With the IRA in the Fight for Freedom offers eyewitness and first hand accounts of Ireland’s struggle for independence in various parts of the country. It presents a representative picture of the fight by the IRA for independence and of the reign of terror endured by the civilian population. Only idealism and courage on the part of the freedom fighters and the steadfast support of the Irish people could have carried such an unequal struggle through to the end.With barracks attacks, ambushes and shootings, it brings to life a conflict that is fading from the collective memory of county and country and offers a fascinating perspective on the struggle for independence, directly from the men who took part in the actions themselves.
Cuprins
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ORIGINAL PREFACE
THE ANGLO-IRISH WAR
THE CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF THE NATIONAL STRUGGLE
THE DUBLIN SCENE: WAR AMID THE OUTWARD TRAPPINGS OF PEACE
ORDEAL BY FIRE: HOW CORK CITY FACED THE TERROR
ARMS AND AMMUNITION TAKEN FROM NAVAL SLOOP LYING IN BANTRY BAY
LORD FRENCH WAS NOT DESTINED TO DIE BY AN IRISH BULLET
MONAGHAN MEN’S BAPTISM OF FIRE AT CAPTURE OF BALLYTRAIN RIC POST
ROOF FIRE TECHNIQUE WAS EXPLOITED IN CAPTURE OF BALLYLANDERS BARRACKS
HISTORY REPEATED ITSELF IN THE ATTACK ON KILMALLOCK BARRACKS IN 1920
A CLEVER RUSE LEADS TO DISARMING OF HIGHLANDERS NEAR MIDLETON
HORSE FAIR WAS BACKGROUND TO WELL-REHEARSED COUP IN ENNIS
A FIGHTING REARGUARD SAVED IRA IN THE RETREAT AFTER THE AMBUSH AT RINEEN
THE ONLY BRITISH MILITARY BARRACKS CAPTURED BY THE IRA WAS AT MALLOW
INSIDE INFORMATION ACTED ON EFFICIENTLY LED TO FALL OF TRIM BARRACKS
THE RUAN RIC LET THEIR DEFENCES DOWN SLIGHTLY AND IN CAME THE IRA
A TIPPERARY COLUMN LAYING FOR RIC HAD TO FIGHT MILITARY AT THOMASTOWN
GRENADE BURSTS HERALDED ATTACK ON ELEVEN LORRIES AT BALLINALEE
FOURTEEN BRITISH OFFICERS AND AGENTS EXECUTED IN DUBLIN ON ‘BLOODY SUNDAY’
AUXILIARIES WIPED OUT AT KILMICHAEL IN THEIR FIRST CLASH WITH THE IRA
THE SACKING OF CORK CITY BY THE BRITISH
QUICK CHANGE OF PLAN WAS NECESSARY TO COUNTER THE ENEMY AT MONREAL
THE AMBUSH AT GLENWOOD
QUICK ON THE UPTAKE: IRA INTELLIGENCE PAVED WAY TO SUCCESS AT TUREENGARRIFFE
DROMKEEN AMBUSH RESTORED THE MORALE OF THE LOCAL IRA AND PEOPLE
DRISHANEBEG TRAIN AMBUSH YIELDED FOURTEEN RIFLES TO MILLSTREET COLUMN
ESCAPE OF THREE LEADERS FROM KILMAINHAM WAS AIDED BY BRITISH SOLDIER
BRITISH GENERAL KILLED IN ACTION AGAINST CORK AND KERRY IRA AT CLONBANIN
ENCIRCLING BRITISH FORCES TAKEN ON IN TURN AND SMASHED AT CROSSBARRY
TOO EARLY ARRIVAL OF TRAIN ROBBED IRA OF FRUITS OF VICTORY AT HEADFORD
SCRAMOGUE AMBUSH DID NOT MAKE FOR HAPPY RELATIONS BETWEEN LANCERS AND TANS
HEAVILY GUARDED, WOUNDED PRISONER RESCUED FROM MONAGHAN COUNTY HOSPITAL
ACTION BY WEST CONNEMARA COLUMN AT MOUNTEROWEN
THIRTY IRA MEN DEFIED 600 BRITISH TROOPS AT TOURMAKEADY
CAPTURED ARMOURED CAR DRIVEN INTO MOUNTJOY IN ATTEMPT TO RESCUE MACEOIN
THE BURNING OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE IN DUBLIN CRIPPLED BRITISH CIVIL ADMINISTRATION
UNLIKELY AMBUSH POSITION WAS DELIBERATELY CHOSEN NEAR CASTLEMAINE
LANDMINES USED AGAINST LORRY-BORNE AUXILIARIES AT RATHCOOLE
Despre autor
Gabriel Doherty teaches in the Department of History, University College Cork. He received his BA in Modern History from Oxford University, having studied at Magdalen College between 1986 and 1989.