Martin Galvin is the former publicity director of The Irish Northern Aid Committee, better known as "NORAID", and to many, the face of the group.

A proud Irish-American, Martin joined NORAID in 1976 and, along-side his day job as a district attorney, worked tirelessly to bring awareness to the American public and political leadership about Irish republicanism and the injustices suffered by the people of Northern Ireland. He was barred from entering Northern Ireland and defied the order by sneaking in to give a speech which was violently shut-down by the RUC.

Martin shares his thoughts on the IRA's campaign of violence, why he himself didn't choose to help the armed side of the conflict, how he felt when he would hear about British soldiers being k*lled , the allegations of gun-running that plagued NORAID through it's entire existence (not unjustly)  and much more.

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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Martin reaction to recent RTE Noraid documentary 
3:30 Martin’s Irish roots 
09:00 NORAID 
15:40 NORAID members involved in g*n-running 
21:34 Martin’s support for The PIRA 
38:00 Martin’s reaction to hearing about British soldiers being k*lled in the North 
42:10 Meeting IRA k*llers 
44:40 Peaks in Noraid funding 
47:10 Feds
48:15 Gun-running trial (from Noraid documentary) 
54:00 Regret not helping with armed campaign 
58:15 Becoming Publicity Director of Noraid 
1:09:35 MARTIN ESCAPES THE RUC
1:12:50 Martin asks Bill Clinton about Gerry Adams’ visa 
1:17:45 Gerry Adams meets Donald Trump 
1:18:35 Were NORAID “sidelined” by Sinn Fein 
1:24:30 Denis Donaldson 
1:29:00 Were the hunger strikers allowed to die by republican leadership ?
1:30:30 Anything Martin wishes he had done differently

My guest for this episode is Ali Watkins, author of “This Next One’s For You”, a book which explores the world of Irish-American gun-running in the early days of the troubles in Philadelphia and New York and how this impacted the conflict.

We discuss Clan na Gael, an Irish-American group that pre-date the IRA and how they have been aiding the Irish Republican movement for decades and their efforts to arm the Provos however they could. Ali tells us about the methods they used to get the rifles from the US to the North of Ireland, the mistake that began the US Department of Justice’s investigation into them and how the FBI & ATF eventually ended their run, resulting in the famous “Philadelphia Five” trial. 

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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Who are CLAN NA GAEL ?
4:53 Philly’s connection to Ireland 
7:35 Vince Conlon
10:20 Clan Na Gael & NORAID overlap 
14:05 Were NORAID involved in g*n-running ?
16:15 Logistics of the g*n-running scheme 
21:40 FBI & ATF take on Clan Na Gael 
32:35 John Casey (“the tout”)
36:40 “The Philadelphia 5” Trial 
48:38 Vince Conlon II
51:25 Researching the book

BUY THE BOOK: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-next-one-is-for-you-a-true-story-of-guns-country-and-the-ira-s-secret-american-army-ali-watkins/21633877?ean=9780316538275&next=t&affiliate=2344

For this special episode I’m joined by Ciaran Shiels, human rights lawyer for the Madden & Finucane law firm. For almost 30 years, Ciaran he has  represented the majority of the Families and Wounded throughout the Saville Inquiry, the subsequent civil actions, and in all of the Judicial Review challenges related to the criminal investigations and prosecutions of those responsible for the shootings of 27 unarmed  young men and a woman on Bloody Sunday, as well as approximately 500 of the civilian witnesses who gave evidence at Saville. 
He has been immersed in the case against Soldier F, with all of its twists and turns, and is recognised as one of  leading legal authorities on the events of Bloody Sunday.

This episode will be an extremely in-depth analysis of Bloody Sunday’s events with a particular focus on the notorious “Soldier F” due to his upcoming trial in September, and that of his fellow British Paratroopers, none of whom are facing trial. Ciaran takes us through each of Soldier F’s victims, as well as all those m*rdered in a day that would have long-lasting effects on Irish history.

Ciaran talks about how Soldier F’s account of his actions that day have changed over the years, how Soldier F lied about the innocent people he arrested on the day and the various attempts by the British establishment to avoid a putting Soldier F in court to face justice. 

This episode is 3 hours long and is obviously a very deep-dive into the entire case, myself and Ciaran wanted to create one video, available to everyone online, that goes through the existing evidence and testimony regarding Bloody Sunday with a degree of thoroughness previously unseen in a podcast/YouTube video. This episode is for those who wish to get into the weeds of the case and get a clear idea of what Solider F and his men did that day and why they, mostly, got away with it.

