The Hales Brothers and the Irish Revolution

by Liz Gillis

Overview

The story of the Hales family from Bandon epitomises the whole revolutionary period in Ireland. They were involved from the establishment of the Irish Volunteers in West Cork and were closely associated with well-known revolutionary figures, including Michael Collins, Tom Barry and Liam Deasy. Both Seán and Tom were company commanders in the IRA in the area. The signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921 split the family and led to the two brothers taking opposing sides in the Civil War that would follow. Tom Hales was the most senior Republican officer on the scene of the chaotic ambush at Béal na mBláth that led to the shooting of Michael Collins. Seán Hales was himself assassinated in Dublin by Republicans, following a vote in Dáil Éireann to allow the Provisional Government to increase its powers to penalise Republican prisoners.The story of these brothers and the rest of the family gives a unique insight into life in Ireland in this tumultuous period.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781781173763
Publisher:	Mercier Press, Limited, The
Publication date:	07/08/2016
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	737 KB

About the Author

Liz Gillis is the author of 'Women of the Irish Revolution', 'Revolution in Dublin' and 'The Fall of Dublin'. She has a degree in Irish History and works as a Curatorial Assistant in RTÉ. She has worked as a researcher on numerous publications, participated in many conferences focusing on the Irish revolution and has also developed a 'Revolutionary' walking tour of her native Liberties. Liz is co-organiser of the annual conference on the burning of the Custom House in 1921.
Liz Gillis is the author of 'Women of the Irish Revolution', ‘Revolution in Dublin’ and 'The Fall of Dublin'. She has a degree in Irish History and works as a Curatorial Assistant in RTÉ. She has worked as a researcher on numerous publications, participated in many conferences focusing on the Irish revolution and has also developed a 'Revolutionary' walking tour of her native Liberties. Liz is co-organiser of the annual conference on the burning of the Custom House in 1921.

Read an Excerpt

The story of the Hales family from Bandon epitomises the whole revolutionary period in Ireland. They were involved from the establishment of the Irish Volunteers in West Cork and were closely associated with well-known revolutionary figures, including Michael Collins, Tom Barry and Liam Deasy. Both Seán and Tom were company commanders in the IRA in the area. The signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921 split the family and led to the two brothers taking opposing sides in the Civil War that would follow.

Tom Hales was the most senior Republican officer on the scene of the chaotic ambush at Béal na mBláth that led to the shooting of Michael Collins. Seán Hales was himself assassinated in Dublin by Republicans, following a vote in Dáil Éireann to allow the Provisional Government to increase its powers to penalise Republican prisoners.The story of these brothers and the rest of the family gives a unique insight into life in Ireland in this tumultuous period.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 9

Abbreviations 13

Introduction 15

1 Early Years 22

2 Easter Rising 33

3 Homecoming and Reorganisation 46

4 1919-1920: Fighting for Independence 59

5 January-July 1921 78

6 Truce and Treaty 93

7 Division 105

8 Attempts at Unity 118

9 Third Army Convention and Civil War 126

10 Brothers at War 132

11 The Death of Collins 142

12 Suspicion, Arrest and Assassination 156

13 Aftermath 170

Conclusion 183

Appendices 190

Endnotes 222

Bibliography 243

Index 248