Episode 3028: Walled In By Hate – Arthur Matthews On The Life And Death Of Kevin O’Higgins

Today’s guest is Arthur Mathews, who has written a book about one of the most notorious figures of the Irish revolutionary period.

Kevin O’Higgins was the Free State Minister for Justice who embraced brutal methods to crush the Anti-Treaty IRA, and was murdered aged 35 by members of the same organisation. Does O’Higgins deserve the infamy heaped upon him in life and death by his enemies? Should he instead be remembered as a courageous pragmatist who acted out of concern for the common good? Maybe we will settle this today.

Click the player at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series  ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.

On the 102nd Anniversary of getting involved in and losing a firefight, Ken reflects on the Big Fella though SAF. https://t.co/IKJFSatyEr pic.twitter.com/vTvlZWgtEx

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) August 22, 2024