Reacting to Come Out ye Black and Tans, Wolfe Tones,Reaction

[@ReactionBandit87]

Powerful song....proud to be canadian irish..🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@CanadianReacts]

My great great grandparents were from County Cork

[@iraboss6691]

@@CanadianReacts county cork man here 👊

[@davidharkin8554]

​@@CanadianReactsstab City! 😊 (irish)

[@MrBlue092]

Im from cork! 🇮🇪 ,Thats so cool that people look into their history, i bet they went to Canada 🇨🇦 on an ocean liner for a new life.

[@ReactionBandit87]

@@MrBlue092 yup they came on a boat in the 40s and I am now second generation Canadian Irish...I went to Kerry where our roots are and felt right at home with all the kind welcoming ppl.

[@thetalantonx]

"There can't be peace in Ireland until the foreign, oppressive British presence is removed, leaving all the Irish people as a unit to control their own affairs and determine their own destinies as a sovereign people, free in mind and body, separate and distinct physically, culturally and economically." - Bobby Sands Tiocfaidh ár lá!

[@brushe8025]

Remove the butchers apron

[@andrewmitchell8807]

Not british English us Scots want our own freedom from the oppressor

[@GrainneCarney]

@@andrewmitchell8807 all for the Scots to get their own independence, but if it all happens right, you'll have to deal with all the damned scummy Ulster Scots getting sent back to whence they came.

[@johnjordan7232]

Any sign of a common & possible uniting act are memory holed. When alternate ideology stands shoulder, via a perceived common foundation, the tip of the pyramid gets very nervous.

[@conormurphy4328]

@@andrewmitchell8807go for it, you guys can pussy put again in an independence vote.

[@maureenmccarthy4204]

My grandmother was a secret courier for the Lord mayor of cork Thomas MCCurtain who was shot in front of his family by the RIC she used to hide the messages in her hair she was 14 years old she was twice taken into the ric barracks in cork by the black and tans she lived to be 96 years old she told us her stories she was also there for the burning of cork city by the British in December of 1920 so this song mean alot to me in the pictures is the Great General michael Collins a cork man and to me my hero along with my grandmother I'm so proud of her and proud to be her granddaughter

[@CanadianReacts]

This is beautiful. Thanks for sharing it. I had great great grandparents from County Cork

[@ivancrowley9174]

My great grandfather fought the black and tans. Their family home was burnt and his two brothers were killed and he was wounded in war of independence. Frank Wise was his name.

[@WeeWeeJumbo]

Wolfe Tones’ recording is my favorite rendition. this song has a strange power, it turns the listener Irish, even if only in spirit

[@bloodnsteel26]

The 16 pounder gun refers to the 16 pound cannons they used during the war

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks for sharing

[@thetalantonx]

New subscriber here, just found your channel today with the Seo Linn - Óró Sé do Bheatha Bhaile reaction. You've hit some of the best and most powerful songs here.

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks for writing?

[@Panch21]

Written by Brendan Behans father. Who actually lived beside English people. It's a phenomenal song and was Number One on the day our second daughter was born... Thanks to Alan Partridge!!!

[@CanadianReacts]

Cheers

[@Lissadell1916]

It was written by Dominic Behan brother of Brendan Behan and not Brendans / Dominics father, Stephen. The song was written by Dominic as a tribute to their father Stephen (an ex IRA man during the WOI and later an Anti Treaty man during the civil war) and the English (the loving English Feet that walked all over us) was Stephen's mother Christina (who married Patrick English (also Irish) after James Behan (Stephens father), died. Christina English or granny English as she was know to everyone was a notorious and cruel Dublin slum landlord in 1930's whom Dominic hated for the way she treated everyone including her own son Stephen who had risked his life many, many time during the WOI to free Ireland and was one of Mick Collin's "12 apostles" and was now forced to live with his wife children in a slum under heavy threats and control from his own evil mother. Hence... the loving English feet walked all over us. Dominic was born in 1928 = "I was born in a Dublin street"..."And the loving English feet walked all over us"...and so on.

[@CanadianReacts]

@@Lissadell1916 you’re a wealth of information. Thanks

[@Lissadell1916]

@@CanadianReacts No problem, enjoy!

[@WynnJ]

Did you ever think you would hear this 9n prime time BBC? 🤣🤣🤣✌️❤️🇮🇪

[@bettyblue7291]

English comedian Steve Coogan sang the song on British national television in 2019 for a bet and it was aired i think he also might of sang another irish rebel song also 🤣

[@CanadianReacts]

That’s hilarious!!

