the part played by members of the IRA in the War of Independence in Charleville and surrounding areas of North Cork.

It is a collection of articles written by the late Jim Meagher, a native of Doneraile, who lived and worked for many years in Charleville and was a renowned local historian. His series of articles were first published in the Corkman/Kerryman newspaper in the eighties and are now published in book form by Charleville & District Historical & Archaeological Society.

The late Mr. Meagher was a contributor to the historical books published by his fellow local historian and friend, the late Ted O'Riordan. In fact his series on the War of Independence in the area were being prepared for publication by Mr. O'Riordan, prior to the latter's death in the early nineties.

The book should be read by every Charleville person or student of Irish history, and would make an ideal and lasting gift, not alone for people from the locality, but those living further afield.

Launching the book, Charleville man Professor Michael Mortell of University College Cork said that he knew the majority of the men mentioned in the book. "I grew up in the town and every day I met men such as Michael Motherway, Michael Geary, Dick Smith and Mossie O'Brien, Ned Wilson, but I never knew that they were so involved in the War of Independence.

"These were ordinary, nice, quiet people, yet they possessed the steel and they put everything at risk for their concept of freedom. They, the ordinary men and women of Cumann na mBan contributed to Ireland being the first country to break away from the British Empire to give us freedom.

"I remember hearing from my cousins in Liscarroll of how they had to go to Mass through the fields because they roads were trenched during that period. "I wonder what would happen today if the same situation prevailed? Would the people today do what these men did?

"We are now the richest nation in Europe but are our people the poorer for it? What values do we have today, have we given up the values that these man had, are we selfless or selfish?

"These men were the people who made Charleville what it is today and it is fitting that they should be remembered."