The Story of The Irish Citizen Army. Dublin: Maunsel, 1919. First Edition. Pp, 72. Grey wrappers, printed in black. Light fraying along spine, otherwise a fine bright copy of this fragile publication.

Signed by Sean O’Casey on the title page & rare thus. 

Sean O’Casey joined the Gaelic League and the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and in 1914 became Secretary to the Irish Citizen Army. This One Shilling pamphlet published under his Gaelic name outlines the founding and organisation, political aims and history of the Citizen Army. It was O’Casey’s first book and his first paid publication. Important personalities are described, as well as the Easter Rising:

‘Curiosity displayed in the proceedings gave place now to bewildered astonishment as the ring of falling glass echoed from the direction of the Post Office. Faint echoes of rifle shots penetrated from a distance all things were forgotten as the news the Citizen Army were taking Dublin, that a Provisional Government had been established and an Irish Republic proclaimed.’