231. The Troubles Were Never Confined to Northern Ireland with Ali Watkins

Think the Troubles were only Northern Ireland? Discover America’s secret hand in the conflict.

The Troubles are often remembered as a conflict confined to Northern Ireland and Britain — but that’s a myth. In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Ali Watkins to uncover the overlooked role of Irish America in the conflict. Focusing on radical nationalist movements in Philadelphia, they explore how identity, violence, and diaspora politics shaped the fight far beyond Belfast and Derry.

Episode Highlights

• The Philadelphia Five – Meet the five working-class men who became central to a clandestine gun-running operation for the Provisional IRA, challenging assumptions about who becomes a revolutionary.
• Irish American Identity – Ali reflects on her own family history and how diaspora communities engaged with — and sometimes enabled — the Troubles.
• Smuggling Guns Across the Atlantic – Discover the rudimentary but effective tactics used to move firearms from Philadelphia to Ireland, often under the noses of customs officials.
• The FBI Cracks Down – Learn how American law enforcement finally targeted these networks, leading to the collapse of the Philadelphia Five’s operations.
• Legacy & Reflection – How should Irish America remember this hidden history, and what does it reveal about modern nationalism?

This conversation challenges the idea that the Troubles were a “local” conflict and reveals the global networks — and moral complexities — that sustained it.

📚 Connect with Ali Watkins

• Follow Ali on Twitter: @aliwatkins
• Buy the Book: Bookshop.org

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History isn’t just about what happened — it’s about what we think happened. This episode exposes the myth that the Troubles stopped at the Irish Sea.

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