Dermot Keogh (1945–2023)

This is a very well written and rigorous book. However, it is apparent that the author was an admirer of Jack Lynch and I feel that, as a result, this diminished his criticical analysis of several aspects of Lynch’s career. Of course as Lynch was a popular figure admiring him is not something to apologise for but biographical analysis must show caution for potential concerns over bias. Of course the book is still superior to the deification that was Arnold’s “Hero in Crisis.” show more Lynch’s various achievements, starting with his time as a Minister, are overstated and the failures which arose during the tenures of his various Departments are barely analysed. Dwyer in “Nice Fellow” does this well by way of contrast. The book is deficient with regards to the intrigue and the developments leading up to the resignation of Seán Lemass and his succession as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil. Its ultimate source of controversy, however, is regarding his coverage of the Arms Trial and how it transpired. His interpretation of the Peter Berry diaries would be questioned by many. Recent evidence, such as that from Col. Hefferon’s statement, that was expunged by the then Minister for Justice, Desmond O’Malley, was not even discussed as well as other issues raised in O’Brien’s “The Arms Trial” or MacIntyre’s “Through the Bridewell Gate.” While the book did highlight how useful Frank Aiken was to Lynch in particular during the Arms Trial period it is extremely lacking regarding analysis of his standing down from and ultimately leaving the party he helped found. Arnold, while not finding Lynch at fault, does deal with the matter whereas Collins in ‘’The Powergame” is very critical of Lynch for his handling of this whole affair. The book overall is well written and referenced as one would expect from Keogh but I was somewhat disappointed given my previous acquisitions from the author that this was not a more critical biography. show less

The book is a very enjoyable collection of different contributors’ views about how Ireland's neutrality policy was impacted in different ways during WW2. Many of the contributors have written books of their own subsequently or were established authors in their own right at time of publication. Among the best chapters include Defence and the New State by Peter Young, Ireland, Canada and the American Note by Emma Cunningham, Con Cremin, Berlin and ‘Die Billige Gesandtschaft’ by Niall show more Keogh, Keeping the Temperature Down by Donal O Drisceoil and Blueprints from Britain by Robert McNamara. I don’t necessarily agree with everything written by each contributor in their pieces but they argue their cases extremely well and there is an excellent bibliography which gives suggestions for further reading. show less

This is a very interesting book. The authors present a thorough and rigorous analysis of how the Constitution came into being. They dispel several of the myths associated with its derivation and provide pen portraits of the team of civil servants who were personally selected by de Valera to take part in the drafting. The book is very well referenced and the authors are willing to challenge other authors they disagree with as well as providing a useful bibliography and source material. No show more other authors have provided such a readable, concise and innovative analysis of their own thus far on the Constitution and so I would highly recommend this work of Keogh and McCarthy to others. show less

Typical of Keogh's research in his books the subject matter here is analysed in exhaustive and in-depth fashion. The book analyses the refugee and asylum policies of the Irish Government since independence in 1922 throughout the years of WW2 with a composite description of the involvement of the Jewish community in Ireland pre and post independence. The relationship of leaders of the Jewish community with the state is discussed in detail and significant figures are also profiled. The book is show more also a useful social commentary of the period of time analysed in the text. show less