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O'Malley, Cormac

Ernie O'Malley was a medical student in Dublin when the Easter Rising of 1916 broke out. Indifferent at first, his feelings changed as the struggle progressed and he rose to the rank of OC of the Second Southern Division during the War of Independence. He died in 1957 and was given a state funeral with full military honours. He is also the author of On Another Man's Wound and Raids and Rallies.

On Another Man's Wound 'On Another Man’s Wound', its title taken from an old Ulster proverb, ‘It’s easy to sleep on another man’s wound’, was first published in 1936 and has become the classic account of the years 1916-21 in Ireland. It captures the essence of Ireland at the time, the way people lived, their attitudes, their beliefs, the songs they sang, the legends they knew. O’Malley pictures the Irish landscape magnificently, and his cameo sketches of the great personalities of the Rising and the war that followed bring them into instant focus. The sequel 'The Singing Flame', which details O'Malley's experiences of the Irish Civil War, and 'Raids and Rallies', covering his comrade's experiences during the War of Independence, are also available from Mercier Press. €19.99

The Men Will Talk To Me: Galway Interviews by Ernie OMalley Dramatic first-hand accounts of the War of Independence and Civil War in Galway. €19.99

The Men Will Talk to Me: Kerry Interviews by Ernie O'Malley A series of dramatic first-hand accounts of the War of Independence and Civil War in Kerry. €19.99

The Men Will Talk to Me: Mayo Interviews by Ernie O'Malley In the 1940s and 1950s Ernie O'Malley travelled around Ireland interviewing survivors of Ireland's struggle for Independence. These interviews, now being made available to the public for the first, time give a fascinating insight into the times and the people who fought. Many of those who were interviewed were unwilling to talk – even to their own families – about their experience, but because O'Malley was such a well-respected figure they consented to be interviewed by him. This book includes accounts of activities in many parts of Mayo and neighbouring parts of Roscommon and Sligo and most of those interviewed also fought against the Free State in the civil war. The key events described took place in the early months of 1921 in places such as Kilmeena, Tourmakeady and Carrowkennedy. €19.99

The Singing Flame On Another Man's Wound, O'Malley's account of his experiences during Ireland's War of Independence, was first published to instant acclaim in 1936 and was followed by his account of his experiences in the Civil War in The Singing Flame. O'Malley had reported directly to Michael Collins and Richard Mulcahy during the War of Independence and was appointed OC of the Second Southern Division, the second largest division of the IRA. When the Treaty with Britain was signed on 6 December 1921, diehard Republicans like O'Malley would not accept it. In the bitter Civil War that followed, O'Malley was in the Four Courts when it was attacked by the Free State army. Later he was OC of the Republicans in Ulster and Leinster. He was eventually captured and imprisoned until July 1924. He was one of the last Republican prisoners to be released. The Free Staters had won and O'Malley, feeling there was no place for him in this new Ireland, went to live in the USA where he wrote his memoirs. €19.99

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