Bibliography

Author: Tim Pat Coogan

Title: The Troubles - Ireland's Ordeal 1966-1996 and the Search for Peace

Publication Date:1995, revised 1996

Pages: 519

Synopsis: A comprehensive history of the Troubles, beginning with a brief introduction to Irish history, and then following events up till 1996. Being over 8 years old, it leaves the reader very much in the dark as to where things currently stand, but provides a solid base for further exploration of the issues.

From talking with others who have come to Ireland with little or no knowledge of the conflict, it appears that this is the tome that people first turn to to get a grasp of some of the basic tenets of the conflict. Although there is a clear nationalist slant in the interpretation and selection of events discussed, Coogan fairly explores the carnage that both the republican and loyalist paramilitaries inflicted on the people of Ireland and the United Kingdom, and more importantly, examines why they did, and indeed continue to, do it.

The book does not stick to a strict chronological format; it begins in this fashion, but later concentrates on particular topics of interest. The chapter regarding the portrayal of the conflict in the media makes for fascinating reading, and gives a great insight to how public opinion is shaped on a day to day basis by the mass media.

A good starting point, but the views expressed must be moderated with further reading.

Authors: Patrick Bishop and Eamonn Mallie

Title: The Provisional IRA

Publication Date:1988

Pages: 464

Synopsis: At publication, this book was lauded as 'the first full-length study to be undertaken since the Troubles began'. It follows a mostly chronological path along the development of the Provisional IRA; from its roots in the Fenian Brotherhood, the split with the 'Offical' IRA in December 1969, through its growth and growing sophistication in the 70's and early 80's, and concludes with what was the arguably one of the worst years for the PIRA - 1987. Sadly prophetic, the writers conclude that 'the IRA and Sinn Fein had grown too permanent a feature of the political landscape of Ireland to be left out of any serious discussions about its future'. 17 years later, the DUP still cannot grasp this idea.

The prose is fluid and easy to follow; the mostly chronological format makes for relatively easy read. Although the book stops well short of current events, it provides a detailed background which is necessary to understanding why, in 2004, republican forces still retain their weapons and are ready to head back to war if need be.

Author: Peter Taylor

Title: Provos - The IRA and Sinn Fein

Publication Date:1997, revised 1998

Pages: 379

Synopsis: The author has been a journalist and documentary maker on the subject of Northern Ireland since 1972. This is the first of three books, exaiming the history of the Troubles from the perspective of each of the main players; republicans, loyalists, and the British. The books were written as companions to the TV documentaries of the same name.

Taylor's work seems to provide the most balanced coverage of events that I have come across. In all three works, Taylor has made a genuine attempt to understand why the PIRA, and later the INLA and RIRA have followed the course of action that they have, and pass this understanding onto the reader.

One way he has attempted to do this is by using direct quotes from interviews he undertook with the people who were pulling the trigger, and more importantly, the people who telling them who to shoot. These first hand accounts make for fascinating, and sometimes chilling reading. By illustrating the events with the personal stories of the protagonists of the conflict, Taylor has allowed us to play voyuer with the lives of republican footsoldiers and their commanders. As close as I want to be to the frontline thanks.

Author: Peter Taylor

Title: Loyalists

Publication Date: 1999, revised 2000

Pages: 270

Synopsis: The second in his trilogy on the Troubles, Loyalists is Taylor's attempt to show the opposing view to that espoused in Provos. In doing so, he has filled a very large hole in the bookshelves of readers on the Troubles. Let me explain.

After perusing the bookshelves here in Dublin, I came to a conclusion - that the nationalist/republican cause seems to have gotten all the press. Whether painting a good or bad picture of that cause, you will invariably find nine out of ten books published on the Troubles about the IRA/INLA, or the operations against them. There seems to be very little written about the loyalist paramilitaries, and even less about their political aspirations.

This may very well be because what they are fighting for is pretty much the status quo (at least the status quo as it existed in the mid-60's). A Protestant parliament in Ulster, to counter the Catholic parliament in the Republic. Union with the United Kingdom, and the glory of the Empire that was inherent with that union. A distinct and pragmatic separation between church and state. Although the reality of this situation can be debated, the unionist and loyalist people of Northern Ireland believed that these things already existed, and thus felt no need to write about it. Just protect it. They didn't need a strong propaganda machine to tear holes in the fabric of society, because they liked it the way it was.

And so as a consequence, finding books outlining the unionist perspective on the causes of paramilitary violence can be a struggle in itself. Taylor's work goes 270 pages in to attempting to rectify that situation. He has thankfully left the preamble to the Troubles in the first book, and concentrated this work on a re-interpretation of the key events of the modern conflict from the unionist / loyalist perspective.

I cannot imagine how difficult it would have been for Taylor to turn from the nationalist/republican perspective of Provos to the unionist/loyalist perspective of Loyalists. To be honest, he makes it look easy. So much so that after reading his re-interpretation of some of the events, I was left wondering whether 'Peter Taylor' was in fact two different people.

Loyalists gives a wonderful counter-perspective on the history and interpretation of the events of the Troubles. It should be mandatory reading for anyone who has read anything about the Troubles, because the other works will invariable have been from nationalist viewpoint.

