The Irish War of Independence (Documentary)

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Great Britain had emerged victorious from the First World War, and ruled over an even larger empire than before . But many in Ireland were unhappy with British rule, and over the next two years, Irish republicans won their independence - so how did the mighty British empire lose the Anglo-Irish War?
» THANKS TO OUR CO-PRODUCERS
Ken Brownfield, David Garfinkle, Raymond Martin, Konstantin Bredyuk, Lisa Anderson, Brad Durbin, Jeremy K Jones, Murray Godfrey, John Ozment, Stephen Parker, Mavrides, Kristina Colburn, Stefan Jackowski, Cardboard, William Kincade, William Wallace, Daniel L Garza, Chris Daley, Malcolm Swan, Christoph Wolf, Simen Røste, Jim F Barlow, Taylor Allen, Adam Smith, James Giliberto, Albert B. Knapp MD, Tobias Wildenblanck, Richard L Benkin, Marco Kuhnert, Matt Barnes, Ramon Rijkhoek, Jan, Scott Deederly, gsporie, Kekoa, Bruce G. Hearns, Hans Broberg, Fogeltje
» SOURCES
Cottrell, Peter, The Irish Civil War 1922-23, (Oxford : Osprey Publishing, 2015)
De Valera, Eamon & Moynihan, Maurice, Speeches and Statements by Eamon de Valera, 1917-73, (Dublin : Gill and Macmillan, 1980)
Gibbons, Ivan, Partition: How and Why Ireland Was Divided, (London : Haus Publishing, 2021)
Bowen, Tom, “The Irish Underground and the War of Independence 1919-21” Journal of Contemporary History Vol. 8, No. 2 (Apr., 1973), pp. 3-23
Hopkinson, Michael, The Irish War of Independence, (Montreal & Kingston : McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2002)
Knirck, Jason. Imagining Ireland's Independence: The Debates Over the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. Rowman & Littlefield, 2006.
Leeson, David, The Black and Tans: British Police and Auxiliaries in the Irish War of Independence, 1920-1921, (Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2011)
Lowe, W.J., “Who Were the Black-and-Tans”, History Ireland (Autumn 2004)
Townshend, Charles, The Republic: The Fight for Irish Independence 1918-1923, (London : Penguin Books, 2013)
Hawkings, F. M. A. “Defence and the Role of Erskine Childers in the Treaty Negotiations of 1921”, Irish Historical Studies, Vol. 22, No. 87 (Mar., 1981)
Hart, Peter: “The IRA and Its Enemies” (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998)
Harvey, A.D: “Who Were the Auxiliaries?” The Historical Journal, Vol. 35, No. 3 (Sep. 1992)
Hopkinson, Michael: “The Irish War of Independence” (Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2002)
Leeson, David: “The Black and Tans: British Police and Auxiliaries in the Irish War of Independence, 1920-1921” (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011)
McMahon, Sean: “The War of Independence” (Cork: Mercier Press, 2019)
O’Brien, Paul: “Havoc: The Auxiliaries in Ireland’s War of Independence” (Cork: Collins Press, 2017)
Riddell, George: “Lord Riddell’s Intimate Diary of the Peace Conference and After: 1918-1923” (London: Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1933)
Roxbourgh, Ian: “The Military: The Mutual Determination of Strategy in Ireland, 1912-1921” in Duyvendak, Jan Willem & Jasper, James M. (eds) “Breaking Down the State: Protesters Engaged” (Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2015)
Townshend, Charles: “The Republic: The Fight for Irish Independence 1918-1923” (London: Penguin Books, 2014)
“Tubbercurry" Manchester Guardian, 4 October 1920.
Hugh Martin: "'Black and Tan' Force a Failure" Daily News 4 October 1920.
Dolan, Anne. “Killing the Bloody Sunday: November 1920” The Historical Journal
Vol. 49, No. 3 (Sep., 2006)
Hopkinson, Michael. “The Irish War of Independence” (Montreal & Kingston : McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2002)
“The Macroom Ambush” The Irish Independent, January 17 1921
McMahon, Sean. “The War of Independence” (Cork : Mercier Press, 2019)
O’Brien, Paul. “Havoc: The Auxiliaries in Ireland’s War of Independence” (Cork : Collins Press, 2017)
Ridley, Nicholas. “Michael Collins and the Financing of Violent Political Struggle” (New York : Routledge, 2018)
Roxbourgh, Ian. “The Military: The Mutual Determination of Strategy in Ireland, 1912-1921” in Duyvendak, Jan Willem & Jasper, James M. (eds) Breaking Down the State: Protesters Engaged, (Amsterdam : Amsterdam University Press, 2015)
Ryan, Meda. “The Kilmichael Ambush, 1920: Exploring the 'Provocative Chapters”, History, Vol. 92, No. 2 (306) (APRIL 2007)
»CREDITS
Presented by: Jesse Alexander
Written by: Jesse Alexander
Director: Toni Steller
Editing: Philipp Appelt
Motion Design: Philipp Appelt
Mixing, Mastering & Sound Design: above-zero.com
Research by: Jesse Alexander
Fact checking: Florian Wittig
Executive Producer: Florian Wittig
Channel Design: Yves Thimian
Contains licensed material by getty images, AP and Reuters
Maps: MapTiler/OpenStreetMap Contributors & GEOlayers3
All rights reserved - Real Time History GmbH 2024

[@TheGreatWar]

Use code "greatwar" at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: incogni.com/greatwar

[@HERETOHELPPEOPLE121]

Called the dial lmfao hahahaha 🤣😅🤣🤣

[@kathb78]

@@HERETOHELPPEOPLE121It is Dáil Éireann, Assembly of Ireland.

[@rebel4029]

Lets not forget many irishmen fought and died in WW1, when those who survived and returned home brought back their seasoned veterancy and combat expertise

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

And were murdered by the IRA!

