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Irish Brigades Abroad:
From the Wild Geese to the Napoleonic Wars
Author: Stephen McGarry
Publisher: The History Press Ltd (September, 2013)
(www.thehistorypress.ie)
ISBN: 978-1845887995
Price: €18.00 / Kindle: €13.60
Pages: 288 pages
The book opens with a great statement; "From the time of King James II's reign over the three
kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, swashbuckling young Irishmen achieved great success and
fought with distinction in most of the major battles in Europe and beyond."
We know how true this statement has become over the last few years with so many military books
on the plight of Irish soldiers fighting abroad. However not since J.C. O'Callaghan's 'History of the
Irish Brigades in the Service of France', which was written nearly 150 years ago has there been such a
comprehensive compilation of the Irish Brigades who fought across the continent. With such chapters
on: The Recruitment of the Irish Regiments Abroad, The Jacobite War (1689–91), 1st Jacobite Rising (1715)
and 2nd Jacobite Rising (1745), The Flight of the Wild Geese (1691), The First The Battle of Fontenoy (1745),
Lt Gen Thomas Lally's Expedition to India, American War of Independence (1775–83), the French Revolution
(1789) and Napoleon's Irish Legion (1803–15) – making it every military historian's must- have book on the
Irish Brigades.
The book contains many images and illustrations to accompany the 288 pages. This book will be a
companion to any researcher from here on in and will certainly be used quite extensively within the An
Cosantóir office. WF
About the author: Stephen McGarry was a member of No 2 Coy, Naval Reserve (formerly An Slua Muirí),
in Cathal Brugha Bks. This book has been a long five-year labour of love for him.
An Cosantóir November 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie
