Hopefully the follow up book will be The Time of the Tans is here again.

My grandfather's brother was a "Messenger Boy" in Wexford during the "War of Independence". He lived until his 90s and got a special pension from the Irish State for his contribution to the struggle. Needless to say - we loved talking to him. He was a stone mason - he had one eye - and a huge family - he was also a very educated man - he read absolutely everything - he was brilliant. Anyway - the reason why I bring him up here - is your article on the Tans. My Uncle was obviously a devout Republican - and one day I asked him about the Tans. Boy - did he catch me by surprise! He said - "To be honest with you - a lot of them were good guys - they weren't all as history has painted them!". I was - to be honest - somewhat flabbergasted. Then he told me a story involving the "Tans" - relating to my family. At that time my family may well have been the poorest of the poor. Ireland - Wexford - 1920 - tough times indeed. Angela's Ashes evidently had nothing on my lot. Anyway - the family were living in what I've heard was virtually a cave at the side of a hill near Raheennahone. To cut a long story short - my Uncle - who was about 14 at the time said this Tan patrol suddenly loomed up out of nowhere. There were about a dozen of them - their leader was a Scottish Sergeant. My Uncle told me that when the Scottish Sergeant saw the state of my family he burst into tears. He was obviously just a decent man. Evidently, he then turned around to the other Tans and told them to hand over their food rations - which they duly did. One of the soldiers had a huge tin of bully beef strapped on his back - The Sergeant made him hand it over. My Uncle told me - if it hadn't been for that Tan patrol - our family would have starved to death. Evidently, the family got six weeks of food out of that tin! That was some tin! That was some Sergeant - That was some Tan Patrol! I say - God Bless the Irish Republic - of which I'm very proud. And I have no doubt that the Tans and the Auxiliaries did what they did - and were "Guilty" as charged. But things are never "Black and White" in times of conflict. I'm very grateful to my Uncle for telling me that story - it was so revealing. So I also say "God Bless" to those men/women - whatever side they are on - when, in times of difficulty, they show such nobility to their fellow human beings - the nature of which clearly demonstrates that there is a spirit that rises to another level - a level of decency that clearly basks in the "Glory of God" and ultimately teaches us that in reality, we are truly all brothers and sisters - and that's the long and the short of it!

The IRA irish kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWHdpIJqd6l6e9kfeature=shared massacred mother of ten jean mcConville

The black and Tans were trying to bring peace and stability to Ireland brought about by the chaos of the Ira campaign of murder and mayhem.

When someone invades your country you don't need angels ......

Look at the state of Ireland today and all those great men that died for it

I’m a true fenian ,, and bloody proud of it,, these tans were the most nastiest breed ever to walk this planet,, and the British army sent them to our country,,, with orders to do there very worst,,, which by god they did,, torched villages threw families and children into open fires,,, on dirt roads on flat trailer vans, shooting farmers livestock ,,, they done there very very worst,,, it’s amazing we had no arms, and yet we got everyone of the bastards, as powerful as they thought they were,,, they got everything they deserved,, for sure,,, yet they talk how bad n evil the IRA are,,,, all they did was fight for our independence,, god rest them great men , who gave there all,,, they will never be forgotten, 🇮🇪🇮🇪☘️☘️❤️👏👏👏👏👏

Invaluable work. I encountered such riches in an old IRA man by the name of Donal O'Brien, Caherlough, in Clare who albeit suffered from Parkinson's then could still work away in the winter rain and spoke in pictures. One could see what he said.

Thank you. A true historian,delivered with honesty and a deep understanding.

According to my grandmother they were evl as more tgan one of her friends were sxuaĺy assaulted by hem and went unpunished until the local ITA volunteers kiĺed hi and hus entire squad.

............. Only Jesus Christ blood can cleanse us of are sins come to Jesus Christ today Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Come to Jesus Christ today Jesus Christ is only way to heaven Repent and follow him today seek his heart Jesus Christ can fill the emptiness he can fill the void Heaven and hell is real cone to the loving savior today Today is the day of salvation tomorrow might be to late come to the loving savior today John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Mark 1.15 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Hebrews 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Jesus

Come out Ye black and tans!!!

An excellent book which is both readable and highly informative. The arms trial is a political episode full of lies at a very important time.

This is the part of my day I always enjoy!! Do not waste your time = p̶r̶o̶m̶o̶s̶m̶

Black and tan , nice pint of beer .

My Father was born in 1900. He slept with a gun under the pillow. Both he and his brother worked at Jacobs Factory. One on nights and one on days. They rotated sleeping in the same big bed. My Dad’s brother came across the gun and was outraged. So, my Dad fought in the war…. On my Mother’s side, my Great Uncle was Sean Treacy and I have an abiding love for this beautiful Uncle that I never even met. As Dan Breen said, Irish People Were Born Fighting {With A Fighting Spirit}! Thank you all so much for this wonderful video. Particular love to those whose memories are so vivid and who lived through the terrible rampages of the English and of The Black & Tans. ❤❤❤ “Come out ye Black & Tans, Come out and fight me like a man” ……..

