Looking forward to it Tom!

If you’re Belfast-based, there are paperback copies of my book already on sale in the brilliant indie shop No Alibis!

In 2018/19 Beano Niblock, myself & John Travers did a series of outreach events to encourage storytelling & history preservation. John acted in a scene he'd originally performed in Beano's 'Tartan' play, I did some readings from my book & we had a Q&A to get a discussion going.

March 18 1972 - the Tartan gangs appear at the massive Vanguard rally at Ormeau Park where they hear Bill Craig's infamous "liquidate" speech.

I'm over on Tiktok as well, trying out a few mini episodes on Troubles history. Starting off with a familiar topic...

I love the Linen Hall Library, but you'd think such a jewel in the crown of Belfast city centre's cultural and intellectual life would be funded better so that it can open for longer. As someone who works full-time it's basically impossible to find time to do research there.

The Long Kesh University - article by Red Hand Commando student, Cage 19 Long Kesh printed in Combat magazine no. 22 / 1974 @leftarchive.ie

This is one of the documents which Stormont officials are outrageously - but ineffectively - censoring: They've blacked out Peter Bell's name as the author, but left his title, so we know it's him. Mindlessly stupid and contradictory censorship which undermines public confidence.

Clearing out my parents' house as they both died at the end of last year and found this in a copy of Jonathan Bardon's 'Belfast'. Mum and dad were members of the NUM and then Alliance when it was formed.

Stormont censorship policy: secrecy sparks transparency concerns | Belfast Telegraph share.google/vOElSze7gXVG...

womensprize.com/in-conversat... Check it out if you fancy it!

Episode 2 of the new series of Shrapnel coming soon. Sam and myself were joined by Alex Bunting to talk about his work in mental health, addiction & recovery & how the ripples of the past in NI continue to force their way into the socio-economic reality of many peoples present living conditions.

Posted this yesterday for #WorldBookDay Exciting times ahead!

Good news.

🙏What a first guest. We are cooking 🔥

Great to be back with @shrapnelofficial.bsky.social properly. Glenn Millar was a fantastic first guest talking the band scene, its evolution, traditions and work in the community around mental health and identity. www.patreon.com/posts/151665...

Delighted to have talked about “Uncivil War”, my book on the British Army in Northern Ireland, at the National Army Museum. If you missed it, here’s a recording:

From 1996, The Separatist, issued by the Irish Publicity Service (a SInn Féin imprint). An outline of the IRA and Sinn Féin position a few years before the start of the conflict in the North. www.leftarchive.ie/document/4583/

11 years since this landed...

Just found this lovely review of TGAP by Marnie Gray for Studia Hibernica in 2017 last night. I find it difficult to give myself credit, but I did actually contribute something original. Academia may not have worked out, but without my PhD I'd probably never have had the confidence to write this.

Article I wrote for @historyireland.bsky.social in January 2017 on the Tartan Gang phenomenon of the early 1970s. The article was based on my book. historyireland.com/tartan-gangs/

If you missed this week's seminar by Ciara McAllister on 'A class apart: Representing the ‘Troubles’ and the working class', a recording is now available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o1J...

Excerpt from a very personal piece I wrote last year, signposting future writing I'll be doing on the conflict. open.substack.com/pub/garethmu...

QUB.

Excerpt from a very personal piece I wrote last year, signposting future writing I'll be doing on the conflict. open.substack.com/pub/garethmu...

New post: the implications of Operation Denton, and media handling of the 'Glenanne Gang' story balaclavastreet.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/t...

Uncivil War, my book about the British Army and the Troubles in the early 1970s, is out in paperback on 15 January. Come and hear me talk about it at the National Army Museum on 13 February: www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/unc...

*drum roll* Here is the cover for my book, which will be published by @cornellupress.bsky.social on 15 April 2026! I thought it would be nice to share a bit of info on who these men were and how their lives and interests inspired the design...

This is brilliant history, preserved for the future. Interview with the late Harry McAllister aka Mizz Mae. youtu.be/mQ8QIDlopCI?...

Article on the Catholic Ex-Servicemen's Association from Andersonstown News, November 1972.

Memories from the Spectrum Centre on this day in January 2019, doing Belts and Boots to Bombs and Bullets with Beano. Hoping to do more storytelling events in 2026 but it'll be a collaboration with Shrapnel Podcast - Sam and I now have the experience and confidence to help make it even more special!

If you want something that is a bit more nuanced... wp.me/p30b6K-m2

Ten years this summer. Time for a revised and updated version? 🤨

Any #irishstudies people here?

Anyone here?