New book on Tipperary revolutionary to be launched

Soon the decade of commemoration of Ireland’s revolutionary days of a century ago, will come to a conclusion.
During those past ten years, much has happened in county Tipperary to mark and remember the events and the people that done so much to form the country in which we live today.

This is hardly unsurprising, seeing as Tipperary was very much to the forefront during Ireland’s struggle for independence.
At many of the sites where seismic events happened, new monuments have been erected and older ones refurbished, usually accompanied by an appropriate roadside gathering.

Many historic seminars and lectures have also taken place, - and have added significantly to people’s knowledge and understanding of those troubled years of Irish history.
A number of books have been published also and these have contributed greatly to the narrative of the time.
Two books by historian, Denis G Marnane, one on the history of the famous 3rd Tipperary Brigade and another on the Civil War in Tipperary, are a vital possession for anyone with an interest in those subjects and in that period.

Gerard Shannon has also made two highly significant contributions to that store of historic literature, having published books on Joseph McDonagh and on Liam Lynch.
The historic group, Tipperary in the Decade of Revolution, were involved in the organising of eighteen different events across the county and each of those featured an accompanying booklet.

One of that group’s founding members, John Connors, from Borrisoleigh, wrote a well-received book on the life of Seán Hogan of Knocklong rescue fame which was published in April of 2019.
In the intervening years the author of that book has been quietly studying and researching into the life of Hogan’s comrade, Dan Breen.
John Connors was initially hesitant in undertaking the project as he felt that everything that could be written about Dan Breen was already written and a biography that drew from already published sources, would add nothing worthwhile to the narrative.

TRUE NATURE
As Breen, even after more than half a century dead, attracted the extremes of demonisation and sanctification, the author began to believe that nothing in the published works revealed anything of the true nature of the man whose life and legacy has attracted so much print and commentary.
In his research, John Connors was fortunate to happen upon a number of sources that contained a trove of material hitherto unseen by the general public.
This, the author believes, will reveal a subject that is very much at variance with many of the perceived notions about him.

HEROICS
The essence of this book is not based on the idea of heroics as such have been interpreted down the years. This work examines Dan Breen through the lens of his relationships with people, places and things.
Naturally his relationship with his wife and family is looked into but it also features chapters on his relationship with Robinson, his political opponents, party colleagues, his revolver, etc.
As is accepted in some quarters that Breen was a committed Atheist, a chapter on his relationship with “God [and His Agents]” will be of special interest to many.

Both sad and humoursome in equal parts, this book reveals to the public, a man much removed from the one-dimensional character in which both his admirers and detractors like to portray him. It deals with a man, contradictory and complex, - controversial and all too often, cantankerous, - whose life has been crying out for a more detailed study for far too long.
The book will be officially launched at the Ballykisteen Hotel, Limerick Junction on Friday November 10.