Launch of ‘The 3rd Brigade: A history of the Volunteers/IRA in South Tipperary 1913- 1921’

Launch of ‘The 3rd Brigade: A history of the Volunteers/IRA in South Tipperary 1913- 1921’
Tuesday 10th April saw a huge crowd gather in The Source, Thurles for the launch of ‘The 3rd Brigade: a history of the Volunteers/IRA in the South Tipperary 1913-1921’ by Denis G. Marnane. Speaking on the night, Councillor Roger Kennedy said the publication comes at a most opportune time “just months away from the centenary of the Soloheadbeg ambush and all that followed. In publishing The 3rd Brigade Tipperary County Council through its library service provides a worthy opening to what will be years of celebration, commemoration and discussion.”
Along with the events of Bloody Sunday in November 1920, the actions and personalities of the 3rd Tipperary Brigade loom large in the public awareness of the War of Independence. The adventures of Dan Breen, Sean Tracy, Seamus Robinson and Sean Hogan from 1919 to 1921 have been part of popular history and story telling for nearly a century, and not only in this county but everywhere at home and abroad where the struggle for Irish independence is recalled.
Over recent decades the official records of the period have been gradually made available to historians. With all this new evidence to hand it is possible to get a much more complete picture than we had before. Des Marnane draws on the full range of sources old and newly available. Grangemockler native, Professor R.V Comerford who launched ‘The 3rd Brigade’ said “In interpreting these sources, Des has the advantages of deep knowledge of locality, and of being steeped in the history of the area over previous generations going back to the Land War.” An excellent selection of contemporary photographs adds to the impact.
R.V. Comerford continued “A notable feature of this book is that it is the product of close collaboration between the author and the Tipperary County Council Library Service. The Tipperary Studies centre is an invaluable resource for local historians and many others.”
‘The 3rd Brigade’ is available for purchase in the branch libraries in the county and some local bookshops.