Soldiers of the Short Grass – A History of the Curragh Camp by Dan Harvey

This book will be launched on Wednesday, June 15 at 6.00 p.m. in Ceannt Officers’ Mess, Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare.

• The first complete history of this national landmark from 1855 to the present day, taking into account every facet of its development.
• The Curragh Camp had enormous implications for the outcome of Easter Week 1916 and the War of Independence.
• The story of the Curragh Camp is inextricably linked to the development of the Irish Defence Forces, which in turn is crucial to the history of Ireland.

Description: This is the first complete history of the Curragh Camp, from its foundation in 1855 to the present day, under both British and Irish occupation. Dan Harvey, a military historian and an experienced senior officer, presents a compelling and fascinating narrative of the camp’s many evocative eras and episodes. This unique establishment has been key in shaping Irish history while being shaped in turn by the great national and international conflicts that it was founded to respond to: the Crimean War, the Boer War, the Great War, the Easter Rising and War of Independence are all accounted for under the banner of the British Army. The first tricolour hoisted overhead of the camp signalled no change to its level of service as the Curragh’s forces were quickly embroiled in the Irish Civil War, later oversaw the years of the modern Troubles and forged an international role with the Irish Defence Forces.

These grand narratives are interlaced with smaller yet significant tales that personalise the institution and lend vitality to the many facets that keep service, work and a livelihood in check on world-renowned plains once covered by ‘St. Brigid’s cloak’. Prince Edward’s royal visit and training, and the ‘Wrens’ less welcome visits to the soldiers after dark – everyday and extraordinary matters are described to give the most authoritative history, compelling and meticulously written, of a camp inextricable to Ireland for over one hundred and fifty years.

About the Author: Lieutenant Colonel Dan Harvey has served on operations at home and abroad for over thirty-five years to date. He has previously written about major incidents involving Irish Defence Force members on active overseas peacekeeping service, including Peace Enforcers: The EU Intervention in Chad, and Peacekeepers: Irish Soldiers in the Lebanon.

For press and publicity enquiries contact Peter O’Connell + 353 87 681 4499 peter@peteroconnellmedia.com Merrion Press, 10 George’s Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare +353 45 432497 www.merrionpress.ie