Aran Island woman Bridget Dirrane, who died in 2003 aged 109,

Aran Island woman Bridget Dirrane, who died in 2003 aged 109, told the following story of her capture in 1920 at the hands of the Black and Tans while working in Dublin.

'The Black and Tans were the scourge of Ireland at the time creating terror every place they went. They were loathed by the people.

The uniform was a regular black suit with a yellow orange stripe down along the side of the pants and also on the hem of the jacket. Hence the name 'Black and Tans.' 

They came in big lorries, pilfering and looting, not caring who they shot. 

They shot into the air to create fear and some of their deeds were dastardly in the extreme. 

One day, I was reading a letter received from my cousin on Aran, Colman Dirrane, informing me of activities on the island when I heard a knock on the door. 

I thought it was the postman returning with another letter but when I opened the door, in came the Black and Tans like a swarm of locusts. 

I managed to put the letter into the fire and this incensed the Tans. The officer in charge began to question me and I answered in Irish.

He was furious and said 'Many a person I have shot for less.'

I answered 'I have only one life to give but if I had a thousand to give, I would give them for the same cause.'

I told him to go ahead and shoot. At this point I didn't care. My life was worth very little compared to the lovely men who were shot and hanged before then.

He put the revolver down and said 'Get over there and put on your coat - you are under arrest.'

I went upstairs with one man holding my shoulder and got my coat. They ransacked the house and arrested Mr Chevasse [my employer] and another lodger in the house. 

All three of us were loaded into a van. I was taken first to the Bridewell, a terrible dirty place for drunks and layabouts. I was there for two days and two nights.

Then they took me to a lorry in the prison square but I refused to get in until I was forced.

Eventually, the lorries reached Mountjoy. 

While there, I sang all the Irish songs I could and danced away to my heart's content making the officers furious.

I continued to be troublesome and went on hunger strike then.

Shortly after that I was released. 

It was an exciting, extremely dangerous time. But thank God, I survived.'

Pictured is Bridget Dirrane and two of her brothers in 1917.