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Tom Harris was the second eldest of seven children and he lived near Kilcock in Co. Kildare until he was 10 years old. His parents and grandmother died within six weeks of one another and his son Seán describes this tragic circumstance. Tom’s maternal Tierney relatives, brought the children to Prosperous, and Seán feels that this is where Tom picked up information about the Famine, particularly when working in Tierney’s public house. Tom Harris was a member of the IRB and the Irish Volunteers. At Easter Week 1916 Tom Byrne stayed with Tom Harris on the Saturday night and the plan was to meet up at Bodenstown. Their project entailed blowing up the bridge at Sallins and then proceeding to Dublin city centre. However, a man named Kelly called to let them know that the Countermanding Order had been issued. On the Sunday, Dick Stokes brought the order from Pearse that the Rising was to go ahead the following day. Seán describes the events which followed. Tom Harris, Tom Byrne and another man collected gelignite from the Dominican College and went to Bodenstown and on to Maynooth, where they met with twelve men and walked to Dublin. They slept for a few hours in Glasnevin Cemetery that night. On their arrival at the GPO, James Connolly shook hands with Tom Byrne, whom he knew well. They were then sent, with some others from Maynooth, to Parliament Street. Seán remembers that his father said that they would not have got out of Parliament Street were it not for Tom Byrne’s previous war experience (in South Africa). He also told his son that the Countermanding Order issued by Eoin MacNeill was a knock to their confidence. The group at Prosperous had several new guns which had been funded by a local seed merchant, but none of the men turned up at Bodenstown on the day. Seán describes the confusion that had arisen and the lack of confidence engendered. Tom Harris was wounded in the foot during the evacuation of the GPO. Jim O’Neill remained with him until he had to surrender,

Track 1: The Limerick background of the Collins family in the 1660s is described, as is their relocation to West Cork and the childhood of Michael Collins. His education at Lisavaird school and the great influence brought to bear on him by his teacher, Mr. Lyons, and the local blacksmith, Jim Santry, are explored. His job in the British Civil Service from the age of 16 is also discussed. Track 2: The week of the Rising spent by Michael Collins in the GPO, his arrest, the period at the Rotunda and the march to the North Wall for transportation to Frongoch Camp in North Wales, are all described by the interviewee. He also relates that his mother, Nancy O’Brien, a cousin of Michael Collins, (their grandmothers were sisters), spoke to Collins during this march. Their conversation is detailed. Track 3: The fact that Michael Collins became head of Prisoners’ Aid is mentioned, and another conversation with Nancy O’Brien is detailed, in which Collins discusses his idea of taking on the British through guerrilla warfare. Track 4: The National Loan devised by Michael Collins, which was eventually to raise £287,000, is discussed, as is the inner circle surrounding him, and the Cairo Gang sent from Britain to combat them during the War of Independence. The interviewee recalls carrying the coffins of eight of Collins’s Squad in later years. Track 5: The interviewee recalls a meeting with Dan Breen, who told him that he reported back to Michael Collins following the ambush at Soloheadbeg, Co. Tipperary, on 21 January 1919. (This ambush is often described as the opening ambush of the War of Independence.) Track 6: The nineteen-month period spent in America by Éamon de Valera during the War of Independence, is discussed, as is his visit to London prior to the Treaty negotiations, during which he had a personal meeting with Lloyd George. The interviewee reflects on the Treaty negotiations in London, de Valera’s insistence that Collins be part of the Irish Delegation, and