Roscommon by John Burke

Roscommon by John Burke

The history of Roscommon in the 1912-23 period is one of transition to new political allegiances while retaining old economic desires. Almost wholly dependent on agriculture to fuel the local economy and sustain the county's people, the fight for land was the ever-present backdrop to Roscommon's recent history. By 1912 the organization that had provided leadership in that fight--the Irish Parliamentary Party--was on the cusp of achieving Irish home rule, a measure believed to have the potential to settle the land issue. The need to protect the bill saw thousands in Roscommon join the Irish Volunteers and proclaim their opposition to anti-home rule unionists. The First World War led to the suspension of home rule and a call by Irish MPs for their followers to support the British war effort. However, a combination of increasing wartime prices, inadequate food production, ongoing land issues, as well as the toleration of partition by local MPs and the draconian British response to Easter 1916 caused many in Roscommon to reassess their political allegiance. Sensationally, in February 1917, Roscommon elected the first Sinn Fein-backed MP. This proved a decisive step in the demise of the Irish Parliamentary Party and the success of Sinn Fein, which reinvigorated the fight for the land as part of its efforts for a republic. In 1919, Roscommon men took up arms against the British to pursue Sinn Fein aims, only to turn the weapons on one another three years later when conflict over the continued pursuit of the Irish Republic led to civil war. In tracing the history of Roscommon during these years of instability, Burke's careful research has produced a comprehensive and accessible study that illuminates and explains the changes and continuities that defined the period.

The National Institute for the Word of God is co-founded and directed by John Burke, OP. He preaches at Biblical missions and retreats all across the United States and Canada, as well as teaching preaching at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. He also leads priests, deacons, and bishops through continuous education programs. Father Burke is a film and television director who has written several novels.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781846828072
ISBN 10	1846828074
Title	Roscommon
Author	John Burke
Series	The Irish Revolution 1912-23
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Four Courts Press Ltd
Year published	2021-09-10
Number of pages	224
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.