From Michelangelo da Caravaggio to Michael Collins and from The Taking of Christ to The Terrorising of Clarke, Italian Renaissance Art and the Irish Republican Army aren’t topics often discussed in the same breath, but an act of revenge and the grief it caused would link forever the names of Collins, Clarke and Caravaggio with District Inspector and Dr. Lea-Wilson and grant for them all a unique place in the history of art and of the Irish Revolution.

References:

Liam Tobin - http://www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/bureau-of-military-history-1913-1921/reels/bmh/BMH.WS1753.pdf

Joseph Sweeney - https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/easterrising/witnesses/wh04.shtml

Caravaggio and the IRA - http://thelondondead.blogspot.com/2014/09/caravaggio-and-ira-percival-lea-wilson.html

Harry Clarke’s Sublime Lea-Wilson Window - https://roaringwaterjournal.com/2020/06/13/transcending-violence-harry-clarkes-sublime-lea-wilson-window/

Beyond the Lost Caravaggio - http://www.mythomorph.com/wp/beyond-the-lost-caravaggio/

Settling old scores from 1916 - https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexfordpeople/lifestyle/settling-old-scores-from-1916-30788744.html

T. Ryle Dwyer - “The Squad”

Tim Pat Coogan - “”Michael Collins

Charles Townshend - “Easter 1916”

Joseph E.A. Connell Jnr - “Michael Collins”

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theirishnation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIrishNationLives/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirishnationlives/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/theirishnationlives

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-irish-nation-lives

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/maniacalinc

Main Sources:

Military Archives - http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie

Century Ireland - https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland

Diarmuid Lynch, Irish Revolutionary - http://diarmuidlynch.weebly.com/

Atlas of the Irish Revolution

Maurice Walsh - “Bitter Freedom”

Charles Townshend - "The Republic"

Michael Hopkinson - ”The Irish War of Independence”

Diarmuid Ferriter - “A Nation and not a Rabble”

Richard Abbot - “Police Casualties in Ireland 1919 - 1922”

Photos:

Military Archives

NLI Flickr account

Wiki Commons

June 1920 saw the new military figures appointed to take charge of policing in Ireland prepare the ground for legislation which would give British forces a freer hand in dealing with the IRA. However, attempts to use the RIC to assist the army as scouts started a mutiny in Kerry and the publication of an inflammatory speech given by the Divisional Commissioner led to his killing a few weeks later. At the other side of the world reports of conditions in Ireland caused many Irishmen in the Connaught Ranger to refuse to carry out military duties. As British tactics in Ireland hardened, this was a sign of the resistance they would face.

References:

Jeremiah Mee - http://www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/bureau-of-military-history-1913-1921/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0379.pdf

Gerald and Osbert Smyth - https://www.sinton-family-trees.com/smythsofthebann/apx-c.php

The Connaught Rangers’ Mutiny of 1920 - https://independentleft.ie/connaught-rangers-mutiny-1920/

The Connaught Ranger’s Mutiny June 1920 - https://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/commemorationnationalism-empire-and-memory-the-connaught-rangers-mutiny-june-1920/

The Connaught Rangers’ Mutiny India, July 1920 - https://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/the-connaught-rangers-mutiny-india-july-1920/

T. Ryle Dwyer - “Tans, Terror and Troubles”

D.M. Leeson - “The Black and Tans”

William Sheehan - “Hearts & Mines”

Paul McMahon - “British Spies & Irish Rebels”

D.M. Leeson - “The Black & Tans”

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theirishnation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIrishNationLives/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirishnationlives/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/theirishnationlives

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-irish-nation-lives

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/maniacalinc

Main Sources:

Military Archives - http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie

Century Ireland - https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland

Diarmuid Lynch, Irish Revolutionary - http://diarmuidlynch.weebly.com/

Atlas of the Irish Revolution

Maurice Walsh - “Bitter Freedom”

Charles Townshend - "The Republic"

Michael Hopkinson - ”The Irish War of Independence”

Diarmuid Ferriter - “A Nation and not a Rabble”

Richard Abbot - “Police Casualties in Ireland 1919 - 1922”

Photos:

Military Archives

NLI Flickr account

Wiki Commons

Most discussions on the life of Lord French end with his removal from command of the British Expeditionary Forces during the First World War but after this event he would have a dramatic effect on the course of Irish history. In command of the Home Forces during the 1916 Rising, he would support the executions carried out by Sir John Maxwell and later as Lord Lieutenant he would use largely unsuccessful coercive measures, first in an attempt to force through conscription and later to combat the IRA. His reign was eventually brought to an end in May 1920 with a massive reorganisation of Dublin Castle and the deployment there of men who were prepared to accept a peaceful solution to the Irish Question.