[@daveanderson3805]

Although an insurgency war is quite different to the butchery of the western front.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

@@daveanderson3805 Much easier, more British soldiers died of disease and accidents in Ireland than were killed by the IRA

[@jeremyfoster6942]

the military uprising was utterly crushed , they were no seasoned veterans!,

[@lydon1337]

And even then.... the brits were also battlehardened veterans i assume. There were enough protestants in the pale amd beyond im sure

[@Guttsdoyle]

Kind of missed the most important part. The leaders of the 1916 Rising were brutally and inhumanely executed in prison. That galvanized public opinion in Ireland to fully support a Republic and effectively ruined any chance the British Empire had of slipping the yoke of centuries of oppression back on.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

The leaders of the 1916 brutally murdered 400 innocent people and betrayed the free people of Europe to the German tyranny! WHAT oppression, come one WHAT OPPRESSION? It was all a lie but you knew that deep down, didn't you?

[@sarpyasar5893]

@@MrLorenzovanmatterhoyes they did killed civilians but then the British had the great idea of shelling every building they saw in Dublin so the British killed just as much as civilians as the rising members and stop whining about the alliance with Germany any one would have done that

[@whitetroutchannel]

​@@sarpyasar5893the people on the streets of dublin spat and jeered the 1916 rebels upon there arrest and marched to jail before death sentence was passed and the fact of them being killed swung the public mind had they been thrown in jail the story could have been different but the british always seem intent in supplying the irish with heroes

[@invisibleray6987]

They were traitors

[@jumper1680]

Galvanized Square steel….

[@TrihardGamesWorkshop]

A small anachronism is that Ulster is not Northern Ireland Ulster is 9 counties of the province, and Northern Ireland is 6 of those 9.

[@frankharrington8528]

Gerrymandering to guarantee a protestant unionist stateless.

[@frankharrington8528]

Statelet

[@whitetroutchannel]

@@frankharrington8528 the last place on earth where an irish catholic can be just that, the catholic nation for the catholics couldnt even enshrine the rights of irish citizens, unionists protected the gaelic language and stopped it being confined to history, your secterianism presents itself as ignorance

[@damionkeeling3103]

@@whitetroutchannel A hundred years after independence and Irish is spoken by less people today despite a larger population than back in 1922. As is typical, the middle and upper classes who barely spoke Irish wanted nothing to do with the language. They allowed some words to be used for flavour but otherwise sidelined the language.

[@stuartkelly3106]

People know this, but Ulster is the name used. Ulster is not a political entity and so can be used loosely.

[@battlnerd2128]

finally someone ignored the lawyers' advice not to comment on this event

[@peterroycroft]

Which event in particular are you referring to?

[@prophetsnake]

What are talking about?

[@michaeloconnell607]

Thanks!

[@Creamy6oodness]

"They said i was ruthless, daring, savage, bloodthirsty, even hearless. The clergy called us murderers. But the british were met with their own weapons. They went into the mire to destroy the Irish and our nation, and down after them we had to go." -Tom Barry

[@reycesarcarino4653]

The Clergy is with the One who Rules

[@Burritodude227]

My great grandad was a column member, but he rarely ever told my father about the war because he had severe ptsd

[@PartrickLane]

England was mucking with Ireland long before the Act of Union of 1800 and the relationship was very bitter over 800 years.

[@Admiralofthedeeps]

Just a small note, the Dáil is pronounced as though you were saying Dall, not dail. Pedantic whinge over, that was a great video as always.

[@dik943]

It's not even a real language anyways

[@VikingBrave]

@@dik943 What do you mean by that?

[@echophantom8511]

​@@dik943 it is and its older than english

[@myparceltape1169]

I usually hear it as Doyle.

[@Nobodythatmatter]

I would have said dawl, almost like dawn but swapped the N for L.

[@elainethomson7146]

Greatly enjoyed this. Very informative and I think impartial.

[@herbertmarshal]

Thanks!

[@janterpstra9438]

Great video overall, but it’s “RIC”, not “IRC” for the royal irish constabulary

[@theMosen]

And the Dáil is pronounced "doil", not "dial"

[@jeremiahmarkusmedia6915]

cool stuff! You guys are one of my favorite channels. It's so rad that you've dedicated this content specifically to ww1. Theres so much cool lore and could easilly spend entire lifetime studying this era. And the funny part is that almost every modern geo political situation can be traced back to ww1 in some way.. Anyways keep vibin and keep posting!

[@ranica47]

SOME of Ulster stayed in the UK not all of it. The Unionists used to love saying "Ulster says No" when they objected to, well, everything but they aren't even all of Ulster, 3 counties are in the Republic.

[@whitetroutchannel]

did you sit up all night thinking of that comment

[@ranica47]

@@whitetroutchannel Now why on earth would you suggest that? I barely even remember writing this, primarily because it didn't take much thinking to do so. Simple facts my friend don't take time to put down in words. Also simple mathematics: 6 is less than 9.

[@geordiewishart1683]

But six counties are FEWER. Fud

[@whitetroutchannel]

@@ranica47 it seems you didnt get the sardonic tone my friend, ill re-word it, you stated the bloody obvious

[@ranica47]

@@geordiewishart1683 You are correct, fewer. Thanks for pointing it out,I usually do get that right.

[@victorocallaghan6791]

I am from Macroom in County Cork. Macroom was the centre of the fighting in the Irish war of Independance. Michael Collins was shot nearby as well as the Kilmichael ambush. It can be surprising sometimes of people from up the country and abroad come and visit these historical sites

[@garethrice6195]

Why is it surprising??. I go to Béal na bláth, Kilmichael, Clonmult, and Ballyseedy at least once a year.

