Customer Reviews

IRA Man: Talking with the Rebels

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

 

 

By relationship, my review may be interpretted as being biased; however, it is not. As someone who is quite familiar with this issue and has read a considerable amount about it, I do feel qualified to assess the worthiness of this book. This book is really intended for those who wish to gain an understanding of the Irish Troubles. This book does not go into as extensive of detail as Tim Pat Coogan's books (e.g. IRA Man, The Troubles, etc.) which one could find as being difficult to follow if they are not overly familiar with this issue. This is a well written interprettation of The Troubles and its value is enhanced by the useful insightfulness of the author which seperates this book from others that just recite the facts of history.

I would like to qualify the criticism I made in the above post. "IRA Man" is a good outlay of the basics. In a way, it's sort of a travel book detailing the author's journey into Republicanism. So, if you're an American and are looking for a view on the conflict, it's probably a good buy (although I think Americans of an "orange" extraction wouldn't like it). If you're looking for a book that really talks about IRA volunteers, I would recommend Toolis's book. As a lesson, I give "IRA Man" a six.

This book is a wonderful and realistic tribute to the men and women of the IRA. As Irish-Americans, myself and other people must take a page from Mr. McFerran's book... no pun intended. We must stop hiding behind words like "terrorism" and start considering words like "patriotism". Thank you, Mr. McFerran.

I think the author missed the boat here. He apparently had access to a number of Sinn Feiners and Republicans with no doubt interesting stories to tell. But he chose to focus on himself and a lot of ancient history. I think Toolis's book "Rebel Hearts" is far better.

I agree with those who found this book not very informative. McFerran talked to far too few people, wasted about a quarter of the book retelling Irish history, and frankly rathered embarrassed me with his naive viewpoint. (How impressed he was that there were well-paved roads in Ireland, for instance.) He's certainly sincere and well-intentioned, but read Toolis, Coogan, Adams, Belfrage and many others for far more thorough interviews, detail, and analysis.

Prof. Doug McFarren's book is the travelogue of an ethics professor with an empirical bent of mind. It's not enough for him to judge the violence wrought by the IRA without learning about it first hand, first from American activists and then from as many who will talk to him in Ireland. Along the way he delivers some of the convoluted history of this troubled nation in dense, readable narrative that serves as good introduction to a complex topic. He also provides wonderful references to and discussion of recent film and fiction representing the Troubles, that make this book a fine resource for the classroom -- especially for ethics professors who might want to devote a lesson to the complex moral issues of insurrection and civil strife.

Prof. Doug McFarren's book is the travelogue of an ethics professor with an empirical bent of mind. It's not enough for him to judge the violence wrought by the IRA without learning about it first hand, first from American activists and then from as many who will talk to him in Ireland. Along the way he delivers some of the convoluted history of this troubled nation in dense, readable narrative that serves as good introduction to a complex topic. He also provides wonderful references to film and fiction that make this book a fine resource for the classroom -- especially for ethics professors who might want to devote a lesson to the morality of insurrection and civil strife.

Another book written seeking to find reasons for IRA terrorists planting bombs in public places ie Oxford Street Bus Depot,La Mon House Restaurant,Enniskillen Rememberance Day,Shankill Fish Shop.
This seems to be a book that gives excuses for murder,torture,maiming and hate.

McFerran is certainly impressed with his comparisons between the American and Irish revolutionary movements. He forgets that Washington and Jefferson never took a family man hostage and strapped him into a bomb ladden car or detonated a car bomb in a shopping district of London. There is no excuse for these actions and it has only served to hurt the republican movement. He never even met with the heirarchy of the political movement in Ireland yet takes the views of street merchants as the word and philosophy of the leadership. Apparently the only creditials one needs to be quoted by McFerran is to be in a protest march.

This should make all the apologists for barbarism happy but those who don't find blowing up old men and shooting policemen in the back of the head to be joyous events while find this tract nauseating.