Dublin Made Me

The first book, Dublin Made Me (1979), is a gem. Andrews gives us a vivid description of growing up in Dublin's north inner city in the first decade of the 20th century. He captures the sights, sounds, and smells of the city, its beauty and ugliness, its charm and prejudice. He begins by delineating the class structure of Dublin at the time, and the important role religion played in the power structure: "The rulers were mainly Protestants, the Catholics the ruled. The Catholics at whatever income level they had attained were second class citizens." After describing his early years' education, Andrews tells us how he was fired by a patriotism that made him an active IRA player during the crucial years of 1916 to 1923, from the Easter Rising to the War of Independence. His street fighting against the British, escape from internment, and stance against the Treaty are memorably recounted.