A St. Patrick’s Day Read: Guerrilla Days in Ireland by Tom Barry

Written from the first person, this is what we did perspective, Tom Barry’s legendary memoirs as a guerrilla commander in the IRA during the Irish War of Independence. As probably the only Irish Armenian Southerner you’ll ever meet, its a significant story for me and should be for you as well. Of the critical takeaways, my own notes are these:

  • You cannot bury the pride of a Nation nor of a People.
  • Tom Barry was a veteran of the British Field Artillery in the war against the Ottoman, he understood the essentials of organization, discipline, fire and maneuver, and tactical patience.
  • Barry also recognized the most important factor- the importance of local organization and favorability of the populace. Throughout the memoirs he continuously made an cognitive effort to work in the interests of the local population. His survival hinged upon it. In once instance they questioned the destruction of a bridge that served as a major agriculture pipeline due to its potential impact- and these are questions you’ll be asking yourselves. METT-TC always matters, as I cover in class.
  • The history of a place matters- its people come and go, enduring much- but its history will always remain among them.
  • Ammo conservation is critical. You’ll never have what you need, but you’ve got to make do with what you have. A guerrilla band would be so fortunate to have a case of 5.56 (or, in their case, 303).
  • Never forget, no matter how grim it looks, as a leader you owe your men positivity and the will to win.

And with that, Erin go Bragh. Toast a Murphys, drink some Carolans and Tullamore. We’re celebrating Saint Patrick and tonight’s Sons of Liberty is going to be lit.
 

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About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

6 Comments

  1. The Tactical Hermit March 17, 2021 at 19:10

    Happy St. Paddy’s Day to All
    *Keep Her Lit! 🍀
    *Originated from a story about an IRA ambush on the SAS near Cappagh in Co Tyrone when one IRA volunteer remarked to another who was firing on the SAS vehicle “Keep her lit!” meaning to continue firing.
    Has taken on common usage among Irish republicans especially in the north of Ireland and Co Tyrone.
    https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=keep%20her%20lit

    • boss21 March 17, 2021 at 19:40

      Keep her lit- also used by us racing Ford Escorts around the backroads of Tom Barry’s home turf in the ‘80s. Few phones and the cop’s radios were worthless in the glens. We were all wannabe rally drivers. Good times beating the clock.

  2. Anonymous March 17, 2021 at 19:19

    5

  3. Johnny Paratrooper March 17, 2021 at 20:46

    So many amazing stories I haven’t read yet. I have some South Africa war chronicles on the “to read” pile this summer, but I’m gonna hit the Irish wars after those.
    I read some Islamic history books last summer and I basically went crossed eyed with the battles and names and Sultans vs. Kings vs. Shah vs Elite vs Mohammad vs. Caliph.
    It was a full on headache of a read. Every other paragraph was a new war or a new battle.

  4. James Carpenter aka "Felix" March 17, 2021 at 21:12

    NC Scout’s reading list has become the wish/order list for me at online used book seller.
    Understanding what others have faced and how they dealt with it is a look at history, the rearview mirror. A most useful tool for understanding what the future is likely to offer.
    Currently reading “Resistance To Tyranny”, just finished “Contact”, Ranger Handbook on order. All for sharing along with the crossword puzzles wives bring home. For a bunch of old phucks trying to enjoy retirement, it’s heavy going. Some neighbors will abhor, some may even “inform” for advantage. That’s their gig. A few of us have our own and mean to make it count if possible.

  5. robert william orians March 19, 2021 at 12:42

    We Celtic folk here in the hills call it ” The High Holy Day” . Since being Irish we all work , the big party is this Saturday at my freckled elder daughters place .

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