The Irish Story
@theirishstory.bsky.social
Irish History Website, maintained and edited by John Dorney.
The Belfast News Letter and the Irish Civil War: The News Letter advocated an uncompromising Ulster Unionism, its editorials arguing that persecution of Protestants was rife across nationalist Ireland theirishstory.com/2024/08/02/t...
November 18, 2025 at 5:49 PM
The Belfast News Letter and the Irish Civil War: The News Letter advocated an uncompromising Ulster Unionism, its editorials arguing that persecution of Protestants was rife across nationalist Ireland theirishstory.com/2024/08/02/t...
#OTD the first executions in the Irish Civil War. Anti-Treaty vols, Peter Cassidy, James Fisher, John Gaffney and Richard Twohig were executed in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin on 17 November 1922. Full article on the Civil War executions here. www.theirishstory.com/2022/11/17/e...
November 17, 2025 at 8:54 PM
#OTD the first executions in the Irish Civil War. Anti-Treaty vols, Peter Cassidy, James Fisher, John Gaffney and Richard Twohig were executed in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin on 17 November 1922. Full article on the Civil War executions here. www.theirishstory.com/2022/11/17/e...
On top of which they had a secret 'shooting circle' that was busy assassinating informers and police in Dublin. This is a memorial plaque to two policement they killed in Temple Bar.
November 14, 2025 at 11:21 PM
On top of which they had a secret 'shooting circle' that was busy assassinating informers and police in Dublin. This is a memorial plaque to two policement they killed in Temple Bar.
Much against my better judgement, have been forced to watch 'House of Guinness' on Netflix. I was not expecting a historical documentary or anything, but Holy God...
November 14, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Much against my better judgement, have been forced to watch 'House of Guinness' on Netflix. I was not expecting a historical documentary or anything, but Holy God...
New documentary review on the site by @brian-hanley.bsky.social on the RTE Documentary NORAID, Irish America and the Troubles. www.theirishstory.com/2025/11/10/d...
November 10, 2025 at 12:02 PM
New documentary review on the site by @brian-hanley.bsky.social on the RTE Documentary NORAID, Irish America and the Troubles. www.theirishstory.com/2025/11/10/d...
Over 200,000 Irishmen served in WWI and somewhere between 30 and 50,000 died in it. The was also helped to end British rule in most of Ireland though, as a result of the conscription crisis of 1918. An overview of Ireland's experience of war here www.theirishstory.com/2018/11/09/i...
November 10, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Over 200,000 Irishmen served in WWI and somewhere between 30 and 50,000 died in it. The was also helped to end British rule in most of Ireland though, as a result of the conscription crisis of 1918. An overview of Ireland's experience of war here www.theirishstory.com/2018/11/09/i...
The Siege of Tralee, November 1 – 9, 1920. The RIC and ‘Black and Tans’ brought Tralee close to starvation in an effort to force the IRA to release two missing policemen – they were in fact already dead www.theirishstory.com/2012/11/06/t...
November 6, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The Siege of Tralee, November 1 – 9, 1920. The RIC and ‘Black and Tans’ brought Tralee close to starvation in an effort to force the IRA to release two missing policemen – they were in fact already dead www.theirishstory.com/2012/11/06/t...
Today in 1641, a plan by Ulster Catholic gentry to seize Dublin Castle and various other strongpoints around the country misfires. Attacks on Protestant settlers break out, leading to large scale kilings. It is the begining of a fateful decade in Irish history. www.theirishstory.com/2010/10/23/t...
October 23, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Today in 1641, a plan by Ulster Catholic gentry to seize Dublin Castle and various other strongpoints around the country misfires. Attacks on Protestant settlers break out, leading to large scale kilings. It is the begining of a fateful decade in Irish history. www.theirishstory.com/2010/10/23/t...
Article here, written, for the centenary of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 2021, about a litany of broken treaties in Irish history, from Windsor to Melifont, to Limerick to Kilmainham. www.theirishstory.com/2021/12/06/t...
October 7, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Article here, written, for the centenary of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 2021, about a litany of broken treaties in Irish history, from Windsor to Melifont, to Limerick to Kilmainham. www.theirishstory.com/2021/12/06/t...
Discussion here of the Desmond Rebellions in 1570s and 80 in Munster, that destroyed the Geraldine dynasty and paved way for the subsquent Munster plantation.
theirishstory.com/2023/12/04/p...
theirishstory.com/2023/12/04/p...
