After The Wild Geese - The Irish Brigades and The Pursuit of Independence ¿ A British Perspective

In 1691, many of those in the Irish catholic army defeated by William of Orange fled to France, where they established the tradition of -Irish Brigades- fighting the British from abroad to secure Irish independence. They became known as the -Wild Geese-. Over the ensuing years, several Irish nationalists set up brigades in different conflicts. This book sets out the history of those brigades and their charismatic leaders, starting with Thomas Francis Meagher, a participant in the 1848 rebellion who was transported to Tasmania before escaping to America and establishing a brigade in the US Civil War. -Foxy Jack- MacBride established a brigade fighting the British in the Boer War, married the famous actress Maud Gonne (friend of the poet W B Yeats), and was executed for taking part in the Easter Rising 1916.

Born in Australia, Arthur Lynch also formed a brigade in the Boer War, following which he became a British MP, and was found guilty of treason, before being pardoned and e