GAUGHAN, J. Anthony. Austin Stack: Portrait of a Separatist (Signed by the Author)

SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR

GAUGHAN, J. Anthony. Austin Stack: Portrait of a Separatist. Illustrated. Dublin: Kingdom Books, 1977. Demy octavo. pp. 408. Blue papered boards, title in gilt on spine. Signed by the author on titlepage. With previous owner's bookplate. A very good copy in frayed dust jacket. Rare.

Austin Stack (1879-1929), revolutionary, was born at Ballymullen, Tralee, County Kerry and educated at the local C.B.S. At fourteen he became a solicitor's clerk. He later captained the Kerry team that won the All-Ireland football final in 1904. Joining the I.R.B. in 1908, as Commandant of the Kerry Brigade of the Irish Volunteers he co-ordinated the landing of arms by Roger Casement at Banna Strand. He was arrested and sentenced to death, which was commuted to penal servitude for life. Stack was released with the general amnesty of 1917 and was elected Sinn Féin M.P. in the following year. Between 1919 and 1922 he was at different times Minister for Home Affairs, Finance and Defence. He opposed the Treaty of 1921, fought with the Republicans in the Civil War, was captured in 1923 and went on hunger strike for forty-one days before being released in July, 1924.

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