Description

Ballina: One Town, Three Wars & More (1880–1923) is an extensively researched history of Ballina and the surrounding North Mayo region during one of the most dramatic eras in Irish history. Written by historian and former Western People editor Terry Reilly, this substantial hardback examines how a provincial Irish town experienced profound political, military, and social upheaval from the closing decades of the nineteenth century through the aftermath of the Irish Civil War.

Using the First World War, the Irish War of Independence, and the Irish Civil War as the narrative framework, Reilly goes far beyond the battlefield to recreate everyday life in Ballina. He explores the lives of merchants, teachers, farmers, emigrants, labourers, clergy, and families as they navigated changing political loyalties, economic hardship, growing nationalism, and the challenges of daily survival. The book also examines the influence of the Gaelic League, the GAA, Home Rule, local businesses, emigration, poverty, and community life, bringing together hundreds of personal stories and historical accounts that vividly illustrate the period. Richly illustrated with photographs and enhanced with QR codes linking readers to additional multimedia content, the volume offers a unique and immersive reading experience.

Meticulously researched and engagingly written, Ballina: One Town, Three Wars & More is both a comprehensive local history and an important contribution to the wider story of modern Ireland. Ideal for readers interested in County Mayo, Irish revolutionary history, genealogy, military history, and local heritage, this fascinating work captures the resilience of a community that lived through three defining conflicts while helping shape the Ireland of today.