MY FIGHT FOR IRISH FREEDOM
DAN BREEN.
MY FIGHT FOR
IRISH FREEDOM
By
DAN BREEN
With an Introduction by
JOSEPH McGARRITY
(Philadelphia)
DUBLIN
THE TALBOT PRESS LIMITED
85 TALBOT STREET
1924
First Published, August, 1924.
Second Edition, September, 1924.
Third Edition, October, 1924.
Printed in Ireland at The Talbot Press, Dublin.
TO
SEAN TREACY
J. J. HOGAN
AND
SEUMAS ROBINSON
My Fight for Irish Freedom, by CommandantGeneral Dan Breen, of the Third TipperaryBrigade, is a story written in the plain unaffectedlanguage of one of Ireland’s bravest and mostdevoted sons. Many of Ireland’s great championspassed from this world without leaving any authenticrecord of the battles in which they took part, savethat which tradition handed on from generation togeneration.
As time passed, many of the most importantphases of the stories thus transmitted were forgotten,and in some cases additions were madewhich gave certain of the tales a mythical ratherthan an historical character.
An authentic historical record by Cuchulainnhimself, if discovered to-day, would create a greaterworld interest than has the discovery of the tombof the Pharaohs.
The author and principal actor in this dramaticstory was born and reared in Tipperary. He hadno military knowledge whatever until he joined theIrish Volunteers. Gallant young Irishmen of thetype of Dan Breen had been, for generations, driftingaway from their native land. Their naturalmilitary genius and daring found outlet in the armiesof France and Spain, where
Washington appreciated in full the valour of hisIrish emigrant soldiers, as he afterwards proved byconceding to them equal status with the native-bornAmericans. He placed unbounded confidence in thepatriotism and loyalty of his Irish generals andsoldiers who comprised almost one-half of t