[@daithideburca98]

Hard to say it was the centre of a national uprising considering Tuam was the first town burned by the Tans before cork due to reprisal for insurrection activities if which my grand uncle was involved in

[@victorocallaghan6791]

@@daithideburca98 The vast majority of the fighting in the war of Independance and civil war was in Cork and Kerry. And Macroom is in the centre of Cork. Two of the largest ambushes, Kilmichael and Cul na Catharagh in Ballyvourney are in the vicinity of Macroom

[@victorocallaghan6791]

@@garethrice6195 Why is it surprising you ask. Everytime you pass Beal na Blath there is someone looking at the monument. Once I headed to Skibbereen and passed the Kilmichael ambush on the way down and there was English tourists there and then on the way back from Skibbereen there was German tourists there. So yes from a local perspective you could meet anyone from anywhere at nearly anytime of the day at these notable monumnets

[@ellmag6028]

This was a great video and very informative. I just wanted to add a few extra details for anybody interested: The IRA conducted a very sophisticated offensive against British authorities during the War of Independence, so much so that Michael Collins is widely seen as being the founder of modern guerrilla warfare tactics. As a result, there have been numerous studies on the guerrilla warfare tactics that were used during this war. Besides ambushes, the IRA conducted countless raids on RIC barracks that were dotted throughout the country. This supplied the IRA with badly needed guns and munitions for their cause. As ammunition was a problem for the IRA, they disrupted the British authorities in many ways. This saw numerous bridges blown up, train robberies, communication lines cut, roads blocked, the interception of mail and much more. A very effective tactic used by the IRA and regular people was to boycott the RIC and anyone associated with them. Some shops and pubs wouldn’t serve RIC constables drink and other goods, and the locals would not speak to them. This would have hurt the RIC constables a lot. Also, many of the RIC constables resented the black and tans, and there are accounts of constables quitting the force after seeing atrocities and other actions committed by the black and tans. And lastly, you say that the Irish negotiating team ‘thought’ that they had the authority to sign a treaty on behalf of the Dail. I feel as though its important to acknowledge that they knew they had the authority. The negotiating team had plenipotentiary status, so they knew they could sign matters on behalf of the Dail and Irish Republic. However, despite this status, they were given strict orders in the Dail before the meetings to not sign anything under any circumstances before consulting the Dail. Upon signing the treaty, Michael Collins remarked ‘today, I have signed my own death warrant’, which illustrates how contentious the treaty/decision to sign was. Overall, I highly enjoyed this video and it provided excellent coverage of this history.

Interesting once again. Thank you

[@scottmccrea1873]

The British were not prepared to go full SS on the Irish. The Irish weren't going to stop. The amount of force required was incommensurate with morality.

[@Roundhay2718]

That never bothered the British before

[@poil8351]

They sort of did on a small scale. Of course the usa probably played a role given they irish were getting alot of support from America. And the british were not really all that willing to risk canada over ireland.

[@scottmccrea1873]

@@poil8351 The British did some nasty stuff, not denying that at all. But they didn't round up hundreds of thousands of Irish civilians. Or murder tens of thousands of them. The British could have absolutely won the war. But the price was simply not worth it. Even Churchill, always ready for a fight, understood this.

[@poil8351]

@scottmccrea1873 well the blacks and tans were sort of like the germans in crete on much smaller scale. And the auxiliaries. Certain units were virtual death squads a bit like 1970s/80s dirty wars south america. The irish were pretty bad also murdering poltical oppents and suspected collaboraterd and at times just people they had grudges with. Of course the fact that Britain had just finished a nasty war and had a number of other colonial wars to deal with and also the pesky Bolsheviks meant that they were unwilling to spare the manpower to fight an nasty unpopular war on their own doorstep. Also the threat of similar uprisings in Scotland and wales was likely at the back of the establishments mind especially with the whole communism thingy going on.

[@RayshiaRoman]

The difference is that the Irish can actually fight back now. The Brits can't just starve them again by the 1920s :v

[@joeyfitz9]

Outstanding documentary, thank you so much for posting! One small note if I may, the correct pronunciation of the Irish word Dáil is more along the lines of the word 'oil' with a 'd' preceding it.

[@indianajones4321]

Another excellent doc Great War team!

[@patrickheath5011]

The single best history video series on KZbin (or anywhere for that matter)

[@bavelnaard]

Epic video, epic last subtitle too 👍🏻

[@austinruss9220]

15:27 that guy going gun to gun staring down the business end of each??? Omega brain

[@joaosaran4440]

his brain was so big he was desperately trying to find a way to make it a little bit smaller

[@damionkeeling3103]

Standard military practice of the time to inspect for clean barrels. Note that the bolts are all in the open position so the weapons can't be fired.

[@etpoculasacra]

Britain withdrew because it was impossible to 'win' this conflict. It wasn't so much a war as a Taliban-like guerrilla insurgency which went on for years and divided the island almost household by household (between Catholics and Protestants). Exhausted by WWI, the British eventually cut their losses and opted for negotiation, partition, and settlement. This became a strategy for other impossible-to-win stalemates as Britain withdrew from territories it administered over the next fifty years.

[@BillyBob-ri9pm]

Yes and as in other colonies they left a wee mess behind when they went with their love of partition and lines drawn on maps.

[@ComfortsSpecter]

Incredible History Amazing Presentation Wonderful Details and some Proper Semantics Feel’s so Tact

[@danielcreamer9669]

Timely video thanks Great War!

[@johnfromwales6713]

Just to say; its pronounced "Dawl" not Dial.

[@winterwolf9797]

It’s pronounced doil

[@joeadams3228]

I love this channel!

[@michaelcollins1211]

As an Irishman who studies history, this is outstanding

[@SB-qm5wg]

Informative video. Thank you.

[@GelgoogJ]

History may not repeat, but it sure does rhyme.

[@TimothyFisher-kf7cq]

I actually wanna ask, since you guys made a video on the Battle of Verdun about 2 months ago, will we be seeing one on the Somme anytime soon?

[@TheGreatWar]

yes

[@godlovesyou1995]

@@TheGreatWar hooray!

