On the 28th Day of November

My understanding of Harts version is it was entirely based on one account and completely ignored all the others which completely contradicted it.
Anyway. These are the same lads who would have executed any of the Irish lads on the spot with no qualms and when they couldnā€™t catch them, regularly shot innocent civilians and burned down towns. Fuck em in other words

4 Likes

No denying that in fairness.

You couldnā€™t shoot enough of them

1 Like

Any good books on it?

Tom Barryā€™s own book Guerilla Days in Ireland is excellent (but obviously his own take things). Well worth a read.

2 Likes

The grandfather used to say ā€œBarry was some operatorā€

1 Like

@johnnysachs

The Offical Boys of Kilmichael Thread

1 Like

Harts research was based on an uncorroborated witness. In other words he could have made the whole thing up. It always interested me on how many historians from US particularly around Boston and Canada specialised in Irish history. Anyway thats an aside. Iā€™m not sure of what Harts motives were but maybe he just wanted a new ā€œtakeā€ on the whole episode on what was a seminal moment for Irish Anglo relations.

Anyway even If there was a surrender (false or otherwise) what would the lads have done. Take them captive, and then what. Ultimately they would have been released back into general army circulation again. They would have returned and rinsed the place and after identifying all participants executed them.

1 Like

Every year you guys rememberā€¦ thanks gentsā€¦ Itā€™s not till tomorrow but I got myself a little treat thereā€¦

7 Likes

Hart appeared a complete fucking oddball and contrarian to me. In that TG4 documentary when he is questioned about his ā€œsourceā€ he is clearly talking shite and knows he ran with half a story.

Anyway, false surrender or no false surrender, those Auxies got what was coming to them, and a week on from Bloody Sunday, there was no way they were leaving that lonely spot alive.

Iā€™ll have it blaring during the breakfast tomorrow morning :musical_note: ā€¦ who feared not the might of the foeā€¦ the day that they marched into battle and they laid all the Black & Tans lowā€¦ :musical_note:

1 Like

Did you ever read ā€œGuests of the Nationā€?

Thereā€™s actually great imagery in the song. Its a cut above other songs from the era.

ā€œThe sun in the west it was sinking,
On the eve of a cold winters dayā€

2 Likes

Have you read or heard of ā€˜Sing Singā€™ in Knockraha,
I remember reading a very good book called ā€˜year of the dissapearancesā€™ when it was published some years ago, again less than complimentary about IRA tactics and brutality, probably controversial but a good book nonetheless.

Deidre McMahon in Mary I was a big supporter of Hart to my memory @Thomas_Brady

1 Like

Iā€™ve passed sing sing tonnes of times but never had a lookā€¦ Sis in law lives up the roadā€¦ Thereā€™s also a plaque in Knockraha town for the commander killed with 9 other Irish troops in Congo in 1960ā€¦ Random bit of history for a tiny village

2 Likes

Was that Martin Corrys little man cave?

No do you recommend?

Ah Deirdre. Sheā€™d an awful stutter the misfortune, but a good lecturer. She wasnā€™t my cup of tea at times but I remember her sticking it to Churchill in one lecture regarding Devs radio broadcast in the aftermath of WWII

Thatā€™s a wonderful book. Many, many years ago. Canā€™t remember who wrote it but Iā€™d recommend it.

A brilliant Short story by Frank Oā€™Connor

Didnā€™t William Trevor have a story dealing with a similar theme

2 Likes

Yes, a very good short story. I read it for the intercert.