[@bettyblue7291]

@@CanadianReacts kzbin.info/www/bejne/il6oaKFqrtWpm5Y

[@alanmcbeath7866]

Other song was 'Men Behind The Wire'. Unexpected on prime time BBC but very enjoyable.

[@macker33]

By far the biggest irish band in ireland during the 80s.

[@CanadianReacts]

Great catalogue of story telling

[@JA-qs1ug]

Think U2 might be a bit bigger

[@macker33]

@@JA-qs1ug Seriously, two tone mania took over, every corner boy in ireland thought he was the next greatest rude boy. I get why you say it.

[@trevorpaz3441]

I've never been to Ireland, was born in England and my Mother is English... But my Father is Irish, so are his parents, and they were the ones who emigrated here. I remember as a child struggling to understand their accents lol. Anyway, even though I mainly grew up with English influence (although I use Irish slang like 'sound' instead of okay/good lol), support England football team and all that good stuff, these tunes pump me up. I love both sides of my heritage, I will get my blue passport one day and I will definitely visit the Cork and Kerry where my grandparents came from.

[@CanadianReacts]

My great great grandparents are from Cork though I’ve never been either. One day, fingers crossed before I’m too old

[@JustinJurazick]

This feeling is what a lot of Americans have about their heritage never having been there but wanting to an proud of it like I can't wait to visit Wales and Scotland someday

[@JUNO_EDM]

Hi I'm from kerry haha. The most beautiful county in ireland you should definitely visit sometime 🟢🟡

[@user-ze8yy8jg1f]

Greetings from cork🇮🇪

[@CanadianReacts]

@@user-ze8yy8jg1f cheers

[@johnjordan7232]

Ahh man... You're one of the best reactionary creators, on KZbin. Great taste in real music & wide choice for all people. 🏆

[@CanadianReacts]

Wow, thank you! Unfortunately, I’m shutting it down

[@johnjordan7232]

@@CanadianReacts Of course & brother - You're welcomed!!! (Cheers for reply Nez🍻) Do you mean leaving KZbin? 🥺I understand that. Are you still gonna be on Rumble etc?

[@CanadianReacts]

Actually I’m kinda bored of it. I have another channel I post random stuff and

[@tsukeisawa7786]

The black and tans were a police force sent to suppress the Irish. They were mostly WW1 vets which is why you have references to Flanders etc.

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks

[@marymary5494]

Yeah a police force who raided Irish homes.

[@olliemorrissey872]

​@@marymary5494an army of drunken rapists mentally scarred from years in d trenches.

[@pippin2020]

Co Kerry Ireland grew up to these songs. Proud to be Ireland ❤

[@Way2cool4urmum]

Same

[@johnjordan7232]

I've never hit the likes / thumbs up so many times in 1 video!

[@andrewmaxwell5283]

I am from 🇮🇪

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks Andrew. Lots of great subscribers from there.

[@elizajohn5]

Check out The Wolf Tones - Streets Of New York. A very touching song about emigration from Ireland to New York.

[@CanadianReacts]

Sounds great

[@elizajohn5]

@@CanadianReacts Was a huge hit for them in Ireland in 1981 staying at number 1 for weeks. Probably their most famous song and biggest hit.

[@garyhutton2654]

I remember listening to this from various bands in late 70's and 80's it was a really terrible time . It's a true meaning song but I'm glad we are all good now apart from the European war

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks again Gary

[@Lissadell1916]

Apart from the 6 counties of course... which is not all good. And in any case the song is not about The English or British. Its about the song writer (Dominic Behan) hatred of his "Irish grandmother" in the 1930's (the loving English feet walked all over us = Christina English. That was her name and she married Patrick English (also Irish) after her first husband James Behan died who was Dominic and Brendan's real grandfather living in the Irish Free State. "Granny English" as she was known to everyone was a notorious Dublin Slum Landlord who treated people like shit including Dominics mother and father hence Dominic's hatred of his grandmother. So English was her surname and nothing to do with "the English". If you have ever read Dominics bothers book The Borstal Boy (Brendan Behan) you will know her name as his book was based on her and her cronies at the time.

[@CanadianReacts]

@@Lissadell1916 thanks for the great information

[@skippership7]

@@Lissadell1916 At last someone who understands the lyrics and why would anyone support that part of IRA that turned free state traitors the same free staters that threw Stephen Behan into prison in 1923 and executed far more brave Irish republicans than the brits ever did in 1916, for what, just objecting to the fact that these traitors to the 1916 proclamation signed 20 plus percent of their country away in 1922. All very sad and messy business.

