Kevin Rafter

This is not a great book but an alright book. It is a thorough study on the period in which the Democratic Left existed and contains numerous interviews with the main participants involved in the creation of DL and both former colleagues in the Worker's Party and in the Labour Party regarding their eventual merger with DL. However, the book is overtly reliant on interviews as reference material at the expense of other published works. Rafter's works on other political parties such as Clann show more na Poblachta were more snappier and condensed. show less

Rafter has written a number of interesting works about Irish political history including his biography of Neil Blaney and his work on Clann na Poblachta. As with the fore-mentioned books this biography is of equal merit. In a very readable style, which echoes his journalist training, he takes the reader throughout Mansergh's interesting life into Fianna Fáil, in which he remains at the time of writing this review.

The opinions of the other major participants in the Peace Process and the show more Talks leading up to the Good Friday Agreement regarding Mansergh's role are very fortright, insightful and revealing. This is largely the most interesting portion of the book though Mansergh's education and how he came to become a member of Fianna Fáil in the first place are also explored very well.

The author does not shy either from offering his own opinion and highlighting what he views are/were apparent contradictions which is important in a work of this nature. show less

I have read most of Kevin Rafter's historical books and they typically do not disappoint. I would recommend this book on Neil Blaney as it is an excellent biography. It traces his life in politics from succeeding his father at a by-election through becoming a Minister, leaving Fianna Fáil and then his time as a senior Independent figure in the Dáil and European Parliament, where he sits at the time the book was published. Rafter details Blaney’s great historical roots in Fianna Fáil show more going back to the time of the party’s foundation and the Civil War period. This explains a lot about his development. Rafter details Blaney’s achievements as a Minister and the crucial period during the Arms Trial which would see Blaney break ways with the party that was so indistinguishable from him. We also see Blaney’s views on other political opponents and stance on policy measures in concluding chapters. It is a very worthwhile book for anyone doing research on Blaney or on Fianna Fáil. show less

A useful book giving a concise history of the Clann from their foundation until their dissolution.