During the Irish War of Independence the British and the Irish sides often reflected one another. Both the Irish and the British did well in some areas, and were deficient in others.

But both sides used terror – murder – burnings – shearing women’s hair – to intimidate the Irish population. British Field Marshal Henry Wilson said of the Black and Tans: ‘It was the business of the government to govern.

If these men ought to be murdered, then the government ought to murder them.’ Michael Collins could equally chillingly say: ‘Careful application of terrorism is also an excellent form of total communication’.

The actions of the British and Irish frequently mirrored one another – an uncomfortable reality of the War of Independence. This book examines the trauma of the times – both the exceptional and the ordinary – through a diverse range of topics.

Joseph Connell has had a lifelong interest in Irish history with particular emphasis on the period covered in this book. A lawyer and former instructor in the Californian Community College system, he spends his summers in Dublin, where he guides visitors on the 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour.

Joseph E.A. Connell Jnr is the author of 
Dublin Rising 1916  
Who’s who in the Dublin Rising 1916
Michael Collins Dublin 1916–22
The Shadow War