An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 45 Author: Patrick Mulroe Publisher: Irish Academic Press (April 2017) www.irishacademicpress.ie isBn: 978-1-911024491 Pages: 300 Price: €24.99 PB / €45.00 HB The troubles in the north of the country are a very recent memory, and this work is an excellent and well-researched account of Irish Security policy during the period from 1969-78 It was during this turbulent period in our nation's history that the country witnessed some of the worst atrocities committed on Irish soil, leaving hundreds dead and much more injured. Utilising a variety of archival material, Patrick Mulroe pieces together the often complex relationships between security and police forces, north and south of the border. The discreet co-operation between these forces stopped a number of violent acts from taking place and saved many lives but the co-operation was effectively on condition that, 'it never took place', or was simply coincidence. The author states 'The difficulty for the Irish State was not so much in co-operating with the British but being seen to co-operate.' Republican groups were incensed that the security forces were liaising with one another in a bid to thwart attacks. The book is an excellent and easy read and is a very important addition to the history of the north and Ireland's Security policy. Po'B bombs, bullets AnD the borDer: poliCing irelAnD's Frontier: irish seCuritY poliCY, 1969-78 Author: Barry Keane Publisher: Mercier Press (June 2017) www.mercierpress.ie isBn: 978-1-781174951 Pages: 448 Price: €31.50 There is no doubt that County Cork played a leading role in Ireland's struggle for Independence through the centuries, and this new book covers the period from the Rising, through the War of Independence and then on to the Civil War. More than 700 men, women and children lost their lives in this County during this turbulent period in our nation's history. While many were combatants, coming from the ranks of the British army, the Irish Republican Army or the police, a great number of them were innocent civilians caught in the crossfire of the opposing sides. In his latest work historian, Barry Keane has divided his book into two parts. Part One of the book is a brief introduction to the period and examines the most important events which epitomised the conflict in the county from 1916 to 1923. He covers incidents such as the Kilmichael ambush, the Burning of Cork city, the deaths of Lord Mayor Tomas MacCurtain and the Funeral of Terence MacSwiney to name but a few. The second part of the book is a comprehensive list of those who died along with a description of how they met their fate. This is very interesting reading and will, in years to come become a very important reference source. This is an excellent book, though I was a little disappointed with the photographs which are only in Part One. The author states that there are few photos surviving which are of sufficient quality, but I feel the publisher should have done more and with digital scanning and photographic enhancement, more photos may have been included. Overall, a good read and excellent reference source. Po'B Corks revolutionArY DeAD 1916-1923 no wAY out: the irish in wArtime FrAnCe 1939-1945 Author: Isadore Ryan Publisher: Mercier Press (July 2017) www.mercierpress.ie isBn: 978-1-781174876 Pages: 352 Price: €17.99 This excellent, well researched and very readable book covers a very often overlooked period in Irish as well as European history. After the German Army invaded France in 1940, an estimated 2,000 Irish people found themselves stranded in occupied France. They would remain there for over four years with as the title states, no way out. As the German jackboot spread throughout the country, work, food and money became scarce and the Irish trapped behind enemy lines so to speak, struggled for survival. While some keep their heads down in the hope the conflict will end soon, others become involved to varying degrees in the war which has taken hold of the country. Ireland's small group of diplomats in France tried to offer assistance, with limited resources there is little that they could do. With the constant fear of internment, the Gestapo, Resistance attacks on the Germans and bombing raids, the years in France were fraught with danger. The author relates the experiences, adventures and misadventures of some those caught up in a war not of their making from well-known figures such as James Joyce and Samuel Beckett to more obscure but no less interesting individuals such as Stephen Rice and Una Whyte. There are a number of black and white photographic plates of the people and places covered in the book. This work is a good read on a very original subject. P.C.

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