Author: Ruth Dudley Edwards

Title: The Faithful Tribe - An Intimate Portrait of the Loyal Institutions

Publication Date:

Pages:

Synopsis: A perennial source of conflict in Northern Ireland are the parades that are held to celebrate various historical events. Marches are held by both sides to the conflicts, but the most publicised are those held by the Loyal Institutions - the Orange Order, the Apprentice Boys, and the Royal Black Preceptory. The parades begin each year in April, and continue right through the summer until late August. The vast majority of the parades are peaceful and pass off without problems. Those that don't normally end up splashed throughout the world's media.

As a consequence, the Orange Order in particular has become an international pariah, lambasted by most as a group of stubborn , triumphalist bigots who just can't accept that the Empire has fallen. Dudley Edwards', a Dublin-born Catholic, is an unlikely apologist for such people. Yet to many, particularly her Southern-born brethren, this is exactly what her work amounts too. But to an uninformed, impressionable foreigner (me), the words make up an engaging, lively read that is very hard to put down.

The work beings with an outline of the author's personal experience with the parades of the loyal institutions, which is thoroughly engrossing. The trepidation she feels as the lone 'nationalist' sitting in the heartland of loyalism in Belfast, Sandy Row, is palpable. You just want to scream at her to stop being stupid and get out of there while no one know who she is. Thankfully she survived that encounter, and went on to many other parades, meeting the people who lead them, the musicans who provide to the cadence, and the ordinary folk who don their Sunday-best for a couple o' mile stroll through the rain to manifest their allegience to their Queen, their Empire and their Ulster.

This is a fascinating read, and provides the most positive coverage that the Orange Order has had in a long time. Unfortunately, through my own contact with these people, I know that this praise is more than deserved, but because the author and the work has been so effectively marginalised as an Orange-apology, the people who really should read it are more likely to burn it than learn from it.

Author: Henry McDonald and Jim Cusack

Title: UVF

Publication Date: 1997 (1st ed.)

Pages: 368

Synopsis: This book charts the history of one of the two primary loyalist paramilitary groups operating throughout the Troubles - the Ulster Volunteer Force. It charts the beginning of the organisation as a civilian militia group raised at the turn of the century to counter attempts to force 'Home Rule' upon the north-eastern counties of Ireland, along to its incorporation as the 36th (Ulster) Division in the Britsh Army which was decimated at the Battle of the Somme in World War I, and to the subsequent resurrection of the name by a group of loyalists in the Shankill area of Belfast at the beginning of the Troubles in the late 60's.

The text continues in a mostly chronoligcal format through the three decades of the modern Troubles, examining the infighting between the UVF and the Ulster Defence Association (the other primary loyalist paramilitary grouping) at various times, looks at the issues of both collusion with, and the killing of, the Crown Forces (RUC and 'B' Specials, UDR, the British Army and Intelligence Services). The book finishes before the breakdown of the republican ceasefire in 1998, and one is to presume that it was a commentary on this issue was the purpose of the 2nd edition, published in 2000.

The work is based around a series of interviews with leading members of the organisation, and it is interesting to read (as with Taylor's work in Provos and Loyalists) how these men and woman justify their actions and interpret situations in a very different way than I myself would. But I guess that just highlights the fact that I don't have the history of Ireland bred into me.

This is a good work for getting at the 'other' side of the conflict - and is particularly worthwhile reading considering current developments. It will be interesting to see if the premise espoused by the UVF to the PIRA - 'you stop, we stop' will hold true in the event of a decommissioning of the PIRA as currently looks on the cards.

Author: Brendan Anderson

Title: Joe Cahill: A Life in the IRA

Publication Date: 2002

Pages: 376

Synopsis: Anyone who has done even a little reading about the Troubles will have seen the name 'Joe Cahill' crop up a number of times. A Belfast-born republican, he rose through the ranks to from the junior wing Fianna Na Eirann to become Chief of Staff and one of the 'celebrities' of the republican movement.

Throughout his near-70 year involvement with the republican cause, he was incarcerated a number of times, was saved from hanging with a last minute repreive, became a vertible celebrity for Irish-American republicans, and was sought out by Col. Ghaddafi to receive arms from Libya.

The book is written by Brendan Anderson who makes little effort to hide his nationalist bias, but in the context of the work, it is forgivable. The text is filled throughout with quotes for the subject himself, who comes across as a very intelligent, pragmatic and strategically minded individual. This is ultimately reflected by the fact that he was one of the people who carried the PIRA to their 1994 ceasfire.

One of the facets of Joe Cahill's story that facinates me so much was the way that he spent virtually all his adult life away from his family. He fathered ?? children, and was married for ?? years till his death this year, but if the text is to be beleived, spent very little time with them at home (invariably incarcerated, interned, travelling abroad to secure funds or arms, or on the run throughout the 36 counties. I cannot understand the concept of 'nationalism' and 'national geographic integrity', and I must say that I am astounded by a person who can give up watching their children grow up because they are, literally, fighting for an ideal. Maybe that's my defficiency.

The book is definately worth the read, although I would recommend people get a little background into the Troubles before they attempt this, because there is a degree of assumed knowledge required for a thorough understanding.