Irish grandparents, relation of Collins. Born in England and I still hate the place and govt here. Shame about Ireland too. All that fighting for nothing

ᑭᖇOᗰOᔕᗰ 💯

Respect to this man. It would be nice to get a prospectiv on what it was like for the ordinary Protestant people from those same area's. What it was like for them. Saint's Sinners Scholars freedom fighter's and peace . ✌️☘️

The Tans protected protestant loyalist people in the north from the IRA I was taught by my orange family members in Northern Ireland. My grandfather left Ireland in 1957.. as economic conditions were bad.. came to Canada.

I wonder sincerely what happened to the surviving black and tans men who returned to England. Since they were only used to a fighting way of life, i doubt they were ever fit for whatever civilian work after their WW1 and Irish experiences. Does somebody have information on this, or is it told in the book that was the source of this vid? Hope somebody can tell me, thanks in advance.

Greetings to all my Gael people in Ireland from a Gael in England. This video really touched me. The Irish of that Generation who won their freedom from British Tyranny were a great generation. Im glad this fellow is recording it all. These stories of the freedom struggle 100 years ago will inspire the Gaelic people of Ireland for ever more! IRELAND FOR THE IRISH! 🇮🇪

I have them all, was there not going to be new books, weapons of the civil war ect

Brilliant oral history thank you . Have you got anymore on why Dromoland wasnt burnt down. My Great Great grandmother was an OBrien Her first marriage was to Thomas Stacpoole Mahon and they lived in Corbally house . Not sure why they were so 'protected'. I know that William smith OBrien was a cousin but you't have thought that Dromoland would have been an obvious target.

Excellent piece! My mother who passed away in 1979 was 9 years old in 1916 and remembered quite clearly being in Sackville Street (O'Connell Street) during the Easter rising, she always mentioned the "poor horses" laying injured in the street having been shot during a cavalry charge.

The Irish language..is translated to English in this country....not the other Way round..🇮🇪

Good for you ! A real treasure to Ireland you are . History is being lost and rewritten today in revisionist terms ! 👍❤️☘️

As an Irishman of even temperament and disposition I'm saddened by the hijacking of the Northern question by thugs, on both sides. A hard chaw in a community inevitably has whispered connections to provos. Nightclub doormen are of this type. Ditto barstool Republicans.🤔

My paternal grandfather served on the Western Front during WW1, he was with the Royal Lancashire Regt, which subsequently became King's Own Border Regt. He was injured by shell fire in Ypres, and repatriated to Britain for medical treatment. When he recovered, he was graded as unfit for further service on the WF. He was sent to Ireland, where he was a guard at the Kilmainham gaol. He told my father that, "The Black & Tans were the scum of the earth, the dregs of the British Army." They were thugs. He despised them intensely. I sincerely hope that at some point in the not too distant future, a referendum will see the six counties returned to Ireland, and Britain can end it's involvement. We've been entangled for far too long due to decisions made centuries ago.

Risking hangings and worse every day, here's to those brave, and here's to freedom from the sick minded selfish corruption that is Westminster.

The British should finally admit their guilt and return the stolen part of Ireland back to the people that it belongs to and if the unionists don't like it then the British should repatriate them like others before in their dying empire. I say that as an ex British soldier of Irish descent.

A lot of these tans were from the somme and had been totally traumatised by war wrong place wrong time

There was a group of republicans that drowned in a cave near downpatick head Ballycastle North mayo while trying to escape but I don't know of it was the free state army that was chasing them or the brits if it was the free staters it would be air brushed from history,

Brilliant 🇮🇪

We should never forget the bravery of these men and women who fought for our freedom.

Looking forward to reading this,

come on you black and tans! come out and fight like a man!

A lovely historical presentation...

Beautifully done video. This will be a very important piece of national history.

Men and women fought so hard to rid this small island of greedy foreign landlords , look what we have today, a bunch of mask wearing injected sheep, and they stand under a foreign blue rag with yellow stars. Where are these men and women today ?

Should read now kow tow...

As a Brit with 25% Irish blood I find your Independence struggle fascinating. YET having thrown the Brits out you know tow to the EU in such an obsequious way. Don’t understand..strikes as pathetic..

Pair of old donkeys braying at the gate . . . Alays thought Bird was too shallow and too loud for a TV reporter's job.

The north irish feel a kin with the IRA of this period seeing it came upon them in the last generation

Remember what the FF leader Mehole said his words not mine! Sovereign is a backwards ideology and has no place in Ireland! As Irish men and women we need to take out ff,FG and Sf if the Irish people are not put first in are own country. We are being over run with economic migrates in every region and it has to be stopped.

Sometimes the world doesn't need a hero sometimes the world needs a monster

The Black and Tans and the Auxies : in Ireland, the SS of the British troops, RIP in Hell !!

The lads who took on an Empire and made them run away.

As heartbreaking as it is to read the stories of such intense inhumanity inflicted upon other men, it pales against the words I see written in these comments. How much evidence will ever be enough to convince Republicans or Crown to simply stop this madness? Have you men no hearts, no brains? You surely have no eyes nor ears! Go fight your endless battles against each other in hell, and leave this earth to the two or three people left alive who are willing to try moving on. Shame on you for having learned nothing!

I remember my grandfather telling me of a story when the tans put a handicapped child sitting on a hot range cooker and stories of men being trailed up the road tied to British army lorries ,is it any wonder these men had no mercy when they got the black and tans in their sights