[@Lissadell1916]

​@@skippership7 Indeed, the anti treaty war was a very sad and shameful part of history and of course Kathleen (then married to Jack Furlong in 1916 before he died in the flu epidemic) herself was also a member of Cumann na mBan during the Easter Rising, dodging the bullet to and from the GPO, you can see where her children got their strong republicanism ideology and ethics from.

[@maggiehagan9339]

Wolf Tones Singing James Connelly & Kevin Barry 😢😢. Also Johnny McEvoy Singing Michael Collins ( Live Version ) Watching from Glasgow Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks Maggie

[@JKR9488]

I'm English but my grandfather was irish, if I was born again I wish it would've been in ireland

[@CanadianReacts]

I’d love to visit Ireland. Hopefully soon

[@neitomonomairl]

I'm from Ireland this song is on about the British and protestant people in Ireland at the time

[@jeromeconvery267]

About the struggles of the Irish against Britain. A lot of protestant and other denominations helped . A group of men from the Shankill road in Belfast went to Dublin to fight for Ireland. For James Connolly's citizen's army.

[@marymary5494]

Now living in Ireland for 24yrs. I’m British born of Irish parents. I grew up in northern England during 1960/70’s listening to the album Irish Rebel Songs at the time the IRA were bombing England.

[@CanadianReacts]

Wow what a amazing by scary time.

[@marymary5494]

@@CanadianReactsYou mentioned someone singing this on Britain’s got talent, check this out, Steve Coogan playing one of his characters Martin Brennan, Steve has Irish parents, he managed to sing part of Come out you Black and Tans on the bbc, hilarious. For those in the know this was hilarious, for any youngsters watching it went over their heads. kzbin.info/www/bejne/onbNdnqYdqutgLcsi=q7F7XqzeFFlnBjGX 3.18

[@acewhisper38272]

I believe a 16 pounder gun can be referred to a cannon which now a days would be classed as a sort of howitzer or sumn but its basically what you'd get on a ship from back in the 1400 to 1800s

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks

[@acewhisper38272]

@@CanadianReacts no problem trying to at least give my knowledge for those who may have forgotten or didn't know also love the Irish I'm cornish which is similar both celtic but cornish different words

[@williamkelly9859]

Þhe irish were a third of wellingtons troops at Waterloo and at least 20 percent in their navy at that time..best fighting people ever.the best fighting people in the American civil war.

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks for helping me understand William

[@tomaszprzyby784]

16 pounder gun is an artillery gun that is quite thin. I'm not sure if you ever seen napoleonic era artillery pulled by horses, that's how 16 pounder looks like.

[@72mossy]

The rifles of the IRA, the lonely Banna strand(about Sir Roger Casement) 2 more songs by Wolfetones. I am Tipperary Ireland, My grandfather was in the old IRA during war of independence

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks for sharing 72Mossy

[@timmysheehan3913]

I'm impressed at how well you understand the meanings behind the lyrics even on your first listen☘ tiocfaidh ar la

[@CanadianReacts]

Great song Timmy, thanks for writing. I think I looked up the background of the song beforehand.

[@timmysheehan3913]

@@CanadianReacts even so, very impressive, I’ve only just discovered your channel today, so forgive my comments on other videos 😂

[@CanadianReacts]

@@timmysheehan3913 I appreciate every comment. Thanks

[@timmysheehan3913]

@@CanadianReacts would you love you to react to ‘Sean South of Garryowen’ next if you haven’t already 🍀

[@CanadianReacts]

@@timmysheehan3913 thanks for your suggestion

[@GrainneCarney]

The Black and Tans were the very worst of the worst, the Crown scraped the bottom of the barrell and only hired the most violent men. Their violence was only matched by their ineptitude: the mighty British armed forces got the run around from the RA and instead of actually going after the fighting men and women of the RA and Cumann na mban (translates to Irish Womens Army, many of the women in my family history right through to the current day have been involved with them, the best of the best) they turned their violence on the citizenry, burning Cork City down because they couldn't find, let alone fight the forces of the Republic. In the occupied 6 counties some of us still refer to the PSNI as the Tans (basically the same force rebranded multiple times: RIC-RUC-PSNI all the same). Tiocfaidh ár lá! Ní bheidh Éire saor go brách sa tsíocháin 26+6=1

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks

[@captaindeadpool1997]

