Detailing the struggle for Irish Independence from 1914-1924 through the personal experiences of a Castlebar family and their community 'For The Cause' is the hitherto undocumented history of the county town during this momentous period of change and conflict. This book covers the rise of nationalism in the town in the early 1900's, the founding of the Volunteers, through World War 1, The War of Independence and Civil War and its aftermath. Through the hitherto unpublished personal papers and military records of Castlebar-born James Chambers, Commandant 1st Battalion, West Mayo Brigade, IRA, John Chambers, Captain A Column, 1st Battalion and Annie Chambers (Mellett), member of Castlebar committee Cumann na mBan, 'For the Cause' presents new and timely information about this important period in the history of Castlebar.
Anne Chambers is an award-winning author. Her books include TK Whitaker-Portrait of a Patriot, The Great Leviathian-2nd Marquess of Sligo, 1788-1958, Ranji- Maharajah of Connemara and Grace O'Malley- The Biography of Ireland's Pirate Queen, 1530-1603.
Review supplied by Robert Ely
I just
finished studying Anne Chambers new book: "For The Cause": A
Castlebar Family's Stand For Irish Freedom 1914-1924. Here is a great
book that should be in the private library of every student, and every
scholar of Irish History! The centrepiece of the book covers the rise of
Irish Nationalism and Patriotism at the beginning of the
Twentieth Century, and the deep commitment and heroic actions of Anne
Chambers father, uncle, and aunt in their struggle to liberate Ireland
from the shackles of British colonialism!
Within
the pages of Anne's book, there is a rich source of new information
about the heroism and sacrifice of Castlebar men and women during the
Anglo-Irish War of Independence, and the brutal Black and Tan War;
followed by one of Ireland's greatest sorrows, The Irish Civil
War. Here we see the intrepid women of Castlebar's Cumann na mBan, like
Anne's aunt, who put her life on the line, time and time again,
in supporting the men 'on the run' - like her two brothers - who
were waging guerrilla warfare against the British crown forces! For
without the untiring support of the Irish women during that momentous
time in Ireland's history, the men of the IRA, who manned The Flying
Columns, and made up the Active Service Units, would never have
succeeded in forcing the British government to the negotiating table in
London.
In
writing her book, Anne's in-depth research over the years into the
military actions of the Castlebar Battalion of The West Mayo Flying
Column, she had managed to place her hand on the pulse of the
revolutionary climate in West Mayo and throughout Ireland at that time.
Anne comes across with the story of Erin's revolutionary struggle on the
pages of her book, with physiognomic flair, to the point that the
reader will think that she was an actual eyewitness and participant to
those crucial and earth-shaking times in Ireland's history. And of
course, a writer who, like Anne, can transport themselves metaphysically
into one of history's great and dynamic settings, prove they are gifted
authors,