[@sonderson8389]

@@TheGreatWarwonderful

[@habatone]

Brilliant video. One correction though. The dail is generally pronounced "daul"

[@fiachramaccana280]

The Home Rule bill (far short of independence) was passed; signed and immediately shelved by the British in 1912. The cunning trick by the British was giving the Unionists an absolute veto over it. Which killed it completely. Everybody knew the Unionists would never agree to any form of home rule. They even opposed more local government power which they vetoed and then torpedoed in 1906. This deliberate policy destroyed the constitutional route because the Irish knew that no matter how often they voted for home rule/independence parties nothing would ever happen. The Unionists who were less than 20% of the total population would simply veto every proposal. After all, the Unionists were the British settler ruling class in Ireland and they knew it. And nothing short of war would change it. Thus knowing war was the only route, Sinn Fein/IRA had a dual strategy. One was fighting a guerrilla war. The other was taking over every local government body in the 26 counties by winning all elections from 1918. They then set up their own police force and court system. This hollowed out British occupation so that they had no effective control except in the largest cities. By keeping the IRA in being and successfully striking British patrols they forced the British on the back foot. Victory in this situation is not losing militarily against an enemy 10xs your size. By raising the cost for the British so an unacceptable level for them. And keeping your forces in the field. Every successful guerilla campaign in the 20th century followed the same strategy. The Americans prevented the British from the usual policy of large scale massacres (like Amritsar and hundreds of others) in order not to have an issue with the Irish American vote in the US. So the British could only carry out local small scale massacres and acts of terrorism. They simply could not get the kill rate of innocent victims to a high enough level to break the population. But the British wanted to and indeed their burning of Cork city is one example of them testing out of a large scale terror campaign for media reaction. However given the global media reaction to that particular terrorist operation, burning down other large Irish cities was then deemed to be a high risk strategy. Instead they decided that burning towns and villages and massacring 3-5 civilians per operation was ok. Which was how the British fought the war. All along, the primary objective of the British was to prevent home rule whilst avoiding direct responsibility for failing to implement it. Remember the government was controlled by the Conservatives who were the largest party in the coalition from 1916. And they were dedicated imperialists. The Liberals who were nominally pro home rule were split in half at this point; a small minority in government after 1918 and a few years from being completely wiped out as a political force. By giving out the Unionist veto this made the Unionists the fall guys. Which the Unionists were perfectly happy happy to be. And of course, this allowed the British to pretend to be neutral to international observers. Its an old trick but it didn't work in this situation. So plan B was to partition the country and offer limited independence to the 26 counties.

[@MarkHarrison733]

Home Rule broke up the UK, as devolution did. The only massacres were by the IRA.

[@rannenw6207]

​@MarkHarrison733 That isn't true, and you know it. History is muddled in the Grey. That is like saying the Union or Confederates didn't raid or burn town in the US Civil War they both most certainly did.

[@MarkHarrison733]

@@rannenw6207 The only atrocities were by the IRA.

[@gerrycoogan6544]

Brilliant summary!

[@SteveSmith-mu2fy]

I'm glad they are hashing it out.

[@thomaswayneward]

Is anyone against a people that want to be free from an outside government?

[@seanmccann8368]

The outside government!

[@WeeWeeJumbo]

@@seanmccann8368THAT PART.

[@thostaylor]

It depends what they do. Few people supported The Angry Brigade or the Red Brigade or have much time for American militia groups or the Davidians. This wasn't Passport to Pilmico. Besides, Home Rule was already on the table, the only question was what to do about the North who did not want it.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

What outside government was that? We Irish were no different from anyone else, Nationalists just wanted a Catholic tyranny, that's all.

[@darbyohara]

The British. They don’t seem to understand that when folks say gtfo they mean it and will stack limeys to get there

[@LeggieGlasgow]

In Glasgow certain pubs sell a drink called a black n tan stout for the tan and guinness for the black .

[@Who-rx5ky]

I'm just asking, but is there any chance you could do something on Northern ireland or the Unionist movement across ireland because most don't know much about which leads to not understanding why they actually opposed home rule and why they resorted to militarism by 1913.

[@cigarettesmokingman9471]

Whoa, at about 10 seconds in...are those troops running the lewis gun manually as fast as possible?

[@Philip271828]

Because to win such a war you have to do so much damage that you may as well not have bothered.

[@tedhodge4830]

Well, and they also got to keep Northern Ireland....

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

@@tedhodge4830 Local people got to decide . . .

[@nicholasevangelos5443]

This didn't deter other escalations of colonial counterinsurgency actions into total war, mass torture, scorched earth, concentration camps and indiscriminate massacres of civilians, such as by the French in Algeria (repeatedly going back to the 1830s) and the French and then Americans in Indochina, to take just the two most prominent examples of the decolonization wars. It's not making a difference in Gaza right now that they are doing "so much damage" that nothing will be left but depopulated rubble. What stops counterinsurgency campaigns by militarily superior powers is the costs to the colonial powers themselves, assuming their home populations are unwilling to bear these costs. At that time, after WWI, London saw that there was a limit to what the British people (and the political opponents of keeping all Ireland at all costs) would continue to bear. In the US, the acceptable costs have been much lower since Vietnam, which is why the actions in Iraq and Afghanistan have ended despite the move to volunteer armies and drone and other remote warfare.

[@myparceltape1169]

@freebeerfordworkers The Ireland Alone people still want to turn Ulster into a bog. Like Conemaragh.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

Britain did win though.

[@wfp5484]

Decent video, well done, surely this is the handbook called "independence 101" for future rebel causes.

[@natheriver8910]

Very interesting 👏 👏 👏

[@justwowmanplays2941]

Hey, happy 10 years! One of the best channels around. Looking forward to the next 10!

[@stevidente]

A democracy cannot fight sedetion or rebellion without compromising its morality.

[@Fetherko]

We defeated the Confederacy. 🇺🇸

[@bdleo300]

British "morality" lol

[@seanmccann8368]

britain was never a democracy, still isn't and never will be.

[@markpower9081]

What democracy are you referring to? Because at this point Ireland was governed by a couple of civil servants appointed by a foreign government who were not accountable to the Irish people, and could not be democratically replaced by the Irish people.

[@hutch8569]

Could you do a video on The Troubles in the 60s and 70s?

[@micahistory]

You summed it up quite well when you explained that the Irish lost militarily but won politically while it was vice versa for the british

[@nicholasevangelos5443]

This is often the outcome with counterinsurgency warfare. US military historians are still complaining about how the Americans "won" the Tet Offensive. The Vietnamese command itself was appalled at the costs they had paid militarily. But the main aim, to win politically, was achieved: US public opinion turned against American boots on the ground (though Nixon kept the war going for another five years before completing "Vietnamization," by ending the draft and escalating the bombing).