In case you weren't aware the black and trans were Irish loyalists to the english crown they were originally known as the royal irish constabulary they got the nickname black and tans for two reasons thier guard dogs who had black and tan coats and the Mikeashed uniforms of black coats amd tan trousers

[@CanadianReacts]

Thank you sir

[@angusmckenzie9622]

@captaindeadpool "In case you weren't aware the black and trans we..."The Royal Irish Constabulary ("RIC") was a quasi military police force, different from the unarmed civil police force. Its uniform was a very dark green which looked black. The 'Tans weren't regular RIC but were former British soldiers recruited after WW1, from early 1920, following a campaign of personal attacks on members of the RIC by the IRA in late 1919 which made potential recruits reluctant to join. Numbers recruited exceeded, 13,000 and the ability of the RIC to dress them in RIC uniforms so they wore Army surplus Khaki bottoms and green-black jackets. I've read a bit, not heard the guard dogs bit though.

[@tomaszprzyby784]

It's 1year old vid but if you really want to know, the name like mine can be only from poland.

[@underthewood571]

Well buddy. Love you reacting to this. I'm from Wales with my lovely flag behind you. Us Welsh will sing this song happily as us Welsh were the first to be marginalised with the new forming of England

[@CanadianReacts]

I know, my flag is wrong and Ireland is not the UK. I've been corrected many times. I shot this video over 1 year ago.

[@benmoriarty4853]

Woow, hold your horses there, wasn't it a Welshman who was voted into power by the Welsh people the same Welshman who dived Ireland in 1921, the same Welshman who sent the Black and Tans into Ireland, the same Welshman who armed the Irish Free Staters who murdered all the brave Irish Republicans during the civl war? Or have you forgotten that?

[@CanadianReacts]

@@benmoriarty4853 I don’t know. I’m only Welsh through my mom’s parents

[@benmoriarty4853]

@@CanadianReacts He was David Lloyd George the only native Welsh Speaking British PM ever.

[@CanadianReacts]

@@benmoriarty4853 i tried learning Welsh. I was horrid.

[@gerardcush6281]

Apparently the british made their soldier pay for their own guns at the time at it cost 16 pound like £16 so that probably were the lyrics come from

[@CanadianReacts]

Hmm Others have claimed it was something to do with the weight of the shells

[@TomBall-r4d]

Collins looking a lot more bad ass than that statue in Cork on the bike

[@fahykullen9164]

Next you should react to “Jackets Green” by the Wolfe Tones

[@CanadianReacts]

I’ve never heard of that one. Thanks

[@SolidusSnapes]

a 16 pounder gun refers to the RML 16-pounder 12 cwt gun. Basically, its a cannon that fired 16 pound shells. You would know it to see.

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks C

[@CanadianReacts]

Please share

[@itsalmostfun8567]

Ireland after ww1 is the best time in their life

[@CanadianReacts]

I’ve heard many great stories

[@johnhennessy4291]

America brought the deal for Ireland

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks for your comment

[@pleasehelp2446]

My grandma is a Scottish immigrant, my grandfather was a mix of Norwegian Scottish and Irish they hated England

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks for watching

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

⁠ 16 pdr gun would be 3 inch artillery for killing natives from miles away. 18 pdr was used in WW1.

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks I’ve watching @DavyHolden and have learned a lot of Irish history

[@JoeReed-v4z]

Feeny ☘️

[@thequietman760]

You have to do the Wolfe tones Celtic symphony

[@CanadianReacts]

I happened to do that one a while back. It was one of my first requests. Cheers

[@CanadianReacts]

August 2021, or in my Irish & UK music paylist

[@CanadianReacts]

i have actually just linked it to the end. Along with Joe McDonnell

[@staffy4389]

My ol man was a Belfast republican... he came to Dublin and changed his name, then went to England and hide under their noses... he was an I.R.A ...man.... I didn't know him well,,that's life..,!move on. The 4 green fields are our provinces,,, LEINSTER,,,ULSTER,,MUNSTER ,,CONNAUGHT

[@CanadianReacts]

Cheers

[@cillyburke5616]

I'm from Ireland 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪💚🤍🧡

[@huntercleveland7950]

An Irishman performing this on Britain's Got Talent would be just like a Southerner performing a confederate song such as Southern Soldier, Rebel Soldier, or Dixie on America's Got Talent.

