Irish Revolution: Diplomacy and reactions, 1919-1923

This groundbreaking study reveals the fascinating international dimension of the Irish Revolution (1919-1923), exploring how a small nation's fight for independence reverberated across the globe. The Irish republican counter-state strategy required seeking diplomatic recognition abroad. In addition to a foreign affairs department, a publicity ministry was created to maximise the cultural impact of the Irish struggle within a growing international discourse on small, emerging states and the rise of anti-imperialist sentiments. Through meticulous research and a compelling narrative, the book reveals how Irish revolutionaries were compelled by circumstances to devise an unconventional diplomatic strategy: unable to persuade governments to support the Irish Revolution directly, they endeavoured to influence foreign public opinion and indirectly pressure governments to support Irish independence. The volume examines: The birth of Irish international diplomacy, including: establishment of Ireland's first diplomatic missions; Irish propaganda networks across multiple countries; and creation of the Irish Bulletin in multiple languages to shape international opinion. Global impact including: operations across Europe, the United States, and the British Empire; mobilisation of the influential Irish diaspora; strategic use of cultural and economic connections to advance Ireland's cause; and responses by oppressed nationalities, Zionists and revolutionary writers as far away as China and Russia. Revolutionary innovation, including: pioneering the use of international public diplomacy; media strategies to counter British narratives; and instituting a diplomatic service that would influence Irish foreign policy for decades. This book is essential reading. It reveals how the Irish Revolution was not merely a domestic struggle but developed an international campaign that informed other emerging small nations. Drawing on multiple previously unutilised and underutilised diplomatic archives and international sources, it provides a more comprehensive analysis of how Irish revolutionaries transformed the national revolution into a global campaign. For readers interested in international relations, revolutionary movements, or modern Irish history, this volume offers unprecedented insights into how an emerging nation navigated great power politics and sought to shape its own destiny on the world stage. The story it tells resonates with contemporary questions about national sovereignty, public diplomacy, and the role of small states in international affairs. This thoroughly researched work provides a unique account of Ireland's emergence onto the international stage, offering lessons for understanding modern diplomacy and national liberation movements. Whether you're a diplomatic historian, a student of Irish studies, or simply interested in how small nations can impact global affairs, this book provides essential insights into a pivotal moment in modern Irish history, which coincided with the turbulent period of international history after the First World War. It comprehensively outlines the activities of the Irish Revolution's diplomatic and publicity arms to garner international support, highlighting the complementary nature of these efforts overseas with the domestic Irish struggle.

About the Author :
Professor Dermot Keogh (1945-2023), MRIA, distinguished himself as an Emeritus Professor of History and the Emeritus Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration Studies at University College Cork. His insights into twentieth-century Ireland, European dynamics, and international history garnered him numerous prestigious accolades nationally and internationally. His scholarly contributions are substantial, with over 20 authored and edited books, along with his longstanding role editing Documents on Irish Foreign Policy. Professor Keogh's expertise, spanning Irish diplomacy, church-state relations, the Jewish experience in Ireland, European integration, and Latin American studies, earned him widespread respect and admiration. His legacy is a testament to his lifelong commitment to advancing understanding in these critical areas of study. Dr Owen McGee, a graduate of UCD and UCC, is the author of A History of Ireland in International Relations (2020), Arthur Griffith (2015) and The IRB (2005). Dr Mervyn O'Driscoll, of the School of History at UCC is the editor of Irish Studies in International Affairs and the author of works such as Ireland, West Germany and the New Europe (2018) and Ireland, Germany and the Nazis (2004, 2017). He co-edited Ireland through European Eyes (2013) and Ireland in the Second World War (2004). He focuses on Irish diplomacy, foreign affairs, Irish-European relations, and nuclear proliferation.

Review :
This impressive and timely collection offers an astute analysis of the long underappreciated international dimension of the turbulent period of 1919 to 1923 in Irish history. With its wide geographical range, focusing on Europe, the United States and the Irish diaspora within the British Empire, the book is essential reading for anyone interested in the global repercussions of Ireland's "Greater War" experience, international relations in an age of revolutionary nation-building, and modern European history.--Robert Gerwarth, Professor of Modern History, UCD A major contribution to our understanding of the revolutionary period, offering fresh insights into many under-explored aspects of the time. A fitting final contribution to the legacy of the late Dermot Keogh.--David McCullagh, Journalist, RTE and author of From Crown to Harp (2025)