The dramatic life and times of a prominent Kerry IRA leader and lifelong republican are published in a new book by historian and author, Dr Owen O’Shea.
The memoirs of Dan Mulvihill, which he wrote shortly before he died, which remained unpublished for 50 years, chart his central role in many of the most important events in 20th-century Ireland.
Mulvihill from Brackhill, Castlemaine, was an IRA volunteer who fought the Black and Tans, a loyal ally of Éamon de Valera – who he smuggled out of Dublin at the beginning of the Civil War – a fervent opponent of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, a member of Liam Lynch’s staff in the anti-Treaty IRA, a prisoner and hunger striker, a spy and intelligence officer.
In later years, he adjudicated on the pension applications of IRA and Cumann na mBan veterans from all over Ireland and campaigned passionately for better rights and remuneration for those who took part in the fight for Irish freedom.
“Mulvihill’s unpublished memoir, running to 20,000 words, first came to my attention when I was researching the Ballymacandy ambush of 1921 a few years ago. I discovered that he had tried but failed to publish the memoir before his death in 1985 and I am delighted to be able to bring his story to light,” said Owen O’Shea.
“He was a pivotal figure in the revolution in Kerry but was also central to national events during the revolutionary period, alongside figures like Éamon de Valera, Michael Collins, Harry Boland, Liam Lynch, Emmet Dalton and Tom Barry,” he said.
During the truce which followed the War of Independence, Mulvihill was appointed Liaison Officer for County Kerry, entrusted with keeping the peace in cooperation with his sworn enemies in the RIC and the British Army.
During the Second World War, he spied on those suspected of supporting the British and Nazi war efforts and reported to army leader, Florrie O’Donoghue, in Dublin as part of a secret espionage network.
He later served on the powerful board of assessors with the Department of Defence which adjudicated on the pension applications of the veterans of wars in which they had been involved.
The book will be launched on Saturday, 29 March at 8.00pm at the Muintir na Tíre Hall in Milltown.
The guest speaker at the launch will be the former editor of the Irish Independent, Stephen Rae, a native of Castlemaine, who recorded an interview with Dan Mulvihill shortly before his death.
Rae’s grandfather, also Stephen, was a leading figure in the Kerry IRA during the War of Independence. The launch will feature a celebration of Mulvihill’s life in stories, poetry, music and song.
“That Mulvihill was from my home parish and that he wanted to publish his story, makes the writing of this book such an honour,” said Owen.
“A self-styled maverick and committed revolutionary, he was a largely forgotten figure in Irish history until now. This is Mulvihill in his own words, unrepentant and revealing, from joining the Volunteers in his youth, to his trenchant views on the Troubles in Northern Ireland as he approached the end of his life,” he added.
- One Man’s Ireland: Memoirs of Dan Mulvihill, Maverick Republican is published by Merrion Press and will be available in bookshops across Kerry from next week as well as online at owenoshea.ie and at the book launch on 29 March.
Advertisers: Reach an unrivalled readership of several thousand people every day. Call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com
