Description

Land War – Mayo’s Forgotten Conflicts sheds new light on a neglected chapter of Ireland’s Land War by examining two significant agrarian conflicts that took place in Erris, County Mayo, between 1881 and 1882. Drawing on parliamentary papers, contemporary newspapers, official records, and local sources, Dr. Maura Irwin reconstructs the Graughill and Carter affrays, revealing how disputes over land, poverty, policing, and landlordism profoundly affected rural communities.

The book places these dramatic events within the wider context of the Irish Land War while highlighting the extraordinary resilience of ordinary people during a period of social and political upheaval. Particular attention is given to the often-overlooked contribution of the Ladies’ Land League, whose leadership and practical support proved essential after many of the movement’s male leaders were imprisoned. By restoring the stories of these communities and individuals, Irwin broadens our understanding of one of Ireland’s defining historical struggles.

Thoroughly researched yet highly readable, this important work offers fresh insight into Mayo’s role in the campaign for land reform and social justice. It is essential reading for anyone interested in Irish history, the Land League, County Mayo, and the social movements that transformed nineteenth-century Ireland.