The Time of the Tans - Tomás Mac Conmara

Video by Matt Kelly (MKTV)

‘The Black and Tans [raises voice] raided my aunt’s house where my mother was in bed at three o’clock in the morning … I was due to be born three days later … she got a stroke of paralysis and lost the power of all her left side. So I never saw my mother walk … she could get around with the aid of a chair.’

Stories of the Black and Tans have been told across Ireland since the force was first released into the country in March 1920. Casting a dark and lingering shadow, they remain an evocative and emotive category of memory. For people who lived through it and those who inherited associated stories, the Black and Tans were the embodiment of British repression, violence and malevolence. The Irish War of Independence is a landmark in the chronology of Irish history and profoundly affected all areas of life. Much of that experience was never recorded.

Based on Tomás Mac Conmara’s almost two decades of oral history recordings, selected from over 400 interviews, as well as access to multiple private family collections, The Time of the Tans illuminates the stories of a period that has dominated the historical consciousness of Ireland. From direct testimony of 105-year-old Margaret Hoey, to the inherited tradition of Flan O’Brien, who was born in 1927, the stories pulsate with an intensity of emotion. The majority of interviewees who were recorded for this research have sadly since passed away. Now, their memories which have been preserved for posterity, breathe new life into an enduringly important period in modern Irish history.

[Ann.]

My Father was born in 1900. He slept with a gun under the pillow. Both he and his brother worked at Jacobs Factory. One on nights and one on days. They rotated sleeping in the same big bed. My Dad’s brother came across the gun and was outraged. So, my Dad fought in the war….

On my Mother’s side, my Great Uncle was Sean Treacy and I have an abiding love for this beautiful Uncle that I never even met.

As Dan Breen said, Irish People Were Born Fighting {With A Fighting Spirit}!

Thank you all so much for this wonderful video. Particular love to those whose memories are so vivid and who lived through the terrible rampages of the English and of The Black & Tans. ❤❤❤

“Come out ye Black & Tans, Come out and fight me like a man” ……..

[occidentadvocate.]

Greetings to all my Gael people in Ireland from a Gael in England. This video really touched me. The Irish of that Generation who won their freedom from British Tyranny were a great generation. Im glad this fellow is recording it all. These stories of the freedom struggle 100 years ago will inspire the Gaelic people of Ireland for ever more! IRELAND FOR THE IRISH! 🇮🇪

[liverpoolscottish]

My paternal grandfather served on the Western Front during WW1, he was with the Royal Lancashire Regt, which subsequently became King's Own Border Regt. He was injured by shell fire in Ypres, and repatriated to Britain for medical treatment. When he recovered, he was graded as unfit for further service on the WF. He was sent to Ireland, where he was a guard at the Kilmainham gaol. He told my father that, "The Black & Tans were the scum of the earth, the dregs of the British Army." They were thugs. He despised them intensely. I sincerely hope that at some point in the not too distant future, a referendum will see the six counties returned to Ireland, and Britain can end it's involvement. We've been entangled for far too long due to decisions made centuries ago.

[mbluetraining]

