National - Event Notice
Thursday January 01 1970

The Real Chief: Liam Lynch, new biography by Meda Ryan

national | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice

Saturday April 23, 2005 15:51

by Ned Young

Tracing the turbulent career of Ireland's greatest guerrilla commanders

To be launched on Friday 29 April, 7.30 pm

The Grand Hotel, Fermoy, Co Cork, Ireland

Meda Ryan, author of the acclaimed 'Tom Barry IRA Freedom Fighter' launches her new book at the end of April.

Ryan's challenge to revisionist historian Peter Hart in her book on Barry can be traced on Indymedia at :

http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2005/04/4572.php

and on

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=69172

Cover of Meda Ryan's new book

The Real Chief: Liam Lynch by Meda Ryan

To be launched on Friday 29 April, 7.30 pm

The Grand Hotel, Fermoy, by

Sile de Valera T.D.

Minister of State at The Department of Education and Science

The Real Chief: Liam Lynch, traces the life and career of Liam Lynch, Chief of Staff of the IRA, who was known as '˜The Chief' among Republicans. From his birth in 1893 until his death twenty nine years later, Meda Ryan highlights the importance of Lynch in Irish history with the significant part he played in gaining Irish independence, his role in trying to avoid a Civil War and his efforts to achieve a thirty-two county republic, rather than a partitioned state.

Many of Lynch's comrades have wondered why he has not received the recognition he deserved, even though in 1921 GHQ held him in such high esteem that he was offered the position as Commander-In-Chief of the army. This position he declined. Lynch was Commander of the First Southern Division and Chief-of-Staff of the IRA. In the documentation of history he has been overshadowed by de Valera and Michael Collins, and it is believed that his firm stand in holding out for the republic, his deeds of bravery, especially before the civil war, have been downgraded. With the aid of Liam Lynch's personal letters, private documents and historical records, this is his story.

Author Information

Meda Ryan is a native of Bandon in West Cork and now lives in Ennis, Co. Clare. Her published books include Michael Collins and the Women in his Life, The Day Michael Collins was Shot and the controversial biography, Tom Barry, IRA Freedom Fighter.