The Butcher's Apron: Ireland 1920-21...The Story of an IRA Flying Column Fighting for National Independence

By Ed McMahon and Ed McMahon

FIRED WITH ANGUISH over the failed 1916 Easter uprising In Dublin, Michael O'Leary, a farmer from County Cork bands together a group of young citizen patriots...28 men and 2 women forging them into a mobile fighting unit...a flying column. As members of the Irish Republican Army, their Cause is to join in with other columns in a country wide movement to drive the ruling English out of Ireland and to establish a free independent nation. Branded as outlaws by the authorities, O'Leary's column carefully plan and execute a series of daring ambushes and raids on the forces of the Crown. In their harsh but committed existence operating in rugged territory, the column builds up a trusting comradeship unaware that one of them is a spy. As a diversion from the conflicts, the column still find the time to laugh, sing, dance, and for two, discover romance amid the chaos of life on the run. O'Leary's innovative tactics of guerilla warfare attract the close attention of two aggressive British Army adversaries who with gained intelligence, commit overwhelming military forces to relentlessly and remorselessly pursue O'Leary and his column .... culminating in a dramatic showdown.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1502956381
• ISBN13: 9781502956385
• Release Date: October 2014
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 548 Pages
• Weight: 2.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.2" x 6.0"