FROM THE FORMER IRA MEMBER AND AUTHOR OF THE INFORMER, SEAN
O'CALLAGHAN
'Very interesting on how fanaticism can develop within a community,
and especially relevant today.' Bob Geldof
The story of revolutionary James Connolly, his role in the 1916
Easter Rising, and his subsequent influence both on O'Callaghan
himself, and on 20th century Irish politics.
Sean O'Callaghan joined the Provisonal IRA in 1970, aged fiteen,
and he was active in Northern Ireland in the mid-seventies, taking
part in numerous terrorist attacks which resulted in the deaths of
two members of the security forces. He resigned from the IRA in
1975, just short of his 21st birthday, having become disillusioned
with everything it stoof for. He rejoined it in 1979, this time
volunteering his services to the Irish police as in informer. He
continued this work until 1985 when he had to leave Ireland as
suspicion about him mounted.
In 1988 he handed himself up to British police and admitted
involvement in IRA activities in Northern Ireland in the
mid-seventies. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and released
under Royal Prerogative in 1996.
After his release he wrote his autobiography The Informer, and has
continued to work for peace in Ireland. Today he works with young
people at risk of getting involved in criminal or extremist
activity.
extraordinary and insightful new biography of James Connolly – a
magnificent reconsideration of the myths surrounding the Republican
‘hero’ and his warped place in the Republican mindset.
*The Spectator*
Two fine new books, Sean O’Callaghan’s James Connolly: My Search
for the Man, the Myth and His Legacy…rightly emphasise the vicious
hatred, fanaticism and lust for revenge of the rebellion’s
ringleaders
*Andrew Roberts, The Sunday Times, News Review*
a republican insider’s disabused account of the fanatical mind,
akin to Eric Hofer’s Seventies classic True Believers
*Michael Burleigh, Books of the Year, Evening Standard*
a brave, hostile account of the life of Pearse’s socialist
co-conspirator and martyr, James Connolly
*Daily Telegraph*
Extraordinary and insightful
*Spectator blog*
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