What do you think?
Rate this book
Inside the GPO 1916: A First-hand Account
A first-hand account of the 1916 Rising and its aftermath brings alive the historic events that ushered in the beginnings of an independent Irish state.
A Londoner and a member of the Irish Volunteers, Joe Good guarded the approach across O'Connell Bridge as the rebels took the centre of Dublin. He joined the garrison in the GPO, and describes at first hand the events of the confusion, the heroism, and the tragedy of Easter Week.
After the Rising, Joe Good worked as an organiser for the Volunteers. He was a close associate of Michael Collins and his portrait of Collins provides fresh insight into his character, his competitiveness, and how he related to his men. In 1918 Good was one of a handpicked team sent to London to assassinate members of the British cabinet, and here he gives the first full account to be published of this extraordinary expedition.
Joe Good, born in London in 1895, died in Dublin in 1962. He wrote his journal in 1946 for his son Maurice, who has now edited it for publication.
A Londoner and a member of the Irish Volunteers, Joe Good guarded the approach across O'Connell Bridge as the rebels took the centre of Dublin. He joined the garrison in the GPO, and describes at first hand the events of the confusion, the heroism, and the tragedy of Easter Week.
After the Rising, Joe Good worked as an organiser for the Volunteers. He was a close associate of Michael Collins and his portrait of Collins provides fresh insight into his character, his competitiveness, and how he related to his men. In 1918 Good was one of a handpicked team sent to London to assassinate members of the British cabinet, and here he gives the first full account to be published of this extraordinary expedition.
Joe Good, born in London in 1895, died in Dublin in 1962. He wrote his journal in 1946 for his son Maurice, who has now edited it for publication.
- GenresIrelandHistoryNonfiction
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 2015
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 20, 2025
Great first hand account and not romanticised, which is a nice change.
April 7, 2016
I'm giving this 4 stars for different reasons to usual. It wasn't the usual couldn't wait to get into bed to tear into my book. It had more to do with being Irish and the momentum around the centenary of 1916 and being immersed in stories and anecdotes through the media for weeks. And this man's story was real and it brought that whole period of history alive for me. As a young London born man Joe Good ended up fighting in and around the GPO. His story is very unsentimental, factual and an insight into the times and way of life then. He came across as an honorable unassuming man with ideals and courage. The book was a real insiders insight into the more famous leaders of 1916. I love that he had to be coaxed and prodded into writing his memoirs by his son Maurice. If he hadn't we wouldn't have such an authentic account. I would never normally be drawn to reading a book like this and am very glad that my bookclub in Clancy's Bar decided to pick it for the times that were in it.
February 10, 2017
For me the book put me inside the GPO during Easter 1916. Was pretty amazing to get a first hand account of an event that had such an influence on the Ireland of today. For anyone who has even a passing interest in relatively modern Irish history it's well worth a read.
June 18, 2015
very easy and interesting read from the inside of the rebellion.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews