Portrait of a Revolutionary: General Richard Mulcahy and the Founding of the Irish Free State [Hardcover]

Maryann Gialanella Valiulis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 1992

" Richard Mulcahy was architect of the guerrilla war that forced the British to grant Dominion status to Ireland and the guiding spirit behind the civil war that ensured the survival of the new state. In this illuminating portrait, Maryann Valiulis uses Mulcahy's career as a focus for reexamining Ireland's transition from colony to nation state between 1916 and 1924. Contrary to traditional interpretation, she argues, Mulcahy and General Headquarters Staff played a crucial role in setting ethical boundaries for the guerrilla war, in ensuring that the war of independence did not degenerate into wanton violence, sectarian conflict, or personal vengeance. In the civil war, Mulcahy was less successful. In fact, in an attempt to enforce standards and control the actions of the army, he was led into his most controversial policy -- execution of prisoners. Valiulis contends that within an atmosphere of terror and counter-terror, Mulcahy and GHQ kept the threads of the revolutionary struggle woven together. Under Mulcahy's direction, GHQ became a focal point for guerilla war that the IRA may not have been able to win but, thanks to Mulcahy and GHQ, did not lose. Mulcahy's life reveals much about the diversity of Irish nationalism, the nature of the revolutionary struggle, and the influence of colonialism. He epitomized the political and cultural nationalist whose vision of a free and independent Ireland was a synthesis of traditions: Gaelic and English, constitutional and revolutionary, modern and traditional.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In this comprehensive and probing narrative, Valiulis makes a strong case for including Mulcahy along with Michael Collins, Arthur Griffiths, and Eamon de Valera as one of the principal founders of independent Ireland." -- American Historical Review

"Mulcahy emerges as the man who eventually transformed the Irish Army from an irregular, highly politicized, loosely disciplined force into an integral element of today's Irish Republic." -- Military History

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky (July 28, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813117917
• ISBN-13: 978-0813117911
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,160,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent biography, May 18, 2009

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Jim-Jim (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Portrait of a Revolutionary: General Richard Mulcahy and the Founding of the Irish Free State (Hardcover)

Mulcahy is one of the true forgotten heroes of Irish history, who was key to the foundation of the state and the preservation of democracy. Very important bio on a very important man.