Welcome to another edition of Time Suck Short Sucks.

I'm Dan Cummins and today I will be sharing the story of the Irish revolutionary

Michael Collins, The Big Fellow,

considered by many to be one of Ireland's finest sons.

He has also been called the man who made Ireland.

The intelligence arm of the Royal Irish Constabulary, Ireland's all-powerful police force from 1822 until

1922, was for a full century key to maintaining Britain's cold

oppressive grip on the Irish populace. By the end of the 19th century

Intelligence Forces from the RIC had spies and informants not only watching over revolutionary groups like the Irish Republican Brotherhood,

but also keeping tabs on civilian groups like the Gaelic Athletic Association,

which organized Irish Sports and the Gaelic League, which promoted the Irish language.

Every part of Irish life was monitored closely by British intelligence.

Any signs of a possible rebellion were looked for any possible revolutionaries targeted and

eliminate it.

Beattings and deaths, with or without trials, was commonplace.

In spite of the ever-present danger and defying the ever watchful millions of the British crown, 28-year-old

Irish Revolutionary Michael Collins was simply walked to the door of the RIC's Detective Headquarters,

one night in April of 1919, and gain all the information he needed to take it down.

How was the charismatic young Michael Collins able to succeed, where so many other Irish

revolutionary leaders had previously failed and

dismantle the British intelligence system. How did Collins, known to most by the

imposing nickname of the Big Fellow, go from an uneventful childhood and

...