Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Ireland’s War of Independence 1919-21: The IRA’s Guerrilla Campaign

Rate this book
An accessible overview of Ireland's War of Independence 1919-21. From the first shooting of RIC constables in Soloheadbeg Co Tipperary on 21 January 1919 to the truce in July 1921 the IRA carried out a huge range of attacks on all levels of British rule in Ireland. There are stories of humanity such as the British soldiers who helped three IRA men escape from prison or the members of the British Army who mutinied in India after hearing about the reprisals being carried out by the Black and Tans in Ireland. The hundreds of thousands of people who celebrated the Centenary of the 1916 Rising with pride and joy are the same people who will appreciate the story of the Irish Republicans who battled against all odds in the next phase of the fight for Ireland between 1919 and 1921.

288 pages, Hardcover

Published July 27, 2019

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Lorcan Collins

6 books17 followers
Lorcan Collins co-author, with Conor Kostick, of The Easter Rising: A Guide to Dublin in 1916; founder of the 1916 Walking Tour of Dublin; lectures on Easter 1916 in the United States, and a regular contributor to radio, television and historical journals. 16 Lives is Lorcan’s concept and he is the author of the first book in the series, a biography of James Connolly.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
20 (33%)
4 stars
27 (45%)
3 stars
9 (15%)
2 stars
4 (6%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Stephen Curran.
208 reviews6 followers
August 16, 2020
Condensed history of Irish War of Independence. I found it a bit biased and anti British and not very objective
Profile Image for Leon McCann.
2 reviews
March 23, 2026
7/10

This book reads like a well detailed Wikipedia page. Events occur in a vacuum, isolated without any discussion on social and economic change. Reasons for why certain organisations were supported or opposed are murky. it sheds no light to why an organisation such as Sinn Féin, received encouragement from parties of opposed interests, both the reactionary Catholic Church, and organised labour groups, they received support, end of discussion. That being said the recollection of events, although at times isolated, are in great detail.
14 reviews
June 30, 2022
Clear, concise. Factual

As the title states, this book is clear, concise and factual. No BS. IT CLEARLY POINTS OUT THE WINSTON CHURCHILL IS.NOTHING BUT ANOTHER HITLER WHO WANTED TO MAKE THE IRISH EXTINCT!
6 reviews1 follower
April 25, 2021
Excellent account of the war, the noble goal and the brutal crackdown. The horrors are acknowledged and no one emerges clean - as is almost always the case with war.
Profile Image for Owen Kelsey.
14 reviews
December 11, 2025
those Brits need to fight like men and not the murderous thieves they are
13 reviews
June 2, 2021
The book is lacking in objectivity, which is disappointing.
4 reviews
January 8, 2023
Fantastic book with an in-depth look at the brutality of the British in Ireland. Very eye opening and honest.

Would recommend to anyone with a desire to learn about War of independence
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews