Latest / The History of Ireland: Rebellion, Empire, and Independence — Fexingo History / The Squad and the Cairo Gang: Dublin's Intelligence War
Transcript
- Lucas: If you've been following the show, you know that by 1920, Ireland was in the grip of a brutal guerrilla war. The War of Independence had been raging since 1919, and the IRA was taking the fight to the British administration. But there was a secret war within that war, fought on the streets of Dublin, between rival intelligence networks. Luna: You're talking about Michael Collins and his intelligence operation, aren't you? Lucas: Exactly. Collins was the IRA's director of intelligence, and he understood that to win, the IRA had to blind the British. Dublin Castle was the heart of British rule, and its intelligence officers were trying to infiltrate the IRA. Collins decided to create a dedicated assassination unit — it was called the Squad, or in Irish, An tSlat. Twelve men, handpicked, whose job was to kill British intelligence agents. Luna: Twelve men against an empire. That's audacious. Lucas: It was. The Squad operated in the shadows, using safe houses, bicycles, and plain clothes. They hit quickly and melted away. Their first major operation was in April 1919, at the Soloheadbeg quarry, but that was an ambush for gelignite. The real intelligence war kicked off in 1920. The British sent a group of counter-intelligence officers, many of them former military, known as the Cairo Gang — because some had served in Cairo. They were ruthless and effective, and they started to dismantle the IRA's network. Luna: So Collins had to strike first? Lucas: That's exactly what he did. On the morning of 21 November 1920, the Squad carried out coordinated attacks on seventy locations across Dublin. They targeted the homes and lodgings of known British intelligence officers. In total, they killed fourteen men — some were indeed agents, others were auxiliaries or just in the wrong place. It was a stunning blow, and it became known as Bloody Sunday. Luna: But the day didn't end there, did it? Lucas: No. That afternoon, British forces retaliated. They surrounded Croke Park, Dublin's Gaelic football stadium, during a match between Dublin and Tipperary. Without warning, they opened fire on the crowd. Fourteen civilians were killed, including a player, Michael Hogan. The official report claimed the shooting was in response to a sniper, but the truth is that it was a reprisal. The events of that day turned many moderates against the British government. Luna: What happened to the Squad after Bloody Sunday? Lucas: They continued to operate through the winter of 1920, and they expanded. But the pressure was immense. In November 1920, Collins's right-hand man, Dick McKee, was captured and killed by the British while trying to escape — or, more likely, executed. The war of attrition dragged on through 1921, until a truce in July. The Squad was eventually disbanded after the Treaty, but its legacy is deeply controversial — some saw it as heroic, others as assassination. Luna: It's such a raw period in Irish history. And it's personal, with names like McKee. Lucas: It is. And speaking of how history is remembered — this show is supported by listeners who value depth without interruption. We deliberately don't run ads on these conversations. If you want to support that choice, the link is buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. No pressure, just if it feels right. Luna: Yeah, and it helps us keep digging into stories like this one. The intelligence war, the human cost — it's the kind of detail that gets forgotten. Lucas: Back to the aftermath — Bloody Sunday changed the British approach. They began to rely more on heavy reprisals, which in turn radicalised more Irish people. The war dragged on, with neither side able to land a decisive blow. By July 1921, both sides were exhausted, and negotiations began that led to the Anglo-Irish Treaty. But the shadow of Bloody Sunday, and the intelligence war, hung over those talks. Luna: It's amazing that men like Collins could move around Dublin so freely. Lucas: He had a network of informants, safe houses, and an incredible ability to disguise himself. He cycled through the city, never staying in one place too long. The British never even got a clear photograph of him until the end. That elusiveness was key. He was a master of guerrilla leadership. Luna: And the Cairo Gang — they were meant to be the best of British intelligence? Lucas: They were, but they made mistakes. They lived openly, visited the same bars, and were careless. Collins's network watched them, and the Squad struck when they had solid intelligence. It's a classic example of a small, motivated force outmaneuvering a larger, bureaucratic one. Luna: What happened to the members of the Squad after the war? Lucas: Many went on to serve in the Irish Free State army. Some became politicians. But the Civil War split them — some followed Collins, some opposed the Treaty. It's a tragic postscript. The unity of the War of Independence didn't survive the peace. Luna: That's always the hardest part to hear. Lucas: Yes. And it's a reminder that history isn't clean. The men of the Squad were killers, but they were also patriots to their cause. The context matters, even when it's uncomfortable. Luna: Well, thanks for bringing that context today. Lucas: My pleasure. Next time we'll explore the Treaty debates and the split that led to civil war.