IRA burn Protestant orphanages to the ground in Galway

[John Martin01]

On his attitude to the things like this thread etc I agree with him. But he is part of the Sindo group who are more FF than the old Irish Press ever was. .

So the guilt of the group attaches itself to an individual like Harris? But I’m not aware that Harris has any editorial function in the Sindo?

Surely my positionm is clear, you dont need to swallow everything as person says, just because you agree with some of it.

Of course, it is not necessary to “swallow” everything a person says, but you say you don’t LIKE Harris because of what seems a minor disagreement compared to his rather extreme views on Coolacrease and Dunmanway with which you do agree. As I said he has accused the critics of the RTE documentary on Coolacrease of being holocaust deniers and you are using the same type of language (“Genocide”).

And finally it seems strange to repeat slavishly the jokes of someone you don’t LIKE.

Maybe it doesn't take much for you to dislike someone?

[Tomas Mor]

So the guilt of the group attaches itself to an individual like Harris? But I’m not aware that Harris has any editorial function in the Sindo?



Of course, it is not necessary to “swallow” everything a person says, but you say you don’t LIKE Harris because of what seems a minor disagreement compared to his rather extreme views on Coolacrease and Dunmanway with which you do agree. As I said he has accused the critics of the RTE documentary on Coolacrease of being holocaust deniers and you are using the same type of language (“Genocide”).

And finally it seems strange to repeat slavishly the jokes of someone you don’t LIKE.

Maybe it doesn't take much for you to dislike someone?

Its too good of a day to be inside on a keyboard, so I promise this is the last. I dont depend on Harris for all my knowledge on the matters raised like Bandon & Coolacrease. Its only that I agree with him as I am a Historian also. But I confess I never heard of Clifden burning until he raised it, not much of a historian you may say, but this is Ireland. Finis.

[John Martin01]

Its too good of a day to be inside on a keyboard, so I promise this is the last.

Dear! Oh Dear!

A little sunshine and you allow the defenders of “genocide” and “holocaust deniers” roam free on this website.

But I confess I never heard of Clifden burning until he raised it, not much of a historian you may say, but this is Ireland. Finis.

Behind every revisionist there is an almost infinite capacity for self loathing.

[Andrew49]

If I remember correctly the protestant landowner willed it to a trust or something similar on condition that it would not be sold into catholic hands. It was therefore bought by a front organisation, and the Bishop of Tuam eventually turned out to be pulling the strings -- much to the disgust of the local protestant population.

A wealthy Quaker couple moved to Letterfrack from England in 1849 and bought a large tract of land that they developed. Amongst the various improvements they made were the construction of a large residence and a school for the children from the locality.

In 1884 the property was sold to the Archbishop of Tuam, Dr John McEvilly, who applied the proceeds of a legacy bequeathed for charitable purposes. The Archbishop wrote to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Earl Spencer, shortly after the purchase, suggesting that the property was ‘admirably suited for a boys’ industrial school so sadly needed in that district’. The Lord Lieutenant sought advice from his officials on the matter and the feedback was universally against the proposal. The general view can be summed up in the following extract from a memorandum from one of his officials:

In a wild remote district like Letterfrack it is very improbable that there would be any genuine cases for committal, the children there do not beg. There is no one to beg from. They all have settled places of abode – they live with their parents; are not found wandering, and though no doubt very poor, are not destitute: they do not frequent the company of thieves – there are no thieves in districts like Letterfrack in Ireland – the people are very poor but very honest.

Furthermore, the Lord Lieutenant was advised that the number of national schools in the area amply provided for the educational needs of the children.

Despite support from the Inspector of Industrial Schools, Sir John Lentaigne, the Archbishop’s application for the establishment of an industrial school in Letterfrack was refused by the Lord Lieutenant. However, the Archbishop was not to be dissuaded and he continued to lobby the Lord Lieutenant. His efforts eventually bore fruit, and a letter from the Vice Regal Lodge dated 11th. August 1885 stated:

There are no doubt technical objections to the establishment of an Industrial School at Letterfrack: but after reading the papers through carefully I am satisfied that the general and moral reasons far outweigh the objections.

More here

[Hitch 22]

How could anyone defend the burning of an orphanage?

[Boy M5]

How could anyone defend the burning of an orphanage?

They can't.

The title of the thread is of course misleading as it was the Anti Treaty forces, who had been swollen by the Trucileers after the War of Independence ended.

In some incidences these Trucileers were seemingly motivated by settling old scores, greed and even sectarianism.