.....on the Troubles I've recently read Making Sense of the Troubles by David McKittrick and David McVea, Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA by Richard English and None Shall Divide Us by Michael Stone I'm not sure why I've got such a strong interest in this subject, maybe it was because I grew up in the 70s (admittedly in northe east England) when it was all kicking off. I was too young to remember Bloody Sunday but the Balcombe Street Gang in 1975 seems to be one of my earliest memories of what went on. It certainly is an enthralling topic and one which I am pleased I was not involved in or a part of. Having read up on it, I've gained a much clearer understanding of what went on.....and why. I know there are plenty of posters on here who are in the know when it comes to the Troubles. I'd be delighted if those fellas can point me in the right direction regarding further reading. Oh and as this is still a rather divisive issue, no bloody timewasters please
Can't help much there buddy - did read a book not that long ago entitled either Ireland or Eire (can't remember which) which looked at Irish history through the ages ... but on a 'similar' note, if you like that kind of topic, try 'Bury My Heart Ay Wounded Knee' by Dee Brown regarding the 'native american' resistance to white expansion - fabulous read.
Cheers Ciaran I've been interested in Martin Dillon's The Shankill Butchers for a while (though it will no doubt be a gruesome read). Also, his The Dirty War looks like being insightful as well.
I'd recommend 'The Guineapigs' by John McGuffin (1974),a heavy read but worth it and here's a extract: http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/intern/docs/jmcg74.htm
'Holy War in Belfast' by Andrew Boyd (1969) was a useful if depressing read. Mr Boyd shows how religious bigotry in Ulster goes back many generations, though there was a period, between 1780 and 1830 when Belfast was noted for its liberalism and religious tolerance. The revival of the Orange Order in the 1830's, the rapid increase in population during Belfast's industrial revolution, and the activities of clerical agitators who played upon Protestant fears of Rome all helped to divide the population into two bitterly antagonistic factions.
Tim Pat Coogan's 'The IRA' - which is about 800 pages long and is probably the most comprehensive book available on the organisation. It is almost exclusively interviews and analysis of the IRA from the side of an Irishman, which may put some people off, but if you've grown up only hearing the British media's coverage of the Troubles then it might be interesting to learn how people on the Irish side perceived the conflict.
