The I.R.A. And Its Enemies : Violence and Community in Cork, 1916-1923

This book explores the lives, deaths, enemies, and victims of the most powerful guerrillas of twentieth-century Ireland: those of the Cork I.R.A. between 1916 and 1923. Drawing on an unprecedented body of sources, including numerous interviews this is a uniquely intimate study of revolution, guerrilla war, and ethnic conflict. What is it like to be in the I.R.A. - or at their mercy? This fascinating study explores the lives and deaths of the enemies and victims of the County Cork I.R.A. between 1916 and 1923 - the most powerful and deadly branch of the I.R.A. during one of the most turbulent periods in twentieth-century Ireland. These years saw the breakdown of the British legal system and police authority, the rise of republican violence, and the escalation of the conflict into a full-scale guerilla war, leading to a wave of riots, ambushes, lootings, and reprisal killings, with civilians forming the majority of victims in this unacknowledged civil war. Religion may have provided the starting point for the conflict, but class prejudice, patriotism, and personal grudges all fuelled the development and continuation of widespread violence. Using an unprecedented range of sources - many of them only recently made public - Peter Hart explores the motivation behind such activity. His conclusions not only reveal a hidden episode of Ireland's troubled past but provide valuable insights into the operation of similar terrorist groups today. Contents List of Figures List of Tables Abbreviations Map to show districts and towns in Cork 1. Introduction: The Killing of Sergeant O'Donoghue PART I: REVOLUTION, 1916–1923 2. The Kilmichael Ambush 3. Rebel Cork 4. Dying for Ireland 5. The Cork Republic PART II: REBELS 6. The Boys of Kilmichael 7. Volunteers 8. Youth and Rebellion PART III: THE PATH TO REVOLUTION 9. The Rise and Fall of a Revolutionary Family 10. Volunteering 11. Guerrillas PART IV: NEIGHBOURS AND ENEMIES 12. Taking it out on the Protestants 13. Spies and Informers Appendix: Sources and Definitions: I.R.A. Membership and Violence Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W 1. Introduction: The Killing Of Sergeant O'donoghue -- Pt. I. Revolution, 1916-1923. 2. The Kilmichael Ambush. 3. Rebel Cork. 4. Dying For Ireland. 5. The Cork Republic -- Pt. Ii. Rebels. 6. The Boys Of Kilmichael. 7. Volunteers. 8. Youth And Rebellion -- Pt. Iii. The Path To Revolution. 9. The Rise And Fall Of A Revolutionary Family. 10. Volunteering. 11. Guerrillas -- Pt. Iv. Neighbours And Enemies. 12. Taking It Out On The Protestants. Peter Hart. Began As A Doctoral Thesis At Trinity College, Dublin--p. Viii. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [324]-340) And Index. Explored in this book are the lives, deaths, enemies, and victims of the most powerful guerrillas of twentieth-century Ireland: those of the Cork IRA between 1916 and 1923. Drawing on many sources, including numerous interviews, this book is a study of revolution, guerrilla war, and ethnic conflict. What is it like to be in the IRA - or at their mercy? This study explores the lives and deaths of the enemies and victims of the County Cork IRA between 1916 and 1923. These years saw the collapse of the British legal system, and the escalation of the conflict into a full-scale guerilla war What is it like to be in the IRA - or at their mercy? This study explores the lives and deaths of the enemies and victims of the County Cork IRA between 1916 and 1923 - one of the most powerful and deadly branches of the IRA during one of the most turbulent periods in 20th-century Ireland This book is intended for scholars and students of Irish history and politics, especially those interested in the I.R.A. Military historians and social scientists interested in revolutionary and terrorist activities, especially guerilla warfare