1 (Chapter 2) Does Mrs Arkins think it it is a good idea for Mike McMahon to be in the IRA?
2 (Chapter 3) Why did the IRA have to drill in the middle of the night?
3 (Chapter 3) Who were the Fianna?
4 (Chapter 5) Why did the IRA want to de-rail the train on the West Clare Railway?
5 (Chapter 5) What did Mrs Meeney from the crossing cottage say about the IRA?
Draw...!
Draw a picture of an IRA man.
Fact File
IRA (Irish Republican Army) were organised by Michael Collins to be a guerrilla army - they were trained not for set battles but to be a hit-and-run force. They would ambush the British Army and the police and then disappear into hiding. Famous members of the IRA at that time were Tom Barry of West Cork and Sean McEoin of Longford.
Explore...!
Look in a daily newspaper and see how many mentions you can find of the IRA. Do you think that they are achieving anything? Discuss this with a friend or with your class.
Imagine......!
Imagine that you are a member of the IRA. Write an account of what happened when you tried to derail the train on the West Clare Railway.
Imagine that you are Mrs Meeney. Write down all the reasons why you don't like the IRA
