Customer Reviews

Bandit Country: The IRA & South Armagh

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The idea of a Daily Telegraph journalist - Toby Harnden - writing an account of the IRA's campaign in South Armagh during the last 30 years of the Irish "Troubles" may not seem promising to those of an Irish Republican disposition. The Daily Telegraph is a notorious organ of the British establishment. However, after reading the book, one feels Harnden has written a dispassionate account, and even that he has come to underset the minset of those he has spoken to in the course of his research. The book essentially details the IRA's campaign of bombings, shootings and abductions and the war of attrition being fought against the British Army over the period. While essentially chronological in order, the book also deals with certain subjects on a thematic basis - the role of informers, the SAS, and so on. The role is a slightly uneven narrative. However, in total, the book provides a good starting point to those with an interest in this most recent, unresolved period of Irish history. As noted earlier, Harnden does not take the non-thinking option of dismissing the IRA as maniacal killers, but rather as protagonists in a historically situated conflict, albeit one where the methods and motivation of boths were very often less than honourable

An terrific description of the IRA's history and recent operations in South Armagh, one of the most notorious areas of Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Admirable both for its attention to technical and tactical detail -- what makes a good sniper's rifle, how do the IRA stage a sniper's attack (it takes up to 20 people), the meticulous care that went into some of their ambushes -- and for its ability not to take sides, even though the author's newspaper would clearly be associated with the British establishment. It really makes you feel what it was like to be on the ground, and gives you a great understanding of how the region's history of ungovernability relates to the events of the Troubles.

I have two criticisms, neither of them major. First, although it's a gripping read and each paragraph seems to follow from the previous one, on a chapter-by-chapter scale it's a bit disorganized. One chapter, dealing with the Kingsmill massacre and other events over the course of several years, is entitled "A long-awaited day", but never identifies which day in particular it's talking about. Second, it's all about military operations by the IRA in South Armagh and doesn't attempt to deal with the internal politics of Sinn Fein or the IRA. Given the huge temperamental and historical differences between South Armagh on the one hand and the Belfast and Derry brigades, you leave the book surprised that Tom "Slab" Murphy and Gerry Adams were ever in the same organisation, let alone that South Armagh stuck with the Adams/McGuinness leadership through the change to a political approach.

But these are quibbles. This is an excellent book, unsurpassed as a description of the war on the ground. Recommended.

OK, so the main battles that resulted in political breakthroughs were in the cities, but nonetheless, the county of South Armagh played an important role in the Northern Ireland Conflict. Reading books about the city operations in Belfast and Derry tends to get the reader more involved in the politics of the conflict than the actual day-to-day operations that the British Army and the IRA were involved in. By looking at this particular county, we can see how its fierce republicanism has helped to shape the conflict as a whole. This was where many of the British troops in Northern Ireland were killed and it became one of the most dangerous places to serve in in the British Army. This book gives a balanced view from all sides and even includes views from the SAS and undercover RUC units. A must read!

Definitely the most insightful book I have read on the Troubles. Captures in a dispassionate, detailed and intelligent manner the role of South Armagh (not just the South Armagh PIRA) in the conflict of the past thirty years and before.

A very interesting insight into the troubles from right back to the early 1900's. Slightly of the republican persuasion but only slightly. includes references and comments from British army officials, sínn feín officials and members of the provisional IRA. If you want to understand the knife-edge stumble along the precipice to peace, you must read this book (Toby Harnden.)

As other reviewers have commented, Harnden's impartiality will surprise many given the editorial line of his employer 'The Daily Telegraph'. He breaks new ground with his investigations, as he writes many people in South Armagh were open and candid with him as they wanted to tell the stories which had been ignored and/or misrepresented by the media for so long. The grudgng respect Britsh Army figures express for the PIRA will surprise, and the descriptions of operations are fascinating even for those generally more interested in politics than in military history.

I found it very hard to put this book down at times. Toby Harnden approaches the subject in a thoroughly professional manner and reveals no bias for any side in his excellent book. Should be required reading for any student of Irish history.

Toby Harnden is a knowledgeable and talented writer. I wholly enjoyed this book and hope this is just the first of many from him.

Toby Harnden has written a spellbounding history of the Provisional IRA (PIRA) and their ultimate stronghold...South Armagh. Through meticulous research and personal interviews, he has written a balanced story of the PIRA in South Armagh, an area which was often considered qualitatively different in its resistance to Britain and the Northern Ireland government. In just one example of many, Harnden describes in detail the Goldfinger sniper crew who stalked British patrols, striking so much fear in their enemy that some British units stopped doing their jobs and hid in their camps so as not to be the next victim. To date, there has been no better account written of the PIRA operations in South Armagh...period.

This book is very informative, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The sheer depth of research is evident throughout this book. The only misgiving I had was that at times the chronology was confusing. Great material - whether for research or interest. 10 out of 10 for Toby Harnden