The Forgotten Past Of Èire

12/11/2025

June 4th, 1798. Lieutenant-Colonel Walpole led 400 elite British troops into a narrow Irish country lane. Forty-five minutes later, he lay dead and his army ...

26/08/2025

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22/08/2025

During the War of Independence, the men of the flying columns were often dressed in whatever clothing they could get their hands on. Many wore long trench coats or greatcoats, captured from British forces or bought second-hand, which offered warmth and protection in the countryside. Their caps were usually the standard flat caps of the time or British military service caps taken in raids. Unlike a conventional army, they had no set uniform—this mix of civilian and military clothing allowed them to blend back into the local population when needed.

Their weapons were just as varied. Rifles were prized and often captured from the British Army or the RIC, while some carried Lee–Enfields, German Mausers, or even shotguns pressed into service. Ammunition was scarce, so every bullet counted. In many photos, bandoliers can be seen slung across their shoulders, carrying the few rounds they had. Light machine guns, when available, gave them a serious edge, though such weapons were rare and often treasured by the columns.

The flying columns survived by relying on the local people. They had no permanent barracks, instead moving constantly and hiding in safehouses, barns, sheds, or even caves in the hills. Farmers and families risked everything to give them shelter. Food was provided by sympathetic households, often whatever little could be spared—potatoes, bread, milk, or a hot meal passed quietly under the nose of the authorities. This dependence on local communities made the columns not just fighting units, but a symbol of the people’s resistance.

Life in the flying columns was hard, uncertain, and dangerous, but their ability to live off the land, blend into the people, and strike swiftly is what made them so effective during the struggle for independence.

22/08/2025

Late 19th century Ireland.. Some modern folk say the Irish were born with privilege because we are white... look at these photos, and this was just over 100 years ago....

22/08/2025

"Make no mistake....We will fight for her... Dilígh Gó Brath!"

22/06/2025

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19/06/2025

1900s ...photo of "The privileged" Irish ... at this time, still the slaves of Empire....

16/06/2025

Carlow Gaol (Jail) still stands today. But like most local historical sites in Carlow, our "oblivious to the value of Tourism" local authorities lacked the foresight in seeing the tourist value of historical buildings in Carlow Town, and decided to have it turned into the failed little shopping centre it is today. All that remains is a shell. After serving as a prison it was closed in 1897. Thompson rebuilt it, but not as a prison, instead he renamed it Hanover Works. During WW1, manufacturing aircraft parts for the British air corps (later called the Royal Air Force). In fact, when I worked briefly in the old engineering works in 1984, there was still a considerable amount of the old cells, which were used as store rooms for parts etc. from it's time as a war manufacturing facility.. including a set of wooden wings to fit a Bi-Plane! But alas, it eventually became a small shopping centre, and the old governors house within the walls, became a restaurant. As a shopping centre/restaurant it failed, and what could have been a righteous location for a museum was ignored by ignorant beurocrats who missed the value in Financial and Vibrancy terms of Tourism. We only have to look at the success of other popular venues in Ireland to see how valuable the tourist industry is. People like History.. especially when they can walk in our old historical places. We are fortunate here in Carlow that our Castle, built by the Anglo-Norman William Marshall, the Lord of Leinster, the greatest Knight in Christendom, when during the late 1980s the Carlow Co. Council .. yes, those same idiots who gradually demolished several of our historically valuable buildings to pave way to failed commercial projects, brought forward an attempt to have our great Castle demolished! Thankfully, a group of local townsfolk took the initiative to protest and saved it. Today it still stands. It's not beyond restoration... if only the powers that be.. would not be so blind. We will talk more in a future post about the fantastic history of Carlow.. soon.

09/06/2025

Today they are known as Fine Gaél, in a government coalition with their arch enemies, Fíanna Fáil and some so called "Independents".
Like British N**i supporter, Sir Oswald Mosley MP, founder and leader of The British Union of Facists (BUF) and later the 'National Socialists'... Irelands Eoin O'Duffy was the founder of Fine Gaél, who were commonly known as 'the Blueshirts' during the 1930s and shared the ideologies of Adolf Hi**er and Oswald Mosley.

08/06/2025