This episode contains graphic description of violence and may be upsetting to some. 
00:00 Why we can discuss the case and Soldier F’s Anonymity Order 
05:53 Ciaran Shiel’s background 
16:00 Soldier F & his unit 
50:15 SOLDIER F ON BLOODY SUNDAY (SH*OTING STARTS)
1:24:10 How many did Soldier F sh*ot and how his account of the day has changed? 
2:07:47 Belfast incident involving anti-tank platoon 
2:17:00 Was Soldier F ordered to sh*ot innocent people ?
2:50:40 Predictions for trial 
2:58:00 Tape of bugged calls from Victoria Barracks (Derry) on the day 

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For this episode I'm joined by a man well known ex-loyalist paramilitary and one-time leader of the Lower Shankill Road's infamous UDA (Ulster Defence Association), Johnny Adair.

Johnny speaks about his growing up in Belfast during some of it's most turbulent and violent times, his lifelong friend with UDA k*ller Sam McCrory and he came to join, and later lead the Lower Shankill Road's UDA C- Company. 

We discussed his days as an active paramilitary, his many near brushes with death and how he viewed his opposition, the Provisional IRA and the INLA/IPLO. I asked Johnny his thoughts on C-Company's victims and whether he has any regrets looking back. We spoke about the RUC's many attempts to both jail him, which they eventually would, and to recruit him as an informant. 

Johnny shares his surprising thoughts on the republican hunger strikers who died in 1981, whether he himself would have been willing to do the same if called upon and what life is like for him now, living away from the city that he once saw himself a defender of.

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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro 
1:5 Thoughts on Kneecap member’s charges? 
9:45 United Ireland ?
15:30 If Johnny went back to the Shankill 
20:21 Growing Up 
29:40 Sam “SKELLY” McCrory 
37:45 Training (Brian Nelson, Ken Barrett 
55:20 Did C- Company do “spur-of-the-moment-k*lls” ?
1:06:40 DID C-COMP EVER EVEN INJURE OR K*LL ANY IRA MEN?
1:25:00 INLA
1:26:40 “House-takeovers” by UDA C-comp 
1:30:45 John McMichael k*lling by the IRA 
1:33:15 IRA ALMOST K*LL JOHNNY ADAIR 
1:49:00 SHANKILL ROAD FISH SHOP B*MB
1:53:00 Dr*g-dealing & Extortion ?
1:55:10 GETTING CAUGHT & JAILED 
1:59:40 Special Branch’s attempts to recruit Johnny as an informant 
2:12:00 PRISON 
2:16:10 Johnny’s respect for the IRA Hunger Strikers
2:26:15 Loyalist Feud 
2:31:05 Relationship w/ Skelly and Regrets/Remorse?

For this week's episode I'm joined by ex-investigative journalist and MP, Chris Mullin, who though his efforts, was able to help free the falsely convicted Irishmen known as "the Birmingham 6".

We speak about the sequence of events on the November 21st 1974 which left a mark on the city and people of Birmingham, k*lling 21 people and injuring over 200 and how the 6 innocent men ended up in prison for this heinous IRA b*mnbing.

Chris also talks about his own involvement in the case and how he put his reputation on the line to pursue the truth and prove the innocence of these men, the impact this had on the British justice system and how they eventually got free.

BUY THE BOOK:
https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/chris-mullin/error-of-judgement/9781800961234/

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00:00 Intro
2:00 THE NIGHT OF THE B*MBING 
8:00 Arrests 
16:45 Trial 
24:40 Chris’ involvement

This week I’m joined by Austin Stack, son of murdered Portlaoise Maximum Secruity Prison Officer, Brian Stack, who was shot and later died after a planned IRA attack in 1983.

Austin tells us about the night his father was shot, what his life was like in the 18 months between Brian being sh*t in the head and his eventual passing and how he would later come to a place of forgiveness.

I asked Austin about his quest for truth surrounding his father’s death, those who were involved and where they are now, his meetings and relationship with Gerry Adams and what “justice” for his father would mean.


00:00 Intro 
10:30 Who in the prison was colluding with the IRA
14:50 THE NIGHT AUSTIN’S FATHER WAS SHOT (1983)
26:35 Brian Stack’s life after being shot
37:15 Austin personal journey to find the truth 
54:45 Meeting Gerry Adams & Secret Meeting 
1:39:40 Forgiveness 
1:45:30 DOES BRIAN KNOW WHO (& WHERE) THE K*LLERS ARE?
1:49:30 Relationship w/ Gerry Adams 

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BUY THE BOOK ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
https://www.kennys.ie/shop/justice-for-my-father-austin-stack-9781804189771

This week I’m joined once again by Fr. Sean McManus, Fermanagh priest who shared with us the story of meeting IRA intel officer, Joe Lynsky prior to his eventual execution and the hands of his fellow Provos. 
Fr McManus didn’t know it at the time but it would transpire, decades later, that he had likely given Lynsky his last confession before he became one of the IRA’s 17 “disappeared”, 13 of which have had their bodies recovered but not Lynsky. 

