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A statue of a soldier erected to commemorate those who took part in the War of Independence in the village square of Galbally, Co Limerick. Photograph: Getty

Shooting dead of IRA volunteer instigated general strike against British rule

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Limerick files: Robert Byrnes was the first IRA volunteer killed in the War of Independence

The imposing ruins of Tyrone House, near the village of Kilcolgan, Co Galway, January 1968. The house was destroyed by the local IRA unit during the War of Independence. Photograph: RDImages/Epics/Getty Images

Galway, 1920: Black and Tan with revolver shot in all directions during gunfight

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Revolution Files: Shooting dead of Edward Krumm subject of international investigation

Men, possibly of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), resting in the hills of Tipperary during the Irish War of Independence, 1921. From the AE Bell Collection. Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Offaly, 1923: ‘Undesirable girls’ rounded up and chained to railings

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Revolution Files:The actions by the Offaly brigade was listed under police work in the brigade activity reports

Suspects being searched in Dublin in 1920 during the War of Independence. From Story of Twenty Five Years, published 1935. Photograph: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

IRA seize police station with help from RIC constable who switched sides

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Clare files: Despite deserting, William Carroll was awarded a handsome RIC pension

The site of the Soloheadbeg ambush: The ambush site is approximately 300m from Soloheadbeg quarry. Photograph: Ronan McGreevy

Tipperary, 1919: The woman who hid Dan Breen after Soloheadbeg ambush

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Tipperary files: Marian Tobin cited written testimonial from both Breen in her application for a military pension

Republican author and politician Erskine Childers (1870-1922), with his wife, aboard his yacht, the Asgard, which was used to run guns for the Irish Volunteers. Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Erskine Childers executed over possession of a pistol

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Wicklow files: Free State government had little to pin on high-profile anti-Treaty leader but was desperate to get rid of him

Former taoiseach Charles Haughey's father, John Haughey, was an active volunteer around the village of Swatragh.

‘There is far more value set at present on the life of a greyhound’

Brian Hutton
October 15, 2019

The Derry files: Family of dead IRA volunteer left in dire poverty spent decades pleading for State help

Pike's Bridge outside Maynooth where Patrick Mullaney's anti-Treaty column were finally captured by Free State forces.

IRA made three attempts to capture Baldonnell Aerodrome

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Kildare files: Active unit engaged in disrupting vital communications during Civil War

Men, possibly of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), resting in the hills of Tipperary during the War of Independence, 1921. From the AE Bell Collection. Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Cockney and priest helped IRA pull off daring capture of police barracks

Brian Hutton
October 15, 2019

The Fermanagh files: Michael Collins personally wrote to congratulate IRA leader Frank Carney on remarkable coup

Drumboe Castle

Donegal centre of plans to destabilise new Northern Ireland state

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Donegal files: Border villages of Pettigo and Belleek were locations of battles between the IRA and B Specials

Irish 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

Seizure of £48 in dog tax among IRA operations in Cavan

Mary Carolan
October 15, 2019

The Cavan files: Republicans faced hostility from civilians, creating risk of spies and informers

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

Final attack on day of War of Independence truce aborted

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Westmeath files: Attempt to have one more crack at British forces called off due to enemy strength and ‘hostile population’

Baronscourt Co Tyrone

Tyrone, 1921: ‘I’m going to see my girl’ – British soldier turned IRA man shot dead in attack

Brian Hutton
October 15, 2019

The Revolution Files: James McSorley among 20 IRA men preparing to raid home of Northern Ireland governor

Circa 1935: Eoin O'Duffy at a rally of his Blueshirts. To his right is Alfred Byrne, the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Photograph: Hutton Archive/Getty

Monaghan, 1920: Deadly raid brought Eoin O’Duffy to prominence

Mary Carolan
October 15, 2019

The Revolution Files: O’Duffy went on to become IRA Chief of Staff, Garda commissioner and founder of the Blueshirts

In March 1923 19-year-old IRA anti-Treaty volunteer Thomas Greehy was killed in a booby-trap explosion when he went to recover weapons from an arms dump. He was hastily buried near the spot and his funeral in his native Lismore, Co Waterford did not take place until August 1924.

Anti-Treaty nurse drugged guards to aid soldier’s escape

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Waterford files: Bill Lennon faced execution for deserting National Army

Margaret Skinnider was one of more than 200 members of Cumann na mBan whose applications are contained in the archive.The files outline the women’s injuries, the risks they took and their heavy involvement in military action during the 1916 Rising and the Civil War.

‘We are absolutely on the racks. This week will see the end of us’

Ronan McGreevy
October 15, 2019

The Dublin files: Those who fought in the Rising, and their families, struggled to get a military pension

An ginearál Mícheál Ó Coileáin. Grianghraf: An Chartlann Mhíleata

Cad iad na Tuarascálacha Gníomhaíochta Briogáide?

Éanna Ó Caollaí
October 15, 2019

Socraíodh go gcuirfí na coistí ar bun chun gníomhaíochtaí an IRA agus grúpaí eile a thaifead go cruinn

O’Neill was pretty resolute about the reality of clubbing in Dublin at the time. While he didn’t give evidence in court, he told gardaí in his statement, “if there were no ecstasy there would be no rave discos. If there were no rave discos there would be no ecstasy”.

When ecstasy was dealt openly on the Dublin rave scene

Una Mullally
October 13, 2019

From the archive, 1994: Five undercover gardaí were offered drugs on entrance to Asylum nightclub

A Cumann na mBan protest outside Mountjoy prison during the War of Independence. Kathleen Mary Napoli was informed she was not eligible for a pension because she was not a member of the organisation

Woman who reported atrocities by Black and Tans denied pension and medal

Ronan McGreevy
October 7, 2019

Kathleen Mary Napoli was so trusted during the War of Independence that she accompanied the treaty delegation to London

A skater at the board park in Co Galway. File photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy

The origins of skateboarding in Ireland: ‘It’s not a craze or a childish whim’

Una Mullally
October 6, 2019

From the archive: The skateboarding craze took up a number of column inches in the late 70s

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

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