Kilkenny was described by Ernie O’Malley as ‘slack’ during the War of Independence.  Was this really the case? Kilkenny has a notable revolutionary history—as crucible of the Tithe War (1830s), birthplace of one the founders of the IRB, James Stephens (1858), and a rebel turnout, albeit small (1916). Also, the attack and capture of Hugginstowm RIC barracks by the IRA in March 1920 was one of the earliest of such attacks in the country, and the county was to the fore in the ‘counter state’, with particularly active Dáil Courts. To address the question of Kilkenny’s role in the revolutionary decade, including the role of women, listen to History Ireland editor, Tommy Graham, in discussion with Mary McAuliffe, Orla Murphy and Eoin Walsh.

The Hedge School series of podcasts is produced by History Ireland and the Wordwell Group. For more information or to subscribe, visit historyireland.com

This Hedge School is commissioned by Kilkenny County Council and funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative.

Image attached (Hugginstown RIC barracks, Co. Kilkenny, attacked and captured by the IRA on 8 March 1920)