Tomorrow with Bayonets: Dublin: July 1921 – July 1922 - Softcover

Molyneux, Derek; Kelly, Darren

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1781178631 ISBN 13: 9781781178638

Publisher: The Mercier Press Ltd, 2024

Synopsis

'A riveting account, capturing the emotions and tensions preceding the Irish Civil War. The authors position the reader as an observer to one of the most tragic chapters in modern Irish history.' -Liz Gillis, Historian and Author

'Derek and Darren have not merely written a book; they've crafted an experience―a relentless, heart-pounding journey through a year of change, conflict, and unfathomable courage. Tomorrow With Bayonets is a staggering achievement.'   - Marcus Howard, Independent historian and documentary maker

 

'A panoramic sweep of the events in the Capital in the pivotal 12 months of the Revolutionary era, between July 1921 and July 1922. The hour-by-hour account of the Battle for Dublin that started the Civil War is epic.'  -Shane McElhatton,
Radio One, RTE.

 

The raw intensity of the Irish Civil War is brought to life in this gripping, fast-paced journey from July 1921 to July 1922  – a year of change and conflict. Dublin’s descent into violent unrest surpasses the turbulence of the Easter Rising. Treaty debates spark dissension, and as tensions mount, Dublin becomes a tinderbox of espionage, betrayal, and guerrilla warfare. Former allies who fought shoulder to shoulder in the IRA now find themselves divided and entrenched in an ideological struggle that threatens to tear Dublin and Ireland apart. 

 

More than a historical recount, Tomorrow With Bayonets offers a visceral portrayal of a nation grappling with its identity and sovereignty, seen through the eyes of combatants, leaders, and civilians caught in the crossfire.

 

The Provisional Government’s National Army and the IRA engage in sporadic but fierce clashes as unrelenting violence and chaos engulf the country. In Northern Ireland, there is growing disillusionment among IRA units due to the diminishing credibility of assurances from Michael Collins. Ongoing assaults on their communities, the nationalist population experiences a rising number of casualties due to rampant brutality from unionist militias. A suppression of inquiries into killings leads to a widespread feeling of abandonment by the Provisional Government.

 

On June 4 1922, the Provisional Government implemented 'a policy of peaceful obstruction' towards the Belfast Government, explicitly forbidding any troops from the twenty-six counties from entering the six-county area. In an apocalyptic climax, Dublin is engulfed in explosions, assassinations and relentless urban warfare. 

 

This powerful account is not for the faint-hearted. It leaves a lasting impact, resonating with the reader long after the final page.

About this title

About the Author

Derek Molyneux and Darren Kelly are the co-authors of Someone Has to Die for This, Killing at its Very Extreme, When the Clock Struck in 1916 – Close Quarter Combat in the Easter Rising and Those of Us Who Must Die – Execution, Exile and Revival After the Easter Rising. Lifelong friends and history enthusiasts they have contributed to the Irish Times and History Ireland. Derek, an expert in Irish revolutionary history, often appears on radio debates and interviews and works for the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage in County Westmeath. Darren, a full-time author/historian, lives in Essex, England. Together, they manage the popular Facebook page 'Dublin 1916 – 1923 Then and Now,' which boasts over 13,000 followers.

Edition details

• Publisher: The Mercier Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1781178631
• ISBN 13: 9781781178638
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384