Republican Cobh - Kieran's book

[fullastern]

I attended the launch of Kieran McCarthy's book "Republican Cobh & The East Cork Volunteers" in the Commodore Hotel last night and got my signed copy of the book from Kieran.

I must say the finished product looks excellent and at over 400 pages it is well worth the €25 cover price. It will be in the shops in Cobh from Monday, 27th October.

The book details the emergence of the Republican Movement in the town and in East Cork in general starting from the foundation of the Cobh branch of in 1913 right up to the present day including the many deeds of the IRA locally and the tragic deaths and executions of East Cork volunteers at Clonmult in 1921 and the various attacks on Crown Forces in and around the town.

The book is written from the standpoint of Kieran as a present day member of (Provisional) Sinn Féin but it is generally quite fair in its account of events. I would have some disagreements with Kieran on his interpretation of later events including the split in the Republican Movement of 1969 / 70 and subsequent development of the Provisionals and Officials, one into Sinn Féin, the other as the Workers' Party. Nevertheless I would recommend the book as a thoroughly good read and a record of local and national history that might otherwise have gone unwritten and forgotten.

I'm glad that I played some small role in helping Kieran put the book together and I'm sure that Republican Cobh will remain a prized part of my large collection of books.

Go out and buy this book!!!

[Mike]

T'was a good evening and I'd concur on the book.

[Ned Kelly]

Well Done mo chara, Kieran! Will preserve judgement till I read this epic tome!

[Mike]

I was talking to Kieran the other day and I'll try to set up a PayPal process this afternoon where people can buy the book online. Obviously because pf the payment process admin costs etc the book's P&P will need to be covered.

[Ned Kelly]

I'll just send the cash to K at his home address. I'm not a fan of paypal as far as i'm concerned they are rip off merchants!

[Mike]

Believe it or not though Ned, they're one of the cheaper companies for payment processing although I think there is an onther Irish company that do it now as well for more or less the same price.

[fullastern]

Good idea Mike. I'm sure there are lots of Cobh ex-pats who would love to buy the book.

[Ned Kelly]

I used paypal before, Mike, and they are crap on exchange rates!

[Kieran]

As I said in another post Ned, you have a surprise in the post. You may already have it before you read this. No need for paypal or postage. Its a gift from me to you -enjoy it.
Thanks Fulla for your kind words above, and to Mike for your efforts to promote the book and setting up paypal etc. Thanks to you all lads!

[Ned Kelly]

Cheers K, Has'nt arrived yet, but looking forward to a good read mo chara!
I will promote the book to the Irish here in Perth, Presuming its any good Lol!

[Mike]

Mike for your efforts to promote the book and setting up paypal etc

I still haven't had the time to do it but promise I'll look at it this afternoon.

[Mike]

Lads,

The link to buy the book online using your CC or PayPal account is below. Ye might pass it onto any Exiles that might be interested. Postage and PayPal charges have been calculated at today's rates are included in price.

http://cobhnet.com/book.htm

[fullastern]

OK, will do.

[Kieran]

Thats excellent Mike. Will highlight that address.

Ned, I reckon your surprise is due to arrive any time now. As for your judgment of the product. I'm sure you will enjoy it. You obviously will draw very different conclusions to the controvercial Ian Paisley visit, (Ian Who) than me, but we both know each others positions on that well. Thats on the last page.
I'm sure you'l enjoy more than 400 hundred pages of great history before you get to that though. Enjoy Mo Chara!

[Ned Kelly]

I will mo chara, when i get it!

[Ned Kelly]

Received the Book today K. Thanks mo Chara, looking forward to a good read!
I must say it looks very professional!
How many in this print edition?

[Kieran]

I dont know Ned. I bought 400 copies from publisher myself at reduced rate, most are gone already. Publisher had Gill & Macmillan distributing them to major stores around the country and UK. I checked Waterstones online the other day and saw that its on sale in the UK for £16.99 sterling -I dont know the exact exchange rate at the mo, but I reckon they are getting it cheaper than we are here at €24.99. This would also tell me that they must have printed quiet a few in the first print. They also gave me permission to get about 30 converted to hardback for family and friends as a collectors item. (Paisley factor aside Ned, give me your verdict when finished).

[fullastern]

Is Paisley getting a copy?:rolleyes:

[Kieran]

Hes probably writing his own one, if he can remember who he is.

I saw junior had a big smirk on his face in parliment the other day while a fellow unionist was using parlimentary privilage to cite Gerry Adams service record as an IRA commander in Belfast in the early 1970's and demanded that he repented for his crimes. Adams managed to get his accuser thrown out of the assembly and an SF spokewoman dared him to repeat the accusation out side of the house. The DUP man said he was quoting from Ed Moloneys book on the history of the IRA (or should he have said M15's book on the IRA).

[fullastern]

I saw that too Kieran. I don't normally watch "Assembly Live" (or even Oireachtas Report) - it's like watching paint dry.

By the way - I thought the whole idea of the Assembly was to move forward from the past, not to relive it every day.

[Ned Kelly]

I'm 50 pages in K and I must admit its a bloody good read thus far!

[Kieran]

I reckon that you are in the middle of the capture of Carrigtwohill RIC barracks so Ned. Interestingly enough, The Cork Hollybough has published that operation from the book. They edited it slightly for the non-Cobh audience/ readers but still leaves it reasonably intact. Tell all your family and friends to buy the hollybough this year. Theres loads of other historical stories in it too. I jumped at the opportunity when they asked me for a chapter as the Hollybough goes everywhere around the world.

[Kieran]

Didnt see your earlier Post fulla, but your right watching the assembly is like watching the Dail and paint drying, and yes it was meant to move things forward, but I reckon there is a fair bit of bargaining going on behind the scenes over the policing bill and that was part of it.

[fullastern]

Sammy Wilson seems to think the whole thing is a joke. He'd be good on "Have I got News for You" - but not much else.

[Katy]

That an idea for Kieran to promote his book, get on local radio and television....lots will be sold for christmas gifts....Has the local media gave you any coverage Kieran? cheers Katy

[Kieran]

The Launch was reported in the Evening echo and a chapter is in the christmas 'Hollybough' an annual christmas edition thats normally sent around the world. I know the publisher has a list of newspapers and radio stations that they send free copies to review it, but I havent heard anything back yet. I know the Irish Echo in Newyork and the Irish Post in London have agreed to review it.

[Ned Kelly]

Hi Kieran I have asked the Only Irish paper here in in Oz to review the book, Hopefully they will!

[Kieran]

Well done Ned, though I'm surprised there is only one Irish paper out there. my son and brother are moving out there on the 3rd december to work. They are been sponsored by my sister. I.m not sure what part she is in at the mo -she moves around alot.

[Ned Kelly]

The Irish Echo is the only Irish paper that is printed in any sort of regular fashion, there are heaps more weeklys, monthlys, periodicals but ya never know when they will actually be in print!

[Ned Kelly]

Plenty of work over here in the west, K and good money too, if there over this way give them my number if you have it,If not I'll give you my number in pvt. message!

[Kieran]

Will do Ned -Thanks