'Michael Laffan's contribution to the history of the revolutionary period was unique ... He also made a significant impression on a generation of University College Dublin students, many of whom assemble to honour him with this collection of essays ... the subjects of their contributions ... range from pre-war suffragism and the GAA, via the Irish parliamentary party and the IRA to the careers of Bulmer Hobson and Sean Lemass ... UCD Press has produced an appropriately elegant-looking book ... embellished with a well-chosen collection of highly atmospheric, mostly unfamiliar photographs. Bringing together established and new historians, it forms a worthy tribute.' Charles Townshend, The Irish Times, 16 January 2016 'Years of Turbulence is written in honour of UCD History lecturer Michael Laffan, a man responsible for forging a different approach to the events of 1916 over previous decades. The book is suitably scholarly, and there's no doubting the effort taken in winkling out valuable insights from hitherto darkened corners of the period.' Noel Baker, Irish Examiner, 16 January 2016 'As the centenary of the Easter Rising approaches, historians have been busy tapping newly revealed sources and archives for new angles on this landmark event and its aftermath up to the end of the Civil War in 1923. While the main politico-military narrative remains largely unchanged, research into the underlying social and cultural conditions of these "years of turbulence" is yielding valuable new information.'The Irish Catholic, 10 March 2016 'An excellent new book ... here some of Ireland's most talented historians offer new perspectives and insight into Ireland's revolutionary period from 1912-1923, giving a platform to many of the muted voices of the revolution and elaborate on some of the central, current debates on the revolutionary period.'The Irish Voice, January 2016 'A fitting tribute to the career of Michael Laffan ... The essays on the Military Service Pension Records, the GAA, Parliamentary Party responses to 1916, violence against women, responses to the 1911 census and the killing of informers provide particularly engaging interpretations of their given topics that might be employed for teaching purposes.' Irish Studies Review, 2017 'Each chapter - without exception - adds significantly to our knowledge and understanding of that time [ 1912-23] ... The work of female historians stand out in this volume and, as expected, they help us to rediscover the role of women in the independence struggle ... This is a handsomely produced volume with a couple of dozen well-chosen illustrations. It is a fine tribute to an outstanding Irish historian [ Michael Laffan].' Jonathan Bardon, Familia: Ulster Genealogical Review, 2016