From Public Defiance to Guerrilla Warfare: The Experience of Ordinary Volunteers in the Irish War of Independence 1916-1921

The book delves into the local experiences of IRA Volunteers during the tumultuous period between the 1916 Rising and the 1921 Truce, an area previously underexplored. By analyzing personal interactions among the IRA, Crown Forces, and local populations in five counties—Derry, Dublin, Mayo, Tipperary, and Wexford—Augusteijn reveals how these dynamics influenced the level of violence employed. This study sheds light on why certain young men became more inclined to engage in violent actions, offering a fresh perspective on the dominance of southwestern IRA units.