Meda Ryan Knihy

Liam Lynch's journey from a young recruit in the Irish Volunteers to a key figure in the anti-Treaty IRA highlights his significant role in Ireland's tumultuous history. The book utilizes personal letters and historical records to detail his leadership during the Civil War and his opposition to the 1921 Treaty. It explores his collaborations with notable figures like Michael Collins and his commitment to a united Ireland, culminating in his death in 1923. This work is part of the 'Irish Revolutionaries' series, commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Rising.

Collins was killed in an ambush in Cork in 1922. The manner of his death and the identity of his killer have been the source of intense speculation and controversy ever since. In this book, Ryan solves the mystery. Drawing on eyewitness testimonies, she painstakingly reconstructs, in minute-by-minute detail, the final four days of Collins' life and follows, mile by mile, his fatal journey through his home county of Cork.

The story revolves around Biddy Early, a mystical figure from Clare, Ireland, known for her extraordinary abilities as a healer and seer. Tales of her cures, prophecies, and spells highlight her enigmatic presence in the community. Central to her legend is a magic cloaked bottle, which she used as a tool for clairvoyance, further deepening the aura of mystery surrounding her life and practices.

Heavily involved in the Irish fight for independence from the 1880s on, Thomas Kent waited in Cork for orders during the 1916 Rising. During a gunfight at his home, Thomas' brother Richard and an RIC Constable were killed. He was executed by firing squad in Cork Barracks on 9 May 1916.