The Road to War (1894 -1918) – Secret Societies, Communism and Coal Part IV

'The Road to War' returns to my series on the Castlecomer Coalfields. It takes you on a gripping journey through life in one small Irish town and the surrounding coalfields between 1894 & 1918. From the relative peace of the 1890s to the dark years of World War I and the tumultuous days of the Easter Rising, life in Castlecomer and its mines was never dull.

This show also reveals for the first time the attitude of R.H. Wandesforde (one of of Ireland's most famous businessmen & mine owner) towards the 1916 Rising. He voiced some pretty controversial opinions when writing to his wife Florence. While he never thought these letters would see the light of day, they are (for the first time in a century) published in this episode.

The research and time needed to produce this episode was funded by listeners like yourself.

You can help me research the next episode by donating towards the costs of making the show at https://www.irishhistorypodcast.ie/copy-of-support-donate