@brian-hanley.bsky.social
Historian, podcaster 'Dirty War in Dublin'; it is possible to disagree in good faith, but let's be honest we won't do it.
The 'bloodiest fighting between republicans since the Civil War' ended 50 years this week. Left deep scars and immense bitterness in nationalist Belfast. Barely a hint of reflection on it these days.
November 15, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The 'bloodiest fighting between republicans since the Civil War' ended 50 years this week. Left deep scars and immense bitterness in nationalist Belfast. Barely a hint of reflection on it these days.
Republican Congress, 5 November 1935
November 8, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Republican Congress, 5 November 1935
Mention of Morris Hillquit reminds me; the Irish Progressive League supported him in 1917, leading figure Peter Golden speaking here with Padraic Colum and Hillquit himself
November 3, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Mention of Morris Hillquit reminds me; the Irish Progressive League supported him in 1917, leading figure Peter Golden speaking here with Padraic Colum and Hillquit himself
Huge at the time, left deep scars and generally unknown about today. 50 years ago.
October 30, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Huge at the time, left deep scars and generally unknown about today. 50 years ago.
Delighted to help launch Paddy McMenamin's 'Voices from Inside' tonight in Belfast. Paddy edited a camp journal in Long Kesh from 1974-76, and managed to preserve some issues. They are accessible online at NUI Galway.
October 25, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Delighted to help launch Paddy McMenamin's 'Voices from Inside' tonight in Belfast. Paddy edited a camp journal in Long Kesh from 1974-76, and managed to preserve some issues. They are accessible online at NUI Galway.
Seán Clifford, mid-Limerick IRA, 1919-21
October 23, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Seán Clifford, mid-Limerick IRA, 1919-21
Attention: Fountaines DC, notes on 'colonised minds'
October 23, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Attention: Fountaines DC, notes on 'colonised minds'
Diarmuid has stood up against racism and racists in Finglas; he needs support now
October 3, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Diarmuid has stood up against racism and racists in Finglas; he needs support now
Launch on 9 October. The cover features the banner of the Irish Women Workers Union and the late Jack McGinley, activist and labour historian.
September 25, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Launch on 9 October. The cover features the banner of the Irish Women Workers Union and the late Jack McGinley, activist and labour historian.
Discussed elsewhere on Bluesky: Bobby Sand's favourite book: when Uris was told this he said it was 'like winning the Nobel Prize'
September 12, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Discussed elsewhere on Bluesky: Bobby Sand's favourite book: when Uris was told this he said it was 'like winning the Nobel Prize'
'What y'all think football hooliganism meant? Vibes? Papers? Essays? Losers.'
August 15, 2025 at 5:47 PM
'What y'all think football hooliganism meant? Vibes? Papers? Essays? Losers.'
Coming in October ... co-edited with Mary Muldowney, Sonja Tiernan and John Cunningham
August 12, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Coming in October ... co-edited with Mary Muldowney, Sonja Tiernan and John Cunningham
Speaking on Fascism in Ireland during the 1920s & 1930s, Friday August 1st, Shankill Road Library, Belfast, 12pm.
July 30, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Speaking on Fascism in Ireland during the 1920s & 1930s, Friday August 1st, Shankill Road Library, Belfast, 12pm.
In my distant youth none of the republicans I knew liked the Wolfe Tones. They were considered the epitome of 'barstool.' They never gave a straight answer to questions about the conflict and certainly never took risks that could have affected their careers like Christy Moore did. Chancers.
July 13, 2025 at 8:01 PM
In my distant youth none of the republicans I knew liked the Wolfe Tones. They were considered the epitome of 'barstool.' They never gave a straight answer to questions about the conflict and certainly never took risks that could have affected their careers like Christy Moore did. Chancers.
Shankill Library, 1 August, 12-2.15pm.
July 11, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Shankill Library, 1 August, 12-2.15pm.
Your annual reminder of the IRA Army Council's address to the Orange Order, July 1932
July 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Your annual reminder of the IRA Army Council's address to the Orange Order, July 1932
Re Noraid: interviewed George Harrison in 2003; he only told me what he had told lots of other researchers to be fair. But he did give me a copy of this. Funny place, America.
July 8, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Re Noraid: interviewed George Harrison in 2003; he only told me what he had told lots of other researchers to be fair. But he did give me a copy of this. Funny place, America.
Worth catching this documentary on RTE Wednesday night. Think Eoghan Harris wrote the blurb for the Examiner though
July 7, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Worth catching this documentary on RTE Wednesday night. Think Eoghan Harris wrote the blurb for the Examiner though
I used to console myself that no matter how bad things got, Nazis would never walk down O'Connell Street. It's only happened about four times in the past two years now. And no, it's no consolation that Barrett is a clown, because it also illustrates something else: this is becoming routine.
July 6, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I used to console myself that no matter how bad things got, Nazis would never walk down O'Connell Street. It's only happened about four times in the past two years now. And no, it's no consolation that Barrett is a clown, because it also illustrates something else: this is becoming routine.
Kevin Brannigan's two-part doc on Noraid, on RTE One July 9 & 16. Well worth watching.
June 9, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Kevin Brannigan's two-part doc on Noraid, on RTE One July 9 & 16. Well worth watching.