An IRA Revolutionary at War: Sean Moylan - Hardcover

Duggan, Eamonn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1036115283 ISBN 13: 9781036115289

Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd, 2024

Synopsis

This book details the extraordinary life of Sean Moylan. Moylan became a major and very influential character in the war against the British during the years 1919 to 1921. Moylan, and the men he commanded, fearlessly confronted the enemy and managed to claim a string of notable IRA victories against all the odds which, to this day, are embedded in local and national folklore. The purpose of this book, based on the author’s very extensive research into the Bureau of Military History’s Witness Statement archive, is to revisit the life of a true Irish hero whose exploits during the War of Independence contributed, in no small way, to bringing the British to the negotiating table. Moylan graduated from being captain of the Newmarket Volunteers Company to Commanding Officer of the IRA’s Cork No 2 Brigade by the time he was captured by the British in May 1921. During the War of Independence he also led a very effective Active Service Unit which inflicted major damage on the forces of the Crown at places like Clonbanin and Tureengarriffe. Such was his military prowess he had the distinction of not losing even one of his men in the many engagements he oversaw with the enemy. During the conflict he became a legendary and influential figure among his own people in Cork, not only because of his military activities but also because of his political work as a Sinn Fein member of the Dail. In May 1921, Moylan was eventually captured by the British but because of an extraordinary set of circumstances he narrowly avoided the death penalty. He went on to oppose the Anglo-Irish Treaty because it failed to deliver the Irish Republic he had gallantly fought for. During the Civil War he spent many months in the United States of America, at the behest of Eamon de Valera, raising money for the Republicans and championing the anti-Treaty cause. After the Civil War, Moylan was eventually coaxed back into politics by de Valera who saw in him a potential to contribute to the emerging Ireland under the stewardship of Fianna Fail. Moylan went on to become a popular and influential member of Dail Eireann and, in due course, was elevated to cabinet level. As a government minister in the Departments of Lands, Education and Agriculture he made very valuable and progressive economic and social contributions to the process which saw Ireland remove the shackles of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and assert herself as a truly independent nation.

About this title

About the Author

Eamonn Duggan is a retired History teacher and lecturer and was Head of History at Avondale Community College in Rathdrum for twenty years. He holds a BA (Hons) Degree in History and English and Masters (Hons) Degree in Modern Irish History both from Dublin City University. His Master’s thesis, The Education Policies of the Cumann na nGaedheal Government 1923 to 1932 was supervised by the eminent historian, Professor Diarmaid Ferreter. He has been Historian in Residence for the Ireland’s Own magazine since 2012, and has contributed circa 500 historical articles in that time. He is also the lead contributor to the magazine’s highly successful Centenary Annual since its first publication in 2016, and is also the main contributor to the magazine’s Michael Collins Special Edition in August 2022. His book, We Go Into Action Today at Noon was published by The O’Brien Press in October 2021 and is based on his extensive research of the Bureau of Military History’s Witness Statement Archive. He has contributed to Historical Societies and University journals over the years and has contributed to the Duhallow Historical Journal, Duchas Volume 1 in 2022 and, Volume 2 in 2023 edited by Dr Aogan O’ hlarlaithe. Eamonn Duggan delivered the Annual Ivy Day Oration in commemoration of Charles Stewart Parnell in Avondale Park, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow in 2014.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2024
• ISBN 10: 1036115283
• ISBN 13: 9781036115289
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 272