Fearghal McGarry

In the week after Easter in April 1916 less than two thousand members of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Citizens Army seized sections of the center of Dublin, proclaimed an independent Irish Republic- and then waited for the British military response that would crush them. The rebellion was intended for all of Ireland, but only a few Volunteer units outside of Dublin mobilized. The hoped for shipment of arms from Germany was intercepted by the Royal Navy and Sir Roger Casement, a potential rebel leader who was landed from a German U-boat, was captured. This was a failed attempt at revolution- but as historian Fearghal McGarry writes in "The Rising: Ireland; Easter 1916" it was a failure that left a burning ember that would later ignite the Irish War of Independence.

McGarry's account relies heavily on the memoirs and correspondence of the men and women who were involved in the events, as well as press reports and official records- to convey a sense of the happenings as they were seen at the time. He shows clearly that the rebels in Dublin did not have the sympathy of most Dubliners during the Rising. The leaders of the revolt. Patrick Pearse, Tom Clarke, James Connolly and others, were idealists who presumed to speak for the people of Ireland in the name of the "Republic of Ireland". They expected to be defeated by the British Empire and to be executed- but believed that the example of their glorious defeat and the "blood sacrifice" of their lives would move their countrymen to take up the cause of a free Ireland.

McGarry agrees with other historians that the British authorities, in swiftly executing fourteen rebel leaders after secret trials, imposing martial law over all of Ireland, and arresting thousands of people who weren't involved in the Rising, managed to do what the rebels in the Rising itself at first failed to do- turn the majority of the Irish people into militant rebel sympathizers. Just how this came to be, McGarry tells with a study that combines reasoned analysis and narrative told with engaging and moving detail.… (mere)

As correctly pointed out by the author Eoin O’Duffy was deserving of a book particularly when you consider that individuals such as Frank Ryan have generated several volumes while they have made much less significant contributions to Irish history. McGarry, the author, provides significant additional research into the War of Independence period in County Monaghan and also in south Ulster. His relationship with his lieutenants in the area together with his colleagues in the IRB especially Michael Collins is explored. His contribution to the new state following the adoption of the Treaty is developed and more detail given to the Civil War period. Following the accession of Fianna Fáil to power McGarry demonstrates that O’Duffy was extremely reluctant to accent to the transfer of power and this hostility remains until his ultimate dismissal. More detail is given to his time in the Blueshirts than that previously found by Maurice Manning in his work on the subject and in his biography of James Dillon. The book is well-written and interesting throughout.… (mere)