An Cosantóir

reviews | 35 FOR THE FOUR COURTS Author: Paul O'Brien Published: New Island Books (28 Mar 2012, www.newisland.ie) Pages: 126 ISBN: 978-1-84840-129-7 Price: €12.99 EASTER MONDAY 1916, Comdt Edward Daly commanding the 1 Bn the Irish Volunteers, occupied the Four Courts and the surrounding area. Using a labyrinth of streets, alleyways and tenement buildings, Daly and the Volunteers created a killing ground that would witness some of the fiercest fighting of the 1916 Rising. Crossfire' 1916 & The Battle for the Four Courts is a factual account of the battles that erupted in and around the Four Courts area of Dublin city. From the Volunteers rapid deployment and their first contact with British Forces on that Easter Monday to their refusal to surrender until Sunday 30th April, the author clearly lays out the events of that turbulent week in Irish history. Explained day by day and hour by hour, this easy to read book examines the battles that were fought in the streets and buildings around the courts area of Dublin. From the military perspective the battles are well described with an in depth look at fighting and defending in built up areas. The difficulties of combat in an urban environment are well detailed, an experience that today's soldiers can relate to. The author also examines the atrocities that were uncovered on North King Street as the Rising came to its bloody conclusion. The inquest and subsequent cover up are all well detailed within the book, a terrible tragedy that still remains unsolved to this day. This book is as near as one can possibly get to the fighting without actually taking part. This is Paul O'Brien's third work on the 1916 Rising and is a must for all those interested in the military aspects of the 1916 Rising. BOOK 'CROSSFIRE' 1916 & THE BATTLE DVD ACT OF VALOR (2012) Directors: Mike McCoy & Scott Waugh Genre: War/Action Certification: Run Time: 1 Hr 50 Min Cinema Release Date: 23 March 2012 Rental Release Date: 5 June 2012 Starring: Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez, Nestor Serrano, Emilio Rivera, Jason Cottle, Gonzalo Menendez, Ailsa Marshall, Drea Castro, Alexander Asefa and Sonny Sison USING AN EXCEPTIONAL blend of real-life people and original filmmaking; Act of Valor stars a group of active-duty Navy SEALs, which shows their true commitment to country, team and family. The film is inspired by true events and combines excellent combat sequences using the latest battlefield technology resulting in a true to life action film for the ultimate action/ adventure movie fan. The film focuses on a SEAL Team and shows the secretive world of these elite and highly trained soldiers. In a story of global anti-terrorism, Act of Valor takes audiences deep into the kidnapping and rescue of a CIA operative, which reveals the discovery of a deadly terrorist plot against the US. The SEAL team is then dispatched on a race against time manhunt, to prevent the terrorist attack. There has been some talk about the quality of the acting, but take into account who is playing the main characters, then this is not a movie about acting, if we can believe that professional footballers and wrestlers can play soldiers then why can't we let real Navy Seals show us how its done! http://actofvalor.com GAME TOM CLANCY'S GHOST RECON: FUTURE SOLDIER FROM THE AWARD-WINNING team that brought us Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 1 & 2, this game features cutting-edge technology, prototype high-tech weaponry, and state-of-the-art single-player and multiplayer modes. The game will go beyond the core Ghost Recon franchise and deliver a fresh gameplay experience, with unparalleled levels of quality that will excite long-time fans and newcomers alike. Become part of a Special Mission Unit under the direct command of the Joint Spec Ops Comd, they are the elite US Special Forces better known by their battlefield legend name, they are the Ghosts... In the near future, four of these elite soldiers serve as the tip of the spear in a hidden war raging across the globe. But even as the Ghosts accomplish their objectives, they discover the threat they face is greater than they ever imagined - one that could alter the international balance of power forever. Only the best of the best, soldiers with a unique mix of skills on and off the battlefield, ever get to wear the coveted Ghost insignia. Equipped with the most advanced combat technology, the Ghosts track down the highest-value targets in the highest-risk conflict areas around the world, fighting from the shadows in any climate or terrain. Genre: First Person Shooter - Platform: PS3, PC & Xbox 360 - PEGI: 16 - Price: €44.97 (PC €30) - Released: 25 May 2012 - http://ghostrecon.uk.ubi.com © 2012 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE

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