IRA IN KERRY, 1916-1921

"This study of the guerrilla war in Kerry dispels some of the myths and gives an alternative profile of the rebels active in Kerry during the War of Independence. Attempting to look at the character of those who got involved, it questions their reasons for joining and their commitment to the notion of a republic. Many young volunteers did not expect to become participants in a war, volunteering allowed repressed youths to escape the traditional and predictable lives mapped out for them. This study is sometimes critical, as it considers the effects of the war on Kerry's civilian population and the varying level of support for the IRA." "It presents a picture of what Kerry was like during this war, taking account of the perceptions of the community as a whole, Irish or British, Catholic or Protestant, fighter, soldier or civilian."--Jacket.