Who were these fighting men? A: ‘A horde of proletarians, grocers, curates, farm labourers, porters, stable boys, car conductors and what not.’ or B: ‘The glory of Ireland: the most virtuous and chivalrous young men that the world (could) hope to produce.’ What really fuelled the independence campaign? Was it perhaps the land question and not the notion of a republic, which actually incited the men to take arms? It is significant to note that three-quarters of the men who participated in the war were from a farming background and those who had no alternative to emigration were particularly active. As a result the units at times were quite disorganised as men’s allegiance was often to their farm rather than the war in hand. Liam Lynch was particularly struck by the ‘indiscipline’ and ‘complete lack of organisation’. Personalities and personal agendas often got in the way and the county’s reputation in the war suffered because of it. In 1921 there was a noticeable drop in activity by the Kerry rebels. Why this change? Could this in fact have been due to the men’s nerves? Was it fear and inexperience that held them back and not overcautious officers? Or were they ultimately held back by weak officers and poor leadership? This raises a question about the robustness of the county’s IRA men and whether they really were the born fighters they usually are depicted as. They were spirited enough when things were quiet but not as willing to volunteer for active service once the conflict became violent. Sinead Joy’s study presents Kerry’s experience of the war in a manner that allows it to make its own mark rather than placing it within any accepted theory, bringing us to a closer understanding of what the struggle was all about. There has been a difficulty separating fact from fiction, of getting the real version rather than the official version. This book extracts the facts.
