The Irish Republican Brotherhood, 1914-1924
About this ebook
For Michael Collins, the IRB was the true custodian of the Irish Republic, and the only body he pledged his loyalty to, but its legacy remains obscured by its intense secrecy. This book re-introduces the IRB as the organisation that created and furnished the IRA, influenced the result of the critical 1918 election, and changed the face of Irish history.
From Éamon de Valera’s recollections of how he first learned of the Treaty to narratives from Nora Connolly O’Brien, Emmett Dalton et al, testimonies from key figures paint a vivid picture of the IRB’s inner workings and external influence.
A fascinating exploration of secret societies, political manoeuvres, and personal sacrifices, The Irish Republican Brotherhood 1914–1924 casts new light on a pivotal chapter in Ireland’s quest for independence.
About the author
John O’Beirne Ranelagh is a member of the Wicklow Byrnes family and read Modern History at Christ Church, Oxford. His father was in the IRB and IRA. John has interviewed 105 participants of the 1914–24 period, including the sole survivor of the 1916 IRB Supreme Council. He is the author of A Short History of Ireland; Ireland: An Illustrated History; Thatcher’s People (a Financial Times Book of the Year); Den Anden Kanal; Human Rights and Foreign Policy (with Richard Luce); Science and Education; and The Agency: The Rise and Decline of the CIA (a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and winner of the National Intelligence Book Prize). He was associate producer of Robert Kee’s prize-winning BBC/RTÉ series Ireland: A Television History, established a regular weekly programme, Irish Angle, on Channel 4, and brought The Gay Byrne Show to British television.