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

No, Britain won politically and militarily, Britain won, we had everything we wanted.

[@markpower9081]

@freebeerfordworkers The British Army decided in 1914 that it wouldn't enforce the sovereign parliament's laws in relation to any Ulster rebellion.

[@markpower9081]

@@MrLorenzovanmatterho A country leaving the Empire is not what Britain wanted. The British Army leaving Ireland was noticed all over the Empire.

[@micahistory]

@@nicholasevangelos5443 yeah

[@thenationaltimelyactionhou9328]

Very interesting.

[@awolpeace1781]

Black & Tans have an interesting history which could be made into a series, bandits and thugs turned into paramilitaries. That could sing.

[@myparceltape1169]

From soldiers conscripted into the trenches to being in the position where you could see your soldiering.

[@garethrice6195]

​@freebeerfordworkerscorrect they were not prisoners as was our propaganda at the time. Prisoners would of behaved better. The Auxiliaries were even worse. I do always wonder how many of them came back from the war with shell shock and P.T.S.D. but were put back into service over here.

[@1425363878]

Where did you get the information that the people of Cork were compensated for the burning? I can't find any such info.

[@gloverfox9135]

He said it came to him in a dream

[@garethrice6195]

Yes they did receive compensation from our own side. The likes of Cmdt Dennis Barry ( head of Irish Republican Police in Cork ) were involved in people receiving compensation.

[@Eralun]

The IRA was not named that until after they ambushed the policeman. The ambush was done without he permission of the new Irish government and ended it's hopes there'd be a peaceful end to British rule. After that, they gave the armed group the offical name Irish Republican Army.

[@ellmag6028]

Interesting. The soloheadbeg ambush and the establishment of the dail took place on the same day (not planned, just coincidence I believe). I was led to believe that following the establishment of the Dail, the IRB became recognised as the official army of the dail, the Irish Republican Army

[@brownsey1]

​@@ellmag6028The IRB was a separate organisation with a separate leadership structure. You could be a member of the IRB and IRA, but they were different groups. The IRA essentially emerged from the preexisting Irish Volunteer movement, which had rapidly recruited new members between 1917-18.

[@ellmag6028]

@@brownsey1 yes you are absolutely right. I just got the IRB and Irish Volunteers mixed up there! I meant to say the Irish Volunteers became the official army of the dail, being then known as the IRA. Excuse the mistake, Its hard to keep track of all the different organisations🤣

[@maurbyrne]

The Irish MP's arranged their schedule so they took up almost 25% of parliamentary time. The Irish won because they bored the socks off the rest of the empire.

[@markpower9081]

Most Irish MPs didn't sit in parliament during the War of Independence. The majority of those who did were Unionist.

[@blackriders3509]

It is almost impossible to defeat Europeans on their homeland. Particularly if they are fighting a guerrilla war. That is why English elites thought they needed to eliminate the entire population. Otherwise they would be bogged down for eternity, which they were

[@rabihrac]

The similarity with our nowadays Middle-East issues is striking... Thanks to you Jesse and crew, I know much more about the exciting history of the relationship between Irish and British. Keep up the great work!

[@noodlyappendage6729]

There is no similarity with the Middle East.

[@rabihrac]

@@noodlyappendage6729 Oh yes there are, especially in Lebanon. I mean the religious affiliations concerning politics and sectarian violence. Moreover, one sect, the Protestants, was backed by the mighty neighbor UK. In parallel, some Muslim sects were backed in Lebanon by the mighty neighbor Syria, during the Lebanese Civil War between 1975 and 1990

[@aheat3036]

@@noodlyappendage6729The Balfour Declaration started the mess in the Middle East and now Israel has its own version of apartheid just like South Africa did.

[@darnellbiggumsthe9th658]

@@rabihraci’m from the north of ireland and please don’t mistake our conflict as a religious one because it isn’t, irish nationalists/republicans primarily happen to be catholics although there’s been plenty of protestant irish republicans such as wolfetone, ronnie bunting (he established the Irish National Liberation Army) and i’m sure there’s been catholic unionists/loyalists, our fight is a a war of national identity i.e ethnic irish vs ethnic british the same way it is with the palestinians

[@BlueJayWaters]

As taboo as it is, I'm interested in the black and tans because it was made of up of WW1 vets. Back then, taking veterans and mobilizing them without any deprogramming we do with our service members today, is what I believe, as a veteran myself, why they caused so much violence. Their combat triggered PTSD would cause them to lose control and cause such heinous reprisals. I wonder if theres a book on this very topic

[@24hrs365]

Many books on the Black and Tans, Terror and Troubles by T Ryle Dwyer, The Black and Tans by Richard Bennet, The Black and Tans by Jim Herlihy. Just a few ideas.

[@padraigpearse1551]

Proud to say that both sides of my family were heavily involved during this entire period and later.

[@myparceltape1169]

Then they probably were better than the provos. An old Irish man looked at the daily news about the country he had fought to make. He lifted his head from the pillow and shook his head. "That's noe army, that's just a bunch o' thugs."

[@padraigpearse1551]

@@myparceltape1169 provos too. My family has been involved since at least the IRB in the 1890s and up to the Provos in 1980s

[@dan-860]

So proud you seem to mention it in every comment section. Pride or attention seeking?

[@darbyohara]

The British lost because they chose to fight Irish independence. If they’d just have accepted Irish independence as voted by the Irish people a peaceful transition could have taken place. The British spent 700 years mistreating and oppressing the Irish so they’d never win any war against a determined population who were mostly against them

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

What are you talking about? What is WRONG with you? Irish Unionists rejected a fascist sectarian dictatorship and preferred to remain part of free and democratic Britain. How can you not understand that?

[@High_rise12]

@@MrLorenzovanmatterho”fascist sectarian dictatorship” mate northern Ireland exists because it was formed as an apartheid state to keep parts of Ireland under Anglo Scottish control

[@ImSorryFive]

@@MrLorenzovanmatterho They could always be part of the Union back home in Scotland! Free and Democratic as they like.

[@GazD1970]

That's kind of the way the Brits do everything.

