Blood on the Shamrock: A Novel of Ireland's Civil War (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The military convoy wound its way along the narrow Bandon-to-Crookstown road..." (more)
Key Phrases: Big Fellow, Sarah Anne, Michael Collins (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Cathal Liam has created such realistic and believable fictional characters that they seamlessly interact with the historical ones." -- Frank West, Irish American News (Chicago, IL), August, 2006

"Interweaving actual characters with fictional companions throws an interesting light on the events and emotions [of Michael Collins and others]." -- Pauline Ferrie, The Irish Emigrant (Galway, Ireland), July, 2006

"Mr. Liam sticks closely to historic fact in dealing with major events and includes a glossary and a good bibliography." -- Mary O'Sullivan, Ireland of the Welcomes, September/October, 2006

Blood On The Shamrock: A Novel of Ireland's Civil War is selected as a finalist for the 2006 Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MIPA) general fiction book award. --Midwest Independent Publishers Association

Facts, dates and the names are important, but can be rough on the eyes [Cathal] Liam mixed it to perfection -- from a review by Scott Powers, --Irish American News; (Chicago, IL), July, 2006

Product Description

With the tragedy of Easter 1916 behind them and spurred on by the euphoria born of England's willingness to confer after months of bitter warfare, Irish republicans sense they are finally on the verge of triumph over their centuries-old foe. Ireland's freedom is just around the corner, or so it seems. But almost overnight the green hills of Ireland turn red again--blood red--as the bitter residue of Anglo-Irish politics unexpectedly erupts into unholy civil war, the repercussions of which are destined to sully the dream of Irish unity for years to come.

This work of historical fiction continues the chronicle of Aran Roe O'Neill, a fictional Irishman, and his tenacious comrades, both real and imagined. Together they reluctantly renew their struggle for Ireland's long-denied independence from England. Their action is triggered by the divisive treaty Dublin's fledging government negotiates with members of London's parliamentary leadership.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 594 pages
• Publisher: St. Padraic Press; Revised edition (September 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970415524
• ISBN-13: 978-0970415523
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #408,869 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A historical novel about Ireland's Civil War in the 1920's, September 13, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

"Blood on the Shamrock" is the sequel to "Consumed in Freedom's Flame," Cathal Liam's historical novel about Ireland's Civil War in the 1920's. Fictional hero Aran Roe O'Neill continues in the struggle for Irish self-governance and independence. In this complex network of loyalties and treachery, he faces foes both from within and outside the ranks of Irish patriots. For those who may have missed the first novel, "Blood on the Shamrock" stands very nicely on its own as a great historical novel. It is greatly enhanced by an introductory list of cast of characters, in order of appearance by chapter, the prologue, which quotes the Declaration of Arbroath and the Proclamation of POBLACHT NA H EIREANN, and the glossary. Frequent quotations from poems and songs also help to place the novel's tone and action core. The reader will quickly become caught up in the life and cause of Aran, which is 'at one with the cause of Pearse, Connolly and Collins.' Twentieth century Irish political reality evolves through the pages, with many references to its cultural and historical heritage. "Blood on the Shamrock" is immediate and personal; it will serve to enlighten many readers about the latter days of the Irish Civil War. Ending in the 1960's, "Blood on the Shamrock" is a complete read in and of itself. But one wonders (and hopes!) if there will be another novel to the present day?

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blood On The Shamrock by Cathal Liam, October 5, 2006

By	Ruiseil Gray (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"The follow-up to his critically acclaimed novel, Consumed In Freedom's Flame, protagonist and factional Irishman, Aran Roe O'Neill returns in this historically accurate factional tale of Ireland's Civil War. The book opens with a military entourage carrying Irish rebel leader Michael Collins to a mysterious meeting aimed at putting an end to the savage conflict gripping the country. As a passenger in the car with Collins, O'Neill is caught in the midst of the ambush that would eventually leave his beloved leader - and perhaps even the hopes of a generation - dying on a country road. The novel then shifts back to the end of the Irish War of Independence as the British government awaits the arrival of an Irish delegation charged with attaining their country's sovereignty after hundreds of years of supplication. As [Eamon] de Valera jostles for an outcome that appears motivated by personal rather than stately reasons, Collins is reluctantly press-ganged into joining the Irish deputation. With the threat of total war imminent, the Irish delegation are forced to return to the country with a less than desirable treaty for those who sought a full 32-county republic, a position that the author pointedly claims: 'once a means to achieving a broad ends, had become a narrow end in itself.' With the factions split, the country becomes embroiled in a bitter, insidious conflict that turns comrade and households upon themselves. There are possibly those that would charge the author with being too far in the Collins camp, but with the dispassionate eye of history now finally beginning to fall on Ireland's most depressing dispute, it is hard to escape Liam's presentation of Ireland's most dominant political figure as an egotistical, arrogant man armed only with his own selfish, myopic vision. As one of Collin's inner circle, the newly married protagonist sees his own life unravel along with those around him as Liam's superbly researched book brings alive one of Ireland's darkest hours. Armed with murderous subplots, along with romance, heroism and betrayal galore, this is certainly one of the most dynamic and enjoyable retellings of the Irish Civil War that I have ever read." Reviewed by Joe Kavanagh, Irish Connections magazine, (New York, NY), Autumn, 2006

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Shure an' it's a winner!, December 17, 2008

By	R. Scott - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A very well written historic novel about the Irish Civil War! Must read both books in this "series" to get full impact. Congratulations Mr. Liam!!