Dan Snow's History Hit The Troubles Explained (Part 2)
Sep 9, 2025
Dr. Thomas Leahy, a Cardiff University lecturer and expert in Irish politics, dives deep into the tumultuous history of Northern Ireland. He unpacks the origins of the Troubles, detailing the Irish War of Independence and the dramatic rise of the IRA. Listeners learn about the complex political landscape post-WWII, the bitter sectarian tensions, and British military engagement during the late 1960s. Leahy also contrasts the militant strategies of Sinn Féin with the SDLP's peaceful approach, culminating in the pathway to the Good Friday Agreement.
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Guerrilla Strategy Forced Negotiation
- The Irish War of Independence was a guerrilla 'war of the flea' led by Michael Collins using ambushes and targeted killings.
- This strategy aimed to make British rule too costly and force negotiation rather than open-field battles.
Bloody Sunday And Cork Reprisals
- Michael Collins' IRA assassinated British intelligence agents and the Black and Tans retaliated by firing into crowds at Croke Park that same day.
- In Cork the Black and Tans burned the city in reprisal, illustrating the tit-for-tat brutality of the conflict.
Treaty Compromise Cemented Partition
- The 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty created the Irish Free State but accepted partition, leaving six northern counties in the UK.
- A near even split over the treaty led to civil war as anti-treaty republicans refused the compromise.