Historian probes Liverpool's links to IRA

By Runcorn And Widnes Weekly News on Feb 26, 09 01:41 PM in 2000 onwards

IAN McKeane, a recognised authority on Ireland and its troubled past, gave Runcorn Historical Society members an insight into The IRA and Liverpool at their February meeting.

A lecturer in Irish studies at Liverpool University, the speaker's specialist knowledge attracts post graduate students from all over the world, sometimes from as far away as Hawaii as well as Spanish and German students taking their MA.

It was Mr McKeane' second visit to the history society following his appearance more than 12 months ago when he dealt with the Irish Potato Famine.

He concentrated his latest talk on the growth of the IRA in Liverpool and the sequence of events between 1919 and 1923, including the rescue of De Valera from Lincoln Jail in February 1919 and the role of Michael Collins in Liverpool.

In 1920 there were plans to attack Liverpool Docks but these were thwarted, the plans being captured and published by the police.

The next year there were arson attacks on a Cheshire farm and also lodging house raids.

The same year, telephone lines were cut in Wirral and Liverpool, there were 13 farm attacks in Liverpool and Wirral districts and attacks on relatives of Black and Tans or police auxiliaries.

Thompson sub machine guns were discovered and in 1922 Lancashire coal mines were raided for explosives.

In one earlier incident, in 1920, some 19 warehouses were burned in Liverpool.
Liverpool's role in the IRA came to a close when the Irish civil war ended in 1923.

"But," the speaker concluded, "Liverpool's activity had been as high as that in London."