The Secret Bomb-Maker of Ireland: How Rory O'Connor Fueled the Revolution

About this episode

This episode reflects on the life and radicalization of Republican figure Rory O’Connor, exploring his transition from a worker to a key figure in the Irish revolutionary movement.

In this episode of the Irish History Boys, we reflect on the life and radicalization of Republican figure Rory O’Connor , drawing on Jerry Shannon’s new biography, To Defend the Republic . We examine O’Connor’s transition from a "wandering spirit" working on Canadian railroads to a central, albeit enigmatic, figure in the Irish Volunteers and the IRB . We explore O’Connor’s surprising personal background, born into a "castle Catholic" family with a father who supported the British regime. We discuss his elite education and early radicalization at UCD , where he first met key figures like Joseph Plunkett . We also delve into his clandestine work at the Larkfield Chemical Company , ostensibly making aspirin but actually " creating bombs for the volunteers " ahead of the 1916 Rising. Additionally, we trace O’Connor’s "Damascus conversion" from wanting to join the British army in 1915 to becoming a tireless worker in the shadows of the revolutionary movement. We highlight his role as the Director of Engineering for the IRA and his activities as OC of the IRA in Britain , including spectacular jailbreaks and operations in Liverpool. To conclude, we explore the deep, complex friendship…

Topics covered

• Rory O'Connor
• Irish Volunteers
• IRB
• 1916 Rising
• IRA

Keywords

• radicalization
• biography
• Irish history
• bomb-making
• revolution

Mentioned in this episode

Products: To Defend the Republic

Books & works: The Secret Bomb-Maker of Ireland: How Rory O'Connor Fueled the Revolution, the Irish History Boys, To Defend the Republic

Places: Damascus, Britain, Liverpool

More episodes of The Irish History Boys

• Ireland’s 100-Year Secret: What the 1926 Census Finally Reveals · April 16, 2026 · 43 min
• The Irish Woman Who Shot Mussolini · April 9, 2026 · 45 min
• The Mandela Connection: How a Global Icon Almost Changed Northern Ireland Forever · April 2, 2026 · 42 min
• Why Ireland Banned These Workers: The 1926 Donegal Scandal Revealed · March 26, 2026 · 41 min
• The Real-Life "Psycho": Why 3 Sisters Kept a Skeleton in Their Kitchen in Ireland · March 19, 2026 · 48 min
• The 5-Vote Defeat That Changed Ireland · March 12, 2026 · 44 min