Review
The particular fascination of this book lies in its professional provenance, one of the first written by a practising cabinet member.
- Freedom to Choose: Cork and Party Politics in Ireland 1918-1932
- The Collins Press
Second City
The first decade of Saorstát Éireann was a time of crossed fingers and white knuckles.
The particular fascination of this book lies in its professional provenance, one of the first written by a practising cabinet member.
Martin’s account of the de-rregularising of the old Cork IRA and the ultimate triumph of constitutionalism grew out of an M.A. academic dissertation, as clear from the meticulous research. Martin’s own political bent is rarely allowed to obtrude, except perhaps in the incorrect spelling of Cumann na nGaedheal, throughout, and a slight sense of impatience that the ‘party of the government’ was not manifest to everyone.
Verbal Arts Centre