Dan Breen and the RIC the forgotton force

[@patricklonergan3]

Never was there a man as brave as Dan Breen. Ireland would be a different place today if it wasn't for him. May God rest his soul.

[@annoconnor2735]

Amen

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

Yes, you'd never have had the Magdelene sisters, Angela's Ashes and Philomena. May he burn in hell.

[@dragonbillylee4781]

​@@MrLorenzovanmatterhoYou are crazy!! You're comments make very little sense.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

@@dragonbillylee4781 My comments make perfect sense, what is WRONG with you that you don't understand that? You don't suffer from the Irish Nationalist Delusion do you?

[@dragonbillylee4781]

@MrLorenzovanmatterho No, no delusion here. You are equating Irish sovereignty with all the evils of the church. Dan Breen didn't do any of that, and by the way, those evils were already happening. The church was doing these atrocities long before the fight for Irish sovereignty Can you understand that?

[@heliotropezzz333]

Very interesting. My grandfather was in the RIC. He was born in Mayo in 1871 and joined in his early twenties when it was an ordinary police force. He was attracted by the salary and the security of a pension. Of course the nature of things changed enormously later on. He served in Tipperary (Dan Breen's area?) as a sergeant at a time when many RIC men were being shot there (1921). He was then 50 years old. He died in England 20 years before I was born, having retired in 1922 when the RIC was disbanded. I don't know anything much about his experiences except that I heard he was unhappy at being expected to shoot at fellow Irishmen (in the IRA?). I also heard that he was told, one Sunday after mass, by the IRA to 'get out' or he'd be shot but I don't know when that was. The IRA tried to recruit his eldest son, but that son said to the IRA. 'Do you expect me to shoot my own father?' His wife, my grandmother lived to be in her nineties and I knew her but she had a very poor memory from when I first remember her. When she was younger, my youngest Uncle made a tape of her memories of that time in Ireland. When he died in 1990 my Aunts destroyed the tape. I was told they were concerned it would get them into trouble which was ridiculous at that time. I had expressed an interest in having it and was annoyed at what they did. I'll probably get a lot of hate comments now. That's the nature of things.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

No hate comment from me. The Royal Irish Constabulary was not an ordinary Police force but it was staffed mostly by Catholic Irishmen so I find it hard to justify attacking them. I am not sure I like the Irish Revolution just as I do not like most revolutions. Anyway, I am sad you could not get those tapes. God Bless you.

[@johnhiggins779]

God be with you Dan Breen and those who joined you to deliver the Irish people from the slavery that they had endured for three hundred years. The two RIC men were well aware of the plight of the Irish people but chose to serve those who would keep the Irish people in such appalling living conditions.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

WHAT plight? What are you talking about? Ireland removed from the UK was impoverished like never before. WHAT slavery? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? God bless the RIC for defeating monsters like Breen.

[@cianoohare]

​@@MrLorenzovanmatterhoAnglo saxon ignorance at its best,muppet.

[@martinkinane4696]

The likes will be needed again and maybe soon

[@user-wt8ee3st6y]

​@@MrLorenzovanmatterhoignorant yokel english no doubt

[@darnick54]

Very interesting, though such a sad history. My paternal great-grandfather, James Sherlock, was a native of County Mayo, but joined the RIC and was stationed in Donegal. He died in 1908. His daughter and grandson ( my grandmother and father) were Irish Catholic to the core and held no brief for British rule, so I can only guess that James was conflicted to some extent in his outlook. Thanks for putting this online.

[@johnhiggins779]

The children of those policemen got no help from the British state which their father was representing in Ireland. Says it all doesn't it?

[@billycaspersghost7528]

The widows were awarded pensions ,just like any other policeman or serviceman. The peace treaty made provision for these pensions to be maintained. The Free State was hardly generous to dependents of Anti Treaty IRA ,after they had slaughtered more than the British ever did.

[@johnhiggins779]

The duty of these men were to their country and the Irish people, not a foreign government or a foreign monarch.

[@neilcairns7763]

THE OLD SKOOL HEROES !!!

[@jackmcnally9237]

And the Genocide of the Irish over 700 yrs ?

[@Seamus322]

There's a new bio of Dan Breen out(Nov 2023)- by John Connors- "Dan Breen The Man behind the Myth"- great read!

[@mrcon4433]

Dan Breen is a national hero who paved the way for mehole and Varuka , these parasites want you to forget he fought to give these traitors an opportunity...

[@KimJong-101]

Dan Breen was an anti treaty man(rightly), FG/blue shirts pride themselves on their pro treaty alignment

[@KimJong-101]

This is exactly the country they wanted, they never followed the ideals of Tone, Emmet or Connolly. Dan Breen didn't either necessarily in his later life mind you but at least he wished to see a united Ireland in some form

[@kunalbadade7815]

Hutatma Shri Bhagt singh translated the biography of dan breen salute to great patriot and fighter !

