The Irish Republican Brotherhood, 1914-1924

John O'Beirne Ranelagh

• Publisher: Irish Academic Press
• Year: 2024
• ISBN:
  9781785374951
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Irish History
• Index: History

This captivating book delves into the secretive world of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and its profound impact on Ireland's political landscape between 1914 and 1924. With the aid of new documentation, Ranelagh unravels the true influence of the oath-bound society without which the 1916 Rising might never have taken shape.

For Michael Collins, the IRB was the true custodian of the Irish Republic, and the only body he pledged his loyalty to, but its legacy remains obscured by its intense secrecy. This book re-introduces the IRB as the organisation that created and furnished the IRA, influenced the result of the critical 1918 election, and changed the face of Irish history.

From Éamon de Valera's recollections of how he first learned of the Treaty to narratives from Nora Connolly O'Brien, Emmett Dalton et al, testimonies from key figures paint a vivid picture of the IRB's inner workings and external influence.

A fascinating exploration of secret societies, political manoeuvres, and personal sacrifices, The Irish Republican Brotherhood 1914–1924 casts new light on a pivotal chapter in Ireland's quest for independence.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Endorsement
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Glossary
• Biographies
• Preface
• Introduction
• 1 Politics and Ideals
• 2 Conspirators
• 3 Infamy
• 4 1873–1917 Constitution
• 5 Members
• 6 Supreme Council
• 7 Infiltration
• 8 Principals: Hobson, Clarke, MacDermott
• 9 Guns and Plans
• 10 Disorganisation
• 11 Rising
• 12 Post Mortem
• 13 Reorganisation
• 14 Collins Emerges
• 15 Elections
• 16 1917–22 Constitution
• 17 The Candidate
• 18 GHQ
• 19 1918 Election
• 20 Killing
• 21 Relationships
• 22 Brugha
• 23 Truce
• 24 Talking
• 25 Three Days in December
• 26 Divides
• 27 1922 Constitution
• 28 Civil War
• 29 1923 Constitution
• 30 Mutiny
• 31 ‘That’s That’
• Appendix I Interviews
• Appendix II IRB Constitution 1869–73
• Appendix III 1894: Rules and Regulations
• Appendix IV IRB Constitution 1873–1917
• Appendix V IRB Constitution 1917–22
• Appendix VI IRB Constitution Amendments 1919–21
• Appendix VII IRB Constitution 1922
• Appendix VIII IRB Constitution 1923
• Appendix IX IRB Supreme Council Circular March 1921
• Appendix X Michael Collins’ Note of the March 1922 IRB Meeting with County Centres and Supreme Council Members on ‘The Post-Treaty Situation’
• Appendix XI IRB Supreme Council Members 1907–22
• Appendix XII IRB Members in Senior Positions 1916–22
• Appendix XIII IRB Participation in the 1916 Rising
• Endnotes
• Sources and Select Bibliography
• Acknowledgements
• Index