Why shouldn't a person born on the island of Britain through no fault of their own, decide through their knowledge of Irish history and love of the truth, to become a leading official in a military organization dedicated to overthrowing a brutal oppressive occupying army?
There's no reason why that couldn't happen. It's just a bit improbable that it would. If you were an Irish republican from west Belfast, or Derry, or south Armagh, you'd surely have to be a bit suspicious that your leader was a full-on Englishman.
Always found it a bit incredible that an Englishman could rise to the top of the PIRA. Just, how did he ever build up enough trust, even if he was sincere? Doesn't seem like he was a particularly inspiring leader either. Did the IRA think that having an English front man would make English people listen to them more?
He was intelligence officer before the split in 1969 and was the only man in the leadership that was trusted by the Belfast volunteers. That's why and how he was voted as the first chief of staff provisional ira
No had nothing to do with any of that, MacStiofain was a republican well before the troubles broke out. He was well respected hence why he was Chief of staff.
Why shouldn't a person born on the island of Britain through no fault of their own, decide through their knowledge of Irish history and love of the truth, to become a leading official in a military organization dedicated to overthrowing a brutal oppressive occupying army?
There's no reason why that couldn't happen. It's just a bit improbable that it would. If you were an Irish republican from west Belfast, or Derry, or south Armagh, you'd surely have to be a bit suspicious that your leader was a full-on Englishman.
@@robicenco1 James Connolly?
@@padraigodeorain9966 Connolly's parents were from County Monaghan.
Liam Mellows was born in England and his father was English.
@@waynecoxdrums his mother was irish
Always found it a bit incredible that an Englishman could rise to the top of the PIRA. Just, how did he ever build up enough trust, even if he was sincere? Doesn't seem like he was a particularly inspiring leader either. Did the IRA think that having an English front man would make English people listen to them more?
He was intelligence officer before the split in 1969 and was the only man in the leadership that was trusted by the Belfast volunteers. That's why and how he was voted as the first chief of staff provisional ira
No had nothing to do with any of that, MacStiofain was a republican well before the troubles broke out. He was well respected hence why he was Chief of staff.
Englishman? I see no Englishman, only an Irish patriot
The Englishman John Stephenson.
Turns out he was a tout. Ratted on all his IRA pals lol
Source?
@@nervesinapattern7261 Garda special branch informer allowed to carry out sectarian slaughter during the early 70s. Go do your own homework ya mug.
@@gazzanorth4373 ah shut your month you thick troglodyte
@@gazzanorth4373 You thick hun
Bullshitter