[@hopeforoneanothertogether6662]

My Thaughts Are With Us All On This Day 🇮🇪🙏🌏

[@red-ym8gv]

I cant believe that there are irish people and this documentary gives a negative angle also on the IRA and Dan Breen et al , who try show sympathy for their former occupiers /occupiers and their local clients . Stockholm Syndrome much...and historical revisionism

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

WHAT? What "occupiers"? What are you talking about? Who were we occupied by? We live in a country unconquered since 1066?

[@williamgoldsmith3796]

They did old England's dirty work and did for far too long but two of them met with a traitors end at the station of Knocklong.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

WHAT "dirty work"? Enforcing freedom, justice and democracy? What is WRONG with you?

[@marymcginley7356]

The attitude of the complacent cost this country sovereignty

[@yeah7598]

the british conducted a war against the Irish people and nation for 700 years. And the RIC assisted the british in this war. The worst episode being the irish famine or irish genocide of the 1840's where millions of people were murdered.

[@elizabethtobin6894]

Those policemen were hated.

[@marymcginley7356]

Those other Irish worked for the Crown!! Give me a break ! They didn’t fight for Irish liberty! Dan Bremen and Sean Treacy are Irish heroes forever!!!

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

Of course they did, they fought to preserve Ireland's freedom from the fascism of the IRA!

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@MrLorenzovanmatterho The I.R.A. were many things and fascist is not one of them.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

@@johnnotrealname8168 An extremist nationalist movement who sought to murder their neighbours for being different to them in order to create a totalitarian state where everyone is the same? How is that NOT fascist?

[@MarkL-we8uk]

Would love to see an objectives take on Eugene Igoe

[@johnhiggins779]

There are two Irish speaking orange lodges in Belfast. Hmmmmm?

[@AnnesleyPlaceDub70]

The Gaelic language isn't just confined to the nationalist/Catholic people. Mind you the irony of Irish speaking orange lodges is beautiful 😂😂😂🇮🇪

[@johnhiggins779]

The policemen whether aware of it or not were representing those who were denying liberty, freedom and equality of rights for all. They were the eyes and ears of English rule in Ireland and had a choice, they choose to join a force which would uphold English rule in Ireland. The outcome for them was tragic and we all feel for their grieving families.

[@furballjr4]

Bollocks

[@williamgoldsmith3796]

@@furballjr4 A very educated reply, you must be one of that breed. LOL!

[@furballjr4]

@@williamgoldsmith3796 Haha I guess so. Endless frustration with similar attitudes elsewhere came pouring out of me in the one word that summed things up best.

[@conr16]

John can I ask what are your thoughts on Tom Barry? Tom Barry was in the British army and would have had to swear an Oath of allegiance to the Monarchy of wee Lizzy or Vicky or big ears George or whoever at the time. Tom Barry's father was an officer in the RIC. Liam Mellows father was in the Brit Army, Michael Collins uncle & other family were in the RIC and Brit Army, Mick Price was in WW1 in the Brit Army, Éamonn Ceannts father was an officer in the RIC.. These are all facts mo chara

[@williamgoldsmith3796]

@@furballjr4 Saying "bollocks" would suggest that you mitched from school on a regular basis. It's not too late to educate yourself.

[@Seamus322]

13:30 "Some of them switched loyalties.."- some of the IRA's best intelligence came from RIC men who were angered at the Tans' atrocities- and one of my Grandfather's cousins took ship for the USA after the RIC disbanded and spent 30 years on the NYPD.

[@georgel74]

Dinny and Tom Lonergan Burncourt..

[@gerardhenry5501]

Dan breen my Irish hero ❤

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

Get another !

[@gerardcush5019]

You cannot that the RIC were hardly remembered they are well remembered for their cruelty to theor own people they should've been sent into exile forever.

[@evebreen6690]

i’m related to him

[@goc6451]

I think the man is neglecting to understand the role his grandfather was playing. Yes the ambush was unprovoked but Dan Breen said of the motive being that they were tired of being pushed around. I think people were at breaking point and fortunately it was a major catalyst for Irish freedom.

[@joesoap1960]

Up whinging about his grandfather being shot. Some neck

[@heliotropezzz333]

He's entitled to do that.

[@joesoap1960]

@@heliotropezzz333 ENTITLED you say...his grandfather was a traitor to his country and his people. Like i said some neck

[@heliotropezzz333]

@@joesoap1960 In history people find themselves in these situations. Nothing is as black and white as how the victors write about it later. I understand that historically to free Ireland the IRA had to fight the crown forces but these people were not traitors, not in their own minds. they were just doing their daily jobs.

[@joesoap1960]

@@heliotropezzz333 seriously? Would you like to delete that comment and think about it for a while and get back to me?

[@heliotropezzz333]

@@joesoap1960 No. My grandfather was in the RIC. There you are. Now pour out some more of your hate. It's all history to me but clearly some are still riled up about it.

[@jamestherandomer]

And I am not one bit sorry for it, to any man, or God. ✊

[@damianjoy106]

He is burning in hell now so plenty of time to be sorry for it!

[@liamogaeilge4749]

No Sympathy for Traitors.