Comrades: Inside the War of Independence

Comrades: Inside the War of Independence is a remarkable first-hand account of the War of Independence told through previously unavailable reports from the protagonists, with unpublished and rare photographs. Comrades, a follow-on to the hugely successful Witnesses: Inside the Easter Rising, draws on official witness statements taken in the late 1940s and only released to the public in 2002. In its judicious use of these statements, given by the foot-soldiers and second-line participants in the War of Independence, the book provides a unique perspective on the events of this crucial period in Irish history.

Annie Ryan organises the events geographically and includes a chapter on the significant role played by women throughout the conflict. The flying columns, the ambushes, the activities of the Black and Tans and the reprisals are all vividly outlined through the voices of the protagonists, who recollect their roles, great and small, in the struggle that ultimately led to the Treaty negotiations and the establishment of the Irish Free State. Rare and unpublished images serve to illustrate the events. The book features an introduction by well-known historian and author Dr Diarmaid Ferriter.