Cork author Colman de Roiste holds an MA in Military History from the University of Wolverhampton. He wrote his Masters dissertation on Na Fianna Éireann in Cork city (1910-1921). He is the Grandson of Denis Woods, a former Officer Commanding (O/C) a Fianna Company in Cork City during the War of Independence, and he is the Great Nephew of Christopher Woods, also a former O/C of a Fianna Company in Cork City and subsequently the Intelligence Officer (1921) for the Cork city based B Company of the 1st Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade.