GEORGE PLANT : EXECUTED BY FREE STATERS ON THIS DATE (5TH MARCH) 83 YEARS AGO.
"It is a noble thing to die for your country, it is a useful thing to kill for your county. If you can't be noble just be useful" (George Plant, pictured)- put to death by a republican traitor after following IRA orders issued by an IRA informer.
George Plant was executed by de Valera's Fianna Fáil administration on the 5th March 1942, and the circumstances leading to that act have left unanswered questions to this day*.
In late August 1940, a Dublin house (22 Lansdowne Road, pictured) was raided by the Special Branch and, among others, a lorry driver (for the Shell-Mex Company in Wexford) in his mid-twenties, Michael Devereux, from Wexford, was arrested.
At the time, Devereux was the Quarter-Master of the IRA in Wexford.
He was held and questioned for three days by ex-IRA man (who was once the Commander of 'C' Company, 4th Battalion, IRA, Dublin Brigade) , now Free State Detective, Dinny O'Brien (registration number 8288) , who made a name for himself with his fellow Staters as 'a good Broy Harrier man'.
Volunteer Michael Devereux was released without charge and, shortly afterwards, the State Gardai 'stumbled upon' a major IRA arms dump in the Wexford area : it had been suggested at the time and since then that the Staters knew about that arms dump weeks before they raided the house in Lansdowne Road but willingly used the circumstances to set up Volunteer Devereux.
The then new IRA Chief-Of-Staff, Stephen Hayes, ordered George Plant and Kilkenny-man Michael Walsh to execute "the informer Michael Devereux" and, even though the two IRA men were uneasy about the task, and questioned same, they executed him, on the 27th September, 1940 (his body was only located a year later ie 27th September 1941).
In October 1941, George Plant was arrested by the Staters and charged (in effect, in front of a Free State Military Tribunal) with the 'murder' of Michael Devereux but the 'trail' collapsed within days as 'witnesses for the prosecution' refused to condemn the man, leaving the State no option but to declare a 'nolle prosequi' , which should have brought the issue to an end.
But in December that year (1941), George Plant was re-arrested (under 'Emergency Order 41F') and brought before the 'Special Military Court' (where Free State Army officers act as 'judges' who could only impose the death penalty with no right to appeal) and again charged with the 'murder' of Michael Devereux.
Also that same month (December 1941) , in an attempt to wipe-out his former IRA comrades, de Valera enacted an 'Emergency Powers Act' (to be enforced retrospectively, if required) in which 'witness' statements, once given (or, indeed, 'once taken' by the Staters) could be used in court even if the person who 'gave' same withdrew it later and was or was not in court!
At this second 'trail', George Plant was found guilty, sentenced to death and executed in Portlaoise on the 5th March 1942, by firing squad, 83 years ago on this date.
He was buried at St. Johnstown Cemetery, near Fethard, County Tipperary, following an oration by John McGrath (NGA), who said -
"George Plant worshipped at a shrine different to the majority of his fellow countrymen, but like his illustrious co-religionists, Wolfe Tone, Emmet, the Brothers Sheares, and many more, he fearlessly trod the path that they trod to their doom in the cause of Ireland's freedom..."
(*The then IRA Chief-of-Staff, Stephen Hayes, was said to be a paid informer in the employ of de Valera and, to earn his keep, he accused Michael Devereux of revealing the location of the arms dump in order to conceal the fact that he, Hayes, had actually turned it over to de Valera and his fellow Free Staters.
Also, George Plant was in the Republican Movement for twenty-five years and, as such, he would have known the 'achilles heel' of many of those who served with him, some of whom, at that time, were now 'respectable' career politicians in the young Free State and, indeed, not long after the man was buried, a Tipperary Churchman found a journal written by George Plant but he destroyed it after reading it as he deemed its contents to be a political game-changer for the Free Staters if it was ever to become public knowledge.
Questions were also asked in relation to an IRA bank robbery in 1928 in Tipperary, allegedly carried out by George Plant [then 24 years young] and his brother, Jimmy, after been ordered to do so by ex-IRA man, Frank Aiken [who was a Fianna Fáil member at the time], the proceeds of which were given to Frank Aiken for safekeeping until it was to be handed over to the IRA.
The money, however, apparently ended-up in the election coffers of Fianna Fáil and if George Plant knew that then best to silence him....?)
On the 5th March, 1919, Sinn Féin members were involved (mostly) on the side of farmers, fox-hunting and horse-racing aficionados in the Kildare area at a large public meeting held in Naas Courthouse (pictured), at which those 'For' and 'Against' were discussing (!) the issue.
Between 400 and 500 farmers attended the meeting, and were mostly in favour of both 'sports', as were some of the republicans present who distributed leaflets entitled 'Fox-Hunting For Freedom'.
However, those 'sports' divided the public and political organisations -
'On march 5, 1919, twenty-five members of the Muskerry Foxhounds from east Cork rode out. The Muskerry’s master, Jerry Rohan, was not present.
For several weeks he had sought a compromise that would see local Sinn Féin activists end their campaign to stop fox-hunting, but by early March he had conceded defeat, leaving the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) inspector for the area to report that the Muskerry had abandoned their sport for the year.
Master or no master, however, twenty-five defiant members set off that morning and, according to the correspondent of the Freeman’s Journal newspaper, at first “all went merrily” and there “was abundant promise of a good day’s sport.”
Early on, two men on foot attempted to persuade the hunters to stop, but after a brief conversation the spoilsports were ignored and the incident was momentarily forgotten when a fox appeared, offering the opportunity of a chase.
When that fortunate animal eluded them, the hunters moved on to the townland of Ballyshoneen. There the unusual action began. As the hunters prepared to rouse a new quarry they heard the sound of whistles that signaled the arrival of fifty to sixty Sinn Féin supporters.
This group adopted a vigorously persuasive approach.
Wielding hurleys and sticks, they immediately set upon the hounds and horses.
When a Catholic clergyman, who was among the hunting party, demanded that the attackers desist, he was, in the words of the Freeman’s prolix euphemism, “answered by an opprobrious sally of unseemly names and epithets.”
Hurleys, sticks, and stones were met with riding crops, but soon the hunt was in full retreat, withdrawing to the sound of a revolver shot and the
shouted question, “Now will you obey Sinn Féin and the orders of our Executive...?"
For what it's worth, the '1169' blog team voted unanimously against fox-hunting (ie 3-0), but 2-1 in favour of horse racing.
It was a secret ballot, of course, so I'll just say "that's lads for ya" and leave it at that...!
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GAS LADS...
The massive finds of oil and gas on our western seaboard could ensure Ireland's financial security for generations.
Wealth approximating that of the Arab countries is within our grasp, but the Irish government seems content to sell off our birthright for a handful of votes and a few dollars.
In a special 'Magill' report, Sandra Mara investigates just what we are giving away, and why.
From 'Magill' magazine, March 2002.
The State sold the family silver.
After confirming the commerciality of the Corrib North find, 'Enterprise Oil' lobbied the government for a reduction of the already small, by industry standards, tax rate to 12.5 per cent.
The oil industry in Ireland, the 'Irish Offshore Operators Association' (IOOA), then proposed that a $5 subsidy be paid by the State for any oil found in Irish waters, a proposal which smacks of the deal done with the American Indians to buy New York for a handful of beads and a few dollars.
Informed industry sources suggest that the oil companies view the west coast of Scotland as being the main base of operations for the Atlantic Margin, described as the new oil and gas frontier.
The North Sea oil and gas fields, they believe, have a finite life span, which is expected to stretch into the latter part of this century, so to base their operations in Scotland makes sound economic sense for the oil companies which have built up the Scottish infrastructure for the past 25 years - the Atlantic Margin stretches from west of the Shetlands, west of Scotland, down as far as the western seaboard of Ireland...
(MORE LATER.)
In early 1920, the Cork No.1 Brigade of the IRA received sanction from IRA GHQ to organise simultaneous attacks on four enemy barracks in their command area - Carrigtwohill (for East Cork units), Ballygarvan (south side Cork city units), Kilmurray (Macroom area units) and Inchigeela (Ballyvourney area units).
The Cork Brigades were well-staffed, well-armed and disciplined ; for instance, at around that period, the Cork No.3 Brigade had over 5,500 active Volunteers/support base that it could rely on.
On the 5th March (1920) the British Army and the RIC tried to hit back by harassing local republicans and, among those 'arrested' or pulled in for questioning were at least six members of the Bandon Battalion of the IRA but it didn't stop the rebels, or even slow them down - within weeks, the Cork Brigades had paid a visit (!) to enemy installations at Blarney, Farran, Inchigeela, Clondrohid, and Cork city (MacCurtain Street).
'Cute hoors' when they wanted to be, those Corkonians!
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JACK THE LAD.....
....Jack Murphy (pictured), that is - 68 years ago on this date (5th March, 1957) , an unemployed carpenter was elected to Leinster House (with 3,036 first preference votes) as an Independent representative for Dublin South Central but was marked out in that institution for being 'different' (ie 'genuine') and resigned his seat 15 months later, saying -
"I was fed up with the callous indifference of the big parties to the situation of the workers."
He was born near Synge Street in Dublin in 1920, and was number thirteen in the family - his parents, five brothers and five sisters. His father was active in republican circles and Jack joined Na Fianna Éireann in 1930, at ten years of age and, at 16 years young, he joined the IRA.
He was interned for republican activity in the Curragh at 21 and released four years later.
When he entered Leinster House he divided his monthly wage of £52 into three sections - one-third each to his own family, unemployed action groups and organisations that were trying to look after the old.
On resigning his seat in May 1958, he received only £2-1s a week unemployment assistance and could only find short-term temporary work.
In early 1959 he had no option but to emigrate (to Canada), saying -
"Since Christmas I have been unable to get any work, apart from a couple of weeks.
The building trade is finished. But there is plenty of work if only the Government would put up the money for it instead of putting millions into the purchase of jet planes.
Irish tradesmen have emigrated in thousands. And they will continue to go. There is no hope for them here. Many people will say that I am quitting, pulling out in failure. But mostly they will be people with good, solid jobs.
If I saw the slightest hope I would stay, I repeat that, but it broke my heart to see my wife trying to get along on a few shillings a week. I tried hard all along and no one can say that I did not try to spotlight the problems and evils of our country.
Again let me stress that I am not pulling out from any motive of selfishness. There are fine young men in this country who will lead the people if they are prepared to follow them.
I wish those men all the luck in the world. They will need it in their fight to overcome the apathy that is making it all too easy for the big political parties to continue to run the country (sic) as if the working people did not matter."
Some of those that worked alongside him in the 1957 election campaign were not in agreement with his decision to resign his seat and there was a falling-out between them but our research for this piece would indicate that Jack Murphy was simply disappointed and frustrated that he found himself powerless in Leinster House to affect real change for the working class, the unemployed and the elderly and, realising that that was the case, saw no benefit in staying there.
He died on the 11th of July, 1984.
Also elected in that same State election (5th March 1957) were four Irish republicans, for Sinn Féin, on an abstentionist basis : Ruairi Ó Brádaigh (Longford/Westmeath) , Éineachán Ó hAnnluain (brother of Feargal O'Hanlon, Monaghan constituency) , John Joe Rice (South Kerry) and John Joe McGirl (Sligo-Leitrim) all of whom knew, whilst canvassing for that British-imposed 'parliament', that they, too, would be unable to affect meaningful change for the working class, the unemployed or the elderly and canvassed on the basis that they would not take their seats or their salary.
Sixty-eight years have gone by since then, but the Leinster House institution remains as corrupt and ineffectual as it was then.
On the 5th March, 1921, about 100 armed IRA Volunteers from various Units - the Newmarket Battalion Column* (under Sean Moylan), a section of the Kerry No. 2 Brigade Column (under Tom McEllistrim), a section of the Charleville Battalion Column* (under Paddy O'Brien) and the Millstreet Battalion Column* (under Con J Meany) established an ambush position in the townland of Cloonbannin (on the road between Rathmore and Mallow), in County Cork.
(*These Columns were attached to the Cork No.2 Brigade.)
The rebels were out to destroy a joint British Army and RIC convoy, which was travelling from Killarney to Buttevant, in Cork, consisting of about 40 enemy forces in three lorries, an armoured car and a touring car (the BA soldiers were from the the East Lancashire Regiment).
The IRA were armed with land mines (which, in the event, failed to explode) rifles, hand grenades, and a Hotchkiss machine gun (which actually jammed during the engagement).
The convoy arrived at the ambush point and the IRA opened fire ; such was the volume of shots hitting them that the BA/RIC forces panicked, their armoured car ran into the touring car (which was carrying their Brigadier-General, a Mr Hanway Robert Cumming) and then sank in the soft margin of the road, but the machine gun mounted on the armoured car still worked and was used against the Volunteers.
The battle lasted for about 90 minutes and resulted in the deaths of four enemy soldiers - the Brigadier-General himself and a Mr Harold de Maligny, a Mr Harold Turner and a Mr William Walker ; more here about that successful operation.
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Speaking at the Clare Spring Assizes on the 5th March, 1921, a Mr Thomas Francis Moloney, the 'Lord Chief Justice of Ireland', declared that, while he was disappointed and annoyed with the people of County Clare "for allowing themselves to be cowed, intimidated and downtrodden by a comparatively small number of reckless and wicked men.." (ie by which he meant the IRA!), he stated that he understood why that was happening - "...the people of Clare dislike the crime but they dislike more assisting the police (sic)..."
Obviously, from his Ivory Tower high up in the clouds, Mr Moloney never witnessed the people being cowed, intimidated and downtrodden by "the police".
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The Captain of the Coppeen Company, 3rd (Dunmanway) Battalion, Cork No. 3 Brigade IRA, Volunteer Jeremiah O'Mahoney, was accidently shot dead by a comrade near Ballyvelone Cross, Enniskeane, County Cork, on the 5th March 1921.
'But faith marked him out for a short bright career, midst the trouble of warfare and strife,
whilst engaged in his duties for Irelands protection, was accidently wounded, he lost his young life.
Great was his loss to his comrades who loved him, he was determined, partial and brave,
Bold and determined in dealing with justice, in civil affairs he was courteous and mild.
In football and hurling and bowl playing he revelled,
Few were his equals in all manly play.
For his score in the goal-field, how sadly we miss him,
And from the glorious Ireland that is dawning today...'
RIP Volunteer Jeremiah O'Mahony.
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On the 2nd March, 1921, five IRA Volunteers from 'Sections 1 and 2' of the Active Service Unit of the Dublin Brigade IRA (with Volunteer Tom Flood [pictured ; a-republican-gamekeeper-turned-Free State poacher] in command) had established an ambush position at the junction of Capel Street and Parnell Street in Dublin City Centre.
The Volunteers were waiting for a three-vehicle British Army patrol to show up and, when it did, each Volunteer lobbed a bomb at one of the vehicles and quickly left the scene.
Three days later - on the 5th March (1921) - roughly in the same part of Dublin, eleven IRA Volunteers from 'Sections 1 and 2' of the ASU bombed and shot at another three-vehicle Crown Force convoy, injuring several members of the RIC's 'Igoe Gang', with one injury themselves - Volunteer Seán Quinn was wounded in the operation.
Incidentally, the Dublin Brigade's 'Section 1 and 2' ASU was a full-time Unit - the members of it had quit their jobs and were paid £4.10.00 a week by the Movement, given a 'Short Webley' (revolver), 12 rounds of ammunition and access to hand grenades when needed.
And we'll bet not one of them dreaded Monday morning...!
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On Friday morning, 4th March, 1921, on-the-run IRA Volunteer Tom Lee (20,pictured) from Tipperary, ran past a farmer tending to his lifestock in Fethard, County Tipperary, and he shouted at the farmer to go back into his house.
The farmer saw that the IRA man was being chased by a British Black and Tan, so he stepped out in front of the Tan to try and slow him down but he was hit in the face with the butt of his rifle, sending the elderly farmer to the ground.
With that, the Tan ran up a little hill, took aim with his rifle, and fired three shots at Volunteer Lee, who fell in the field he was running across.
The Black and Tan turned to the farmer on the ground and said -
"It's your lucky day, Paddy. If I hadn't shot him, I would have shot you..."
Volunteer Lee, although only 20 years of age, was a seasoned military activist, and had been on-the-run for a few months. Earlier on that morning, himself and IRA Captain Pat Ryan had both slept overnight in a Mr Coffey's haybarn, near the town of Fethard.
They left the barn and went to another safehouse nearby for breakfast, which they never finished - they seen a force of Black and Tans and RIC members beginning to surround the house and decided to fight their way out.
Gunfire was exchanged between the IRA men and the Crown Forces, and Volunteers Lee and Ryan escaped out through a back window and split up.
Volunteer Lee got to the Cashel Road, ran past the Danagher's house and into Holway's Field...and that's when three shots were fired at him.
The Tans commandeered a horse and cart and made their way to where Volunteer Lee was lying - he had been shot twice, but was still alive.
He was thrown in the back of the cart and, by the time they got out of the field a small crowd had gathered, including local priest, Reverend PC Ryan, who climbed onboard the cart and stayed with the Volunteer on the journey to Fethard Military Barracks in Tipperary. Rev Ryan anointed the IRA man on that journey.
Volunteer Tom Lee (who had eight brothers and three sisters, ranging in age from 3 to 24, at the time) died in that Crown Force military barracks at 2.30am on Saturday, 5th March 1921, and was laid to rest on the 8th with his ancestors in the old graveyard in the village of Clerihan (Ballyclerahan).
'The Nationalist' newspaper carried a report on March 9th -
'His body was immediately removed to Tipperary Town for the military inquiry and, after the inquiry, the remains were then transferred to Cashel and taken from there by hearse to the parish church in Fethard.
All shops and banks were closed with blinds fully drawn for the arrival of the funeral cortege.
In the church, a guard of honour formed by Volunteers watched by the coffin, which was draped in the Tricolour, and had a glass panel through which the boy's face and shoulders could be seen.
Thousands viewed the remains on Monday and Tuesday morning, various clergy were in attendance and Mass was celebrated by the parish priest, the Very Rev PC Ryan..."
Within three weeks of Volunteer Tom Lee's burial, his mother, Bridget, gave birth to her final child, a daughter, Patricia.
Incidentally, the cursed Tan who killed Volunteer Tom Lee was a 24-year-old Scottish man, from Aberdeen, named James Paterson. Mr Paterson was working as a farm labourer after he had been demobbed from the British Army, left the labouring job and decided to impose 'law and order' in Ireland as a member of a British paramilitary gang.
We tried to find more details on Mr Paterson but - priorities - the cat wanted out the back.
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In March, 1921, a Mr Walter Harold Wiggins (aka 'Walter Jones'), a Private in the British Army, and listed as being '...one of the two non-commemorated members of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry..' was recorded as having '..died in southern Ireland during the Black and Tan campaign (having) expired in Limerick Workhouse (then in use as a British Army barracks) from a self-inflicted wound on 5 March 1921..'
Bloody cat still wants out...
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In late February/early March in 1921, the Crown Forces in Leinster let it be known that, on Saturday, 5th March, all fairs, street stalls, and markets would be prohibited from taking place.
On that Saturday, the 'Anglo-Celt' newspaper reported that all markets etc within a 10 mile radius of the towns of Maynooth and Edenderry had been banned by the British military, and 'The Nationalist and Leinster Times' newspaper reported that they had also been banned in Monasterevin, Kildare, Portarlington, Portlaoise ('Maryborough') and Mountrath.
It was understood at the time that such actions were a financial punishment on the public for supporting the rebels ; the stalls etc disappeared, but the support never did...
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THE NUMBER'S UP...
How some famous gambling conspiracies came to light.
By Con Houlihan.
From 'Magill' Magazine Annual 2002.
To survive he must know or sense what money is 'informed' and what is not.
People who bet can be divided into five categories ; you have 'the plungers', those men and women who have more money than sense, but they are now a rare breed - they flourished in the nineteenth century.
Then there are 'the punters', and they are the great majority - betting for them is a hobby or part of a night out.
There is also a breed that is hard to define but easy to recognise ; they are not compulsive gamblers, but occasionally they put on big bets - you could call it serious money.
Our old friend, Mick O'Toole, famous greyhound trainer and even more famous as a racehorse trainer, gave the ultimate answer long ago - " A big bet is a bet you cannot afford."
Then there are the people known as compulsive gamblers ; you will find them in all walks and stumbles of life, and I have known a few in my time.
They were all nice intelligent people but were dependent on gambling as others are on nicotine or alcohol...
(MORE LATER.)
158 YEARS AGO ON THIS DATE (5TH MARCH) : FENIAN RISING (1867).
Fenian flag , 1867.
1867 Irish Fenian Proclamation : 'English Monarchical government a curse...' -
'The Irish People of the World.
We have suffered centuries of outrage, enforced poverty, and bitter misery. Our rights and liberties have been trampled on by an alien aristocracy, who treating us as foes, usurped our lands, and drew away from our unfortunate country all material riches.
The real owners of the soil were removed to make room for cattle, and driven across the ocean to seek the means of living, and the political rights denied to them at home, while our men of thought and action were condemned to loss of life and liberty.
But we never lost the memory and hope of a national existence.
We appealed in vain to the reason and sense of justice of the dominant powers. Our mildest remonstrance's were met with sneers and contempt. Our appeals to arms were always unsuccessful.
Today, having no honourable alternative left, we again appeal to force as our last resource. We accept the conditions of appeal, manfully deeming it better to die in the struggle for freedom than to continue an existence of utter serfdom.
All men are born with equal rights, and in associating to protect one another and share public burdens, justice demands that such associations should rest upon a basis which maintains equality instead of destroying it.
We therefore declare that, unable longer to endure the curse of Monarchical Government, we aim at founding a Republic based on universal suffrage, which shall secure to all the intrinsic value of their labour. The soil of Ireland, at present in the possession of an oligarchy, belongs to us, the Irish people, and to us it must be restored.
We declare, also, in favour of absolute liberty of conscience, and complete separation of Church and State.
We appeal to the Highest Tribunal for evidence of the justness of our cause. History bears testimony to the integrity of our sufferings, and we declare, in the face of our brethren, that we intend no war against the people of England – our war is against the aristocratic locusts, whether English or Irish, who have eaten the verdure of our fields – against the aristocratic leeches who drain alike our fields and theirs.
Republicans of the entire world, our cause is your cause. Our enemy is your enemy. Let your hearts be with us.
As for you, workmen of England, it is not only your hearts we wish, but your arms. Remember the starvation and degradation brought to your firesides by the oppression of labour. Remember the past, look well to the future, and avenge yourselves by giving liberty to your children in the coming struggle for human liberty.
Herewith we proclaim the Irish Republic.
The Provisional Government.'
The link in the title of this post will give a background to, and details of, the 1867 Rising, leaving us to concentrate on one of the thousands of men and women that struck a blow for Irish freedom in that year - Peter O'Neill Crowley, from Cork, who was killed in Tipperary by the British :
A child born in the townland of Ballymacoda in County Cork, in 1832, learned how to make a living from the land and was considered in the locality, as a young adult, to be what would now be called 'a pillar of society'.
He was known as an expert farmer and had a wide circle of friends.
An Irish republican at heart, Peter O'Neill Crowley joined the Fenian Movement in Cork and rose quickly through the ranks - at 35 years young, he was in command of a 'Fenian Circle', which numbered more than one hundred men.
It is almost certain that Crowley and his 'Circle' were involved in the capture of the RIC Barracks at Ballynockane, County Cork, on the night of the 5th March, 1867 ; Fenian leaders J F X O'Brien, Michael O'Brien and William Mackey Lomasney had combined their forces into one 'Circle' consisting of over 2,000 Fenian fighters and, in early March 1867, caused havoc in Cork for the British administration.
As well as capturing the Ballynockane RIC Barracks (and removing anything of value to the Fenian war effort) the Fenian's sabotaged large sections of rail-track used by the 'Great Southern and Western Railway', destroyed the 'points-system' belonging to same and rendered inoperable the telegraph system in the district.
In that same month (March 1867), Peter O'Neill Crowley and his group attacked an armed coastguard station at Knockadoon.
The Knockadoon coastguard station, located about eight miles from Youghal in Cork, was staffed by ten armed employees ; they were over-powered, held captive and their rifles and ammunition taken.
It is not perhaps as well known as it should be, but the 'main' Fenian Rising of 1867 lasted for just over twenty-four hours, although isolated attacks on the British continued for a few weeks.
When Peter O'Neill Crowley and his second and third in command, John McClure and John Edward Kelly (see page 5, here) realised that the Rising had failed, they knew the British would be determined to 'round-up' the leadership ; they issued orders to their 'Circle' to disperse.
After the 'dispersal' order was given (towards the end of the first week in March 1867) , the three Fenian leaders - Crowley , McClure and Kelly - fled to the limited safety of Kilclooney Wood in County Tipperary.
On 31st March, 1867, a large force of British soldiers entered Kilclooney Wood and 'scouts' from the same force soon located the whereabouts of the three Irish rebels.
Within hours they were surrounded by the enemy and ordered to surrender ; they refused.
The three were well-armed, and fought courageously, but were no match for the numbers ranged against them. The gun-battle lasted for several hours,but it ended when Peter O'Neill Crowley died, with at least three gunshot wounds to his body.
John McClure and Edward Kelly were arrested and were later sentenced to life imprisonment.
The county of Cork practically came to a standstill for Crowley's funeral, in his native Ballymacoda. The Fenian leader, John Devoy, said of the man -
"Peter O'Neill Crowley was one of the best men in the Fenian Movement, and Ireland never gave birth to a truer or more devoted son. His devotion to the Cause of Irish liberty was sublime and his courage dauntless."
The two men captured in Kilclooney Wood in Tipperary after the gun-battle, John McClure and John Edward Kelly, were released four years later, in the 'general amnesty' of that year (1871).
Incidentally, the 'Kilclooney Wood Engagement' is considered to be the last action of the 1867 Fenian Rising but by no means the end of our on-going struggle for full independence from Westminster interference and misrule in Irish affairs.
Divided streets ; IRA on one side of the road, Free State Army on the other, and an uneasy truce between the two.
Not referencing the 5th March 1922 specifically, but encompassing that date.
In short : when the British military and their proxies in the RIC/Black and Tans were vacating their barracks and buildings in the Free State following the Treaty of Surrender, both sides - the IRA and the FSA - recognised the importance of taking them over.
This led to 'shapes being thrown' by both sides and no where more so than in Limerick - between both sides, about 700 armed men were involved in repeated 'shouting matches' in and around the town and outside the emptying barracks and buildings, with the FSA somehow thinking it was a good idea to opine out loud that that situation wouldn't have occurred if only the British had stayed on the ground a little longer!
IRA Volunteers from Cork and Kerry were arriving into the city to support their rebel comrades, and FSA members from outside the district (FSA 1st Western Division) were moving in, as well.
But then, on the 12th March, both sides agreed that their men from outside the Limerick areas would return to their own bases and that the Limerick IRA leadership would divide the military garrisons in the city between Pro- and Anti-Treaty units, and that Limerick Corporation repair crews and workmen would oversee the maintenance of the barracks and buildings (the IRA took over the Ordnance Barracks, Castle Barracks, the New Barracks and Strand Barracks, leaving the FSA to scramble for the leftovers!).
The FSA men on the ground talked about that compromise as offering too much, too soon to the IRA, whereas the IRA Volunteers (who were numerically superior) were not happy that they had been ordered to compromise with the Staters.
But the Staters continued grumbling and throwing shapes and, as they were by then better armed (thanks to their sponsors in Westminster) they made their move on the 11th July that year "to take Limerick back" and between then and the 20th of that month, they unfortunately succeeded - a more detailed article can be accessed here.
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"War, though necessary and noble for necessary and noble ends, has terrible effects incidental to it, not only material ruin, but moral effects when prolonged unrighteously, a tendency to lose balance and judgment, to forget and misinterpret the real object of the national struggle, to grow to believe that strife, even fratricidal strife, is noble in itself. Such things must cease as soon as freedom is secured or the nation will perish..."
-Mr Michael Collins, 5th March 1922, as quoted in 'The Irish Independent' newspaper on the 6th March 1922.
"...misinterpret the real object of the national struggle.." which, as we now know, or should know, apparently, was to obtain a Free State within our 32-County Republic.
T'was the objective all along...
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POLITICAL LIFESTYLES IN IRELAND...
His lavish lifestyle was funded by wealthy admirers.
Time after time, his debts were taken care of by friendly businessmen.
In exchange for giving people access to government leaders, he cheerfully lined his own pockets.
From 'Magill' Magazine, January 2003.
Happily, Brendan O'Carroll is showing more staying power -
"I know for a fact that I will stand in Dáil Éireann (sic) one day", he iunforms me cheerfully.
"If not at the next election, the one after that for sure. And make no mistake, I'll be going in to legislate as well."
The Finglas funnyman has, of course, an impeccable political pedigree - not so much from his mother, who was a Labour Party TD (sic), but from the fact that in his former life as a waiter he once had the pleasure of attending to the needs of Margaret Thatcher at a European summit in Dublin Castle.
But anyway, what exactly would the author of 'How's Your Jolly Roger' hope to achieve in his new career...?
(MORE LATER.)
ON THIS DATE (5TH MARCH) 221 YEARS AGO - 'CONVICTS' REVOLT : FIRST FULL DAY OF THE 'VINEGAR HILL' NSW UPRISING.
The 5th March in 1804 was the first full day of the uprising by the 'Castle Hill Convicts' in New South Wales, Australia, led by Irish rebel Phillip Cunningham, a Kerryman, born at Glenn Liath ('Grey Glen'), Moyvane. The Irish rebels had made their move on the previous day.
Although not a lot is known about this Irish hero, it is recorded that he moved to Clonmel, Tipperary, in the 1790's and worked as a stonemason, supplementing his income from same by opening up a small pub.
Peter Cunningham and about two hundred other 'convicts' turned on the Redcoat soldiers who had imprisoned them, locked them up and broke into a weapons hut.
Martial law was declared as a result, in the Sydney area, and residents in the town of Parramatta were advised to assemble at the docks, ready to flee the area if needed. The rebels had by now based themselves on a hilltop and declared it to be their 'Vinegar Hill'.
A Major George Johnson and his men from the New South Wales Corps and a detachment of fifty mercenaries from the 'Loyal Association' marched through the night and a short battle commenced in and around 'Vinegar Hill', ending the rebellion. Peter Cunningham was later executed without trial.
'The Sydney Gazette' newspaper covered(/coloured) the event, in its edition of the 11th March 1804, in the following manner -
'REBELLION AT CASTLE HILL.
Major Johnston on arriving at Toongabbee, received information that a considerable Body were on their way to the Hawkesbury : Notwithstanding the fatigue of his small Detachment in marching up from Sydney and the distance they had gone since, they immediately ran in good Order, with their followers, and after a pursuit of Seven Miles farther, Major Johnston and a Trooper, who had preceded the Detachment, came up with the rear of the Insurgents at 11 o'clock, whose number have since been ascertained to be 233 men, armed with Musquets, Pistols, Swords etc., and a number of followers which they had taken from the Settlers.
After calling to them repeatedly they halted, and formed on the rise of a Hill : The Major and Trooper advanced within pistol shot, and endeavoured to persuade them to submit to the Mercy that was offered them by the Proclamation, which they refused.
The Major required to see their Chiefs, who after some deliberation met them half way, between the Detachment and Insurgents, when by a great presence of mind and address the Major presented his pistol at the head of the Principal leader (Phillip Cunningham), and the Trooper following his motions, presented his Pistol also to the other leader's head (William Johnston) and drove them into the Detachment without the least opposition from the body of the Insurgents..'
That rebellion may very well have been shortlived and its leader, Peter Cunningham, almost forgotten in our history, but it, and he, live on in the memory of every Irish republican to this day.
As it should be.
On the 5th March, 1923, three columns of Free State Army soldiers were making their way cautiously through the Garrane Mountains near Cahersiveen, in County Kerry (pictured).
They were acting on information that a column of IRA Volunteers (comprising men from the Kerry No.3 Brigade and the Kerry 1st Battalion) were billeted in, and at, the O'Connell farmhouse and, when they got there, they were fired on.
Both sides were well armed, but the IRA were outnumbered and fought as long as they could.
Six IRA men offered to surrender (including Volunteers Denis Daly, Dan O’Connor and Michael Griffin) and, in the confusion and the 'to-ing and fro-ing' during the handover, the remainder of the IRA column managed to escape towards the town of Glencar.
Two FSA members, a Mr Timothy O’Shea and a Mr Jeremiah Quaine, were killed during the farmhouse gunfight and, in an attempted follow-up operation, another FSA member, a Mr William Healy (from Valentia, in County Kerry) was shot dead and two of his comrades wounded.
One member of the IRA column who escaped during the six-man-surrender, Brigade Engineer Dan Clifford (26, an electrician and blacksmith by trade, from Reenalagane, Cahersiveen, County Kerry, attached to the No.3 Brigade and No.1 ASU, and who was originally attached to the Kerry 1st Battalion IRA) had made it, unarmed, to a neighbouring farm and took shelter in a shed, but an FSA member found him and shot him dead.
Volunteer Dan Clifford is buried in The Republican Plot in Kilnavarnogue Cemetery, Cahersiveen, in County Kerry.
The following day (6th March) IRA Volunteer Sean T. O'Sullivan was killed by the Staters at Gleesk, near Gleann Beithe (Glenbeigh) in County Kerry, as they were searching for the escaped IRA Volunteers.
RIP Volunteer Dan Clifford and Volunteer Sean T. O'Sullivan.
==========================
Thanks for reading - delighted that ya could make it!
Sharon and the team.
We're taking a short(ish!) holiday as we've to do a fair bit of travelling in the country, North, South, East and West.
Between confirmations, birthdays anniversaries and our day jobs we're gonna be kept busy until about the 17th of this month, meaning that we won't be back blogging until Wednesday, 26th March.
...but ya can still catch me on X/Twitter and
Facebook, if yer that desperate for some company!
This man was born in County Cork in the 1800's and made a name for himself as a person who could be trusted, a respectable worker. He made it his business to contact like-minded people with similar interests, social and political, and together, eventually, they numbered in the hundreds, then in the thousands...
In the 1940's, a house in Ballsbridge in Dublin was raided by the Free State Special Branch and a working man who was staying in the house was taken away by them for questioning. The raiding party was led by an ex-IRA man and the man they removed from the house was an active IRA Volunteer, but the Staters didn't know that at the time. But, when they found out afterwards, the Staters stitched him up...
...and that's just two of the 20-or-so pieces we'll be writing about on Wednesday, 5th March 2025.
1900's - Mixing 'sports' and politics : various weapons were used in clashes between Irish republicans and what this blog would consider to be blood-thirsty 'sport' enthusiastics ie those who apparently enjoyed seeing poor animals being injured and/or killed. During at least one such clash, a handgun was produced, and used...
An aberration in State politics in the 1950's, and not one that 'suited the suits' in Leinster House. This man was an ordinary 'working-class joe' with a social conscience and he acted on that conscience. And the 'suits' on the benches beside him didn't appreciate that...
Early 1920's - the new Free State Army were 'throwing shapes' at the IRA in this town in Munster but they were ill-equipped to do so, and their leadership knew it. Both army leaderships came to a compromise, of which some of the IRA men disapproved, insisting that they should instead push home their advantage...
Ireland, 1920's - this high-ranking member of the British judiciary in Ireland spoke out about both sides of the coin, even if he did get his "recklessness and wickedness" confused...
...but don't you go gettin' confused on us, now - we'll be here on Wednesday, 5th March 2025, with the rest of the above pieces and a dozen or more other bits.
Thanks for reading - see ya on the 5th!
Sharon and the team.
ON THIS DATE (26TH FEBRUARY) 102 YEARS AGO...
On the 26th February, 1923, a meeting of Anti-Treaty IRA officers assembled at Ballinageary, Co Tipperary.
Officers from the First Southern Division reported that "..in a short time we would not have a man left owing to the great number of arrests and casualties..".
Tom Crofts (a republican-gamekeeper-turned-Free State-poacher, who later joined the Fianna Fail party) reported that the Cork Brigades had suffered 29 killed and an unknown number captured in recent actions ; "..if five men are arrested in each area, we are finished..".
Nevertheless, Liam Lynch, to his credit, issued a statement rejecting the possibility of a truce with the Free Staters ; he was shot dead by that enemy on the 10th of April that same year following which, in that same month, the IRA called a ceasefire and 'dumped arms' the following month (See '26th February 1923', below).
Incidentally, also on the 26th February in 1923, a Free State soldier was executed by his comrades for having defected and handing over weapons to the IRA -
'Thomas Gibson, a former National (sic) soldier, was executed in Portlaoise, County Laois on 26 February (1923) having already been court martialled in Roscrea, County Tipperary on 18th January 1923.
He was charged with : treacherously assisting the enemy, in as much as on 19th. November, 1922, being then on active service, he left PORT LAOIGHSE BARRACKS, and took with him five rifles, and one grenade cup.
He was absent until 10th January, 1923, when he was arrested with two prominent Irregulars, all three being at the time in possession of arms.
Volunteer Gibson was found guilty of the charge and was sentenced by the Court to suffer death by being shot. The sentence was duly confirmed and was carried out at Portlasighise on 26th February, 1923.
Gibson had deserted from Portlaoise Barracks, the National (sic) Army, on 19th November 1922, and had taken with him five rifles and a grenade. He was captured, on 10th January 1923, while asleep in a safe house.
According to Father Thomas Hilary Burbage, the local chaplain, this execution should not have occurred as Gibson was "unbalanced in mind, and that his mother had been a patient in Maryboro [Portlaoise] Lunatic Asylum".
Whether this assertion is true or not, Gibson had committed treachery and, as a result, was shown no mercy...' (from here.)
In his last letter (pictured) to his mother, Volunteer Gibson wrote -
"You know I'm writing to old friends just to pass the time away.
Also to keep smiling over old adventures.
You would think I was going to a dance or an amusement.
Well you will remember poor William didn’t get one minute to prepare.
Well I must say I am well looked after. I have no enemies anyhow. I never did anything to anyone. I am taking the responsibility myself and am well able to do it..."
And, in his condemnation of the execution, Father Burbage correctly stated that the pending State execution of Volunteer Gibson was...
"..altogether opposed to the traditions of our people. Even Cromwell's soldiers were not executed when they fell into the hands of the Irish troops.."
The real 'treachery', which Volunteer Thomas Gibson later absolved himself of, was in having anything to do with supporting the Free Staters.
RIP Volunteer Thomas Gibson.
'In succeeding numbers, interesting articles will appear dealing with all branches of modern warfare.
These contributions will be designed to awaken intelligent inquiry into the various departments of modern military science, and to direct the attention of Volunteers to matters upon which they can easily become more informed by utilising the military school and barrack library.
