War of Independence
In this series we will talk about how the First World War destabilised Irish society, the 1916 Rising, the ambush at Soloheadbeg and more.
EP1/31
This is the first episode in a 24 part series on the War of Independence. Today's show focuses on the First World War and how it destablised Irish society, following the lives of several people in one Irish town - Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny (where I grew up).
EP2/31
The story of the War of Independence continues with the 1916 Rising. The episode begins by looking at the how the revolt unfolded and explains why it was limited to Dublin. It then follows the rebels into captivity in the famous prison camp of Frongach in Wales.
EP3/31
An ambush at Soloheadbeg, Tipperary in January 1919 is often cited as the opening shots of the War of Independence. However as early as 1917 political tensions were leading to violence across Ireland. Several people were killed in 1917 and 1918. This podcast looks at this descent into war.
EP4/31
In the latest instalment of the War of Independence series we look at the famous 1918 election from the perspective of a forgotten Sligo woman Sarah Garvey who started a riot on election day!
EP5/31
Last weeks episode looked at the story of the Soloheadbeg Ambush, often considered the opening shots of the war. A few weeks later one of the most audacious IRA operations of the entire war took place in England.
EP6/31
In April 1919 the focus of the War of Independence shifted to the city of Limerick. In response to an IRA raid, the British Army effectively besieged the city for over a week leading trade unions to launch a general strike. These events would become known to history as the Limerick Soviet.
EP7/31
This episode returns to the story of Seumus Robinson, Dan Breen, Sean Hogan and Sean Treacy. Known as the Big Four, these IRA volunteers had come to prominence after playing a leading role in the Soloheadbeg Ambush often considered the opening shots of the war. After five months on the run, the police captured Sean Hogan
EP8/31
In this episode we move south to the Cork town of Fermoy. While most clashes in the war to date have seen the IRA pitted against police constables, this episode will see British Army soldiers enter the fray. These battle hardened veterans from the First World War pose a very different threat to Royal Irish Constabulary.
EP9/31
While the show follows those in the highest office in the land, this is not stuffy office politics. By December 1919 the IRA were preparing an attack on the most powerful British figure on the island - the Viceroy - Lord John French
EP10/31
As Easter approached in 1920 many politicians in Britain feared a major uprising in Ireland along the lines of the 1916 Rising. While the IRA had a major operation planned it was one that took the authorities off guard.
EP11/31
This podcast explains the war in the north and why, contrary to popular misconceptions, the IRA were not the force they were elsewhere.
EP12/31
In the second part of the show we head to West Cork and the mountainous terrain of the Beara Peninsula where the crown forces faced relentless opposition from the republican movement. The show ends with one of the more bizarre stories from the war - the kidnapping of Brigadier General Cuthbert Lucas.
EP13/31
In the second part of the show we head to West Cork and the mountainous terrain of the Beara Peninsula where the crown forces faced relentless opposition from the republican movement. The show ends with one of the more bizarre stories from the war - the kidnapping of Brigadier General Cuthbert Lucas.
EP14/31
Through 1920 Terence MacSwiney became the most well known Irish republican across the world. Elected as Lord Mayor of Cork in March, he was arrested in August and began the longest hunger-strike in Irish history at the time. The story of this battle of wills between MacSwiney and the British Authorities proved a crucial moment in the war and is an extraordinary story.
EP15/31
This episode introduces two forgotten but remarkable revolutionaries - Margaret and Rose Quinn. These two sisters operated a secret IRA prison from their home in a Dublin suburb. This was part of wider attempts to solve the problem of growing lawlessness in Ireland by the summer of 1920.
EP16/31
In this episode I interview Sam McGrath on the IRA campaign in Britain. Sam, who has been working on the series has also conducted in-depth research into the IRA in Britain, particularly Manchester. In this podcast he provides a fascinating insight into what is an often overlooked chapter of the war.
EP17/31
Bridget Carolan lived in grinding poverty while Alice Morton was a controversial figure who was embroiled in a sensational affair. As I explore their lives I name check the major events covered in the series to date to jog your memory. The show concludes by looking at what how people entertained themselves during the war.
EP18/31
This is the first of three back-to-back episodes that will take us through one of the most critical periods of the war. The Autumn of 1920 witnessed an intensification of the conflict as British Crown forces began to get the upper hand on the IRA.
EP19/31
November 21st, 1920 was one of the most violent days in the War of Independence. It has gone down in history as 'Bloody Sunday'. While this episode explains the days events, it also introduces the man who was arguably the most important republican in the conflict - the IRA director of Intelligence, Michael Collins.
EP20/31
The podcast also continues the wider story of the war through one of the most turbulent periods of the conflict. Beginning with dramatic attacks in Liverpool, the shows carries the story through to the burning of Cork City in mid December.
EP21/31
This episode looks at how the British authorities reacted to these developments. While the immediate reaction was to declare martial law across the South West, there was also murmurings of peace.
EP22/31
This is the first of three episodes which will be released over the next 8 days to conclude the War of Independence Series. Endgame I is a fast moving show that takes you back to Cork in the opening weeks of 1921.
EP23/31
This is the second last episode in the War of Independence series. In this podcast we travel to Belfast in the summer of 1921. Despite major violence, the city was preparing for what was only its third visit from a reigning monarch since 1690.
EP24/31
The episode begins as Michael Collins and an Irish negotiating team lock horns with Lloyd George and Winston Churchill in London.
EP25/31
In 1921, the War of Independence came to an end. Many had high hopes for what the future held in store for them in an Independent Ireland. However while people lived in what was officially called the Irish Free State, Fin asks was it a free or fair state?
This episode is not suitable for younger listeners as it contains references to sex.
EP26/31
This episode looks at how the British authorities reacted to these developments. While the immediate reaction was to declare martial law across the South West, there was also murmurings of peace.
EP27/31
To this end we hear from men who would go on to become some of the most famous British generals of the 20th century – Bernard Montgomery and Arthur Percival both of whom served in Ireland in 1921.
The episode also looks at the growing tensions between Eamon DeValera and Michael Collins and the problems this created for the republican movement in 1921.
Bonus EP28/31
In this exclusive show, only available for show supporters, Dr Regina Donlon joins me to discuss her new research on Irish emigrants who returned home to fight in the War of Independence. Regina explains how she tracked these clandestine revolutionaries and details their often overlooked role in the conflict.
Bonus EP29/31
A considerable minority of the Irish population were opposed to Independence. This discussion with Dr Brian Hanley from the history department of Trinity College Dublin focuses on the history of this movement and its role in the Irish War of Independence.
Bonus EP30/31
The story of the Irish War of Independence is dominated by people like Dan Breen, Michael Collins, Constance Markievicz or Eamon DeValera who played central roles in the conflict. Their names feature heavily in the histories of the conflict and their lives were changed by their experiences.
Bonus EP31/31
In this exclusive episode, I am joined by Dr Brian Hanley from Trinity College Dublin. We discussed how the post World War I Paris Peace talks affected Ireland. While these talks brokered an the Versailles Treaty between the defeated Germany and the Allies, many in Ireland were hopeful that the of Independence might be averted.