69 Croke Park and Bloody Sunday

The Irish History Show

On this episode of the show we were joined by Michael Foley to discuss his book, The Bloodied Field, about the events in Croke Park on the 21st of November 1920. That day would become known as Bloody Sunday. On that morning, the IRA killed or mortally wounded 16 people in a co – ordinated series of assassinations directed against British intelligence officers in Dublin.

That afternoon Dublin were due to play Tipperary in a challenge match in Croke Park. British troops, the Royal Irish Constabulary and Auxiliaries surrounded the ground. Crown forces began shooting into the stadium and 14 civilians were killed, including Tipperary player Michael Hogan.

Michael Foley is a sportswriter for the Irish edition of The Sunday Times. He is a three-time GAA McNamee award-winner and winner of the 2007 BoyleSports Irish Sports Book of the Year. Michael has been nominated three times as Irish Sports Journalist of the Year. He is a member of the GAA’s history committee and is involved in the GAA’s commemoration of Bloody Sunday. Michael’s book, The Bloodied Field, has been re-released by O’Brien Books in a special updated 100th anniversary edition.

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Intro / Outro music “Sliabh” from Aislinn. Licensed under creative commons from the free music archive.