The History of Ireland

In this episode we see how a friendly day of fishing turned into a high profile kidnapping and a PR win for the IRA. As well as explore why the fate of Brigadier General Cuthbert Lucas is the perfect way to demonstrate both the IRA's power and limitations as of June of 1921. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we look at how a walk through the Limerick countryside led to a revolutionary new kind of unit that were vital in the IRA's survival against the British. Yep, today look at how the Flying Columns were formed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we look at some the factors that influenced how the IRA developed their fighting style against the British. To do this we jump back all the way to 1889 and travel South Africa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we hold an imaginary trial to decide who should be held responsible for the murder of Tomas MacCurtain, the Lord Mayor of Cork. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we examine the men who made up the notorious Black & Tans and the impact they had when they first arrived in Ireland. There has been a lot of discussion around these men in the last few months so it was fascinating to dive in and see who they really were. Criminals? Shell shocked war vets? Or just opportunistic mercenaries? Like all things, the answer is always more complicated...

This episode we ask the question, who created the Black and Tans? The men behind the British policy in 1919 and 1920 did not want to believe they were at war in Ireland and instead chose to push the narrative that Sinn Fein and the IRA were a simple "murder gang". So rather than sending in the army they further militarised the police in Ireland. Yep, in this episode we look at how David Lloyd Geor...

So I've had a few episodes about the show, and a few random ones, so I thought I'd answer them all in one episode before we get back into the thick of it. Hope you enjoy and if you've any other questions get in touch at historyofirelandpodcast@gmail.com Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Did someone say special Christmas episode? In a fortuitous coincidence it's the 26th episode on the 26th of December, which happens to be Wren Day! So we're taking a break from the War of Independence and exploring the weird semi pagan world of Wran Boys! Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

It's 1920 and The War of Independence is really heating up. We look at how the IRA up the ante and took the fight to the RIC, while also examine the British's slightly unfocused approach to the increased violence Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1920 was a year that really saw The Irish War of Independence tilt into full swing. But just as important as the military aspect, was the politics and one often overlooked side of this was the local elections that were carried out in January and June of 1920. As well as that we introduce Eoin O'Duffy – a Republican hero and Ireland's answer to Mussolini. In the episode I make a shameless plug for...

In this episode we explore the ambush of Lord French in December 1919. It shook the country and set the scene for the escalation in the conflict in 1920. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First off, I'm so sorry that this episode has taken so long. As life gets a little more hectic in the real world I'll be shifting towards fortnightly episodes. Hope you don't mind. With a cruel sense of irony, in this delayed episode, I'll be discussing The Irish Bulletin. A Republican newspaper that did not miss a single issue throughout the entire war. Go figure. It was vital to the war effort a...

In this episode we explore the British confused Irish policy throughout 1919 and explore what finally convinced them to ban the Dáil. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we discuss the founding of The Squad, the IRA's team of professional assassins, and look at how they botched their very fist mission. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we finally introduce David Nelligan, one of the Irish Intelligence networks most successful spies and learn how Michael Collins convinced him to turn double agent. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we introduce the spy Ned Broy and tell the story of how he snuck Michael Collins into the G Divisions headquarters one April night in 1919. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this, the second episode on the the Irish intelligence network we meet the men who became undercover operatives inside the G Division, as well as the amazing librarian who helped introduce them to Collins and his team. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a small island go about defeating one of the biggest empires in the world? By outsmarting them, over and over again. In this episode, the first of three parts, we explore the the intelligence warfare of The War of Independence and the amazing women who were perfectly placed to spy on the British. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/hi...

In this episode we explore the nitty gritty of getting a government off the ground. You need propaganda, money and proof that you can run things smoothly. In 1919 the Dáil was working on all three. So strap in and get excited for government loans, court systems and more. Don't worry it's fascinating, trust me. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/j...

This is the second part of our two part episode on the Limerick Soviet. After the death of Bobby Byrne things really kicked off, with Limerick creating it's own strange little socialist mini-state. There's one mess up of a sentence in there, 10 points to Gryffindor if you can spot it. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted...

In this, the first of two episodes looking at the Limerick Soviet we follow how one angry postman kicked off a strange and short lived mini socialist state in Limerick. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we follow Eamon De Valera after his breakout from Lincoln Gaol. What does he do now that he can return to Ireland, well he decides to head off to the United States. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The War of Independence is finally kicking off. In this episode we look at the moment that's gone down (rightly or wrongly) as the first incident of the whole thing. We also investigate the difficulties in a decentralised military force like the Irish Volunteers/IRA and introduce some of the guys on the ground. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/...

In this episode we study the structure of the Irish Volunteers, charting how their increase aggression in 1918 and 1919 eventually led to a war finally kicking off. Support The History of Ireland by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/historyofireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wild. Studious. Angry. Playful. Friendly. Violent. Michael Collins was a series of contradictions. In this episode we explore the early life of Ireland's most famous accountant and one of the most interesting characters in this whole story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.