References:

James McMahon - https://dib.cambridge.org/viewReadPage.do;jsessionid=339E7E35B7104353BF6C0887E7B63341?articleId=a5258

Richard Holmes - “The Little Field Marshal”

William Sheehan - “Hearts & Mines”

Paul McMahon - “British Spies & Irish Rebels”

D.M. Leeson - “The Black & Tans”

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theirishnation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIrishNationLives/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirishnationlives/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/theirishnationlives

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-irish-nation-lives

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/maniacalinc

Main Sources:

Military Archives - http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie

Century Ireland - https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland

Diarmuid Lynch, Irish Revolutionary - http://diarmuidlynch.weebly.com/

Atlas of the Irish Revolution

Maurice Walsh - “Bitter Freedom”

Charles Townshend - "The Republic"

Michael Hopkinson - ”The Irish War of Independence”

Diarmuid Ferriter - “A Nation and not a Rabble”

Richard Abbot - “Police Casualties in Ireland 1919 - 1922”

Photos:

Military Archives

NLI Flickr account

Wiki Commons

Following the Civil War and in the absence of a meaningful opposition, Cumann na nGaedheal dominated Irish politics. In this time they also allowed the party to stagnate and had become overconfident that their record in government would secure reelection in 1932; instead de Valera’s Fianna Fáil took office and they increased their grip on power in 1933. Driven by fear and a desire to return to government, Cumann na nGaedheal merged with the smaller National Centre Party in 1933 to form Fine Gael. But for leadership of this new party they turned to the National Guard, a shirted movement led by the popular and charismatic Eoin O’Duffy.

References:

Brian Girvin - “The Emergency”

Fearghal McGarry - “Eoin O’Duffy”

David McCullagh - “Éamon de Valera: Rule”

Maurice Manning - “The Blueshirts”

Mike Cronin - “The Blueshirts and Irish Politics”

Paul McMahon - “British Spies & Irish Rebels”

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theirishnation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIrishNationLives/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirishnationlives/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/theirishnationlives

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-irish-nation-lives

Photos:

Military Archives

NLI Flickr account

Wiki Commons

Though he held some of the most important roles in the War of Independence little is known about Cathal Brugha’s life as he left very few written records. He served as President of Dáil Éireann until Éamon de Valera was released from prison and as Minister for Defense he refused to take a salary for what he considered to be his civic duty. Most well known for his bitter denunciation of Micheal Collins during the Treaty debates, Brugha was a complex figure who had a major influence on the Irish Revolution

References:

Fergus O’Farrell - “Cathal Brugha”

Leon Ó’Broin - “Revolutionary Underground”

Rúan O’Donnell - “Patrick Pearse”

Joost Augusteijn - “Patrick Pearse”

Charles Townshend - “Easter 1916”

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theirishnation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIrishNationLives/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirishnationlives/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/theirishnationlives

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-irish-nation-lives

Main Sources:

Military Archives - http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie

Century Ireland - https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland

Diarmuid Lynch, Irish Revolutionary - http://diarmuidlynch.weebly.com/

Atlas of the Irish Revolution

Maurice Walsh - “Bitter Freedom”

Charles Townshend - "The Republic"

Michael Hopkinson - ”The Irish War of Independence”

Diarmuid Ferriter - “A Nation and not a Rabble”

Richard Abbot - “Police Casualties in Ireland 1919 - 1922”

Photos:

Military Archives

NLI Flickr account

Wiki Commons

In the hopes of stopping Sinn Féin’s dramatic growth the British government introduced proportional representation for all local elections held in Ireland in 1920. But just as it did in the 1918 general election, Sinn Féin stormed the polls and were in a position to appoint a number of Lord Mayors when the new councils met on the 30th of January. In Cork, a respected member of the Gaelic League and a vetern of the Irish Volunteers, Tomás MacCurtin, was elected when the opposition failed to agree on a candidate but his tenure would be short lived. On the 20th of March 1920 MacCurtin was killed during a raid on his house by individuals with blackened faces. British authorities said it was the result of an internal feud in the IRA but evidence pointed to a murder squad set up within the RIC.

