Book review: Modern Ireland and Revolution by Ernie O’Malley

Following his involvement in the War of Independence and Civil War, Ernie O’Malley spent years collecting information on those conflicts for a book. However, he ran into difficulties getting it published, probably because of his literary approach to history.

While writing Tans, Terror and Troubles, I spent days wading through the notes that O’Malley took on his interviews with Kerry people. It was a frustrating but rewarding endeavour.

In recent years the interviews have been supplemented by the release of the 1,773 interviews conducted by the Bureau of Military History. Many of the more radical Republican activists were unwilling to co-operate with the bureau, but they did talk to O’Malley.