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Field of Fire:
The Battle of Ashbourne 1916
Author: Paul O'Brien
Publisher: New Island (2012, www.newisland.ie)
Pages: 108pp (paperback)
ISBN: 978-1848401563
Price: €12.99
'Field of Fire: The Battle of Ashbourne 1916', the second book in the '1916
In Focus' series by Paul O'Brien, is a blow-by-blow account of the less wellknown battle of the 1916 Rising that happened in Ashbourne, Co Meath. This
battle took place between the 5th (Fingal) Battalion of the Irish Volunteers,
under the command of Comdt Thomas Ashe and his 2i/c Lt Richard Mulcahy,
and a superior force from the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). It took place
while attention was mainly focused on events in Dublin.
Paul's descriptions of the tactics used by the republicans during this battle
are highly detailed: describing how the section commanders brought their men
into battle, using flanking movements to overwhelm the RIC. Paul's definition of
guerrilla warfare tactics (page 86) is one of the best you will read.
Most readers of this book will be amazed that all those involved in the Battle
of Ashbourne were Irish except for one, RIC Inspector Harry Smyth, and, more
importantly, would have known each other well as they all lived and worked in
the Ashbourne and Meath area.
This book gives a brief account of Thomas Ashe's later punishment and the
tragic ending of his hunger strike, which brought the republican cause back to
the forefront of Irish politics and public sympathy.
Ashe's funeral in Dublin was the most prominent
since Parnell's, with republicans brazenly carrying
arms in defiance of the large British Army presence
in the city. Members of Ashe's battalion rendered
full military honours to their old commander with
a volley of shots over his grave, while General
Michael Collins famously paid tribute to this fallen
son of Ireland, saying: "Nothing additional remains
to be said. That volley which we have just heard is
the only speech which is proper to make above the
grave of a dead Fenian."
The author: Paul O'Brien MA is an Irish historian
and author. He has published three other books on
1916 - 'Blood on the Streets: 1916 and the Battle for
Mount Street Bridge', 'Uncommon Valour: 1916 and
the Battle for the South Dublin Union', and 'Crossfire:
The Battle of the Four Courts 1916'. His next book
'Shootout: The Battle for St Stephen's Green 1916', is
due out early next year. www.paulobrienauthor.ie
An Cosantóir Dec 2012/Jan 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie
