Whispers of 'the Lord Mayor is dead' spread over the city of Cork. What began as a rumour became a confirmed fact as the morning came. Armed men had broken into the Lord Mayor's home, pushed his pregnant wife out of the way and shot him through the heart - An outrageous act of murder had taken place in Cork city.'

Tomás Mac Curtáin, the first republican Lord Mayor of Cork, was one of the heroes in the fight for Irish freedom. Gunned down in his own home in front of his wife and young children at the age of just thirty-six, history remembers him as a soldier of courage who defied the British forces and paid the ultimate price.

A central figure in the Cork Volunteers, this book tells the story of Tomás Mac Curtáin for the younger reader.

Fionnuala Mac Curtain is the granddaughter of Tomás Mac Curtáin. She lives in Cork and has also written 'Remember It's for Ireland', a memoir of the life and death of her grandfather, for adults.

Autorentext

Fionnuala MacCurtain is the grand-daughter of Tomás Mac Curtain and lives in Cork. She has appeared on several historical RTE programmes, including 'The Burning of Cork'. Her biography of her Grandfather, 'Remember it's for Ireland' was published in 2006.

Zusammenfassung
Tomás MacCurtain, a dedicated family man, took an active role in the War of Independence. Originally from Ballyknockane in County Cork, his love of the Irish language and culture led him to become involved with the Gaelic League, the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Irish Volunteers. A dedicated father and husband, he was in command of the Irish Volunteers in Cork during the 1916 Rising in Dublin. He was shot dead by British forces on 20 March 1920.&newpara;This short biography will open up this fascinating figure to younger readers.