James Connolly

extraordinary and insightful new biography of James Connolly – a magnificent reconsideration of the myths surrounding the Republican ‘hero’ and his warped place in the Republican mindset. * The Spectator *
Two fine new books, Sean O’Callaghan’s James Connolly: My Search for the Man, the Myth and His Legacy…rightly emphasise the vicious hatred, fanaticism and lust for revenge of the rebellion’s ringleaders * Andrew Roberts, The Sunday Times, News Review *
a republican insider’s disabused account of the fanatical mind, akin to Eric Hofer’s Seventies classic True Believers * Michael Burleigh, Books of the Year, Evening Standard *
a brave, hostile account of the life of Pearse’s socialist co-conspirator and martyr, James Connolly * Daily Telegraph *
Extraordinary and insightful * Spectator blog *
[An] insightful and intense critique of the Rising’s most important socialist martyr * Quadrant *

Sean O’Callaghan joined the Provisional IRA in 1970, aged fifteen, and was active in Northern Ireland in the mid-seventies, taking part in numerous terrorist attacks which resulted in the deaths of two members of the security forces. He resigned from the IRA in 1975, just short of his 21st birthday, having become disillusioned with everything it stood for. He rejoined it in 1979, this time volunteering his services to the Irish police as an informer. He continued this work until 1985 when he had to leave Ireland as suspicion about him mounted. In 1988 he handed himself up to British police and admitted involvement in IRA activities in Northern Ireland in the mid-seventies. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and released under Royal Prerogative in 1996. After his release he wrote his autobiography, The Informer, and has continued to work for peace in Ireland. Today he works with young people at risk of getting involved in criminal or extremist activity.

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