My grandfather's brother was a "Messenger Boy" in Wexford during the "War of Independence". He lived until his 90s and got a special pension from the Irish State for his contribution to the struggle. Needless to say - we loved talking to him. He was a stone mason - he had one eye - and a huge family - he was also a very educated man - he read absolutely everything - he was brilliant. Anyway - the reason why I bring him up here - is your article on the Tans. My Uncle was obviously a devout Republican - and one day I asked him about the Tans. Boy - did he catch me by surprise! He said - "To be honest with you - a lot of them were good guys - they weren't all as history has painted them!". I was - to be honest - somewhat flabbergasted. Then he told me a story involving the "Tans" - relating to my family. At that time my family may well have been the poorest of the poor. Ireland - Wexford - 1920 - tough times indeed. Angela's Ashes evidently had nothing on my lot. Anyway - the family were living in what I've heard was virtually a cave at the side of a hill near Raheennahone. To cut a long story short - my Uncle - who was about 14 at the time said this Tan patrol suddenly loomed up out of nowhere. There were about a dozen of them - their leader was a Scottish Sergeant. My Uncle told me that when the Scottish Sergeant saw the state of my family he burst into tears. He was obviously just a decent man. Evidently, he then turned around to the other Tans and told them to hand over their food rations - which they duly did. One of the soldiers had a huge tin of bully beef strapped on his back - The Sergeant made him hand it over. My Uncle told me - if it hadn't been for that Tan patrol - our family would have starved to death. Evidently, the family got six weeks of food out of that tin! That was some tin! That was some Sergeant - That was some Tan Patrol! I say - God Bless the Irish Republic - of which I'm very proud. And I have no doubt that the Tans and the Auxiliaries did what they did - and were "Guilty" as charged. But things are never "Black and White" in times of conflict. I'm very grateful to my Uncle for telling me that story - it was so revealing. So I also say "God Bless" to those men/women - whatever side they are on - when, in times of difficulty, they show such nobility to their fellow human beings - the nature of which clearly demonstrates that there is a spirit that rises to another level - a level of decency that clearly basks in the "Glory of God" and ultimately teaches us that in reality, we are truly all brothers and sisters - and that's the long and the short of it!

[tonycrowe]

Excellent piece! My mother who passed away in 1979 was 9 years old in 1916 and remembered quite clearly being in Sackville Street (O'Connell Street) during the Easter rising, she always mentioned the "poor horses" laying injured in the street having been shot during a cavalry charge.

[martinhanley]

Good for you ! A real treasure to Ireland you are . History is being lost and rewritten today in revisionist terms ! 👍❤️☘️

[MrCOUNTYCORK]

I remember my grandfather telling me of a story when the tans put a handicapped child sitting on a hot range cooker and stories of men being trailed up the road tied to British army lorries, is it any wonder these men had no mercy when they got the black and tans in their sights

[putridpeasant]

Need some hero's badly right now in Ireland 😭😭😭🇮🇪👍

[gabriellehumphreys]

Thank you. A true historian, delivered with honesty and a deep understanding.

[peterflynn]

We should never forget the bravery of these men and women who fought for our freedom.

[Rbenson]

The Tans protected protestant loyalist people in the north from the IRA I was taught by my orange family members in Northern Ireland. My grandfather left Ireland in 1957.. as economic conditions were bad.. came to Canada.

[paulcochrane]

The lads who took on an Empire and made them run away.

[deeppurple]

Respect to this man. It would be nice to get a prospectiv on what it was like for the ordinary Protestant people from those same area's. What it was like for them. Saint's Sinners Scholars freedom fighter's and peace . ✌️☘️

[paddyman]

Look at the state of Ireland today and all those great men that died for it

[saradevoy]

Brilliant oral history thank you . Have you got anymore on why Dromoland wasnt burnt down. My Great Great grandmother was an OBrien Her first marriage was to Thomas Stacpoole Mahon and they lived in Corbally house . Not sure why they were so 'protected'. I know that William smith OBrien was a cousin but you't have thought that Dromoland would have been an obvious target.

[Jdac]

Irish grandparents, relation of Collins. Born in England and I still hate the place and govt here. Shame about Ireland too. All that fighting for nothing

[Seanny]

Have just watched your video now. An amazing piece of work. Is there some way I can contact you directly, I have an historical account in writing about my grandfather Volunteer TJ Roche E Company GPO Garrison Easter Week. That might interest you.I have minimal IT skills, thanks.

[aidenwrenn]

My grandfather took up arms against the british imperial army in 1916. He was little more than a boy but he knew where his duty lay. Against trained professionals he didn’t stand much chance and duly surrendered. He spent a few years in Lincoln prison after which he infiltrated the greater Manchester police force.

[theiowan]

Sometimes the world doesn't need a hero sometimes the world needs a monster

[williamgilchrist]

Invaluable work. I encountered such riches in an old IRA man by the name of Donal O'Brien, Caherlough, in Clare who albeit suffered from Parkinson's then could still work away in the winter rain and spoke in pictures. One could see what he said.