October 3, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Discussion here of the Desmond Rebellions in 1570s and 80 in Munster, that destroyed the Geraldine dynasty and paved way for the subsquent Munster plantation.
theirishstory.com/2023/12/04/p...
theirishstory.com/2023/12/04/p...
#OTD in 1922 dark days in the Irish Civil War. The Dail passed a resolution giving the Army powers to execute prisoners after a summary miltiary trial. (Pic is of cabinet members at M.Collins funeral) www.theirishstory.com/2013/09/27/t...
September 27, 2025 at 8:19 AM
#OTD in 1922 dark days in the Irish Civil War. The Dail passed a resolution giving the Army powers to execute prisoners after a summary miltiary trial. (Pic is of cabinet members at M.Collins funeral) www.theirishstory.com/2013/09/27/t...
Brian Hanley tells the story of a man with a most unusual career: David Tormey: IRA Volunteer, Garda, Nazi. Irish rebel, policman, possible informer, pro Franco soldier in Spain and finally Nazi sympthiser @brian-hanley.bsky.social
www.theirishstory.com/2024/11/16/d...
www.theirishstory.com/2024/11/16/d...
September 26, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Brian Hanley tells the story of a man with a most unusual career: David Tormey: IRA Volunteer, Garda, Nazi. Irish rebel, policman, possible informer, pro Franco soldier in Spain and finally Nazi sympthiser @brian-hanley.bsky.social
www.theirishstory.com/2024/11/16/d...
www.theirishstory.com/2024/11/16/d...
#OTD in 1920 the Black and Tans infamously burned the north Co Dublin town of Balbriggan. It was retaliation for the shooting of two RIC officers there by the IRA but became emblematic of the British policies of reprisals in Ireland www.theirishstory.com/2020/10/14/t...
September 20, 2025 at 4:09 PM
#OTD in 1920 the Black and Tans infamously burned the north Co Dublin town of Balbriggan. It was retaliation for the shooting of two RIC officers there by the IRA but became emblematic of the British policies of reprisals in Ireland www.theirishstory.com/2020/10/14/t...
The Civil War of 1922-23 played little part in the legend of IRA guerrilla leader Tom Barry. Partly because his role in it was fairly tortuous. As described in the artlce below. ‘A bad fight, a disgraceful fight’, Tom Barry in the Civil War
www.theirishstory.com/2025/01/15/a...
www.theirishstory.com/2025/01/15/a...
September 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
The Civil War of 1922-23 played little part in the legend of IRA guerrilla leader Tom Barry. Partly because his role in it was fairly tortuous. As described in the artlce below. ‘A bad fight, a disgraceful fight’, Tom Barry in the Civil War
www.theirishstory.com/2025/01/15/a...
www.theirishstory.com/2025/01/15/a...
The Fianna Fail govt of 1932 refused to pay the Land Annuities owed to Britain under the Anglo Irish Treaty. The British hoped to oust the de Valera government by economic pressure whichs sparked off a trade war only settled in 1938. Podcast here www.theirishstory.com/2025/05/21/p...
September 13, 2025 at 8:06 AM
The Fianna Fail govt of 1932 refused to pay the Land Annuities owed to Britain under the Anglo Irish Treaty. The British hoped to oust the de Valera government by economic pressure whichs sparked off a trade war only settled in 1938. Podcast here www.theirishstory.com/2025/05/21/p...
The siege of Drogheda was perhaps the most ferocious sacking of a town in Irish history. Up to 3000 Royalist and Catholic soldiers were killed by Cromwell's New Model Army and up to 700 civilians #OTD 1649 www.theirishstory.com/2011/09/11/t...
September 11, 2025 at 9:36 AM
The siege of Drogheda was perhaps the most ferocious sacking of a town in Irish history. Up to 3000 Royalist and Catholic soldiers were killed by Cromwell's New Model Army and up to 700 civilians #OTD 1649 www.theirishstory.com/2011/09/11/t...
Podcast: The Desmond rebellions: The rebellions were the conflict of the House of Desmond, the Fitzgerald dynasty with the Elizabethan English state they ended with the destruction of the Earl of Desmond and the plantation of Munster. www.theirishstory.com/2023/12/04/p...
