Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #322250 in Books
• Published on: 2005-12-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Customer Reviews

An Unbiased Yet Riveting Story About The Infamous Squad
In 1919, Michael Collins hatched a scheme to take out the eyes and ears of the British administration at Dublin Castle by undermining and terrorizing the police so that the British would react blindly and drive the Irish people into the arms of the Irish Republican Army.

The Bureau of Military History interviewed those involved in this scheme in the early 1950's with the assurance that the material would not be published in their lifetimes. A few of the contributions were made available by the families of those involved but the bulk of them have only recently been released.

This is the first book to make use of those interviews for the period of the War of Independence. It makes fascinating reading as it contains first-hand descriptions in which men speak candidly of their involvement in killing selected people at close range. As a result it throws a considerable amount of new light on the activities of the Squad and the intelligence operations of Michael Collins.

Written in a logical and historically sequential style, The Squad carefully arranges the firsthand accounts of the men involved, and weaves them to create a full and informative story of not only their activities but the overall revolutionary story in Ireland and the important part the Squad played in it. So well arranged is this book that it often reads like a thriller, bringing to life the excitement and fear of the time.

Not only does The Squad show us the history of Collins' intelligence operations in a new and exciting manner, but it also gives us further insight into the mind and character of Michael Collins. Through the experiences and interactions of the members of the Squad, we see how meticulously Collins' plans were constructed, 'Collins wanted to learn firsthand the extent of the British knowledge of the Volunteers, to gauge the mentality behind the records, and to use this knowledge to construct an organisation to undermine it'.

The personality of Collins also comes to life through the words of those who knew him. Though the most wanted man in Ireland during the times, Collins walked the streets of Dublin freely and at ease. He was so confident in his own operations, that he felt untouchable, and was even so audacious as to confront the very men who actively searched for him, 'If he took a tram and he saw a detective who would recognise him, Collins would confidently sit by the detectives and ask friendly questions about the detective's family......all a very subtle way of saying that he knew so much about the man's family that if the detective did not want anything to happen to them, he would not interfere with Collins.' His personality was larger than life, and the stories of him show a man who truly deserved the name 'The Big Fella'.
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The Squad, however, does not paint a rose-tinted picture of Collins and his infamous assassins. T. Ryle Dwyer shows the daily struggles, the difficult life of a fugitive and even the mistakes that were made. Far from taking away from their achievements, he shows how they were regular men, who stepped up to a dangerous an intimidating task in the name of patriotism. The conditions that they faced and the effects of the British military reactions show the strength of character that was required to continue a fight against such a powerful enemy. The severe and often devastating reprisals of the British administration amidst the operations are made chillingly clear, 'If persons approaching carry their hands in their pockets or are acting suspicious looking, shoot them down. You may make mistakes occasionally, and innocent people may be shot, but that cannot be helped. No policeman will get into trouble for shooting any man.'

Through their struggles we see how the fight for independence was achieved though the determination, resilience and bravery of not only Michael Collins and the Squad, but Ireland as a whole. Without the co-operation of so many individuals, risking their own safety by delivering vital information to Collins, the Squad could never have succeeded in bringing the British intelligence to its knees. Despite continually increasing reprisals, such as the barbaric actions of the Black and Tans, 'Ellen Quinn, a pregnant housewife, was shot dead in Galway while sitting on her wall by a Black and Tan firing indiscriminately from a passing lorry', the Irish struggle grew ever more determined, bringing their story into the world news, and ultimately to negotiations which had only a few years before seemed unattainable.

T. Ryle Dwyer has successfully brought a much told era of Irish history to life, and shows the very human side of the struggle. This book is highly recommended read for anyone interested in the Irish rebellion.

The Whole Story
This is not just another biography of Michael Collins. This tells the complete story of the Collins intelligence machine and its tentacles reaching inside Dublin castle. Mr.Dwyer has done unequaled research and reveals the stories of all the major and minor characters who worked for Collins. The book spins true anecdotes that have never been in print before. Mr. Dwyer is a good story teller and my interest never lagged. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the inside story.....

"The Squad"
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