00:00 Joe Lynsky’s background & m*rder 
2:12 Request from IRA Chief of Staff, Sean Mac Stiofain 
27:45 Any other pre-m*rder confessions that Fr Sean knows of ??

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For this episode I’m joined once again by author and ex-solider, Jon Trigg to speak about his new book “Death In Derry” which tells the story of the Derry IRA and it’s perpetual leader, Martin McGuinness.

Jon joined us last year when he released “Death In The Fields”, his excellent book on the East Tyrone IRA, for what was one of my personal favorite interviews.

Jon tells us about Derry’s significance in Irish history as well as “the troubles” period itself. We discuss Martin McGuinness’ roots and his rise power including Chief of Staff. Jon discusses the battle of the Bogside, Bloody Sunday as well as the army’s early days in the city and how it’s relationship with the locals changed over time.

We discuss the types of attacks and operation carried out by the Provos in the city, the various “own-goals” that the IRA inflicted on itself, the role of the SAS in the city/county, the various notorious informers or “touts” that severely damaged the group’s capabilities, how the conflict wound down and eventually ended and much more.

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BUY THE BOOK ⬇️⬇️ 
https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/death-in-derry/

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Reaction to previous book & interview (East Tyrone) 
1:30 Derry’s significance in Irish history 
8:30 Martin McGuinness & pre-troubles Derry 
15:20 BATTLE OF THE BOGSIDE 
22:05 British army come to Derry  
41:50 “Wild West” early days and Commercial b*mbing campaign  
56:20 BLOODY SUNDAY
1:06:30 Operation Motorman & Claudy b*mbs 
1:15:50 Poster boys 
1:35:20 THE SAS 
1:44:25 DET shooting 1981 
1:51:48 Why the “cell structure” didn’t suit Derry as much as Belfast 
1:56:23 Events damaging the Derry IRA’s image 
2:13:50 Successful SAS ambushes 
2:23:40 Raymond Gilmour, Willie Carlin & Frank Hegarty
2:34:40 WAS MARTIN MCGUINNESS AN INFORMER 
2:42:25 Loyalist activity in Derry 
2:48:20 The End
2:58:10 Thoughts on Say Nothing tv series 
3:04:17 Future Belfast Brigade books

For this episode I'm speaking with Martin Dillon, well renowned author and journalist who has spent his career writing about the conflict in the North of Ireland. Martin's latest book, "The Sorrow and The Loss" deals with the women of the troubles and how the conflict affected the lives of the area's females including those who become combatants themselves , those whose husband/partners were in a paramilitary group, members of the security forces and much more.

We speak about Mairead Farrell, one of the IRA's most effective female operators, Dolores Price, Jean McConville's execution, Martin's opinions on the book "Say Nothing" and more.

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https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/the-sorrow-and-the-loss/

TIMESTAMPS 
00:00 Revaltions in Martin’s book about 1987 Enniskillen b*mbing 
18:40 Martin’s new book “The Sorrow & The Loss” 
27:40 MAIREAD FARRELL 
45:58 Fallout from 1987 Gibraltar k*llings: Michael Stone attack & Corp. Howes and Wood
51:40 Dolores Price & Jean McConville 
1:13:10 Tracy Doak (RUC officer)

My guest this week is ex Irish Defence Forces soldier Kevin McDonald. Kevin served in Irelands Special Forces during the conflict that rocked the island.

Kevin tells us about his involvement in the one of the biggest man hunts in the state’s history when INLA kidnapper Dessie O’ Hare was on the run. He shares with us the atmosphere amongst his fellow soldiers as they searched for one of the North’s most infamous paramilitaries.

Kevin talks about IRA training camps in the  south and his efforts to thwart them as well as some of the techniques used by the provos to conceal their camps.

I asked Kevin about levels of support within the Army for the IRA or at least its aims, feelings towards the British Army and much more.

00:00 DESSIE O’ HARE HUNT 
13:45 Joining Army 
26:30 Bloody Sunday
35:54 Support for the IRA within the Army ?
44:40 IRA TRAINING CAMPS
52:35 “Shoot to Kill” policy ?

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BUY THE BOOK: https://www.mayobooks.ie/A-Life-Less-Ordinary-Kevin-McDonald?__im-GfVUNiDv=2634181280451122429



00:00 DESSIE O’ HARE HUNT 
13:45 Joining Army 
26:30 Bloody Sunday
35:54 Support for the IRA within the Army ?
44:40 IRA TRAINING CAMPS
52:35 “Shoot to Kill” policy ?