Autopsy On An Irish Skeleton

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31215, 12 November 1966, Page 4

Autopsy On An Irish Skeleton

The Civil War In Ireland. By Eoin Neeson. Mercier Press, Cork. 229 pp. Bibliography and Index.

I It is almost impossible to write a satisfactory history of a -civil war fought by guerrilla techniques. There are too few decisive incidents, [no major battles—the historian faces the choice of cataloguing trivial encounters or presenting a picture so general that it fails to explain anything. For this reason the Irish Civil War of 1922-23 has long gone unchronicled. Its high-points, such as the deaths of national heroes in both factions, are well-known: partisan defences of the actions of both sides are available: but not until Mr Neeson’s book was there an objective and complete account of this tragic period when brother literally fought with brother, often without any clear understanding of what the issues involved really were. Mr Neeson suggests another reason for the long delay before a full account appeared. Until recently party leaders in Irish politics have been Civil War veterans, the bestknown being President De Valera. Over the years they have reiterated the arguments of 1922-23 until they became political doctrines. Executions, assassinations and reprisals of the period left a terrible residue of hatred. The issues of republic versus free state were not solved for many years; the partition of Ireland still remains. For all these reasons it has seemed better not to rekindle old flames around questions of “the reason why” until now. This book aims to fill this great and deliberate gap in Irish history. The author likens it to the taking of a skeleton from the cupboard that it may be examined in a new light and put back again in its proper place.

The author’s work has not been made easier by the huge gaps in the records of the time. The republican guerrillas, often on the defensive and on the run without a centralised command or political framework, had little time or inclination for paperwork. Documents of the Provisional Government were burned after the election of 1932. Many other papers remain in private hands. Mr Neeson has tried to fill the gaps by interviews. Most troops on both sides were very young and many still survive. But after 40 years memories play tricks. He has had to feel his way carefully between widely different “eyewitness” accounts of the same event.

Over-ait his success in the face of these problems has been considerable. All the major military operations, from the shelling of the Four Courts to the cease-fire a year later, are described in detail. For the guerrilla period Mr

Neeson has concentrated on significant or typical engagements, while also keeping them in their wider perspective. Although this is a military history, from the very nature of the war politics could not be ignored, and Mr Neeson moves with clarity and vigour through the complex allegiances and issues after the signing of the AngloIrish Treaty in 1921. Some of his findings are still open to question—did Lloyd George deliberate*}’ provoke civil war in Ireland as being in England's best interests? Mr Neeson says yes, but the evidence is inconclusive. Likewise, would the English have renewed the military occupation in 1921, as Churchill threatened, if the Irish delegates had not signed the treaty? The answer remains unknown, but after reading of the heroism of both sides in the Civil War which followed it does appear that the Irish, united against the foreign English again, could have given a very good account of themselves.

On the events ot the war the questions also remain. Was Cathal Brugha making a heroic last stand or trying to surrender w’hen he appeared outside a blazing building tn Dublin, gun in hand? Mr Neeson inclines to the "heroic” version, but pro duces no new evidence. He i? plainly unhappy with the accepted accounts of General Michael Collins's death in ambush, yet he has no firm theory of hia own to offer. Were Collins and De Valera moving towards a settlement based on their personal friendship at that time? All the evidence, for and against is here, but the reader is left to draw his own conclusions Above all. this is a book for Irishmen seeking, if not answers then at least an unbiased account, of the most tragic period in Ireland's 20th century history. Thera are several excellent illustrations, but the production of the book is marred by an excessive number of typographical errors.