[@darbyohara]

@@GazD1970 right, shove their way into places, start or instigate wars, then refuse to leave when they’re not wanted or beaten

[@danalden1112]

“No policeman will ever be prosecuted for shooting a man ,” sounds like the best definition of qualified immunity for law enforcement 😢

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

And a complete lie. George Smyth was a true Irish hero, just check out his Wiki

[@sgtcwhatley]

Qualified immunity has nothing to do with criminal charges.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

@freebeerfordworkers Gerald Smyth, a true Irish hero never said any such thing, complete IRA propaganda

[@MatthewHenry-ym6bb]

The British made promises of home rule to the Irish that if they joined up to fight for them in the first world war, which the Irish did in a huge percentage per the population, but after the war the British reneged on these promises.

[@MarkHarrison733]

Incorrect. The IRA began a failed terrorist uprising before Home Rule could be implemented. As a result Home Rule only functioned in Northern Ireland.

[@scoobydan1585]

What do u expect from a pig but a grunt

[@courtpaul9334]

From the Beautiful Caribbean Islands 🏝 of Trinidad & Tobago w.i 🇹🇹 We ❤ & support this magnificent ch.

[@TheHomie954]

Trinidad 🇹🇹 💪🏾

[@alexandregamb]

Hard to fight a war when the enemi is within.

[@scapeagoat2520]

Give Ireland back to the Irish

[@godlovesyou1995]

I am both British and Irish, I'm happy here, we are all the same.

[@philiphunn194]

Don’t worry, Brexit will probably result in Irish unification in the long run.

[@aethellstan]

and hawaii back to the hawaiians, north america back to the navajo, comanche etc, south america back to the aztecs etc and so on.

[@balabanasireti]

Then respect the opinions of your own people in Northern Ireland

[@peacefulamerican4994]

give the moon back to the moonies.​@@aethellstan

[@Lexingtonandconcord75]

If you ask the British, they got cheated or lied to or some other factor to avoid saying they got beat

[@MarkHarrison733]

Britain did not lose.

[@Irishman0855]

Thanks for the video🇮🇪

[@Magyarorszag90]

Please do one video on the Eastern Front of the Turkish War of Independence. Its very less covered.

[@kevinkane2843]

A key piece of information as to the motivations of the general Irish population before the war is that most Irish (especially in Dublin) were not looking to split from English rule. The People in Dublin were angry at the rebels for the damage that was caused to their city during the rising. It was only after Gen.Maxwell ordered the executions of the rebels and created martyrs, that then caused the Irish people to turn on the British rule.

[@MrBagpipes]

Prior to 1916 a huge majority of Irish people voted for those who espoused freedom from English rule.

[@kevinkane2843]

@@MrBagpipes I had always believed that those party's objectives were to have a devolved government but still be attached to the crown. I'm going on what I remember from college 15years ago so I'm definitely rusty. Always remember being taught that the Easter rising captives were heckled by the locals for all the damage from the gun boat.

[@cobbler9113]

@@MrBagpipes The Irish Party wanted Ireland to be able to govern itself, but remain in the British Empire. Their support among the people evaporated because of their pro-war stance during WW1, especially after the Easter Rising when Nationalist opinion shifted from autonomy to republicanism and total independence.

[@patrickheath5011]

Source?

[@ipfreely679]

​@@patrickheath5011source- nearly every history book written about it, I learned it school

[@welcometonebalia]

Thank you.

[@joshuaconnelly2415]

By 1916 many Irish had become accustomed to being part of the UK, despite wishing otherwise. The Irish Uprising was brave but brutally crushed. The British made the fatefully inhumane decision to execute participants in the uprising, swiftly and brutally, and in order to heighten intimidation the press were allowed to publicize those fated to execution. When the Irish public saw the beautiful faces and read the impressive biographies of their doomed brethren, and when the public saw British brutality against such people, the Irish public awoke, awoke from many years of abuse and repression. Once the Irish people turned against the British, there was no stopping them. After centuries of foreign domination, Irish independence was born (albeit in stages).

[@MarkHarrison733]

That myth has been debunked.

[@joshuaconnelly2415]

@@MarkHarrison733, myth? Your face has been debunked.

[@MarkHarrison733]

@@joshuaconnelly2415 It made no difference to public opinion.

[@tomaspadilla8698]

It's a shame that there is still not a unified Ireland today.

[@MarkHarrison733]

Ireland reunited with the UK on 1 January 1973.

[@m1n10ns8]

does this count as study for my history exams?

[@bobsemple9341]

This is pure cope ​@freebeerfordworkers

[@19dec1981]

It was on a dreary New Years Eve as the shade of night fell down...

[@celticstories]

Dáil is pronounced dawl lmao 1:40

[@Natedawg38]

Soooo tricky to explain to outsiders

[@jimmyryan5880]

Ulster and Northern Ireland are not the same thing. I think when you use it at the start its ok because the NI border had not been draw but its not accurate to say Ulster is in the UK, NI is.

[@christianmccann9400]

Borders in the Irish sea mate

[@koeman1873]

@@christianmccann9400 There is also a border on land between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland mate.

[@bobsemple9341]

​@@koeman1873not "Republic of Ireland", the countries name is Ireland

[@koeman1873]

@bobsemple9341 also called the Republic of Ireland in most references to the country.

[@bobsemple9341]

@@koeman1873 nope, it's called Ireland and you'll respect that. If you can't. Simply don't speak.

[@joeyj6808]

"Look out for One Shot paddy and his friend named Eamon Wright!

[@darrendelaney9955]

38% of Ulster is in the Republic of Ireland. Don't know why he says Ulster remained in the UK.

[@MarkHarrison733]

Ireland reunited with the UK on 1 January 1973.

[@darrendelaney9955]

@@MarkHarrison733 Hahaha ah no it didn't 😂😉👍

[@MarkHarrison733]

@@darrendelaney9955 It clearly did.

[@darrendelaney9955]

@@MarkHarrison733 by joining the European Union???

[@MarkHarrison733]

@@darrendelaney9955 Both the UK and Ireland signed away their sovereignty when they reunited on 1 January 1973.

