The Irish Republic (book)
Encyclopedia
The Irish Republic is a history book written by Dorothy Macardle
, first published in 1937, which covers the formation and existence of the Irish Republic
, the Irish War of Independence
, the Anglo-Irish Treaty
and the Irish Civil War
, a period which covered from 1919–1923.
The book, which was first published in 1937, usefully analyses the period from an Irish republican, pro-Éamon de Valera
perspective. Though sometimes disputing aspects of its analysis, the book, along with Frank Pakenham
's Peace by Ordeal, is regarded within universities as elementary reading for students studying the period and features on most course reading lists.
Among the reasons are:
Macardle willed the royalties from the book, which has regularly been reprinted, to her close friend Éamon de Valera, who wrote the book's foreword. The book's political allegiances were demonstrated unmistakably when a studio portrait of de Valera featured on the front page of some editions.
Other historians such as Patrick Murray have found that the book's outline was substantially laid down by de Valera to create a continuous justification of his political views from 1916 to 1936, that was then fleshed out by Macardle.
Dorothy Macardle
Dorothy Macardle was an Irish author and historian. Her book, The Irish Republic, is one of the more frequently cited narrative accounts of the Irish War of Independence and its aftermath...
, first published in 1937, which covers the formation and existence of the Irish Republic
Irish Republic
The Irish Republic was a revolutionary state that declared its independence from Great Britain in January 1919. It established a legislature , a government , a court system and a police force...
, the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
, the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
and the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
, a period which covered from 1919–1923.
The book, which was first published in 1937, usefully analyses the period from an Irish republican, pro-Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
perspective. Though sometimes disputing aspects of its analysis, the book, along with Frank Pakenham
Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford
Francis Aungier Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford KG, PC , known as the Lord Pakenham from 1945 to 1961, was a British politician, author, and social reformer...
's Peace by Ordeal, is regarded within universities as elementary reading for students studying the period and features on most course reading lists.
Among the reasons are:
- The author personally knew, and was friendly with, many of the people she was writing about; among those who she thanked in the acknowledgements were Seán T. O'KellySean T. O'KellySeán Thomas O'Kelly was the second President of Ireland . He was a member of Dáil Éireann from 1918 until his election as President. During this time he served as Minister for Local Government and Minister for Finance...
, Oscar TraynorOscar TraynorOscar Traynor was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and revolutionary. He served in a number of Cabinet positions, most notably as the country's longest-serving Minister for Defence....
, Thomas Derrig, Seán MacBrideSeán MacBrideSeán MacBride was an Irish government minister and prominent international politician as well as a Chief of Staff of the IRA....
, and the widows of Austin StackAustin StackAustin Stack was an Irish revolutionary and politician.-Early life:Stack was born in Ballymullen, Tralee, County Kerry. He was educated at the Christian Brothers School in Tralee. At the age of fourteen he left school and became a clerk in a solicitor's office. A gifted Gaelic footballer, he...
and Robert Erskine ChildersRobert Erskine ChildersRobert Erskine Childers DSC , universally known as Erskine Childers, was the author of the influential novel Riddle of the Sands and an Irish nationalist who smuggled guns to Ireland in his sailing yacht Asgard. He was executed by the authorities of the nascent Irish Free State during the Irish...
. As a result she knew from personal experience their private views and opinions, not just those expressed publicly.
- She had been an activist with the republican movement during the period, serving in Cumann na mBanCumann na mBanCumann na mBan is an Irish republican women's paramilitary organisation formed in Dublin on 2 April 1914 as an auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers...
, being held in Mountjoy and Kilmainham GaolKilmainham GaolKilmainham Gaol is a former prison, located in Kilmainham in Dublin, which is now a museum. It has been run since the mid-1980s by the Office of Public Works , an Irish Government agency...
s during the Civil War. Thus she had an insider's perspective on the movement.
- It reflects the perspective of Anti-Treaty republicans. Later books were less sympathetic to the Anti-Treaty side, given the widespread belief, even expressed by de Valera at the end of his life, that opposition to the Treaty was in retrospect a mistake.
Macardle willed the royalties from the book, which has regularly been reprinted, to her close friend Éamon de Valera, who wrote the book's foreword. The book's political allegiances were demonstrated unmistakably when a studio portrait of de Valera featured on the front page of some editions.
Other historians such as Patrick Murray have found that the book's outline was substantially laid down by de Valera to create a continuous justification of his political views from 1916 to 1936, that was then fleshed out by Macardle.
Additional reading
- Dorothy Macardle, The Irish Republic (Corgi edition, 1968)
- Tim Pat Coogan, Éamon de Valera