My review of Mary MacDiarmada's book, Art O'Brien and Irish Nationalism in London 1900-25, is now live and available on the website of the journal Irish Studies Review. It will be published in the journal in August 2021. Get a free eprint of my review here.
Art O'Brien (1872-1949) played an important role in mobilising the Irish diaspora in England during the first twenty-five years of the twentieth century. He was an electrical engineer by training and was fluent in French and Spanish. He put these skills to good use when he became the first Dáil's envoy in London in 1919. His job was to rally the Irish diaspora in England to push for Irish independence. He also acted as a point of contact for the foreign press corps stationed in London.
The book shines a light on his life and activities for an independent Ireland. Particularly interesting was his interest in the Irish language and Irish dancing. He was born in London to a Cork-born father and an English mother. Art's father died when he was just five years old, so his link to Ireland was broken very early in his life, but he nurtured this aspect of his heritage and it could be said that he became more connected to Ireland's traditional culture and history than many people living in Ireland at the time.
O'Brien was a member of many Irish cultural and nationalist organisations (both legal and illegal) including the Gaelic League in London, Sinn Féin, the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). He led a fascinating life and with all the subterfuge, twists and turns that we read about in MacDiarmada's book, it would make for a good film. Read the book and make up your own mind.
