The IRA: A History

I hope my friend enjoys his book

Coogan presents possibly his best work of his career in "The IRA." He puts forth a painstakingly researched, and thorourghly gripping account of the temultuous history of this controversial organization. Originally less than half the size of its now overwhelming 800 plus pages, Coogan has updated his history up through the Good Friday agreements, never stumbling a bit. This is a must read for anyone interested in modern Irish history.

this book is truly the standard reference on the IRA and thier history, it shows how the provisional IRA has changed from simple revolutionaries to highly trained ruthless terrorists who commited many attrocities while also fighting for catholic rights and ultimately realizing that they could not be beaten, but also could not win through violence alone. shows the political savy of sinn fein and the only semi-succesfull attempt by protestent paramilitaries to counter the ruthlessness of the IRA and INLA. tim pat coogen is one of the best authors on the subject of northern ireland. easily surpassess the somewhat biased and not very accurate account of the last twenty five years of the conflict by Bowyer Bell in his revised book IRA the secret army

Tim Pat Coogan has researched this subject to the point of exaustion. What he gives us is a balanced historical view point of the origins and spotty development of the IRA. I found it to be objective and to the point. At 504 pages, its focus on detail can be tiring and the prose does not lend itself to prolonged bouts of reading. But this is a text book, designed not so much to entertain but to inform. And inform it does.The index is difficult to use; more description would have helped for searching for specific information. I found the book refreshing for its objectivity incontrast to the near suffocating propoganda that eminated from the British Government during the dark days of the "troubles". Mr. Coogan bravely pinpoints the source of much of the sectarian violence to what he termed "Guinness politics" and fueled in drinking clubs. Sadly he's right.

A comprehensive survey of the IRA's history, Coogan's book is an absolute must for readers who know little about the organization, especially its origins and early development. The author provides a good undertanding of the key figures and events of the IRA, while also sketching the secondary personalities involved. However, the book's considerable length combined with Coogan's academic style may discourage some readers. In addition, those hoping to find further research or to find books dealing with a more specific period will likely be disappointed by the shallow bibliography. Otherwise, Coogan's book is a fine achievement.

_The IRA: A History_ is an indispensable resource for those wishing to study modern Irish Republicanism. Author Tim Pat Coogan, a respected Irish journalist who has covered "The Troubles" throughout his career, has accomplished the near-impossible task of unsnarling the tangled web of politics and insurgency in Ireland, North and South. From the Easter Rebellion of 1916 to the Gerry Adams's 1993 attempts to procure a U.S. visa, Coogan clarifies and puts in context the operations of the Irish Republican Army. The book is more than a simple history, however. It is difficult to read it and remain untouched by the personal stories of the IRA volunteers, their families, and the innocents who have suffered under the British Occupation of the Six Counties. _The IRA: A History_ is must reading for anyone who wants to understand Ireland and the IRA.