The Men Will Talk to Me (Ernie O'Malley series Kerry)

Kerry, where the guerrilla campaign was most intense, saw many of the most vicious episodes in the War of Independence and the Civil War. Now, for the first time comes a comprehensive primary source of the experiences of the survivors of the Tan War and Civil War in Kerry as interviewed by Ernie O'Malley in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Many Republican survivors, who were reluctant to speak about these events generally, even to their own family, were willing to speak to O'Malley, as he was at the time the senior surviving Republican military commander from the period of those struggles. Transcribing O'Malley's notes and recordings, Cormac O'Malley and Tim Horgan have produced the only comprehensive first-hand account of controversial incidents (Ballyseedy, Headford Junction) and executions by the Free State forces by the survivors of those incidents.

County Kerry saw many vicious episodes in both the War of Independence and the Civil War. Many Republican survivors were reluctant to speak about their experiences, even to their own family. However, they were willing to talk to Ernie O’Malley, who was the senior surviving Republican military commander from the period of those struggles.County Kerry saw many of the most vicious episodes in both the War of Independence and the Civil War. Many Republican survivors of these events were reluctant to speak about their experiences, even to their own family. However, they were willing to talk to Ernie O’Malley, who was the senior surviving Republican military commander from the period of those struggles. By transcribing O’Malley’s notebooks, where he recorded these interviews, Cormac O’Malley and Tim Horgan have made available previously unpublished first-hand accounts of Kerry’s role in the fight for independence. The interviews provide an unrivalled insight into this important period of Irish history, including controversial incidents such as the Ballyseedy massacre, the battle at Headford Junction and executions by the Free State forces.