An Unofficial 'The MeatEater Podcast' Reading List

581. The Irish Civil War: The Killing of Michael Collins (Part 2)

July 09, 2025

Description

After the assassination of Sir Henry Wilson and the signing of the polarising Anglo-Irish Treaty, how did the bombastic Battle of the Four Courts break out in Dublin? With British guns opening...
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Books Referenced

Great Hatred

Author: Ronan McGreevey

Context:

Introduced when describing the guest Ronan McGreevey as 'the author of a brilliant book on the assassination of Sir Henry Wilson, Great Hatred'

On Another Man's Wound / The Singing Flame

Author: Ernie O'Malley

Context:

Referenced when discussing the destruction of the Public Records Office: 'there's a famous quote in Ernie O'Malley's book' about the 'white rain' of paper falling on Dublin during the Four Courts battle

The Irish Civil War

Author: Gareth Prendergast

Context:

Mentioned as 'a new book by an Irish Army officer called Gareth Prendergast' discussing how quickly the National Army overwhelmed garrisons in Waterford and Limerick

The Riddle of the Sands

Author: Erskine Childers

Context:

Referenced when discussing Erskine Childers' execution, describing him as 'a very famous author, the author of The Riddle of the Sands, who is the secretary of the Anglo-Irish delegation'

The Republic

Author: Charles Townsend

Context:

Quoted directly when discussing the legacy of the Irish Civil War: 'Charles Townsend writes at the end of his book, The Republic' about the emergent Irish state becoming a 'remarkably stable democracy'