[@CanadianReacts]

LoL Good parallel

[@eliasbutler57]

Bit of a late response but I dont think its fair to equate the Irish struggle for independence with the South. We broke free because the British had committed genocide against us for centuries and killed our people, in addition the "Black and Tans" in the song were a force the British used in Ireland who committed numerous atrocities against innocent civilians. While Ireland broke free for its own survival, the South broke free because they were racist as shit and wanted to keep slavery

[@huntercleveland7950]

@@eliasbutler57 The Irish struggle I can see. But as a Southerner from the deep south I believe there was more to the succession than slavery. The Victor writes the history of course.

[@darkithnamgedrf9495]

@@huntercleveland7950 Nope their entire constitution was built around slavery, there are some good essays that distmantle your ideas of succession being the main reason, as this was a popular excuse to dismiss the terrible basis of the confederacy, and avoid having to acknowledge the truth. Its not so much a victor writes the history, since the Union didnt exactly want to keep old wounds opened, and so avoided the truth as well. To even try to parallel the multi century fight for irish freedom from oppression, to the confederacy is frankly insulting. How exactly were the rich and (the not so rich but still very racist lower class) white the ones being oppressed and not the 1/3 of their population in literal slavery. I have no gripes with anyone for what their ancestors did or did not, i do have gripes when people try to defend those actions.

[@huntercleveland7950]

@@darkithnamgedrf9495 I'm not defending slavery. I'm stating that those events happened hundreds of years ago and it's 98% possible that history was very much altered by the Victor to make the losing side look bad. It's happened many times before.

[@davidharkin8554]

16 pounder was a big cannon!!!

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks David

[@seanbrown453]

The British tends to win battles by using heavier and superior weaponry but it didn't work against the fermanagh who had a similar level of technology and they needed the USA to help them both ti es not to mention the Russians who lost 20 million people i

[@seanbrown453]

THAT HAVE READ GERMANS BUT MY DEVICE HAS A MINDBOFNITS OWN SOMETIMEE. PREDICTIVE TEXT IS PURE EXIL

[@seanbrown453]

ITV would never broadcast someone singi

[@stuartbailey9287]

Russians lost a lot more than 20m in World War two and lost a hell of a lot in World War One as well fighting German militarism. While the Flanders battles against the invading forces of the German Empire mentioned in the song also included French, local Belgian forces and troops from all over the British Empire including hundreds of thousands of Irish troops who the IRA basically stabbed in the back in 1916 when they took German money and weapons.

[@seanbrown453]

@@stuartbailey9287 I said Russians lost atvleastv20 million in WW 2 not WW 1 But I can virtually guarantee you more money and weapons camevfrom the US to help the Irish in their fight for independence. I lost a great grandfather in WW 1 fighting for yhe allies but his son joined the IRA as a volunteer and served with a lot of Irish who had served in WW 1 who defected to the IRA to fight for Irish Independence which was a righteous cause as freedom from innthis case British tyranny was a battle worth being fought. Especially after the Black and Tansxwere deployed and committed what would be described as war crimes these days.

[@jediroko6946]

Im from Croatia

[@CanadianReacts]

Hi Jedi

[@jediroko6946]

@@CanadianReacts hi

[@EMERALDSUSANNE]

PROUD TO BE IRISH AND STILL LIVE IN IRELAND, HOPEFULLY, THE BRITS WILL GIVE OUR LAND BACK TO US - THIEVES

[@CanadianReacts]

Love my Irish viewers

[@EMERALDSUSANNE]

Thanks so much for ur content, the time u took to make it, the subject matter and your videos are great! I hope you have all the luck of the IRISH ... KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK XXX

[@andaimhineach4131]

Na Fíanna abú!

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks

[@daviddanagher7037]

I from Ireland

[@CanadianReacts]

Hi David

[@mswrld999]

I’m northern Irish

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks for writing. I appreciate it

[@gerardcoyne9210]

President Biden's gran used to sing this song for him when he was a kid

[@CanadianReacts]

Ok

[@stuartbailey9287]

Since this song was written probably some time in the 1960's and President Biden now in his 80's bet he found his old Irish granny singing to him in his 20's a bit cringe worthy? That or the old boys memory is getting a bit bad or its something made up to win Irish American votes in Boston etc.

[@josefstalin4532]

A "16-pounder gun" is basically a big artillery cannon. The name comes from the projectiles it fires, which weighs 16 pounds. Hardly very brave to fight an opponent that uses spears and bows, if you have artillery guns with a range of well over a mile.

