The Rising (New Edition): Ireland: Easter 1916

by Fearghal McGarry

Overview

The Easter Rising of 1916 not only destroyed much of the centre of Dublin — it changed the course of Irish history. But why did it happen? What was the role of ordinary people in this extraordinary event? What motivated them and what were their aims? These basic questions continue to divide historians of modern Ireland.

The Rising is the story of Easter 1916 from the perspective of those who made it, focusing on the experiences of rank and file revolutionaries. Fearghal McGarry makes use of a unique source that has only recently seen the light of day — a collection of over 1,700 eye-witness statements detailing the political activities of members of Sinn Fein and militant groups such as the Irish Republican Brotherhood. This collection represents one of the richest and most comprehensive oral history archives devoted to any modern revolution, providing new insights on almost every aspect of this seminal period.

The Rising shows how people from ordinary backgrounds became politicized and involved in the struggle for Irish independence. McGarry illuminates their motives, concerns, and aspirations, highlighting the importance of the Great War as a catalyst for the uprising. He concludes by exploring the Rising's revolutionary aftermath, which in time saw the creation of the independent state we see today.

This edition includes a new preface which reflects on the continuing importance of the Easter Rising as a symbol of Irish nationhood, and which looks at the 2016 centenary commemorations in both Ireland and the UK within the wider context of the 'Decade of Centenaries.'

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198732341
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	03/15/2016
Edition description:	Centennial
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 6.40(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Fearghal McGarry, Reader in Modern Irish History, Queen's University Belfast

Fearghal McGarry is Senior Lecturer in History at Queen's University, Belfast. He is the author of a number of books on Irish history in the twentieth century, including Irish Politics and the Spanish Civil War (Cork University Press, 1999), Eoin O'Duffy: A Self-Made Hero (OUP, 2005), and The Abbey Rebels of 1916: A Lost Revolution (Gill & Macmillan, 2015). H also edited Rebels (Penguin Ireland, 2011), a collection of first-hand testimony by revolutionary veterans.

Table of Contents

Chronology
Easter 1916 in 2016
Introduction
1. The Rising Generation: Separatism in Ireland
2. Arms in Irish Hands: Volunteering
3. The Soul of the Nation: War
4. Walking on Air: The Rising in Dublin
5. Glorious Forever: The Fall of the Republic
6. Charlie Weston, Are you Gone Mad? The Rising in Provincial Ireland
7. A Good End: Punishment
8. The Beginning of Ireland: Aftermath
Guide to Further Reading
Notes
Index

Editorial Reviews

"Although the subject has been covered before, in this work McGarry (history, Queen's Univ., Belfast) uses primary sources only recently made available, focusing not on the major leaders but on members of the rank and file, and lets them provide the descriptions of what happened almost 100 years ago. ... [A]n important addition to the field."--Library Journal

"McGarry's prose throughout does justice to the very dramatic story he tells. He seamlessly weaves together these richly evocative witnesses with current historiography and narrative, making this book both a major addition to what has already been done, but also an excellent introduction for the general reader to the Rising of 1916."--America

"[A] vivid and compelling narrative that explores the thoughts, fears, and motivations of the revolutionaries in this seminal event in the nation's fight for independence, ... The Rising offers invaluable insights into the insurrection from ground level. ... [A] poignant mosaic of idealism, bravery, and humanity, ... The Rising is rich with tales of the acts of ordinary Dubliners."--Boston Globe

From the Publisher