Liam Lynch : The Real Chief

by Ryan, Meda

• ISBN13: 9781856359924
• ISBN10: 1856359921
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-08-15
• Publisher: Dufour Editions

Summary

Liam Lynch joined the Irish Volunteers after the Easter Rising of 1916 and quickly rose through its ranks. He reorganised the Cork Brigade in 1919 and in 1921 became the commanding officer of the First Southern Division which controlled all the Volunteer Brigades in the south of the country. A prominant opponent of the Treaty of 1921, he became chief of staff of the anti-Treaty IRA, leading the fight against the pro-Treaty forces until his death in 1923. With the aid of Liam Lynch's personal letters, private documents and historical records, 'Liam Lynch: The Real Chief' traces the turbulent career of one of Ireland's greatest guerrilla commanders from his birth in 1893 until his death twenty-nine years later in the Civil War when he was killed in action on the Knockmealdown mountains. This book demonstrates Liam Lynch's importance in Irish history, including his efforts with Michael Collins, Richard Mulcahy and others to avoid a civil war, and his unwavering efforts to achieve a thirty-two county republic, rather than a partitioned state. Part of the 'Irish Revolutionaries' series being published in the run-up to the centenary of the 1916 Rising.

Author Biography

Meda Ryan is a native of Bandon in west Cork. Her publications include Michael Collins and the Women Who Spied for Ireland, and the controversial biography Tom Barry: IRA Freedom Fighter.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. 7
Introduction	p. 11
The Fatal Shot	p. 16
Early Life and Vision of Ireland	p. 21
Declaration for an Irish Republic	p. 28
Love and Marriage Postponed for Roisín Dubh	p. 35
Military Activity Continues	p. 40
Talks with Michael Collins and GHQ	p. 48
Arrested with Terence MacSwiney	p. 57
Hostilities Intensify-Death of a True Friend	p. 68
More Comrades Shot	p. 76
Intelligence	p. 81
Spies	p. 85
Formation of First Southern Division	p. 93
GHQ's Lack of Consultation with Cork Brigades	p. 101
Truce-Hope for Full Settlement	p. 113
Collins' Offer-Commander-in-Chief Position	p. 118
IRB's Allegiance to the Republic	p. 124
First Indication of Treaty Split	p. 131
Army Conventions-Executive Chief-of-Staff Appointment	p. 137
Efforts for Army Unity	p. 145
Arms Exchanged in Northern Offensive	p. 154
Disunity and Civil War	p. 169
Compromise Limerick Agreement	p. 176
Memo on Michael Collins' Death	p. 188
Determination and Hope of Victory	p. 206
With Executive Members	p. 219
Death on the Knockmealdowns	p. 227
Inquest and Final Resting	p. 239
	p. 249
	p. 250
	p. 252
	p. 254
Notes	p. 256
Bibliography	p. 276
Index	p. 281
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.