Liam Lynch: To Declare a Republic

by Gerard Shannon

The first comprehensive biography of one of Irish history’ s most monumental figures in almost four decades. Publishing in advance of the centenary of his death, aged just 30, in April 1923. Written by celebrated Irish historian with a strong online reach.

Genres: Biography, Ireland, History

352 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2023

Reviews

[Michael Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

A welcome biography of this Irish Revolutionary leader. A brilliant and successful guerrilla against British forces and those who collaborated. Lynch's disinterest in any political solution during the Irish civil war though, ultimately led to the surrender of the Anti-Treaty forces after his death.
The rupture within the Irish Republican Army pained him greatly. As did the loss of comrades, and former comrades, now his enemy. Like countless others before, and after him, Lynch laid down his life for an ideal he would not be broken from. The Irish people at some point, will deliver the very ideal that Lynch fought and died for. But this will emerge through political dialogue and consensus. A process that Lynch often gave short shift.

[Áine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant. Very well written and fully informative. It started as the author’s thesis for his course and turned into this book. Despite being Irish, I admittedly had little to no information on Liam Lynch but have now come away more informed and the picture has become more vivid of the events leading to Irish freedom. Would definitely recommend going forward.

[Bill Sheridan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb biography of this huge figure from the Irish War of Independence and his subsequent but more controversial role as an IRA leader in the civil war that followed. Although undoubtedly Lynch was a man of courage and principles who, through necessity, became a skilled and successful guerrilla leader helping to rid his country of her colonial oppressor, he was naive politically as was shown during his approach to the civil war. Although many historical biographies can be tedious and make for hard going, this was most certainly not the case here. This thoroughly researched and objective book is easy to read and provides an excellent insight not just into the character of Lynch but also into the somewhat complex political thinking of that short but tumultuous era for Ireland between 1916 and 1923. Highly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in that era of Irish history.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A welcome reappraisal of the life of Liam Lynch. The author makes good use of some previously unknown sources, including family archives, to detail who Lynch really was. There are some parts that come across as a bit academic and despite the use of Lynch's own letters, it feels like we never get a sense of what he was really thinking. But perhaps that is simply the nature of writing on a complex figure like Liam Lynch.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I inherited this book from my late uncle who took a great interest in Lynch's life. This provides insight into Lynch's life and highlights some of the personal conflicts of both sides of the Irish civil war, which would have ran through everyone that fought again the British in the Irish war of independence and were now fighting each other as the treaty with Britain was far from what they had fought for. The book looks at the tension between Lynch and De Valera on the anti-treaty side whereas Lynch had respect for Michael Collins and Richard Mulcahy on the pro-treaty side.