References:

Maurice Walsh - “G2: In Defence of Ireland”

T. Ryle Dwyer - “The Squad”

Tim Pat Coogan - “Michael Collins”

Moirin Chavasse - “Terence MacSwiney”

Irish Volunteers: Cork City and County - http://diarmuidlynch.weebly.com/corks-irish-volunteers.html

Proportional Representation, Sligo - http://www.sligoarts.ie/media/Proportional%20Representation.pdf

Local Government Elections - https://www.dail100.ie/en/long-reads/local-government-elections/

Cork County Council, minutes from 1920 - http://sp1ral.corkcity.ie/services/corporateandexternalaffairs/archives/otherdocuments/cork1920-enduringthemost/extractsfromcouncilminutesfor1920/

The Killing of Lord Mayor Tomás MacCurtain - http://homepage.eircom.net/~corkcounty/maccurtain.html

Ireland’s Wars: The Murder of Tomás MacCurtain - https://neverfeltbetter.wordpress.com/2019/11/12/irelands-wars-the-murder-of-tomas-mac-curtain/

Bryan Fergus Molloy - http://www.bloodysunday.co.uk/castle-intelligence/mulloy/molloy.html

Alan Bell, shot Mar 1920 in Dublin - http://www.bloodysunday.co.uk/castle-intelligence/thomson/bell/bell.html

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theirishnation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIrishNationLives/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirishnationlives/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/theirishnationlives

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-irish-nation-lives

Main Sources:

Military Archives - http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie

Century Ireland - https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland

Diarmuid Lynch, Irish Revolutionary - http://diarmuidlynch.weebly.com/

Atlas of the Irish Revolution

Maurice Walsh - “Bitter Freedom”

Charles Townshend - "The Republic"

Michael Hopkinson - ”The Irish War of Independence”

Diarmuid Ferriter - “A Nation and not a Rabble”

Richard Abbot - “Police Casualties in Ireland 1919 - 1922”

Photos:

Military Archives

NLI Flickr account

Wiki Commons

1920 couldn’t have started better for Éamon de Valera. In January he received the freedom of New York, the city he was born in and had left at just 2 years of age following his father’s death. The bond drive finally got started after months of delays and hundreds of thousands of dollars were subscribed in the opening few days. But everything turned sour soon afterwards and set the major groups in the United States on a collision course with each other. De Valera’s lack of understanding of US politics and his refusal to ask for help or share credit became clear in an interview given in February. This gave his enemies a chance to strike against him and almost had him recalled to Ireland. While he survived the tumult he wouldn’t forget those who stood against him and an open split in the movement was just months away.

References:

David McCullagh - “De Valera: Rise”

Dave Hannigan - “De Valera in America”

Eileen McGough - “Diarmuid Lynch: A Forgotten Irish Patriot”

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theirishnation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIrishNationLives/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirishnationlives/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/theirishnationlives

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-irish-nation-lives

Main Sources:

Military Archives - http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie

Century Ireland - https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland

Diarmuid Lynch, Irish Revolutionary - http://diarmuidlynch.weebly.com/

Atlas of the Irish Revolution

Maurice Walsh - “Bitter Freedom”

Charles Townshend - "The Republic"

Michael Hopkinson - ”The Irish War of Independence”

Diarmuid Ferriter - “A Nation and not a Rabble”

Richard Abbot - “Police Casualties in Ireland 1919 - 1922”

Photos:

Military Archives

NLI Flickr account

Wiki Commons

Following a less than stellar performance as Commander-in-Chief of the BEF during the First World War, John French was selected for the role of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1918. It was considered that the previous Chief Secretary had been too soft on the Irish republican movement and French was given considerable power to go after them. This he did, suppressing Dáil Éireann and outlawing Sinn Féin.

From October of 1919 numerous attempts were made to kill him, both for the propaganda value of killing the King’s representative and the shock this would have sent through the British establishment. The Ashtown Ambush in December would be the IRA’s most daring operation yet.

