Just in Time for St. Patrick's Day

My reading of late has included a number of books by Morgan Llywelyn, covering a number of different aspects of Irish history. Until recently though, most of these have been from Eire's distant, sometimes mythical past, including Cuchulainn, Finn Mac Cool, and more recently, Brian Boru, the king who came closer than anyone ever had before or since to creating a completely united Ireland, til his death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.

I have recently been reading a series dealing with more recent matters beginning with the book "1916". I am actually not finished with it yet, but it has inspired me to do alot of further research and reading. The book centers around events leading up to the Easter Uprising in, of course, 1916. The story begins a number of years earlier with the character of Ned Halloran, who is on his way to America for his sister's wedding, and is unfortunately taking this voyage on the Titanic. The book follows Ned as he goes off to boarding school, and as he becomes a part of life in Dublin, which includes immersion into the politics and factions in town. He becomes involved in an assortment of revolutionary groups that end up being an integral part in the ultimately unsuccessful Easter Uprising in 1916, in which a number of key buildings in Dublin are seized by revolutionaries, but eventually crushed by the British, leading to the execution of several of the key leaders, but ends up bringing to prominence several other revolutionaries including Michael Collins and Eamon De Valera.

I have never known that much about recent Irish history other than what I saw on the news, but this book has done a good job of cutting though and explaining all the different factions and their disagreements and sorting out all the different groups, while making it all real and immersing the reader in the whole scene. Sinn Fein really is separate from the IRA, just like they always said - who knew?

1916 is just the first book in the series that follows the fate of the Irish throughout the 20th century and their quest for Independence from Britain, the tumult of the civil war that followed, and all the way through the troubles centered around Northern Ireland culminating in the Good Friday Accord. It has encouraged me to learn more on my own, and to me that is one of the hallmarks of a good book. On a related note, I would also recommend the movie "Michael Collins" starring Liam Neeson, with Neeson as the title character. It starts with the end of the Easter Uprising following Collins through his exploits in the war against Britain and the civil war that followed. It also stars Julia Roberts and Alan Rickman. Warning - it is a bit violent, but then again, given the subject matter, that is to be expected.

Also Flogging Molly is in town tonight promoting their new album "Float", but having been sick, I am unable to go. It's a really good album though, their first one recorded in Ireland, and has a mature sound to it, and Dave King's thought provoking lyrics. Check it out if you have the chance.