An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir September 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie 38 | irisH voices FroM tHe great war (NEW EDITION) author: Myles Dungan publisher: Merrion (Irish Academic Press) (1st ed January 1995 / July 2014) isBn: 978-1908928801 price: €17.95 PB / €45.00 hB pages: 302 TO COINCIDE WITH the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War is the hugely popular revamped edition of Irish Voices from the Great War after nearly 20 years. The now well-known broadcaster (the history show, RTÉ Radio), author and historian Myles Dungan has compiled the memoirs, diaries and letters of the Irishmen who went to war in the first large scale war involving many nations. On its original release in 1995, Irish Voices from the Great War was considered a ground-breaking study of a forgotten history. The book covers the major battles with Irish involvement starting with the 1914 British Expeditionary Force, the 1915 Gallipoli campaign, the 1916 Somme offensive and finally ending with Messines in 1917. The book is a fine tribute to the forgotten stories of Ireland's heroic soldiers. WF in a tiMe oF war: KILDARE 1914-1918 author: James Durney publisher: Irish Academic Press (Merrion) (September 2014) (http://iap.ie/) isBn: 978-190892886 price: €17.95 PB / €39.95 HB pages: 212 AUTHOR AND HISTORIAN James Durney, a native of Co Kildare, has now compiled a thorough collection of historical documents, letters about how the Great War affected the lives of the local populace in Co Kildare. The book looks at the recruitment and losses that affected Co Kildare during the war years, covering stories from the military depot in Naas, the cavalry barracks in Newbridge and the artillery in Kildare Town, to the vast space of the Curragh Camp were over 700 soldiers never returned. The chapters are broken down in easy to follow periods in Ireland's history like: 1916 Rising, 1918 influenza pandemic and the 1918 general election – focusing mainly on Kildare. This book is highly recommended for military and local historians alike. WF out oF tHe dark 1914-1918: SOUTh DUBLINERS WhO FELL IN ThE GREAT WAR author: Ken Kinsella publisher: Merrion (May 2014) (http://iap.ie/) isBn: 978-1908928603 price: €22.45 PB / €41.00 HB pages: 430 KEN KINSELLA HAS painstakingly researched the Great War over a long period; he has written numerous articles on this subject, with many published in the Southside People, Blue Cap Journal, Irish Medal Society Journal and the Panorama magazine. Ken's opening chapter on Enlistment, gave me a lump in my throat and I'm proud to say brought a tear to my eye as I read how many Irishmen joined Irish Regiments in the British Army to fight a common enemy; from the out of work catholic farmer to the protestant merchant their stories are similar – were the 'pal's factor' kicked in and friend, neighbour and family followed each other off on the adventure of the Great War. The book extensively covers the main districts of South Dublin like: Stepaside, Killiney, Dundrum and Sandyford plus many more. I think Maj Gen (retd) David Nial Creagh, The O'Morchoe CB, CBE and President of Royal British Legion in Ireland sums it up nicely in the foreword, "it's about bringing back the memory of those Irish ...of the Great War..." WF

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