Liam Sutcliffe Irish Republican- Soldier and Revolutionary. April 30, 2013
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Irish History, Republicanism, Video interview.trackback
This is the story of veteran Republican Liam Sutcliffe who joined the IRA in 1954. Within a few months he was an IRA agent in Gough barracks Armagh during `operation Harvest’. Sutcliffe later left the IRA and operated with the breakaway Joe Christle group during the 1950s Border campaign.
In 1966, on the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Easter rising he was involved in an operation to blow up Nelson’s Pillar in O’Connell Street Dublin.In 1970 Sutcliffe joined Saor Eire. He was instrumental in organising the funeral in Mount Jerome Cemetery of Saor Eire member Liam Walsh, who was killed in a premature explosion at the rear of McKee army base in Dublin.
Many thanks to the sender.
The Cedar Lounge Revolution 
He is too modest
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Good stuff. Would be great if Sean Garland did something similar.
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I met him at Maureen Keegans memorial. I found him very decent. His only negative comment was about Garland.
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After I did the interview with Liam about his amazing life. He started talking and he is a walking history book. Yes Jim Monaghan is spot on Sutcliffe is very decent.
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This was great viewing. Well done to both of you!!I hope you manage to get another interview with him, exploring other facets of republicanism
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It questions the idea of Republicanism being a totally unitary movement. It was far broader and not as organised as some think. The dedication of those involved is and was huge.
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Great story. Met and spoke with Liam in recent years. Pity some historian doesn’t put it all together, good and bad, as the late 50s & early 60s has been mainly ignored in the history of Republican Movement and its resurgence following the 40s period. Brendan, Cork.
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Very interesting to listen to Liam. Certainly fills in some gaps in our knowledge of those times. It was of particular interest to listen to your views on Saor Eire 2.
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Thanks to everyone for the positive comments on the Liam Sutcliffe interview.
We have the interviews of two more people to post up on youtube. (just to edit them)
I just don’t want this history to be lost.
The making of these videos is to honer! Revolutionaries like Liam that fought for the Irish working class without financial reward.
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Look. I’m all for respect for our elders. But I can’t let this go.
Mr Sutcliffe gave help and advice to a man called Liam Walsh of Saor Éire. Mr Walsh subsequently died when a bomb he was involved with, exploded. Around the same time Mr Sutcliffe was helping the Provos.
How can these actions be described as “fighting for the Irish working class”?
The interview is good and oral history is good. But in my humble opinion, engaging in violent nationalist organisations and activities as described by Mr Sutcliffe is not a good thing – not good for Ireland and no use at all for the Irish working class.
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You’ll get no thanks for pointing out the obvious Joe. Amazing fan club for Saor Eire, whose main claim to fame is that some of their members killed Peter Graham in a sordid row over money and guns.
How about an oral history project involving men and women who were active in their unions and communities, raised families and helped others, but never got round to shooting people or blowing things up? Not radical enough?
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Sutcliffe – well known mouth and adventurist
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They still however resort to the old terminology -”armed bandits”,criminals”,”gangsters”, With this form of defamation we have much in common with the Revolutionaries of other countries.
Saor Eire Manifesto May 1971.
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Who resorted to that terminology?
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The baddies.
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[…] the recent interview with Liam Sutcliffe that was posted I thought I’d also post this article from an April 1970 Edition of […]
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[…] Part one was previously posted here […]
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