Looking forward to it Tom!

A copy of Belfastmen: an intimate history of life before Gay liberation

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.

Punk masks, Walkmans and Choppers: Museum of Youth Culture to open in London Opening in May, Camden museum has 100,000-item archive telling story of British youth subcultures, from mods and rockers, to ravers and emo

www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...

RIOTS, Joyriders & Violence In Republican Belfast | Ex-Paratrooper Stu Griffiths YouTube video by The Good Listener Podcast

youtube.com/watch?v=Q8v_...

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

Absolute exercise in frustration.

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’s indefensible and unannounced policy of censoring declassified documents more heavily than in London Top NIO man’s name and blunt comments censored for no justifiable reason, as officials admit they now engage in new policy of blacking-out names they don’t recognise — despite MLAs never approving suc...

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

In conversation with Wendy Erskine - Women's Prize

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 🔥

Made to Parade Made to Parade shares positive stories about the marching bands scene in Northern Ireland, and the rest of the UK. It accompanies the book and podcast of the same name and is hosted by Glenn Millar. F...

Check out Glenn's fantastic podcast Made to Parade here:

youtube.com/@madetoparad...

Patron Exclusive - Shrapnel: Made to Parade | The Tortoise Shack Get more from The Tortoise Shack on Patreon

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...

Patron Exclusive: Shrapnel - A Look Back and Forwards | The Tortoise Shack Get more from The Tortoise Shack on Patreon

www.patreon.com/posts/151151...

Uncivil War: The British Army and the Troubles, 1966-75 YouTube video by NationalArmyMuseumUK

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:

The Separatist (1966) — Irish Publicity Service Commentary and PDF of The Separatist, published by Irish Publicity Service.

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/

Irish Studies Seminar: Ciara McAllister 2.2.26 YouTube video by QUB Irish Studies

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...

The Murder of Frankie McStravick: 1972 The bullet that finally killed Frankie McStravick travelled through time and caused untold trauma

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

QUB.

The Murder of Frankie McStravick: 1972 The bullet that finally killed Frankie McStravick travelled through time and caused untold trauma

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...