This blog began as material collected while researching and preparing an – as yet I completed – biography of Jimmy Steele (1907-1970) – hence the title. Over time it has expanded to include material on a variety of themes in history and archaeology.
Initially, the content mainly focused on Belfast and an apparent gap in detailing the history of the IRA in Belfast between 1922 and 1969 (which seemed an odd omission in the context of understanding the origins of the violence of 1969 and later). This expanded to more general posts on the history of Irish republicanism in Belfast, the wider context of similar insurgent groups (particularly in Europe in 1960s-1970s), relevant ephemera and gathering together accounts of various historical events often outside the remit of mainstream histories.
The resulting research was gathered together in the Belfast Battalion book and was used to created a draft ‘Lost Lives‘ for 1923-1969, a mapping of Irish Republican activists, prisoners and suspects in Belfast (1912-1969) and republican fatalities and an online library of publications and ephemera.
Anyone with suggestions/comments/criticisms about the blog, or with ideas of potential submissions can use the direct messages on the various platforms such as Facebook or to @treasonfelony (Twitter) or simply email treasonfelony@litter.press at any time.
By the way – it is intended to complete and publish the Jimmy Steele biography some stage soon (I keep saying that but it will happen).
The blogs primary author, John Ó Néill, is from Belfast but now lives in Wexford. Educated at St Malachys College Belfast and Queens University, he has a BA and PhD in Archaeology and has published books on archaeology, history and sport. He runs Litter Press (among other things). You can view his LinkedIn profile here and reach him at john@litter.press.
The Treason Felony Blog 
Could we email directly please? I’m a nephew of David Fleming’s. Thank you.
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Sure Diarmuid, my email is jjconeill at gmail dot com.
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Hi, I recently bought your book. Some brilliant information that I enjoy showing to my Granda, Joe Mathews, son of Davy and nephew of Hugh. I’ve just recently bought him your book for him for Xmas. Can u tell me when was the book released, as I’m wondering if he has it as he has most relating to his Dad.
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Hi Brendan – it was just published last year. Glad you enjoyed it – but no matter how good it is – he can probably add a few stories to it!!! John
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my name is Ciaran Steele. Jimmy was my fathers uncle. we would be very interested in getting a copy of the biography when its released.
when might that be?
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Hi Ciaran – I was meaning to get in touch with you – can you drop me an email (jjconeill at gmail.com)?
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Hi,
delighted to find your blog today. I am researching my great-uncle Paddy McLogan and his involvement in the movement from c1914 when he joined the Irish Volunteers in his native Armagh until his death in July 1964. He is buried in Mulhuddart cemetery.
Also interested in the Dobbyn family as Paddy married Henry Dobbyn’s daughter Mary Kathleen. The Dobbyn’s are buried in Glasnevin,and I have visited them there.
Len
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delighted to find your blog today. researching Paddy McLogan and the Dobbyn family.Paddy was my great-uncle and he married Mary Kathleen Dobbyn daughter of Henry
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Was delighted to find your blog today
I am researching my grand-uncle Paddy McLogan of South Armagh and hhis long involvement in the movement from c1914 when he joined the Irish Volunteers up to his death in 1964. He was very active in Belfast and the Glens of Antrim and during his time there met and married Mary Kathleen Dobbyn daughter of Henry Dobbyn who was instrumental in the reforming of the IRA in the 1920’s
Looking forward to learning more
Len
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Fascinating blog. Can I contact you by email. Mine is feilim1@yahoo.ie
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Interested on any information you may have on my grandfather Tom Greenan 1st Lieutenant Bawn Company.
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Hi,
I have a big interest in the IRA of the war years, both in NI and the South. I actually have the papers of a relative through marriage who was imprisoned in Crumlin Road during much of the war for the attempted shooting of a warder in Derry. I have been looking for a comprehensive account of the IRA in this period so that I van place the papers in some kind of context. Do you have any recommendations? I have only found your blog but already it looks very interesting.
Regards
Paddy
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Hi Paddy – there isn’t a lot published. Apart from the more general books (eg Tim Pat Coogan’s The IRA and Bowyer Bell’s The Secret Army), there is Uinseann MacEoin’s The IRA in the Twilight Years covering the IRA from 1924 to 1948. Harry White’s biography (Harry) also covers the war years as do Tarlach Ó hUid’s memoirs (Ar Thoir Mo Sealbha and Faoi Ghlas – both are in Irish but cover London, Donegal, Belfast and the prisons). Jack McNally’s book Morally Good, Politically Bad covers his experience in the war years but is mainly Belfast and the jails. Hugh McAteer wrote a short memoir that is post on the blog (if you search for it), there are Joe Cahill’s A Life in the IRA, Jim McVeigh’s book on Tom Williams, but again they are all mainly Belfast focussed (as are my book, Belfast Battalion, Ray Quinn’s A Rebel Voice, Vincent McDowell’s memoir, published as a historical novel – Ulster Idyll, and Laurie Green’s novel and film, Odd Man Out, which gives a feel for the IRA in wartime Belfast as do the others). A book to avoid is a memoir published in the 1950s, The Easter Lily, by Sean O’Callaghan – Tim Pat Coogan calls it a fairy story. Apart from McKenna’s book on the English campaign and maybe some of Enno Stephanis Spies in Ireland, the remaining accounts are either more fairy tales or, like Brendan Behans, quite patchy.
Maybe there’s more than I thought!!
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Great recommendations. Many thanks. Aware of Tarlach O’hUid alright. I have his book but unfortunately my Irish isn’t up to much. He was involved in a branch of the Gaelic League in Crumlin Gaol and the minute book of the branch is one of the documents that I have.
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