The News From Ireland: Foreign Correspondents and the Irish Revolution

The Anglo-Irish war of 1919-1921 finally broke apart the constitution of the United Kingdom, drawing a line under 120 years of turbulent history since the Act of Union. In the Republic of Ireland it is referred to as the War of Independence and celebrated as the heroic struggle which forged an independent Irish state; in Britain it is retrospectively regarded as the beginning of the end of Imperial rule. But how was the revolution perceived at the time? How was it reported in the media and with what purpose? And how did coverage vary between Britain, Ireland and the United States?The News From Ireland examines the development of the Anglo-Irish war and the shifts in the reporting of events by British and American correspondents as well as other foreign journalists and literary figures. It includes revealing insights into the propaganda war and the ways in which both sides tried to interest journalists in their cause. Maurice Walsh also emphasizes the power of public opinion to influence the British government and analyses the effect this had on the course of the revolution. The News from Ireland offers a penetrating and persuasive assessment of the Irish revolution itself and the role of the press and journalism in that phase of world history. This important book will be essential reading for anyone interested in Irish history and how our understanding of history generally is shaped by the media.