Edward "Ned Daly" is one of the 1916 Easter Rising leaders less known for his role as Commandant in the Irish Military Brotherhood.  Out of a family of ten children, he was the only son born to Edward and Catharine Daly (nee O’Mara) in Limerick.  His father…

Liam Mac Piarais (William "Willie" Pearse) was born on the 15th of November in 1881 and was the younger brother Patrick Pearse, the well documented iconic figure of the 1916 Easter Rising.  It has been said that, to some extent, Willie lived in the shadow of his famous older…

Tomás Séamus Ó Cléirigh (Thomas James Clarke) was born on the 11th day of March in 1858.  He was  one of the oldest members of the 1916 Rising.  Clarke was also known as Henry Wilson, an alias he used to counteract any publicity that his own name may attract in his role as…

Book Review

"Belfast Days: A 1972 Teenage Diary," by Eimear O’Callaghan

Merrion Press

Copyright 2014

"Belfast Days: A 1972…

The heroes of the hour -- witnessing history as it unfolded. 

The Irish Order of the Capuchin Friars came to Ireland in 1615.  It was not until 1690, however, that their first friary was built.  Over time, they moved to Cork where they established the friary house (which…

Seán Mac Diarmada (Sean MacDermott) is yet another one of the 1916 Easter Rising leaders who has remained in the historical shadow of other prominent leaders who have enjoyed iconic status in the history books.  He has been described by some as one of the greatest of the…

Book Review

"Against the Wind", by J.A. O'Brien

 Reviewer: Michael Halpenny

The full title of this book is "Against the Wind: Memoir of a Dissident Dubliner." However, this is not the diary of someone strenuously opposed to the Good Friday Agreement,…

John and Paddy Kennedy in 1969

This coming week will see the anniversary of the passing of John Kelly, a man of stature, honesty, and principle who as a young man was a Republican at a time when it was not popular. There were  people who would…

In his book "Ireland – A History," Robert Kee describes Collins thus:

Of all the many rebel leaders to shine out of Irish history only one stands out as a really effective revolutionary: Michael Collins --- He took hold of a potentially revolutionary situation in Ireland and made it work.’

Born in 1890 in County Cork, he…

Of all the great men and women of that era, was there a more gallant figure than Joseph Mary Plunkett, or a more hopeless love than that of Plunkett and Grace Gifford? They were to be married in a church on St Stephen’s Green on April 23, Easter Sunday, 1916, but history…

Sean Treacy, of the Irish Republican Army, and May Quigley were lovers engaged to be married.  Sean took May to a Republican meeting where Michael Collins was speaking; as Collins got wound up, so did his profanity.

The Vice Commander, Sean Treacy,  stood with raised hand to…

On 31 October (Halloween), 1973, the IRA used a hijacked helicopter to free three of its members from Mountjoy Jail in Dublin.  Below is a video clip from RTÉ's archives which shows the footage from the aftermath of this daring escape:

Book Review

"That’s That" By Colin Broderick

Broadway Paperbacks $15

No memoir you have read about growing up in Ireland, not even Angela’s…

On Monday June 17th at 3:00 p.m. ET, members of The Wild Geese will have the opportunity to chat live with author, Colin Broderick.  If you cannot join us to submit your questions…

In the early morning hours of April 10, 1923, in the Knockmealdown Mountains, County Tipperary, there died a great Irish patriot; a man who had fought with and lead some of the very men who now, tragically, would kill him. The man was General Liam Lynch, Chief of Staff, IRA. Born in the town of Barnagurraha, Co.…

One armed man cannot resist a multitude, nor one army conquer countless legions; but not all the armies of all the empires of earth can crush the spirit of one true man. And that one man will prevail. -- Terence MacSwiney

Probably no man outside of Michael Collins was as responsible for getting England to agree to peace talks in 1921 as Terence…

By Larry Kirwan

They came from all over the city, down by subway from Inwood, and the Bronx, over the bridges and through the tunnels from Queens and Brooklyn, or by ferry in from Staten Island. 

Photo left, front page of New York-based The Irish World's…

Review by Kieron C. Punch / TheWildGeese.com

After the British army suppressed the Easter Rising 90 years ago, authorities loaded their take of nearly 1,900 prisoners onto cattle boats and shipped them across…

• Part 1: 'Just a Lad of 18 Summers'
• Part 2: 'An Example Has To Be Made'…

• Part 1: 'Just a Lad of 18 Summers'
• Part 2: 'An Example Has To Be Made'…