the inside story of the Anglo-Irish war of 1920-21, from the man who led the most succesful Irish flying column. The book is a quick and engaging read, balancing details of each battle and operation with the big-picture view of the Irish struggle for freedom. But above all the value of this book is its political lessons; the final chapter in particular should be required reading for all revolutionary activists. In demonstrating his own journey to political consciousness and the consolidation of a national determination to see the battle to its finish, Barry shows the dialectical relationship between armed struggle and constitutional politics. When political remedies at the ballot box were denied, support for armed resistance climbed to new heights. When the military effort was in jeopardy, new political ratification for the cause reenforced their strength. In the end the outmanned, outgunned IRA became an unbeatable force because they were on the side of the Irish people, and the Irish people were on their side. Activists looking for a strategy for revolution in the twenty-first century would do very well to study the political insights of this military man.

I found this book to be highly enjoyable, filled with many detailed encounters with enemy forces Tom Barry and his flying column overcame in the west Cork area.
The book is detailed in a military point of view, telling of formations and strategies that a guerilla force would take to defeat a larger better trained and equipped army. It also shows the damage a well commanded, determinant guerilla force can cause to a occupying army.

Well worth a read.

A solid account with a bit of heart. Includes the most searing indictment of British colonialism I’ve ever read.

Great account of the Irish war of independence from one of the IRA's best commanders

Absolutely required reading for any Irish American, particularly those whose ancestors hail from the Western edges of County Cork.
Tom Barry published his first hand account from the front lines 28 years after the war for Irish independence in 1949.
For those of us who learned the tales of our forefathers on our grandpa’s knee it is tremendous to hear actual dates, battles, outcomes and heroes with the same last name as myself.
Heady stuff
Please read it and enjoy it
Spoiler alert…WE WIN

Very interesting account of the actions of the IRA brigades in west Cork in the lead up to the Anglo Irish war truce of 2021.

Slightly better written that Breen's memoir, it is still difficult to dredge through. An important book, possibly a requisite for any budding guerrila commander!

If you’re interested in the Irish War for Independence, this is a fascinating read. Its focus is on the rural end of the conflict, hashed out in West Cork (Corcaigh abú!) by amateur soldiers with no outside support and little to no supplies to bring the fight with.

The stories are remarkably detailed from the memory of Tom Barry, an absolutely brilliant strategist and a tough man. What these guys had to go through to see things through, and the numerical disadvantages that they were up against, is incredible to appreciate.

So much of the focus on studying this time period in Ireland tends to rest on things in Dublin; Michael Collins, Eamon De Valera, Cathal Brugha… and deservedly so. But “Guerilla Days” illustrates very well how much fight was brought upon the British military (12,500 troops) in West Cork by ~300 riflemen. That’s absolutely nuts.

Tom Barry doesn’t receive the accolades that the aforementioned men do, or the leaders of the Easter Rising, but he more than deserves his fair share of the credit for bringing about the Irish Republic. The man was a genius, plain and simple.

The excellent period piece film “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” does a great job of illustrating how things worked in the countryside, and is a good supplemental watch to give a better feel for Barry’s journal.

Essential read if you are at all interested in 20th century Irish Republicanism.

To me this book was an eye opening account of the activities of the West Cork fly column. The sacrifice and commitment these lads had was something else, and to think a lot of people in Ireland would look down on the IRA of old is beyond me. I seriously feel like this book should have been read or looked into at secondary level education in Ireland. In my opinion most people my age couldn't care less about our rich history and seem to forget the struggle and commitment of times gone by. This book would certainly rekindle that respect for this generation of freedom fighters!

I mean, obviously, anyone who wasn't from Wesht Cark was useless and pitiful, and Dev wasn't actually just chilling out in America while the hard work was going on back here; but what would I know, I'm just a girl keeping my house clean.

Fascinating and passionate account of what was going on in Ireland after Easter Rising. Excellent book by someone who was there.

Incredible. For a man with surely very little education Barry writing style is eloquent but yet simple. Provides a great insight into the Republican struggle in West Cork. Many funny moments, (especially Ernie O’Malley’s “topographical” talk). Barry gives many reflections on the greater Nationalist movement which helps ground the conflict in the wider context. A most read for an aspiring nationalist.