Book launch: A Bloody Dawn: The Irish at D-Day

A Bloody Dawn: The Irish at D-Day, by Dan Harvey, tells of the Irish contribution to D-Day – the most extraordinatry military operation ever attempted in the history of warfare. The epic Allied invasion of German-occupied Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944, began the liberation of German-occupied France, and later Europe, from Nazi control, laying the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front. It's been well chronicled.

Published by Irish Academic Press/Merrion Press

But what is less well-known is that thousands of Irish and members of the Irish diaspora were among the Allied units that landed on the Normandy beaches. Their vital participation has been overlooked abroad and even more so in Ireland.

There were 'Irish' among the airborne and glider-borne infantry landings; they were on the beaches from dawn, in the skies above and standing off at sea on naval vessels all along the Normandy coastline. They were also prominent among the D-Day Planners and Commanders of the greatest seabourne invasion every undertaken. The story of D-Day is huge and the Irish have a rightful place among its many chapters.

The 250-page paperback has been published by Irish Academic Press under the Merrion Press imprint. ISDN 9781785372414. It is now available from the publisher (click cover image above) for €14.95, Dubray Books, Amazon USA and other good booksellers.

Dan Harvey will be talking about his book on the 75th anniversary of D-Day on Thursday 6 June at the opening reception of the third Irish Military Seminar. The event is free to attend. Venue: Newbridge Library, Athgarvan Road, Newbridge, Co Kildare. 7pm. Tel: 045 448353.