The Easter Rising of 1916 not only destroyed much of the centre of Dublin – it changed the course of Irish history. But how did it achieve this? What role did people from ordinary backgrounds play in the making of the Irish revolution and what motivated them to take part in it? What did the rebels think they could achieve? And what kind of a republic were they fighting for? These basic questions continue to divide historians of modern Ireland.
The Rising is the story of Easter 1916 from the perspective of those who made it, focusing on the experiences of rank and file revolutionaries – a story now told for the first time. To do this, Fearghal McGarry makes use of a unique source that has only recently seen the light of day – a collection of over 1,700 eye-witness statements detailing the activities of members of Sinn Féin, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, Cumann na mBan, and the Irish Volunteers at the time of the Rising. This collection represents one of the richest and most comprehensive oral history archives devoted to any modern revolution, providing new insights on almost every aspect of this seminal period.
Using this unique source, McGarry shows how people from ordinary backgrounds became politicized and involved in the struggle for Irish independence in the early years of the twentieth century. He illuminates their motives and aspirations and highlights the importance of the Great War as a catalyst for the uprising. He concludes by exploring the Rising’s revolutionary aftermath, which saw the creation of an Irish parliament, Dáil Éireann, and the Irish Republican Army’s armed campaign to win independence.
Editorial Reviews
Review
A vivid and compelling narrative that explores the thoughts, fears, and motivations of the revolutionaries in this seminal event. (The Boston Globe)
‘The Rising’ offers invaluable insights into the insurrection from ground level. (
The Boston Globe)
McGarry offers a poignant mosaic of idealism, bravery, and humanity. (
The Boston Globe)
‘The Rising’ is rich with tales of the acts of ordinary Dubliners. (
The Boston Globe)
The novelty of the book lies in its perspective. (
America)
He seamlessly weaves together these richly evocative witnesses with current historiography and narrative. (
America Magazine)
A very readable, yet historically important book that will appeal to general readers and to experts. (
Mary E. Daly, The Irish Times)
About the Author
Fearghal McGarry is currently Senior Lecturer in History at Queen’s University, Belfast. Previously he was Lecturer in Irish History at Trinity College, Dublin, and Government of Ireland Research Fellow at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. He is the author of a number of books on Irish history in the twentieth century, including Frank Ryan (2002), Irish Politics and the Spanish Civil War (1999), and most recently Eoin O’Duffy: A Self-Made Hero (2005), also published by Oxford University Press.
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