Some War of Independence leaders were just a bloody nuisance later

TODAY the Whyte’s history and literature auction of memorabilia is being held in Dublin. Ian Whyte, the managing director of the auctioneering firm, mentioned that the material had been forgotten after the Civil War.

It would probably have been more correct to say those involved in the War of Independence and subsequent Civil War wished to forget about the material. They stopped talking about the events because they were essentially embarrassed by what happened during the Civil War.

Growing up in the 1950s I heard a lot of talk about the Black and Tans, but those who were doing the most of the talking were too young to have been involved. Those who were involved weren’t talking for the most part.