Thomas MacDonagh was drawn into the Irish Republican Brotherhood through his strong conscience and sense of social justice, becoming a member of the Provisional Government and a signatory of the 1916 Easter Proclamation. He was executed on 3 May 1916 in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin.
The biography explores the life of Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, a pivotal figure in Irish history who played a crucial role in the nationalist movement. From his modest beginnings in West Cork, he founded the Phoenix National and Literary Society and became involved in republican activities, enduring imprisonment and solitary confinement. After exile in the U.S., he masterminded the Fenian dynamite campaign and survived an assassination attempt. His funeral marked a significant moment in Irish politics, symbolizing the enduring fight for an Irish Republic.
The book explores the evolution of Irish Fenianism through the innovative dynamite campaign in Victorian Britain from 1881 to 1885. Originating from Irish-American politics, this campaign marked a shift towards urban warfare and featured notable figures like Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa and Thomas James Clarke. It introduced advanced bomb mechanisms that allowed bombers to detonate explosives remotely, changing the nature of conflict. The resulting bombings not only made headlines but also brought the Irish question to the forefront of British urban life, impacting both the elite and the general populace.