Republican ideals crumble to dust

A new book exposes how, after a promising start, corruption became endemic in Irish political life, writes Colette Browne

IN 1922, as the Civil War raged on the streets of Dublin, the members of the first provisional government remained holed up under military guard in their offices on Upper Merrion St.

Forced to eat and sleep where they worked because of the risk to their lives of venturing outside, all of the meals for ministers, deputies, and officials were delivered from a nearby restaurant.