In addition, articles of national and cultural value shall be a feature of the journal, and, with the cooperation of the Divisional and Brigade Officers, it is proposed to chronicle matters of general army interest, such as promotions, field manoeuvres, social and athletic events..'
From the May 1922 edition of the Free Staters shamelessly attempted copy of the Republican Movement's newspaper 'The Irish Volunteer' ('The Official Organ of the Irish Volunteer'), which was published twice a month between 1913 and 1916.
The republican publication had, as its objective, to provide guidance and to develop the Volunteer him/herself, and the overall Movement.
'The Irish Volunteer' was originally published by the proprietor of the 'Enniscorthy Echo' newspaper and was edited by a Mr. Larry de Lacy.
The publication did not agree with Mr John Redmond's 'fight-for-the-Empire'-position and, as a result of its pro-Irish stand, Mr Redmond and his supporters withdrew their backing for it.
The publisher, too, withdrew his services and the newspaper was then published in Dublin, under the editorship of Professor Eoin MacNeill.
The British Government moved against the new printer (a Mr Patrick Mahon) and sent its troops in to where the printing presses were located, dismantled them, and took the machinery parts 'into custody'!
So the newspaper set-up offices in Belfast and continued its work, up until the eve of the Rising in 1916.
It was not until July 1918, when conscription in Ireland was being fought against, that the need for a pro-Irish printed voice was looked at again and a Mr Piaras Béaslaí (a republican-gamekeeper-turned-Free State poacher) was put in charge of the operation by a Mr Michael Collins.
And, on the 31st August, 1918, the first issue of the new run of an Irish Resistance newspaper, 'An t-Óglách', was printed and sold to the public.
The connection to this date - the 26th February - is because on that date in 1919, 'An t-Óglách' carried the following advice -
"Any policeman, warder, judge or official must be made to realise that it is not wise for him to distinguish himself by undue zeal in the service of England..."
Nicely put!
(See 'Few Snippets', below...)
==========================
GAS LADS...
The massive finds of oil and gas on our western seaboard could ensure Ireland's financial security for generations.
Wealth approximating that of the Arab countries is within our grasp, but the Irish government seems content to sell off our birthright for a handful of votes and a few dollars.
In a special 'Magill' report, Sandra Mara investigates just what we are giving away, and why.
From 'Magill' magazine, March 2002.
The Norwegians built virtual floating cities, designed to withstand waves 30 metres high, and even hurricanes.
By the mid-90's, the cost of this infrastructure was in the region of $100bn, or $23,000 per head for each and every Norwegian citizen.
The pay-off, however, has been substantial, and Norway is now the second largest exporter of crude oil worldwide, after Saudi Arabia.
The Norwegian continental shelf will continue to be a major source of natural gas for the next 100 years, ensuring the long-term economic strength of the country.
Ireland, too, could have been a major player on the world's stage but, instead, it choose to throw away the best opportunity we have ever had...
(MORE LATER.)
ON THIS DATE (26TH FEBRUARY) 171 YEARS AGO : 'GUILTY' OF HIGH TREASON BUT PARDONED AND TRANSPORTED.
On this date - 26th February - in 1854, William Smith O’Brien (pictured), leader of the 1848 'Young Irelander Rebellion', is released. He had been convicted of 'sedition' (inciting landlords and tenants to rebel) and sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered.
After 70,000 people in Ireland and 10,000 people from England petitioned for clemency, his sentence was reduced to deportation to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). After five years in Van Diemen’s Land, he was released, but exiled from Ireland. He went to live in Brussels until 1856 when he was given an unconditional pardon and allowed to return to Ireland. He never returned to politics, and died at 61 years of age, in Wales.
On the 17th October 1803, 'Sir' Edward O'Brien (the '4th Baronet' of Dromoland Castle, County Clare) and his wife, Charlotte (nee Smith) - well established political conservatives and supporters of the Orange order - celebrated the birth of their second son, whom they named William (in later years, after inheriting land from his mother, William added the surname 'Smith' to his name). He was educated at Harrow, in London, and Trinity College in Cambridge (he was later to describe his education thus : "I learnt much that was evil and little that was good..") and, at 25 years of age (in 1828) he was elected to Westminster for the Conservative Party (for the Ennis constituency), a position he held for four years and, at 29 years young, he married Lucy Caroline Gabbett, and they had seven children together.
At 32 years of age he won a seat to represent Limerick. He was a strong supporter of Catholic emancipation and, at 40 years of age, he joined Daniel O'Connell's anti-union 'Loyal National Repeal Association', which he left three years later.
Within a few years, he had joined the 'Young Irelanders' organisation and helped to establish within it a group called 'The Irish Confederation' which organised as best it could for an armed uprising in Ireland against British rule, but the timing was wrong : Ireland was suffering the holocaust, and its remaining people were too exhausted for anything other than trying to stay alive.
One of the leaders of 'The Young Irelanders', John Mitchel (pictured), was 'arrested' for writing "..wild and menacing words.." then, in April 1848, the 'Treason Felony Act' was introduced, followed by the suspension of 'Habeas Corpus' on July 25th, 1848 ; William Smith O'Brien recognised that the British were 'battening down the hatches' and, with John Mitchel in a British prison, he was in command.
He called for an immediate Rising against the British and an attempt at a rebellion did take place on the 29th July 1848 in Tipperary but it failed, leading to the arrest of the leaders of the 'Confereration', Thomas Francis Meagher, Terence McManus, Patrick O'Donohoe and William Smith O'Brien (who was arrested on the 6th August 1848 and tried at a special sitting of the district court at Clonmel, Co. Tipperary : he was sentenced to death on 10th October 1848), all of whom were deemed by the British to be guilty of High Treason and were sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered.
Following the court case, meetings were held in Ireland and England with the aim of raising a petition against the severity of the sentences and pointing out that the jury involved had recommended clemency but were ignored by the judge - over 80,000 people willingly listed their names, addresses, occupations etc (as mentioned above, in what is considered to be the first mass political petition movement) resulting in the sentences being commuted to transportation for life. The four 'dissidents' left Ireland on the 29th July 1849 for exile in Van Diemen's Land (pictured).
On the 26th February 1854 - 171 years ago on this date - O'Brien won a conditional pardon which banned him from entering Ireland and he and his family moved to Brussels where, amongst other duties, he wrote a political book : he won his final pardon two years later, in May 1856, and returned to Ireland to a hero's welcome. Asked how he now felt about his actions, he replied - "I had firmly resolved not to say or write or do anything which could be interpreted as a confession on my part that I consider myself a 'criminal' in regard to the transactions of 1848.." .
His wife died in Ireland on the 13th June 1861, and he himself passed away three years later, in his 61st year, in Bangor, Wales, and is buried in Rathronan Churchyard in Limerick.
The inscription on the family headstone reads -
'Here lies Edward William, eldest son of William Smith O'Brien, a just man, a lover of his people.
Born 24 January 1837 Died 21 January 1909.'
William Smith O'Brien, Born 17th October 1803, Died June 1864.
Lucy Caroline O'Brien, Born 23rd September 1811, Died 13 June 1861'.
Like his son, Edward, William Smith O'Brien was 'a just man, a lover of his people..' and, least we forget, a 'dissident' of his day.
SPIES AND RAIDS...
On the 26th February, 1921, as the British Army were licking their wounds having raided four premises in County Kildare looking for republican arms or activists - at, in or beside the Tierney and Harris households in the village of Prosperous, and the Murray and Crosbie households in the village of Donadea - but leaving all four areas empty handed, the IRA in Dundalk, County Louth, about 85 miles away, had a more productive day.
An ex-British Army soldier, and ex-President of the (pro-British) 'Comrades of the Great War' movement, a Mr Henry Murray (35), from Carrickmacross in County Monaghan, was walking near Brunswick Row on Chapel Street, in Dundalk, County Louth, at about 8pm, when he was approached by at least three Volunteers attached to the 1st (North) Louth Brigade of the IRA, two of whom (Volunteers McKenna and Cunningham) shot him dead.
The RIC in County Louth said that Mr Murray may have been shot dead because the IRA were aware that he was seeking a position with them.
That was on a Saturday - the next day, IRA notices about the shooting were seen in churches in the town, stating that Henry Murray was a spy and an informer and had been executed as such after a trial and conviction, and warning other spies to beware...
==========================
On the 26th February, 1921, the news of an IRA ambush the previous day at Coolavokig, near Ballyvourney, in County Cork, began to filter around the Cork area.
Whether because of wrong information or a tip-off from spies and/or informers working with them, the British Army Auxiliaries ('J Company', pictured), and about 7 RIC members, never showed on the expected morning, so the IRA Volunteers, attached to the 1st (Mid) Cork Brigade - about sixty of them - under the command of Volunteer Sean O'Hegarty, withdrew from the ambush site.
They returned the next morning and 'set up shop' again but, again, no show.
And that happened about three or four more times, at least, until, finally, on the morning of the 25th, three British Army Ford cars and five Crossley Tender trucks, containing, between them, at least fifty to seventy armed soldiers, drove into the ambush site.
Their Commandant, a Mr James Seafield-Grant (from Suffolk, in England) instructed his men to take out and display the four hostages they were carrying and to parade them around the trucks and cars, which they did - but the soldiers parading the hostages were shot dead by the IRA and the hostages escaped.
And that was the start of a two-hour gunfight, during which Mr Seafield-Grant (pictured), from Suffolk, was shot dead and a number of his men were wounded, two of whom - RIC members Mr Arthur Kane/Cane (from London) and a Mr Cleve Soady (from Hampshire in England) died later from their wounds.
Both army leaderships were not altogether agreeable with how that day went - IRA GHQ expressed their concern that the operation "might easily have been a disaster" because the Volunteers had taken up the ambush position too many times, and GHQ of the British Army's 6th Division criticised their men for having missed "an excellent opportunity to defeat the enemy."
We presume Messrs Seafield-grant, Kane and Soady consoled each other.
incidentally, eight members of the Auxies who had been wounded during that gunbattle later received awards of compensation ranging from as little as £200 in one case to as much as £5,000 in another.
Four of the awards did not exceed £1,000, but the other four amounted to £12,800 altogether.
Loyal to the Half-Crown...
(You can read more detail about the above ambush here and here.)
==========================
BOMBS AND BUMPS...
On the 26th February, 1921, Bombs were thrown by the Crown Forces into the homes of two Sinn Féin county councillors – Michael Finnigan and CJ Kennedy - in Dunmore, County Galway ; thankfully, there were no injuries, but the properties were badly damaged. The British Army bombers then went to the Town Hall and put the windows in, then graffitied the following message on a near-by wall -
'If one policeman is shot here up goes the town.'
At the same time as the British military were 'painting the town red' in Galway, one of their 'policemen' colleagues in Dublin, about 120 miles away, a Mr Charles Binion (25), could have done with their help.
Mr Binion, from Canada, fell off a lorry near Santry Post Office and died as a result of his injuries.
He was less than a year in the 'job', and was probably still only getting his footing...
==========================
On the 22nd February, 1921, Tipperary IRA Volunteer John Stapleton, from Drombane, was 'arrested' by the Crown Forces in a house in Rathcarden, Tipperary (owned by a Mr Thomas 'Tim' Ryan), after giving the name 'John Ryan' to the British soldier ('District Inspector' EE Barrows, 'B Company', ADRIC) who was questioning him.
Mr EE Barrows and his men had found an IRA 'on-the-run' kit in a barn on the property and, suspecting that 'John Ryan' was not who he claimed to be, he instructed his men to 'arrest' him.
The IRA man knew that the game was up and made a run for it - the British opened fire on him, hitting him, but he still got away from them.
Volunteer Stapleton died from his wounds on the 26th February (1921) in Thurles Workhouse (pictured) - he had been hit at least twice ; one bullet passed through his kidney, liver and right lung, and another bullet penetrated his groin.
RIP Volunteer John Stapleton.
==========================
On the 28th February, 1921, five IRA Volunteers (Thomas O'Brien, Daniel O'Callaghan, John Lyons, Timothy McCarthy and Patrick O'Mahony) were due to be executed by the British for their part in the Dripsey ambush.
It was during an IRA investigation after the ambush that it came to light that a local 'Lady of the Manor', a Mrs Mary Maria Georgina Lindsay, had informed to the Crown Forces about the up-coming ambush - Mrs MMG Lindsay had instructed her chauffeur, a Mr James Clarke, to drive her to the enemy forces with the information.
So the IRA paid Mrs MMG Lindsay and her staff a visit and took the woman and her driver away as hostages and, on the 26th February (1921), two letters were delivered to the 'General Officer Commanding' of the British Army 6th Division in Ireland, a Lieutenant General 'Sir' Edward Peter Strickland, KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO ETC ETC.
One of those letters was from the IRA, and stated.. "...if the five of our men taken at Dripsey were executed as scheduled on Monday morning 28th February 1921 by the military, the IRA would execute Mrs Lindsay and her chauffeur James Clarke, who have been convicted of spying and are under sentence of death.."
The second letter was from the Lady herself to Mr Strickland -
"I have just heard that some of the prisoners taken at Dripsey are to be executed. I write to beg that you will use your influence to prevent this taking place. My life will be forfeited for theirs, as they believe I am the direct cause of their capture.
I implore you to spare these men for my sake..."
No mention of the chauffeur.
Mr Strickland contacted his fellow KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO ETC ETC, a certain 'Sir' Cecil Frederick Nevil Macready, and the two of them discussed the quandary they had got themselves into.
The two of them agreed that the executions of the five IRA Volunteers should go ahead, on the 28th, and it did.
Mrs Mary Maria Georgina Lindsay and her chauffeur, Mr James Clarke, were executed by the IRA on the 14th March, 1921, at Flagmount, in the Réileán (Rylane) district of Cork.
The Intelligence Officer of the Cork Number 1 Brigade IRA issued the following statement -
"In Mrs Lindsay's case, the death sentence passed by the IRA followed a flagrant and deliberate action against the Army, that of conveying information to the occupation forces in regard to the Dripsey ambush.
Even after sentence had been passed, an official letter from the Cork Number 1 Brigade to Major General Sir E. P. Strickland indicated that the sentence would not be carried out if the prisoners taken at Dripsey were treated as prisoners of war.
The communication was ignored and Mrs Lindsay was shot."
RIP to IRA Volunteers Thomas O'Brien, Daniel O'Callaghan, John Lyons, Timothy McCarthy and Patrick O'Mahony.
==========================
THE NUMBER'S UP.
How some famous gambling conspiracies came to light.
By Con Houlihan.
From 'Magill' Magazine Annual 2002.
Helping white mice across a road in a blizzard is proverbially among the more difficult tasks known to mankind.
I doubt it : white mice are docile and ductile - they look up to their capo and, when he leads the way, your troubles are over.
Making a book at the dog track is a sterner test ; most of the serious betting is done about three minutes before the race, and you are faced with a complexity of problems that would make a computer blink.
You have done the homework ; the product is in the figures on the board and, as the hot little fists come waving notes at you, those figures may need to be adjusted in splits of seconds.
In those fleeting moments, the bookmaker's fusion of knowledge and intuition is in overdrive...
(MORE LATER.)
ON THIS DATE (26TH FEBRUARY) 63 YEARS AGO : THE IRA 'BORDER CAMPAIGN' ('RESISTANCE CAMPAIGN/OPERATION HARVEST') ENDS.
On this date (26th February) in 1962, due to "lack of support", the Irish Republican Army ended what it called 'The Campaign of Resistance to British Occupation', which was also known as the 'Border Campaign'.
At the time of this IRA campaign, Eamon de Valera's Fianna Fail State administration were of the opinion that it actually began in 1954, with the raid on Gough Barracks, in Armagh, on Saturday 12th June that year (1954), in which some 300 weapons were liberated from the British Army.