References:

Peter Hart - “Mick; the Real Michael Collins”

T. Ryle Dwyer - “The Squad”

John Joe Ambrose - “Seán Treacy”

Dan Breen - “My Fight for Irish Freedom”

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theirishnation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIrishNationLives/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirishnationlives/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/theirishnationlives

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-irish-nation-lives

Main Sources:

Military Archives - http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie

Century Ireland - https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland

Diarmuid Lynch, Irish Revolutionary - http://diarmuidlynch.weebly.com/

Atlas of the Irish Revolution

Maurice Walsh - “Bitter Freedom”

Charles Townshend - "The Republic"

Michael Hopkinson - ”The Irish War of Independence”

Diarmuid Ferriter - “A Nation and not a Rabble”

Photos:

Military Archives

NLI Flickr account

Wiki Commons

On the 29th of November 1919 John Barton was shot dead in Dublin on the orders of Michael Collins. Though he had only recently transferred to G Division of the Dublin Metropolitan Police Barton had found an arms dump belonging to the Irish Republican Army and was investigating the shooting of another officer. It’s possible that with pressure mounting on him following the suppression of Dáil Éireann Collins had Barton shot by the Squad before he could become a serious threat.

A hero to some whose death shocked the capital city, a villain to others for identifying prominent rebels after the 1916 Rising, Barton’s death marked the end of the opening phase of the Intelligence War.

*Please note the wrong dates are given in this episode, Barton was shot on the 29th of November, not the 30th as stated*

References:

T. Ryle Dwyer - “The Squad”

Richard Abbott - “Police Casualties in Ireland 1919-1922”

Padraig Yeates/History Ireland - https://www.historyireland.com/volume-24/issue-5-septemberoctober-2016/features-issue-5-septemberoctober-2016/oh-god-deserve/

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theirishnation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIrishNationLives/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirishnationlives/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/theirishnationlives

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-irish-nation-lives

Main Sources:

Military Archives - http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie

Century Ireland - https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland

Diarmuid Lynch, Irish Revolutionary - http://diarmuidlynch.weebly.com/

Atlas of the Irish Revolution

Maurice Walsh - “Bitter Freedom”

Charles Townshend - "The Republic"

Michael Hopkinson - ”The Irish War of Independence”

Diarmuid Ferriter - “A Nation and not a Rabble”

Photos:

Military Archives

NLI Flickr account

Wiki Commons

Michael Collins stands as one of the most important figures in Irish history. He would oversee the Dáil Loan, terrorise Dublin Castle and rise to the top of every organisation he was involved with. In this episode I take a look at his life leading up to the War of Independence, from his beginnings in London to the 1916 Rising to the creation of his intelligence network. Collins will feature in numerous future episodes and play a major role in the Irish Revolution.

References:

Tim Pat Coogan - “Michael Collins”

Peter Hart - “Mick: The Real Michael Collins”

Gabriel Doherty & Dermot Keogh - “Michael Collins and the making of the Irish State”

Joseph E.A. Connell Jnr - “Michael Collins: Dublin 1916-22

Joe Good - “Enchanted by Dreams”

John M. Regan - “Myth and the Irish State”

Doheny GAA Club::Sam Maguire - http://www.dohenygaa.com/page/sam-maguire-12.aspx

Collins 22 Society - http://www.generalmichaelcollins.com/

Century Ireland - https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland/index.php/articles/huge-crowds-attend-funeral-of-thomas-ashe

Picture of London GAA Team - https://twitter.com/AodhanHarkin/status/900985832017997824

Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theirishnation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIrishNationLives/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirishnationlives/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/theirishnationlives

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-irish-nation-lives

Main Sources:

Military Archives - http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie

Atlas of the Irish Revolution - https://amzn.to/2BOtWbb

Maurice Walsh - “Bitter Freedom” - https://amzn.to/2Af2a8i

Charles Townshend - "The Republic" - https://amzn.to/2PBnXM5

Michael Hopkinson - ”The Irish War of Independence” - https://amzn.to/2WDFyqx

Diarmuid Ferriter - “A Nation and not a Rabble” - https://amzn.to/2VS38QD

Photos:

Military Archives

NLI Flickr account

Wiki Commons