An IRA Revolutionary at War

Sean Moylan

Eamonn Duggan

• Publisher: Pen and Sword
• Year: 2024
• Edition: 0
• eBook ISBN:
  9781036115302
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: 20th Century History
• Index: History

Chronicles the remarkable life of Sean Moylan, a key figure in Ireland's War of Independence. This book details the extraordinary life of Sean Moylan. Moylan became a major and very influential character in the war against the British during the years 1919 to 1921. Moylan, and the men he commanded, fearlessly confronted the enemy and managed to claim a string of notable IRA victories against all the odds which, to this day, are embedded in local and national folklore. The purpose of this book, based on the author's very extensive research into the Bureau of Military History's Witness Statement archive, is to revisit the life of a true Irish hero whose exploits during the War of Independence contributed, in no small way, to bringing the British to the negotiating table. Moylan graduated from being captain of the Newmarket Volunteers Company to Commanding Officer of the IRA's Cork No 2 Brigade by the time he was captured by the British in May 1921. During the War of Independence he also led a very effective Active Service Unit which inflicted major damage on the forces of the Crown at places like Clonbanin and Tureengarriffe. Such was his military prowess he had the distinction of not losing even one of his men in the many engagements he oversaw with the enemy. During the conflict he became a legendary and influential figure among his own people in Cork, not only because of his military activities but also because of his political work as a Sinn Fein member of the Dail. In May 1921, Moylan was eventually captured by the British but because of an extraordinary set of circumstances he narrowly avoided the death penalty. He went on to oppose the Anglo-Irish Treaty because it failed to deliver the Irish Republic he had gallantly fought for. During the Civil War he spent many months in the United States of America, at the behest of Eamon de Valera, raising money for the Republicans and championing the anti-Treaty cause. After the Civil War, Moylan was eventually coaxed back into politics by de Valera who saw in him a potential to contribute to the emerging Ireland under the stewardship of Fianna Fail. Moylan went on to become a popular and influential member of Dail Eireann and, in due course, was elevated to cabinet level. As a government minister in the Departments of Lands, Education and Agriculture he made very valuable and progressive economic and social contributions to the process which saw Ireland remove the shackles of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and assert herself as a truly independent nation.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 The Making of a Revolutionary
• Chapter 2 A New Life Begins
• Chapter 3 A Gradual Return to Active Duty
• Chapter 4 The Capture of General Lucas and an Escalation of the Conflict
• Chapter 5 Ready for the Fight
• Chapter 6 The Art of Being a Leader
• Chapter 7 Taking the Fight to the British
• Chapter 8 The Struggle Continu
• Chapter 9 The Ambush at Clonbanin
• Chapter 10 The War Moves Towards Stalemate
• Chapter 11 Promotion and Added Responsibilities
• Chapter 12 The British Step Up Their Presence
• Chapter 13 The Net Closes In and Capture
• Chapter 14 In Custody and Standing Trial
• Chapter 15 Life on Spike Island
• Chapter 16 From Truce to Treaty
• Chapter 17 An Uneasy Peace
• Chapter 18 The Civil War
• Chapter 19 Civilian Life and the Call to Politics
• Chapter 20 Becoming a National Figure
• Chapter 21 Ministerial Recognition and Death
• Chapter 22 Men of the South
• Appendix
• References
• Sources
• Plates