Product Description

In The Irish War military veteran and historian Tony Geraghty reveals the sinister patterns of action and reaction in this generations-old domestic conflict. Drawing on public and covert sources, as well as interviews with members of British Intelligence, the security forces, and the Irish Republican Army, he brings to light the disturbing inner workings of an organized terrorist group and its military opposition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #575450 in Books
• Published on: 2002-11-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 472 pages

From Publishers Weekly
The former chief reporter of the London Sunday Times, Geraghty (Who Dares Wins; The Bullet Catchers) here assesses "Irish identity," which he sees as "the true source" of the continuing troubles in Northern Ireland. The IRA, he says, has hijacked Irish identity and created something that "owes little to real Celtic culture." What the IRA "peddles" as Irish identity, Geraghty contends, is "a powerful, dynamic force which politicizes the natural culture and envenoms it through an obsession not with Ireland but with England." The book's first three sections present a highly opinionated look at the last 30 years of "Troubles," while the last section is a satisfying survey of 300 years of the relationship between Ireland and England in 100 pages. Geraghty uses a patchwork of sources, including interviews with British intelligence and IRA officials and his firsthand reporting of the fighting in Northern Ireland in 1969-1971 as a Times reporter. The author, who served with the British Red Berets and as a liaison officer in the Persian Gulf War, was arrested in 1998 after this book's British publication and accused of violating Britain's Official Secrets Act by mentioning sensitive software. The case was highly publicized in Britain. The book's strengths are its attention to detail and its direct, potent writing. While the revelations pertaining to spy methodology and guerrilla fighting might not strike readers on these shores with the same force as they did those on the other side of the pond, the book makes a compelling introduction to a painful struggle. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Geraghty (Inside the SAS), a freelance journalist and former Red Beret, exposes the role of the SAS (Special Air Services) and British Intelligence in Northern Ireland. The role of British Intelligence in Ulster has never been so deeply explored--and never by a British journalist. Geraghty offers a four-part tour of the history of Ireland, but his most original, interesting work is found in Part 3. There, he writes clearly and knowledgeably about the impact on the IRA of the use of forensics by British Intelligence. He describes in detail the IRA's success in modifying and developing its own weapons, particularly mortars, and writes of the SAS's often-lethal operations in Ulster with the kind of righteous anger not seen since American journalists inveighed against our role in Vietnam. Not objectively written but clearly well researched, this book is essential for academic collections and public collections with this focus.
-Robert C. Moore, Raytheon, Sudbury, MA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"The book's strengths are its attention to detail and its direct, potent writing... A compelling introduction to a painful struggle." -- Publishers Weekly

"The role of British Intelligence in Ulster has never been so deeply explored... He writes clearly and knowledgeably about the impact on the IRA of the use of forensics by British Intelligence. He describes in detail the IRA's success in modifying and developing its own weapons, particularly mortars, and writes of the SAS's often lethal operations in Ulster with a kind of righteous anger not seen since American journalists inveighed against our role in Vietnam... Clearly well researched." -- Library Journal

"An easy to read and well written narrative." -- Adrian Guelke, Terrorism and Political Violence

"Geraghty has produced a book both readable and alarming. The first third is a well-observed account of a largely visible British war machine coping with the horrors of the Northern Ireland Troubles. The last third is devoted to militarism in Ireland up to 1921. But it is the middle third, the covert war, that astonishes. We learn that [British Intelligence] had a habit of enticing suspects away from home with lavish 'dodgy' holidays in the sun by faking breakfast-food competitions. While the target was away, the Security Service would plant a host of listening devices, which might include a miniaturized video camera inside a domestic light switch." -- Herald (Glasgow)

"Anyone interested in the 'war that isn't,' should find this book enlightening." -- Larry S. Sterrett, New Gun Week

Customer Reviews

Superb book on The Troubles.
Tony Geraghty has delivered a thoroughly written account of the tactics both sides used to wage a deadly guerrilla war against one another. The author goes into detail on both the tactics of the SAS as well as the IRA. I found the most important aspect of "The Irish War" the section on the forensics/counter-forensics battlefield, a subject not covered in such depth before. Particularly valuable were published excerpts from the IRA's own counter-forensics manual.

The author has been justifiably criticized by others for the structure of his work and the lack of attention given to Loyalist paramilitaries, but the ground breaking work on the forensics front alone more than makes up for any shortcomings, in my opinion. It is also obvious that some reviewers have judged this book based on their political views and if the author supported the Loyalist or Republican side of the conflict. Readers should judge this book on the merit of the information presented - which is excellent - and not on the biases of others.

No concept; tough reading
When you are familiar with all of the details of the Irish War you might be able to find this book valuable. To this day I have been unable to determine what the author's intention was when he wrote this book. It cannot be considered a history of the Irish War and the sub-title "The Hidden conflict between the IRA and British Intelligence" is totally misleading. The author rushes through history like a fast train that stops only at a few, yet insignificant locations. At times he concentrates on personal observations that have not much to do with what was written before or after. There is no concept or structure in this book and that makes this work a very tough reading.

The boys will always come out on top
This book clearly gives a proper insight how the IRA have outdone the British "intelligence" of which I can only assume William King was a participating element in considering how he lacks in that department. But this is an opportunity for me to give my opinion on such a fascinating book. Let it be said that Ireland has bore many saints and scholors and while I am not saying that the IRA are saints they certainly are portrayed as extremely sharp and intellectual people who outwitted the level of British intelligence while trying to balance it with the passion that burned within. It has to be said though that the bringing of the British intelligence to its knees is not something that is infantile, it goes back to the days of the big man himself, Collins. It is a good book to read to show the level of intelligence on both sides and without being biased how sharp the British intelligence is also. To be read by both sides of the coin. Beidh an bua againn go foill.