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British troops during the War of Independence. The nominal rolls of the IRA which were released in 2014 list 115,000 men who served in it during the War of Independence. Photograph: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

War of Independence: how the IRA was structured

October 15, 2019

An IRA company was usually organised at the townland level, and could contain between 60 and 200 men

A suspected member of the Irish nationalist party Sinn Féin is searched at gunpoint by the British Black and Tans, during the War of Independence in 1920. Photograph: Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Senior cycle guide: Exploring the past: how to approach history

Eimear Jenkinson
October 15, 2019

Evidence is key to any study of the events that have shaped us

War of Independence: A woman recites the Rosary in front of Mountjoy prison, Dublin, for imprisoned Sinn Féin members on hunger strike. Photograph: adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images

Irish Revolution was one of the most chronicled revolutions in history

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

Military Archives in Cathal Brugha Barracks holds historical, economic and familial records

From Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall (2014), a film based on the true story of Jimmy Gralton, the only man ever deported from Ireland.

Emigrants who got State pensions . . . and sometimes lost them

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

Several famous anti-Treaty Republicans applied for a pension while living abroad

Reservoir at Silent Valley, Mourne Mountains, Co Down. Photograph: MyLoupe/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

IRA plot to cut off Belfast’s water supply thwarted by damp dynamite

Brian Hutton
October 15, 2019

The Down files: Operation to blow up reservoir was revenge for Belfast pogroms, pension documents reveal

A group of Black and Tans on a trench road in Tipperary, while assisting the British Army during the War of Independence, 1921. From the AE Bell Collection. Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Leitrim, 1921: IRA volunteers lied about War of Independence attacks

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Revolution Files: Men fabricated raids and arms seizures to get pensions because they were in dire financial straits

An RIC cadet and two members of Sinn Féin lying dead on the road, while in the background cadets are taking Sinn Féiners prisoners, Irish War of Independence, Tralee, Ireland. Photograph from The Illustrated London News, vol 157, no 4258, November 27, 1920.

Traveller’s body used as decoy to lure Black and Tans

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

Kerry, 1921: Eight Black and Tans were killed by 50 IRA men in the Rathmore ambush

Frank Aiken, minister of external affairs of Ireland, October 1960. Photograph: Getty

Armagh, 1921: IRA man tormented by woman’s killing in attack on Protestant village

Brian Hutton
October 15, 2019

The Revolution Files: Killing happened during a mass shooting in a Protestant village in Armagh

Thomas McDonagh, one of 41 IRA men who died during the War of Independence in Roscommon, remembered on a memorial outside Elphin. Photograph: Ronan McGreevy

IRA headquarters refused request to defend Ballaghaderreen

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Roscommon files: Fears Black and Tans would burn town in revenge for ambush

Sligo Gaol

Widow of TD executed during Civil War took her own life

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Sligo files: Pension file reveals grieving wife of Seamus Devins drank disinfectant 14 years after his death

The West Mayo Brigade Flying Column posed for this photograph in 1922

Five IRA men killed in botched ambush

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Mayo files: Heavily armed British soldiers overcame men

A convoy of Black and Tans and British soldiers arrives at the junction of Middle Abbey Street and O’Connell Street, Dublin, in 1921, during the War of Independence. Photograph: Sean Sexton/Getty Images

Michael Collins failed to deliver promised back-up to IRA in North

Brian Hutton
October 15, 2019

The Antrim files: Letter reveals deep sense of abandonment as volunteers in south became embroiled in Civil War

Patrick Ramsbottom fired a warning shot at a man who had disturbed their plans to sabotage the railway link between Waterford and Dublin in order to prevent troop reinforcements arriving from Rosslare. Image: Military Service Pensions Collection

Laois, Easter 1916: ‘He was fond of the booze’ – IRA man who fired first shot sacked over drinking

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Revolution Files: IRA officer Patrick Ramsbottom also led the column which carried out the first military operation of the insurrection told pensions committee: 'I was drinking at the time, that is about the size of it'

A group of Black and Tans on a trench road in Tipperary, assisting the British Army during the Irish War of Independence, 1921. From the AE Bell Collection. Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

IRA volunteers killed by British forces after tip-off by local woman

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Kilkenny files: Families of both men were later granted State pensions

The Boylan Family with the uniform and greatcoat of Sean's father, also Sean, who was a general in the Irish Army in the first part of the twenties. Pictured are, Sean Boylan his his wife Tina, and hteir six children, Seán, Ciarán, Daire, Doireann, Aoife and Orán.

IRA capture of Trim RIC Barracks ‘a very big job’

Mary Carolan
October 15, 2019

The Meath files: Attack planned for Sunday, when RIC officers would be at Mass

A suspected member of Sinn Féin is searched at gunpoint by the Black and Tans during the War of Independence, November 1920. Photograph: Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Dundalk a town of ‘British shoneens, British camp hangers-on and the Ancient Order of Hibernians’

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Louth files: Town ‘sneeringly hostile’ to IRA, making operations difficult

Image: Military Service Pensions Collection

Carlow, 1921: The IRA shoot a pharmacist who wouldn’t close his shop

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Revolution Files: The owner refused to close for the funeral of Terence McSwiney

Maj Gen PA Mulcahy chief of Staff, Gen Sean MacEoin TD, minister for defence and Col AT Lawlor OC, Curragh Training Camp, Co Kildare. Photograph: Eddie Kelly

IRA commander’s claims of British deaths ‘strained credulity’

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Longford files: Gen Seán Mac Eoin exaggerated number of killings to enhance pension claims

Lea-Wilson's widow, Dr Marie Lea-Wilson, came to prominence when a painting she purchased at an auction in 1924 turned out to be identified in 1990 as Caravaggio's masterpiece.

RIC officer shot dead in revenge for treatment of republican prisoners

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Wexford files: Percival Lea-Wilson was seen by Michael Collins forcing Proclamation signatory Tom Clarke to strip naked

Tom Barry, the most famous IRA commander during the War of Independence and the mastermind of the Kilmichael ambush, addresses some of his old comrades at a memorial service in 1966

Kilmichael ambush largest in War of Independence

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Cork files: Sixteen auxiliaries and three IRA men killed in attack led by Tom Barry

The Revolution Files Highlights from the Military Archives with reports from every county

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