Description: In October 1921, after more than two years of war, a delegation of untested Irish politicians arrived in London to negotiate with the British government for peace, unity and a republic. They returned home with just one of those; and that peace didn't last long, as war with Britain was replaced by war with their own. Were the Irish outclassed or outgunned? Were they deceived? Did they deceive their colleagues back in Dublin? Or did they achieve the best that could be achieved, an incremental step on the way to fuller sovereignty, in the process redefining the British Empire? The Treaty tells the story of what happened inside those negotiations, as Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith faced off against one of the most formidable negotiating teams ever assembled, headed by the 'Welsh Wizard' David Lloyd George, with Winston Churchill often at his side--back cover.
Brief description: Colin Murphy writes plays about politics, and journalism. He is the author of a series of plays on Irish political history: Haughey/Gregory, on the 1982 "Gregory Deal", Inside the GPO, on the Easter Rising, Guaranteed!, on the bank guarantee of 2008, and Bailed Out!, on the subsequent crisis and Troika "bailout" of 2010, all produced by Fishamble. He adapted the latter two for screen, as The Guarantee and The Bailout (both produced by John Kelleher Media). He adapted the Charlie Bird book A Day in May for the stage. His verbatim dramas, Jack Duggan's War and Judging Shaw (based on Fintan O'Toole's book of the same name) have been staged by ANU Productions. His short film Leave to Remain was made for RTÉ Storyland (produced by Treasure Entertainment). He writes a weekly column for the Sunday Business Post.