Kevin Barry - An Irish Hero

Description

One hundred years ago today, Kevin Barry was executed in Mountjoy Prison. The young medical student and IRA Volunteer was sentenced to hang, for his role in an ambush that resulted in the deaths of three British soldiers.

In song and story he’s forever the 'lad of 18 summers’ – and stands today as one of Ireland’s most famous martyrs. Tonight, we’ll hear about two new biographies which investigate his life, and the mythology surrounding him – written by two close relatives.

Colm Flynn speaks to Siofra O’Donovan – Barry’s grand-niece, and the author of the book Yours ‘Til Hell Freezes: A Memoir of Kevin Barry, which is published by Currach Books.