September 10, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Podcast: The Desmond rebellions: The rebellions were the conflict of the House of Desmond, the Fitzgerald dynasty with the Elizabethan English state they ended with the destruction of the Earl of Desmond and the plantation of Munster. www.theirishstory.com/2023/12/04/p...
'It was in the northern province of Ulster that the final, most destructive and most decisive war between the Gaelic lords and the encroaching English state would be fought; the Nine Years War 1594-1603'
www.theirishstory.com/2019/01/10/h...
www.theirishstory.com/2019/01/10/h...
September 9, 2025 at 7:10 AM
'It was in the northern province of Ulster that the final, most destructive and most decisive war between the Gaelic lords and the encroaching English state would be fought; the Nine Years War 1594-1603'
www.theirishstory.com/2019/01/10/h...
www.theirishstory.com/2019/01/10/h...
‘An indelible imprint’ – Irish Penal Transportation to Australia
www.theirishstory.com/2025/02/03/a...
www.theirishstory.com/2025/02/03/a...
September 8, 2025 at 12:38 PM
‘An indelible imprint’ – Irish Penal Transportation to Australia
www.theirishstory.com/2025/02/03/a...
www.theirishstory.com/2025/02/03/a...
Today in Irish History – August 31, 1913 – Labour’s Bloody Sunday Police baton charged a crowd on Dublin’s O’Connell Street after arresting union leader James Larkin www.theirishstory.com/2013/08/31/t...
August 31, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Today in Irish History – August 31, 1913 – Labour’s Bloody Sunday Police baton charged a crowd on Dublin’s O’Connell Street after arresting union leader James Larkin www.theirishstory.com/2013/08/31/t...
Today in Irish History – August 22, 1922 – Béal na Bláth, The Shooting Of Michael Collins www.theirishstory.com/2018/08/22/t...
August 21, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Today in Irish History – August 22, 1922 – Béal na Bláth, The Shooting Of Michael Collins www.theirishstory.com/2018/08/22/t...
#OTD in 1922 The anti-Treaty IRA under Frank Aiken stormed Dundalk barracks, freeing 300 prisoners, capturing 200 pro-Treaty troops and large quantity of weapons. But Aiken was a reluctant participant in the Civil War and man who eventually ended it in 1923. www.theirishstory.com/2013/08/14/t...
August 14, 2025 at 8:54 AM
#OTD in 1922 The anti-Treaty IRA under Frank Aiken stormed Dundalk barracks, freeing 300 prisoners, capturing 200 pro-Treaty troops and large quantity of weapons. But Aiken was a reluctant participant in the Civil War and man who eventually ended it in 1923. www.theirishstory.com/2013/08/14/t...
The Hunger strike & General strike of 1920. Irish Republicans copied tactic of hunger strike from women’s suffragists. In April 1920 they used it to demand status of political prisoners. A general strike was called by labour demanding release of all prisoners
www.theirishstory.com/2020/04/13/t...
www.theirishstory.com/2020/04/13/t...
August 11, 2025 at 10:09 AM
The Hunger strike & General strike of 1920. Irish Republicans copied tactic of hunger strike from women’s suffragists. In April 1920 they used it to demand status of political prisoners. A general strike was called by labour demanding release of all prisoners
www.theirishstory.com/2020/04/13/t...
www.theirishstory.com/2020/04/13/t...
#OTD , 9 August 1971, Internment is introduced in Northern Ireland. Unionist NI govt persuaded UK govt to use British Army to enforce internment in belief that it would crush burgeoning republican insurgency. It had the opposite effect. theirishstory.com/2012/08/10/t...
August 9, 2025 at 9:27 AM
#OTD , 9 August 1971, Internment is introduced in Northern Ireland. Unionist NI govt persuaded UK govt to use British Army to enforce internment in belief that it would crush burgeoning republican insurgency. It had the opposite effect. theirishstory.com/2012/08/10/t...
#OTD The decisive military stroke of the Irish Civil War, in which Free State troops were landed by sea at three points on the Cork coast, seizing Ireland's second city and collapsing the 'Munster republic' or territory held by the anti-Treaty IRA. www.theirishstory.com/2022/08/25/t...
August 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
#OTD The decisive military stroke of the Irish Civil War, in which Free State troops were landed by sea at three points on the Cork coast, seizing Ireland's second city and collapsing the 'Munster republic' or territory held by the anti-Treaty IRA. www.theirishstory.com/2022/08/25/t...