High Commendation: British Association for Irish Studies (BAIS) 2021 Book Prize
— BAIS Book Prize
"Millar’s rich and evocative study will enlighten readers interested in Irish history, memory politics and ethnomusicology. It illustrates that the Irish republican movement has by no means run out of cultural resources to exploit.”
—Cercles
— Stephen Hopkins, Cercles
“The author brings a wealth of detail and insight into the roles played by music and conflict in recent Irish history, in a manner that is suitable for a broader audience, whilst also informing the sub-field of ‘ethnomusicology in times of trouble’. . . . every university library needs a copy.”
—Ethnomusicology Forum
— Patrick Egan, Ethnomusicology Forum
"A hugely valuable book for its revelatory research into rebel songs [and] a valuable contribution to the burgeoning literature on the use of music in conflict situations."
—Ethnomusicology Ireland
— Adrian Scahill, Ethnomusicology Ireland
“Sets the standard for oral historians of Northern Irish political culture.”
—Irish Historical Studies
— Irish Historical Studies
"A welcome ameliorative to the dearth of attention that rebel songs have received over the years . . . Millar gives excellent insights into the development and influences on the contemporary canon of rebel songs . . . the deep dive into rebel subculture in Belfast in this study is one of its many strengths."
—Irish Political Studies
— Irish Political Studies
“Millar’s book challenges those of us involved in Irish Studies to engage more—both empathetically and critically—with the cultural histories, perspectives, and practices of those within marginalized and, in some cases, ostracized communities. A fascinating read.”
—John O’Flynn, author of The Irishness of Irish Music
— John O’Flynn
“a fascinating case study in overt resistance to the state through music . . . This ethnography will be of interest to anyone exploring music, resistance, nationalism, or commemoration and identity construction more broadly and issues relating to music in post-conflict societies more specifically.”
—Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
— Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
"a fascinating study of the trajectory of Irish rebel music . . . it usefully highlights how the Irish rebel music scene has become another arena for articulating and expressing differences among the wider Irish republican constituency . . . Millar’s book creates the space for a more nuanced discussion around the growing popularity of Irish rebel music in a post-GFA context.”
—Oral History
— Oral History
"If one of the book’s aims might be to illuminate how Irish music and politics are continuously connected, then the book has achieved this goal tenfold . . . essential reading for any ethnographers working in such an environment."
—Popular Music
— Áine Mangaoang, Popular Music
"Excellent and original work. . . . the depth of primary research and the evidence of immersion in a closed world give this book an attractive energy and focus.”
—Popular Music and Society
— Stan Erraught, Popular Music and Society
"Millar makes a significant contribution to the broader understanding of the place of song in situations of revolution and political/republican struggle. A signal addition to the history and historiography of Ireland."
—Martin Stokes, author of The Republic of Love: Cultural Intimacy in Turkish Popular Music
— Martin Stokes
“A fascinating, wide-ranging, and many-layered account of a major subject.”
—Richard English, author of Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA
— Richard English