Great turnout for Laois book launch
Cormac Moore with his wife Brigid, son Oisín and brother John at Portlaoise Library for the launch of Laois The Irish Revolution 1912-23. Photo: Alf Harvey
THERE was a great turnout for the launch of Cormac Moore's fascinating new book at Portlaoise Library on 3 April.
The large and enthusiastic gathering reflected an unwavering interest in the history of the county during exceptionally turbulent times, when seismic national events included the 1916 Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War.
Delighted with the turnout, Laois Heritage Office said that “insightful and personal contributions” from guest speakers, former Minister Charlie Flanagan and former Minister of State Seán Fleming TD, made for a thoroughly enjoyable event.
Laois author Cormac Moore also gave an engaging and entertaining presentation, as he explored the revolutionary years in which both county and country changed, changed utterly.
As captured in his book, Cormac eloquently explained that the period from 1912 to 1923 had a profound impact on Laois, politically, economically and socially. From the late 19th century on, the land question became prominent in the county and remained so throughout the Irish Revolution, against a backdrop that included the third Home Rule crisis, the First World War, the 1916 Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War.
His study assesses how the separatist movement created a counter-state in Laois, by taking control of local government and initiating republican courts. Given the county’s central location, Laois’s extensive transport network played a pivotal role, in both curtailing the movement of crown forces and as a means of gathering intelligence.
Boycotting was deployed extensively in Laois against members of the Royal Irish Constabulary and traders who conducted business with Belfast-based firms. It was also used against local loyalists, sometimes due to land disputes rather than for political reasons and this practice intensified during the truce period and the Civil War.
The book also examines why Laois experienced far more bloodshed during the Civil War than during the War of Independence, while giving a comprehensive account of how the Irish Revolution affected all sections of local society, with effects that reverberated for years afterwards.
Cormac has a PhD from De Montfort University, Leicester and is a historian-in-residence with Dublin City Council. A columnist with the , he edits its ‘On This Day’ segment. The book is available at €24.95 from Four Courts Press and all good bookshops.
