Sinn Fein: An Illumination

"Sinn Fein: An Illumination" by P. S. O'Hegarty is a story of Irish nationalism and cultural rebirth in the early 20th century after World War I. The book explores the rise of the Sinn Fein movement as it broke away from the traditional Irish Parliamentary Party. O'Hegarty, drawing from his own political work, explains how Sinn Fein developed and what it believed, especially how it differed from how things were usually done. He connects Sinn Fein's beginnings to the Gaelic League's mission to bring back the Irish language and culture and make the Irish people feel more Irish. The book focuses on how Sinn Fein changed the game by pushing for real Irish independence through self-reliance, while rejecting outside control. Key people like Arthur Griffith are discussed for how they shaped Sinn Fein's plans. The story shows the disagreements among different nationalist groups, emphasizing how Sinn Fein uniquely united people behind a shared Irish identity and push for independence, marking it as a crucial step towards Irish freedom.