[@TheUKNutter]

There’s a great song about this war called “the British soldier” by harvey andrews. Surprisingly melancholy.

[@krautbrain]

3:15 ears

[@weeeeehhhhh]

Man's head looks like the Webb Ellis Cup

[@martinmadden2792]

Should not have been there in the first place!

[@tzsteve33]

Really enjoyed this, my grandfather fought in the1916 rising, the war of independence and the civil war. I was lucky to be able to get hold of his witness statement for the 1916 and his military records for the civil war as these were required for the pension that followed in the 40”s. I would love to be able to find out his role in this war of independence but by grandmother ( now deceased)who was his second wife and was much younger said he never liked to talk about it. Anyway thx for making and sharing this video.

[@Jim54_]

When talking about modern Ireland, one thing that needs to be mentioned was how a Protestant Irish Parliament successfully gained independence for Ireland between 1782 and 1800, during which time Catholics got most of their rights back, with most Irish people of different faiths uniting under the ideologies of either constitutionalism or Republicanism, with both in favour of varying degrees of Irish sovereignty/autonomy and increased personal rights. This independence ended when a failed Republican Revolution in 1798 led British prime minister William Pitt to intimidate and bribe the Irish Parliament into merging the Kingdom Ireland into the UK after an initial Union vote failed. Ireland’s Parliament was forced to merge with The British one (though the courts and civil service of Ireland remained separate, but nominally subject to Westminster from now on). People on both sides seem to have completely forgotten this chapter in Irish history, because Protestants and Catholics fighting together for an independent Irish Kingdom doesn’t fit anyone’s narrative, and yet it had a major impact on the island. Unionism, Republicanism and Constitutionalism all originate from the original Irish volunteers that used the opportunity of the American Revolution distracting Britain to revolt in 1782. This heralded the independence and has shaped all aspects of Irish politics ever since

[@talideon]

Add to that the use of the Orange Order as a sectarian catspaw after 1798 to turn presbyterians against catholics. It was also an effective tool in neutering the lower classes. Previously to that, its membership had been mainly Anglican/CoI and centred in Cork and Dublin. A lot of the subsequent sectarian violence that cropped up in the subsequent two centuries can be tracked down to the creation of that false consciousness.

[@seanmccann8368]

Lots of Irish ppeople are well informed on the 1798 Rebellion and the part played by men like Wolfe Tone, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, Henry Joy McCracken, Robert Emmett, etc.. However the more recent history of our country is better known naturally.

[@Jim54_]

@@seanmccann8368 no one knows about Grattan though

[@seanmccann8368]

@@Jim54_ Yes we do, why wouldn't we?

[@Jim54_]

@@seanmccann8368 its not taught much at all in schools in Ireland. I know because I only finished school a few years ago and the history curriculum is largely the same as it had been since 1992

[@EnoreeRiverDrifter]

The auxiliary and black and tan forces were british from the north and England ,with scots, welsh, Boars, some Australian and New Zealander officers.

[@Freep-m2l]

I'm shocked they got colonized for over 700 years!!!!

[@MarkHarrison733]

Ireland was never a colony.

[@dansocha401]

Over a century has passed, and despite all of the bloodshed, lives lost and insufferable complications, the very simple question remains: Was the partition of Ireland legitimate, or not?

[@garethrice6195]

No, in the Election in December 1918 Sinn Féin ( not the party with same name today ) won 70 seats out of 105 possible. They won on a mandate of complete independence from Britain. This mandate was ignored. I try to think of anything like it today. The best example I can give is Edinburgh in the brexit vote polled over 74% to remain ( just using Brexit as an example ) while the majority voted for Brexit, less majority then voted for independence in 1918. It would be like Edinburgh saying we don't agree with the rest of Britain so we will set up our own state.

[@dardell2001]

I've yet to talk to anyone from Ireland that doesn't think Éamon de Valera was a traitor who had Michael Collins killed.

[@MarkHarrison733]

Collins was the traitor.

[@Creaner1]

And here you have the dichotomy of Ireland. The divide in perspectives that caused the civil war. You were either pro treaty (Pro Collins) like me or Anti Treaty(Pro Dev) like the above commenter. These divisions still exist today although they are usually civilised disagreements now then out right war. Thankfully

[@stephendeane7509]

De Valera was completely irrelevant by the time Collins was killed. He had no control at all over the IRA at the time so he 100% did not have Collins killed.

[@callu947]

@@MarkHarrison733west Brit

[@panoramicLight]

What an idiotic thing to say. ​@@MarkHarrison733

[@garethgartland6515]

Sinn Fein did not directly have any involvement in the Easter rising, rather some of its newer members such as deValera and Collins were previously apart of the Easter rising. The rising was wrongly dubbed ‘Sinn Fein rising’ by British newspapers and this is what caused many to believe Sinn Fein had direct involvements in the rising. Their leader Arthur Griffith in 1916 was also arrested wrongly accused of being involved in the rising, in fact Sinn Fein founded by Griffith in 1906 was not founded on republican views that many who took part in the riding believed in, but instead was founded on the belief of a dual monarchy similar to the Austro-Hungarian empire.

[@MarkHarrison733]

Sinn Fein was involved in the failed terrorist uprising.

[@gameking50P]

Because in the end, the UK wasn't willing to commit to the level of repression needed to quash the IRA. Michael Collins played it smart and gambled on that

[@MarkHarrison733]

Collins betrayed Ireland.

[@Irishman0855]

@@MarkHarrison733I agree

[@AndrewC.McPherson-xf5zw]

How did Marching Season rollout that yr?

[@Diksjim]

Erin Go Bragh

[@obsidianjane4413]

lol you left off the "reptile" part of the signoff tag.

[@nicholasevangelos5443]

Perhaps because they mean it seriously? Mwa ha ha ha!

[@Cpt.Blackadder]

Erin go Bragh!!

[@Colonel_Blimp]

Interesting that woke utube can’t (or won’t) translate Gaelic.

[@nicholasevangelos5443]

@@Colonel_Blimp I noticed that, but somehow I don't think it's because it's "woke."

