THE ANGLO-IRISH WAR TO JULY 1921
by Ernie O'Malley
OC of the 2nd Southern Division IRA
OUR area was improving daily, the people were becoming
more staunch in their allegiance to the Republic, and the
British as a government no longer functioned. They were as
they had been over a hundred and fifty years ago, a garrison;
a garrison which held the cities and towns and made their
influence felt in the countryside by force of arms only.
Years ago the country volunteer had been a butt for jokes.
Superficial minds could not penetrate beyond his bright-hued
cap perched on his head, the way in which he wore his
clothes, the peculiarities of his accent and his shyness when in
the company of city folk. He might hold himself ungainly, but
he had faced disdain and insults and, often enough, parental
displeasure; he had fronted public opinion with its major and
minor sources of irritation; his sincerity was obvious to all
who possessed any themselves. At any rate, his beliefs were
worth fighting for . . .
