Join Lorcan Collins as he discusses the life of Patrick Pearse, the poet, teacher, language enthusiast, revolutionary and signatory of the 1916 Proclamation who was executed for his role in the Easter Rising. Guest appearance by the biographer of Willy Pearse and Irish language expert Dr Roisín Ní Ghairbhí.

Join Lorcan Collins for a discussion on the Battle of Clonmult in February 1921 when the East Cork Flying Column of the IRA were surrounded in a farmhouse. A fierce fight ensued in which five IRA Volunteers were killed. After the IRA surrendered seven of the prisoners were murdered at point blank range. Later two of the prisoners were officially executed. A total of 14 IRA Volunteers lost their lives as a result of this one battle during the Tan War.

Join Lorcan Collins for part two of the story of the United Irishmen Rebellion of 1798. An analysis of the momentous year when the United Irishmen rose up against the oppressive system which kept Catholics and Presbyterians as third class citizens. The fighting was intense in Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow, Kildare, Antrim, Down and Dublin. Collins explains how Wolfe Tone brought the French again to Ireland only to be captured himself and sentenced to death.

Join Lorcan Collins as he discusses the background to the Rebellion of the United Irishmen of 1798. A host of Irish revolutionaries and international figures are introduced in this, part one of two shows, where you will hear about Theobald Wolfe Tone, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, Samuel Nielson, William Drennan, Thomas Russell, James Napper Tandy, William Orr, Cornwallis, Napoleon Bonaparte, Gereral Hoche, Betsy Gray, Henry Joy McCracken, George Washington, King George the Third,  and many more besides! Hear how the French Revolution of 1789 and the Declaration of American Independence encouraged the United Irishmen to rise up. Hear how the French sent ships and troops to aid the Irish revolutionaries.

The Ambush of Kilmichael is the subject of this podcast episode. Lorcan Collins is joined by Joe Connell. Music at the end by Pol MacAdaim.

Join Lorcan Collins for a discussion on the events of Bloody Sunday the 21 of November 1920 when Michael Collins and the IRA killed 15 British spies, agents and informers. In retaliation British forces charged in Croke Park football stadium and killed 14 civilians. Later that day the British tortured and murdered Dick McKee and Peadar Clancy and Conor Clune in Dublin Castle. The events of this incredible day are examined and explained in a concise fashion.

Join Lorcan Collins as he examines the hunger strike of Terence MacSwiney who died in Brixton Prison, London, after a 74 day protest on the 25th October 1920. MacSwiney was the Sinn Féin Mayor of Cork City and the Commandant of the Cork IRA Number One Brigade when he was arrested by the British Army in Cork City Hall. This podcast also examines the cases of Mick Fitzgerald and Joseph Murphy who also died  on Hunger Strike in Cork Jail in October 1920.

Join Lorcan Collins for an episode on the life of Michael Joseph O'Rahilly, known as The O'Rahilly who was killed leading a charge against a British machine gun on Moore Street in Dublin during teh Easter Rising of 1916 in Ireland. The O'Rahilly was the Director of Arms for the Irish Volunteers and drove around Ireland cancelling the 1916 Rising only to join in when he discovered it was going ahead. 

Join Lorcan Collins as he traces the history of the infamous Black and Tans and their reign of terror during the fight for Irish Freedom in 1920/21. Topics include the Sack of Balbriggan, Bloody Sunday and Clonmult. 

Join Lorcan Collins as he recounts the story of how the IRA purchased the first Thompson Sub Machine guns in America and how that iconic weapon was intertwined with the fight for Irish freedom.