An Cosantóir

47 REVIEWS Diarmaid Ferriter, Professor of Modern History at UCD, is the author of eleven books on Irish History, so in approaching the subject of his aptly named book on the Irish Civil War "Between Two Hells," he is a historian deeply immersed in this topic. There has been a veritable cascade of publications of late on this era in Irish history coinciding with this centenary period, thereby allowing historians at this remove to "cast a cold eye" from an historical revisionist perspective. Its therefore a crowded race, but this work stands out from the pack. Ferriter ab initio eschews a detailed military historian's analysis of the Civil War, acknowledging that several other notable authors have examined this aspect of the Civil war in minutiae. His point of departure is seeking at this remove to walk in the footsteps of the protagonists at the time, their contemporaneous mindset, what motivated and informed the decisions they took? Because it was these decisions of former stalwart revolutionary comrades who became inveterate enemies that irrevocably led to this tragic coda of the Irish Revolutionary period that impinged societally, politically, and arguably culturally on the psyche of the foundling state for many generations. The enduring and bitter legacy of Civil War politics was a defining leitmotif in the Irish political landscape arguably only finally put to rest when Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael went into coalition government after the 2020 General Election, heretofore many a household resonated with often fiery debates of whether one was a Dev or Collins man/woman; indeed, this debate may have waned but is definitively not extinct. Ferriter not only brings a cold but gimlet eye in his searing analysis, in a work that takes a deep dive into the shades of grey between heretofore simplistic black and white arguments, thereby pulling the reader from the trap of simplistic dichotomies. Personalities and relationships, with concurrent divides and enmities dating back to the very beginning of the revolutionary period are the Ariadne's thread which the author navigates this historical maze. Drawing on previously unpublished archive material, particularly the Pensions Records at the Bureau of Military History, Ferriter writing in a simple and engaging style draws the reader remorselessly back to this epochal period where a whole cascade of events conspired to trigger the conflict. The schism in the republican movement encompassed regional disparities, saw the creation of a new National Army led by the nascent pro-Treaty provisional government and fighting initially at its most serious in Dublin, the battle of the Four Courts, but which thereafter effectively became a southern campaign in the republican redoubt of Munster. People choose sides not just because of ideological reasons but also in the footsteps of key charismatic leaders in which issues of loyalty and fidelity often trumped rationale debates. This was when desperate men and women already exhausted emotionally and physically by the turmoil of the War of Independence found each other locked in an inexorable spiral of events that triggered the Civil War, almost akin to a self- fulfilling prophesy. One of the most fascinating but ultimately tragic effects of the Civil War was how quickly former stalwart comrades choose to demonise and vilify each other, where each saw the other as an irrevocable existential threat to the ideals and concept of the meaning of an Irish Republic. It came to justify deep injustices and cruelty perpetrated by both combatants in the conflict that ensued. A nail-biting personal story that demonstrates the resilience, mental strength and discipline required to become a leader in the most gruelling of circumstances, Ranger 22 will inspire readers to apply ex-Army Ranger Ray Goggins' lessons to their own lives. Cork man and Chief Instructor of RTÉ's Ultimate Hell week Ray Goggins always knew he wanted to be in the army. Growing up Ray's father and grandfather had both been military men and Ray never doubted that eould be his life too. However, nothing could prepare him for the life-changing experiences he went through while out in the field. From the hills of south Lebanon to the monsoon jungles of Southern Asia, Ray has operated in a Life-and-death world. In the suffocating humidity of Liberia, the mountains of Afghanistan and the snow covered Balkans, he has seen the best and the worst qualities in himself and others. From conflict zones to terrorist attacks and hostage rescues, Ray has learned the greatest life lessons: how to control fear, how to react calmly and positively and how to create a strong baseline from which to take action. After a life spent on the front line, Ray now trains others to foster a mindset to handle whatever madness life has in store. In this remarkable book, he takes us on an exhilarating journey through his incredible career and draws on the valuable lessons he's learned to help us all deal better with life, whatever the situation. Ray Goggins served in the Irish Army for 26 years, including 17 years in the Army Ranger Wing, as an operator and leader in a tier 1 Special Operations Unit. With a lifetime of experience in war zones, Ray has also operated as a bodyguard in Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East and Afghanistan. Born in Cork, Ray is now Chief Instructor of RTÉ's Ultimate Hell Week and director of a training and leadership company, Coreskill, working with various corporate organisations and teams. For publicity enquiries contact Fiona Murphy, Publicity and Marketing Manager, Gill Books, 0868389611, fmurphy@gill.ie Review by Dr Rory Finegan (Comdt Retd) Between Two Hells: The Irish Civil War Ranger 22 Author: Ray Goggins Publisher: Gill Books ISBN: 9780717192496 Pages: 304 Price: €16.99 Author: Diarmaid Ferriter Publisher: Profile Books ISBN: 9781788161749 Pages: 336 Price: €20.99 (Easons) BOOKS

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