"Anois ar theacht an tSamhraidh": Ireland, Colonialism and the Unfinished Revolution

by Robbie McVeigh, Bill Rolston

Colonialism is at the heart of making sense of Irish history and contemporary politics across the island of Ireland. In this exhaustive analysis, England’s oldest colony is considered in the context of the history of colonisation and anti-colonial politics throughout the world. In painstaking detail, McVeigh and Rolston chart the centuries leading to the Act of Union, the struggles for Irish independence and the legacies of partition from 1921. One hundred years later, the Union is in crisis and alternatives to partition are being seriously considered outside the republican tradition for the first time in generations. The conclusion is optimistic. In the words of Pádraig Pearse:

Anois ar theacht an tSamhraidh – now the summer is coming.

Genres: Ireland, History, Nonfiction, Irish Literature, Politics, British Literature

480 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2021

Reviews

[Differengenera · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best books on Irish history and British imperialism that has ever been written

did a review that is up on Liberated Texts https://liberatedtexts.com/reviews/ir...

[Domhnall · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me quite a while to get through this book and that was simply because the reading was so dense and it's a lot of information to take in even if the broad strokes are known to me already. I appreciate that this book went to great lengths to situate the colonialism Ireland experienced and how that has led to our current position today of being broadly anti-colonial and anti-imperialist in global politics. I also appreciate that it tracked the development of the two irish states and their relationship with colonialism and how the government of ireland act is still so relevant to our day to day lives. A recommended read for anyone with an interest in irish history, colonialism, imperialism or just modern day politics. I do have to mention that there are some spelling and date mistakes as well as 2 chapters that have the wrong reference numbers and these do detract a slight bit from the overall reading experience but not too much to make me want to put it down at any stage.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this.

[Steven R · Rating 4 out of 5]

A phenomenal exploration of colonialism and Irish history up to the present. The wide sweep of history which it surveys allows for the development of a clear analysis that recognises the key role that colonialism continues to play in the development of Irish politics and history. It provides the best analysis of the failures of the Northern Irish state since 1998 that I have ever read.

Only limitation is a few small factual errors in places. These really should have been picked up by editors. I only raise it as they could be used to undermine what is an otherwise excellent piece of scholarship that will undoubtedly prove useful to the left in Ireland and abroad for years to come.

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Contemporary Ireland has a choice in terms of whether to stand in solidarity with other victims and survivors of colonialism and imperialism or take its place within white dominion.”

The most thorough account I’ve ever read of Irish relationships to colonialism, absolutely worth the time it took to get through

[Kernow Goldfinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book and a call to action for members of the Irish diaspora everywhere. We have a unique role in dismantling the institutions of whiteness, western imperialism and property from within, and this is an inspiring call to action. Tiocfaidh ár lá.

[Anthony Keane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stellar, iontach, thar barr, just ar fheabhas. A refreshing and invigorating look at the three Irelands - the 26 counties, the 6 counties, and the diaspora, and how we still have a long way to go yet before we can consider ourselves decolonised