Description

As the IRA Chief of Staff during the War of Independence and the Commander-in-Chief of the National Army during the tragic Irish Civil War, Richard Mulcahy was at the absolute epicenter of modern Ireland’s creation. Richard Mulcahy: From the Politics of War to the Politics of Peace 1913–1924 offers an unflinching, deeply comprehensive look at his most defining and controversial decade.

This book tracks Mulcahy’s evolution from a young volunteer fighting in the 1916 Rising to Michael Collins’ right-hand military organizer. It peels back the layers of his logistical genius, which transformed a loose network of rural hit-squads into a highly effective, clandestine guerrilla army. Crucially, the text addresses his difficult, high-stakes decisions during the Civil War, his transition into democratic politics, and his unwavering commitment to establishing the rule of law within the newborn Irish Free State.

An essential book for revolutionary history buffs:

• Insider Perspective: Offers a deep look into the military command structures of the old IRA and the early Free State army.

• Balanced Biography: Tackles the highly sensitive and controversial decisions of the Civil War era with objective historical rigor.

• Rich Archival Data: Draws extensively from private family papers, military logs, and bureau files.