New book looks at the Revolution in Laois

A NEW book 'Laois. The Irish Revolution, 1912–23' looking at the turbulent period which had a profound impact on Laois, politically, economically and socially is being launched this week.

Cormac Moore’s new book is being launched at 7pm on Thursday 3 April in Portlaoise Library with guest speakers former government minister Charlie Flanagan and Deputy Sean Fleming.

The 256 page book looks at the land question that became prominent in Laois from the late 19th century onward and remained so throughout the Irish Revolution. Cormac Moore also explores how Laois experienced seismic national events – the third home rule crisis, the First World War, the 1916 Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War.

Moving beyond an examination of the Irish Revolution solely through the prism of political violence, this 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 the 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. Notably, Laois experienced far more bloodshed during the Civil War than during the War of Independence and the reasons for this are explored.

This book provides a comprehensive account of how the Irish Revolution affected all sections of society in Laois and how its effects reverberated for years thereafter.

Laois man Cormac Moore has a PhD from De Montfort University, Leicester, and is an historian-in-residence with Dublin City Council. A columnist with the Irish News, he edits its ‘On This Day’ segment.

Laois. The Irish Revolution, 1912–23- is printed by Four Court Press. 

Copies will be available on the launch night for €20 each and also available to purchase online for €24.95 from www.fourcourtspress.ie