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks for the info

[@geraldwilson681]

This song's lyrics pretty much says it all!!🇮🇪

[@CanadianReacts]

I really enjoyed it

[@geraldwilson681]

@@CanadianReacts thank you. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. I still live here and on both my parents side they came from Ireland to start a new life here in the United States. Found out on my Mother's mother side (O'Brien) that one was a resistance figure against the British occupation and had to flee here!! Rebel man he was!!🇮🇪💪

[@geraldwilson681]

@@CanadianReacts wanted to also to say as an American that with respect I love your national anthem, your sport of ice hockey and your beer.

[@CanadianReacts]

@@geraldwilson681 cheers

[@PaulBartlett-n9b]

🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪❤️❤️

[@CanadianReacts]

I know it is the solemn anniversary of the Easter Rising.

[@Brian-Boru]

26+6=1 🇮🇪

[@CanadianReacts]

I’m not aware of the significance of the math

[@Brian-Boru]

6 counties remain occupied by armed British forces, 26 counties are free, them together = United ireland soon

[@CanadianReacts]

@@Brian-Boru thank you

[@johnnyboy125]

Nollaig shona duit

[@CanadianReacts]

Merry Christmas JohnnyBoy!

[@seanbrown453]

That was the Brititish army's soloutio

[@CanadianReacts]

History is a cruel lesson

[@simonmccullagh278]

🇮🇪

[@paddyirishman8859]

800 hundred year's fighting and still undefeated 💪 🇮🇪

[@CanadianReacts]

The proud Irish!

[@paddyirishman8859]

Thank you so much for your video ❤️

[@CanadianReacts]

@@paddyirishman8859 thanks for writing Paddy

[@stevefoulston]

"Killeshandra is a market town and a parish, in the barony Tullyhunco, county of Cavan, 77 miles NW from Dublin. Winston Churchill ordered Black and Tans into Ireland in 1920 Sending the murderous Black and Tan was the fatal mistake that drove Irish opposition to Britain to new heights. The Black and Tans, who arrived in Ireland for the first time on March 25, 1920, were Churchill’s last roll of the dice, a desperate attempt to defeat the Irish rebellion. The Black and Tan were generally thought of as the scum of the British system - British ex-soldiers, many ex-prisoners, some turned psychopaths who formed an evil and murderous militia. One Ireland. Peace out..

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks Steve I love learning these things

[@skippership7]

That is just not true, I wish you guys would not post stuff that is just not true, it's not smart and it's not clever and continues to deprive people of the real history and the facts and the truth. Its Shameful.

[@stevefoulston]

@@skippership7 British forces carried out many similar reprisals on Irish civilians during the war, notably the Sack of Balbriggan three months before and the burning of Knockcroghery six months later, but the burning of Cork was one of the most substantial. The British government at first denied that its forces had started the fires, and only agreed to hold a military inquiry. This concluded that a company of Auxiliaries were responsible, but the government refused to publish the report at the time. No one was held accountable for the burning. Peace out.

[@skippership7]

@@stevefoulston Sir, Churchill did not send the Black and Tans into Ireland as per your comment. In fact it was staunch Unionist Walter Longs idea for the Black and Tans to be formed who was head colonial office in 1919, his suggestion then went through to Field Marshall Sir John French (Viscount French) who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland at the time for his approval and then approved by British PM David Lloyd George. So it was they who sent the Black and Tans into Ireland not Churchill. Also the Black and Tans were not ex convicts, that again is just a myth and just not true. Where people get confused in the fact the Churchill was responsible for sending the Auxies into Ireland, however they were a totally different animal from the Black and Tans. They were ex officers who were smart, clever, well educated and just cold blooded assassins and killers. There is a saying that the IRA hated the Black and Tans but they feared the Auxies and with very good reason. Killeshandra happened in 1922 “after the WOI not during it”, (Treaty singed Dec 1921 and ratified by the Dail 7 Jan 1922) and after the Black and Tans and the RIC had been disbanded and Mick Collins and the Free Staters were running the 26 counties. So these were “ex” RIC and Black and Tans Irish men (20% of the B&T’s were Irish anyway and 80% of the RIC were Irish catholics) who were told to leave the town by the local IRA, so these were not serving and active Black and Tans during the WOI itself. So another myth I’m afraid. In any case the song has absolutely nothing to do with the War of Independence itself or the Irish Civil War or the “real Black and Tans” for the WOI as the events in the first verse and the rest of the song is being sung in Dublin from 1928 to 1936 within the Irish Free State, so years after the Black and Tans had been disbanded. That is the truth of it and anyone who says its not simply does not understand the issues Behan was referring to and the circumstances and times under which they were written.

[@KeshHarp]

16 pounder gun was a cannon firing a sixteen pound shell

[@CanadianReacts]

Thanks