[@Colonel_Blimp]

@@nicholasevangelos5443 well maybe not but it can translate all kinds of stuff including Latin and Ancient Greek script.

[@ranica47]

​@@Colonel_BlimpBtw we call it Irish not Gaelic, nobody, literally nobody in Ireland calls it Gaelic. Gaelic is an adjective used for culture, sport for example but is not what the language is called.

[@Colonel_Blimp]

@@ranica47 thank you.

[@ULHIS]

Hearts and minds.

[@TheDanieldineen]

Its the RIC not IRC, 🤣🤣

[@TheDanieldineen]

I can't stop hearing it now! 🤣🤣🤣

[@DampedGull2579]

Great video! But the term for the English police in Ireland was RIC, not IRC

[@colinelliott5629]

They weren't English.

[@DampedGull2579]

@@colinelliott5629 The RIC was an English, or I suppose it would be more accurate to say British police force. police force. If you are alluding to the point that most RIC officers were Irish, you’d be right, but that’s not what I’m talking about.

[@Nudnik1]

Similar tactics used in Gaza and West Bank. Curious if IRA advises these people?

[@cilldublin07]

the ira of those times and the ira of the 70s and 80s were 2 different groups.

[@Nudnik1]

@@cilldublin07 My relatives from Roscommon Ireland. I am ashamed some Irish support Arabs Hamas .

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

Yes, the IRA hung around with Palestinian terrorists in Libyan terrorist training camps.

[@jimmyryan5880]

​@@MrLorenzovanmatterhodifferent organisation

[@paulwalsh598]

Yes, there are hundreds of 120 year old Irishmen running about in Gaza.

[@caesarvalorvmsheevpalpatin8755]

the dial

[@DMFP93]

Many in Britain were Sympathetic to the Irish. The Conservative newspaper "the Times" (AKA Times of London) recently ran a series of articles from its own paper , 100 years prior to that days date. In it you can see that even conservative voices were outraged by the unnecessary killing. Angry at both the IRA, and the British forces. the Irish home rule party was the largest party in parliament, and democratic support for an independent ireland was there already. The IRA doomed Ireland to partition, as it destroyed the confidence in home rule among the protestants in the north.

[@Irishman0855]

Very bad take

[@GabagoolEnjoyer863]

Protestant unionists in the north already opposed home rule. Ireland was on the verge of civil war over it before WW1 kicked off. Not only that but Northern Ireland itself was granted home rule after partition.

[@DMFP93]

​@@GabagoolEnjoyer863 You are referring to the "Ulster Covenant" which was a petition to the UK government opposing home rule, in 1912. The Ulster covenant failed, and in 1914 the Irish Home Rule Act was passed. In fact, during 1916, almost nobody wanted violent rebellion against the British Government, because the general feeling was that the Irish had already got what they wanted - independence after the war. The delay until after the war was necessary as many naval bases, and British troops were based in/ from Ireland. However the British government ensured that there was no conscription in Ireland. In 1916, James Connolly - a Scottish republican who was considered a lunatic, even by other republicans in Ireland - stated he intended to take the GPO by force, and other republican groups were either with him, or against him, forcing their hand. Connolly's action would be known as the 1916 Easter Rising. Connolly militarised the question of Irish Home Rule into a republican war, which was unacceptable to Northern Protestants (whereas "Home Rule" was acceptable, just about). James Connolly's actions led directly to the partition of Ireland.

[@GabagoolEnjoyer863]

@@DMFP93 You implied in your original comment that Ulster unionists had any faith in home rule to begin with. The crisis itself was put on hold during the war, not resolved simply because the act was passed. Home rule did not mean independence either, merely a limited form of self governance. It was actually the IRB that convinced Connolly and the ICA to join their already planned rebellion with the volunteers instead of the ICA doing it alone. The Ulster volunteers didn't disband during WW1, and unionists were not complacent in accepting home rule. Claiming Connolly was at fault for partition is the biggest stretch I've ever seen. Partition was the result of unionists not willing to accept Irish independence, and carving out as much land as they could.

[@DMFP93]

​@@GabagoolEnjoyer863 Your comment is beyond nonsense. You claim the Ulster Unionists "would not accept" home rule, while ignoring the fact that they had, literally, accepted it. Home rule was not "limited self-governance", it was to become an independent dominion country in the model of Canada or Australia. Connolly was a complete fanatic who was regarded as crazy even by the IRB leadership. Unionists opposed home rule but they did accept it - they would not accept the violent establishment of a Catholic-supremacist republic, hence the treaty carved out Northern Ireland. There were pogroms and ethnic cleansing of protestants in the Irish free state, with the population of protestants in the free state falling by 40% between 1920 and 1930, as shown by the census.

[@billandmonicaschleicher9018]

can you please do a video on the first world war's last veterans?

[@tvideo1189]

The British didn't lose completely, there are still six counties to be freed from British domination.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

Freed? What are you talking about? We are Britain, what is WRONG with you?

[@alynwillams4297]

@@MrLorenzovanmatterho no you’re not. You’re a province. Britain is the island made up of England, Scotland and Wales

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

@@alynwillams4297 GREAT Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales, the rest of us are part of the UK and remnants of our Empire (Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Falklands, Gibraltar, Ascension etc). Don't you know ANYTHING?

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

@@alynwillams4297 GREAT BRITAIN is the island made up of England, Scotland and Wales. The UK also has NI, Orkneys, Shetlands, Isle of Man, Channel Islands etc, the British Isles also has the ROI, Britain also contains Gibraltar, Ascension, The Falklands and everywhere else.

[@ianmedford4855]

Ireland really needs those 6 counties so they can make room for more North African migrants.

[@mattosullivan9687]

My grandfather was part of this on the Irish side

[@FredFurburguer]

So the only places where there was mild open social support for the British were the ones that stayed in the UK? Sounds like there's a lot of untold story of british neglect and influence by foreign agents.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

No, it sounds like Unionists wanted to remain free.

[@Cofarl]

​@@MrLorenzovanmatterhogerrymander the vote and reduced Ulster to 6 counties to manufacture a majority... Ah yes the UKs idea of democracy... Freedom indeed 😂