The Singing Flame

On Another Mans Wound, OMalleys account of his experiences during Irelands War of Independence, was first published to instant acclaim in 1936 and was followed by his account of his experiences in the Civil War in The Singing Flame. OMalley had reported directly to Michael Collins and Richard Mulcahy during the War of Independence and was appointed OC of the Second Southern Division, the second largest division of the IRA. When the Treaty with Britain was signed on 6 December 1921, diehard Republicans like OMalley would not accept it. In the bitter Civil War that followed, OMalley was in the Four Courts when it was attacked by the Free State army. Later he was OC of the Republicans in Ulster and Leinster. He was eventually captured and imprisoned until July 1924. He was one of the last Republican prisoners to be released. The Free Staters had won and OMalley, feeling there was no place for him in this new Ireland, went to live in the USA where he wrote his memoirs.