NCJ Number
63490
Date Published
1962
Length
224 pages
Annotation
AN ANECDOTAL HISTORY OF BRITAIN'S ARMED OCCUPATION OF IRELAND, PARTICULARLY THE EVENTS LEADING TO BLOODY SUNDAY IN NOVEMBER 1920, IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THIS HISTORY OF IRELAND DURING THE PERIOD 1920 TO 1960 IS BASED ON EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS, THE EXPERIENCES OF THE AUTHOR AND HIS FATHER, AND CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER PARTICIPANTS. FEW OFFICIAL BRITISH DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF A 50-YEAR LIMITATION ON ACCESS TO RECORDS. THIS DETAILED, ANECDOTAL ACCOUNT EXPLORES BRITISH GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN IRELAND, THE STATIONING OF TROOPS, ACTIONS OF THE BLACK AND TAN, AND RELATIONS WITH THE IRISH PEOPLE. THE ACCOUNT, TOLD FROM THE IRISH POINT OF VIEW, LOOKS AT THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY (IRA), ITS LEADERS, DIVISIONS WITHIN THEIR OWN RANKS, DIFFICULTIES IN GETTING SUPPLIES, AND TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. TERORIST ACTS BY BOTH SIDES ARE RECOUNTED. BLOODY SUNDAY OCCURRED IN DUBLIN ON NOVEMBER 21, 1920, AFTER A TIME OF UNREST, REPRISALS AND COUNTERREPRISALS, WHEN IRA MEMBERS ASSASSINATED 14 BRITISH OFFICERS SLEEPING IN THEIR HOMES. BRITISH REPRISALS TOOK PLACE LATER THAT AFTERNOON WHEN BRITISH FORCES FIRED ON A CROWD OF 7,000 AT A FOOTBALL MATCH. ONE OF THE RESULTS OF BLOODY SUNDAY WAS THAT THE BRITISH WERE FORCED TO ACCEPT THAT THEY WERE DEALING WITH AN ORGANIZED AND EFFICIENT FORCE AND TO BEGIN TO NEGOTIATE. THE WAR CONTINUED, INCREASING IN INTENSITY, AND THE IRA WAS OUTLAWED. PHOTOGRAPHS AND A LIST OF SOURCES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)