38: The Old Guard Versus The Revolutionary Young Guns: Seamus Costello and his INLA

This episode focuses on the socialist Republican group, the INLA and how their formation deeply angered some members of the Official IRA. Seamus Costello was the man who founded the INLA, but he soon found it very difficult to give orders to men in Northern Ireland, while he himself was living in the Republic and once all hell broke loose, he knew the crosshair would rest firmly on him.

[@MickKly-ih4it]

I met Seamus Costello in the early 70’s when the IRSP and INLA were being formed from members of the Officials who were discontented with the ceasefire and the lack of socialist politics within the Provisional movement at the time. Seamus arrived at my house in the Bogside jumping out of a car which quickly sped away , after entering my house two British army land rovers sped into the street looking for him and chased after the car not realizing he had made a hasty exit , we sat drinking tea on that Saturday afternoon watching the racing on tv as the army searched all over the Bogside and Creggan for him. Seamus Costello at that time was one of the most wanted men in Ireland as much for his revolutionary politics as his military activity, he was definitely admired by rank and file not just as a legendary hero but also a man of political nous, levelheadedness and integrity , as a young teenager I thought this is a man cut from the same cloth as James Connolly , a working class hero . Unfortunately Seamus’s time was brutally cut short by the assassin’s bullet on O’Connell street , his name will always be remembered among the Republicans who strove for equality, justice and independence.

[@friotaiocht101]

Sadly for Costello even the very men who followed him from the OIRA couldn't take orders or respect leaderships decision making process regarding things either.... which ultimately ended with his assassination as a indirect result...

[@Freddy19677]

He should’ve stayed with the officials

[@marianwysocki4940]

wow, that's so cool. I'm not from Ireland, nor living there but, having read and heard about him, he is my hero

[@ciaran3629]

Seamus by far our best absolute gentleman could be doing with you now in 2024

[@utregsoulnorh715]

The little General from Bray

[@johnkennedy972]

Seamus Costello was and always will be a true soldier of Ireland and a true patriot legend 🇮🇪✊🇮🇪32

[@vforvictor7575]

Great podcast cheers, do you have or will you be covering the first split PIRA/OIRA podcast it would be very interesting if you could make it possible thanks.

[@ciaran3629]

I agree mo chara

[@MrRozburn]

The spilt between the Provos and the Officials has been always spun as an idealogical split. The Provos pursuing a military campaign and the Officals all infected with socialism. While that was true, the key moment was when the troubles kicked off in 1969, the leadership had recently given their few working weapons to a small group called the Free Welsh Army, who were engaged in a campaign in Wales. Its the reason why the IRA couldn't respond in 1969 to protect the Nationalist community, and the reason behind joke that IRA stood for "I Ran Away"

[@ciaran3629]

Sticks back to pre 69r dealing kidnappings all sorts still at it

[@Freddy19677]

@@ciaran3629do you have proof of the OIRA still being active in crime ?

[@stephencoyle345]

The leadership never gave its weapons to the FWA. It is a myth that is often repeated, but nonetheless wrong.

[@trolmct6972]

⁠@@Freddy19677if you don’t think oira still exist, you’re either a stick being wilfully ignorant or ….

[@Freddy19677]

@@trolmct6972 I don’t know 🤷‍♂️ I’m Australian , can you elaborate

[@masterofdisaster4395]

Will you do a podcast on Bobby Sands?

[@trolmct6972]

If you want to learn about Oglach Bobby Sands, read his writings from prison or the book nothing but an unfinished song. There is also another fantastic book published about all hunger strikers called ‘the comrades’.

[@stephenholmes1036]

Please can you show a documentary on the Red IRA

[@patkearney9320]

The official’s talked a lot but they had to they had little guns so there was Fxxk all they could do. Talking bought time and death the hotel he talks about I know well. RIP shamus Costello.

[@ciaran3629]

They've literally tons they just didn't use them and they didn't decommission a single bullet they've real good gear

[@Freddy19677]

OIRA has / have hundreds of Soviet weapons. It was just that the officials focused on finding common cause with the Protestant working class and not fighting a sectarian civil war.

[@paul-dq6lk]

​@@Freddy19677they are now part of the Irish Labour Party. Are you suggesting the Labour Party has thousands of weapons at their disposal!??

[@Freddy19677]

@@paul-dq6lk in the 70-90’s yes

[@paul-dq6lk]

@@Freddy19677 I wasn't aware of that, 👍