Fianna Fail considered that proof enough that the IRA "..had renewed its activities, was rearming, recruiting young men and engaging in drilling and other manoeuvres.." - and indeed they were.
On 11th December 1956, communication was sent to the IRA Volunteers involved - over 150 men - that the operation would begin at midnight on 12th December and, at the appointed time, three IRA flying columns crossed the Free State border to attack British Army depots and administration centres, air fields, radar installations, BA barracks, courthouses, bridges, roads and custom posts : the 'Resistance Campaign/Operation Harvest', had begun proper, being co-ordinated from County Monaghan.
In a letter from the leadership of the then Sinn Féin organisation, which was signed by Maire Ni Gabhan and Miceal Treinfir and which was sent from the Sinn Féin Office, 3 Lr. Abbey Street, Dublin (pictured), the Secretary of each Cumann was instructed to read out a statement after every Mass in their area, on Sunday 16th December (1956), announcing the start of 'the Border Campaign', to achieve..
"..an independent, united, democratic Irish Republic. For this we shall fight until the invader is driven from our soil and victory is ours..", an announcement which, later, prompted the then Free State 'Taoiseach', Fianna Fail's Seán Lemass, to describe the IRA as being "similar to fascists" re its decision to mount such a campaign!
Although it did not achieve its objectives, the Border Campaign kept 'the National Question' in the political forefront, enabling the Republican Movement to make new connections and ensuring that valuable operational lessons were learned and documented for the next generation.
On the 26th February 1962 - 58 years ago on this date - the IRA, through the Irish Republican Publicity Bureau, in a communication signed by J. McGarrity, sent out the following message -
"The leadership of the resistance movement has ordered the termination of the Campaign of Resistance to British Occupation launched on December, 1956. Instructions issued to Volunteers of the Active Service Units and of local Units in the occupied area have now been carried out. All arms and materials have been dumped and all full-time active volunteers have been withdrawn.
Foremost among the factors motivating this course of action has been the attitude of the general public whose minds have been deliberately distracted from the supreme issue facing the Irish people – the unity and freedom of Ireland.
The Irish resistance movement renews its pledge of eternal hostility to the British Forces of Occupation in Ireland.
It calls on the Irish people for increased support and looks forward with confidence – in co-operation with the other branches of the Republican Movement – to a period of consolidation, expansion and preparation for the final and victorious phase of the struggle for the full freedom of Ireland."
Although that Campaign was called off as, indeed, were others like it over the centuries of resistance, opposition to British military and political interference in Irish affairs remains in place and has been bolstered by those 'failed campaigns'.
Even when we 'lose' , we win, 'cause we're still here!
A Free State election was due to be held in the Staters 'new republic' on the 16th June, 1922 and, on the 26th February that year, representatives from Westminster and Leinster House had a meeting to discuss issues, including that election.
A Mr Winston Churchill expressed unease about how his proxies in the new State were trying to deal with the IRA rebels and queried the possibility of having to postpone those elections, but was assured by a Mr Arthur Griffith, one of the Free State reps, that the IRA had told him that "they would leave politics alone", thus practically giving the Staters a free run, at least politically.
Mr Churchill also voiced his concern that the new Free State Constitution may not be entirely to the liking of the British (!), and Mr Griffith spoke up to assure him that that document would have to be accepted by the British Government before being submitted to the Leinster House institution!
On hearing that and, no doubt, having had his poor nerves settled, Mr Churchill stated that, in that case, he would issue orders for British Army troop evacuations from the State to be resumed/continued.
Sure isn't that what friends are for...
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On the 26th February, 1922 (listed by some sources as having happened on the 18th, but it's a story go hana maith, so we'll tell yis anyway...!), the RIC Barracks in Clonmel, County Tipperary, was attacked by the IRA (with Volunteer Ernie O'Malley, pictured, in command), enemy prisoners were taken and a huge amount of weaponry was liberated by the rebels.
'In describing a raid on the RIC barracks in Clonmel (then in Jail/Richmond Street now Emmet Street) on 26th February, 1922, by republican forces, to the dismay of the Provisional Government (ie the Staters), substantial amounts of armaments were taken, described as a "huge amount" ; motor cars, rifles, guns, revolvers, shotguns, hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition, Lewis guns...'
-from a report in a local journal by the Cistercian Monk, an tAthair Colmcille (Father Conway).
The attack was also raised in Westminster -
'HANSARD 1803–2005 → 1920s → 1922 → February 1922 → 28 February 1922 → Commons Sitting → IRELAND.
CLONMEL POLICE BARRACKS (RAID).
HC Deb 28 February 1922 vol 151 cc239-40239.
Viscount CURZON (by Private Notice) the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether a raid has been made by a party of the Irish Republican Army upon the Clonmel Police Barracks ; whether a considerable number of motors, rifles and a large amount of ammunition has been stolen and, if so, how much ; whether this raid is to be considered as being a breach of the Truce ; whether any representations have been made to the Irish Provisional Government ; and whether steps are being taken by them to deal with those responsible for it and to return the stores and gear stolen?
Mr. CHURCHILL : "Notice of this question has not reached me. But I can see by the way that the raid has been reported in the newspapers, that it appears to have been a serious affair. There is no doubt whatever that it is hostile, directly hostile, to the Provisional Government of Ireland.
They have no need to raid for rifles, because they have only to ask the Imperial Government, and they can have rifles supplied to them..." —[An HON. MEMBER: "As many as they like?"] - "...as many as are reasonable to equip the force and prevent raids of this character.
I know the Provisional Government are very anxious about the state of affairs in Tipperary. That is one of the parts of the country where the Irish Republican Army have mutinied against the general authority of the Provisional Government, and I have been in communication with them to know what steps they are taking to assert their authority in that part of Ireland..." '
'The Imperial Government (in London) can have rifles supplied to the Provisional Government (in the Free State)...' - Leinster House was then, and still is, a proxy administration.
Back then (1922), they functioned on behalf of Westminster ; today, 2025, they function on behalf of Westminster, the EU, the WEF and the WHO.
They are a wet, mangy scab on the body of Ireland.
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POLITICAL LIFESTYLES IN IRELAND...
His lavish lifestyle was funded by wealthy admirers.
Time after time, his debts were taken care of by friendly businessmen.
In exchange for giving people access to government leaders, he cheerfully lined his own pockets.
From 'Magill' Magazine, January 2003.
'Magill/Wigmore's' MBE medal, for example, went straight into the bin the day Jeremy Beadle and Jim Davidson joined our ranks, and I'm quite sure our medal wasn't the only one.
Come to think of it, I have not felt really well ever since.
'Wigmore' has mixed news for those of you who feel there's nothing wrong with Irish politics that a really dedicated comedian couldn't put right.
Tommy Tiernan has, alas, allowed his oft-stated ambition to run for the Dail to fall by the wayside, lamenting, like Mario Cuomo and Colin Powell before him, that he just doesn't have the necessary passion.
"I'd quite like to be Mayor of Galway instead, though..." , he tells me brightly, a matter which 'Wigmore' feels is best left between himself and the citizens of that fair city...
(MORE LATER.)
ON THIS DATE (26TH FEBRUARY) IN 943 AD : THE DEATH OF KING MUIRCHERTACH OF AILEACH.
The Vikings of Dublin got a lucky break when they ambushed 'Muirchertach of the Leather Cloaks/Muirchertach na Cochall Craicinn', the heir apparent to the Kingship of Tara (Ireland's most prestigious Royal title) and slew him on this day, 1082 years ago.
Muirchertach, son of Niall, aka Muirchertach of the Leather Cloaks, King of Aileach and the Hector of the western world, was killed by the 'heathens', i.e. by Blacair, son of Gothfrith, king of the foreigner, at Glas Liatháin beside Cluain Chaín, in Fir Rois, on the first feria, fourth of the Kalends of March (26th February).
Ard Macha was plundered by the same foreigners on the following day, the third of the Kalends of March.
Muirchertach was the son of Niall Glundubh who had himself been killed fighting the Vikings at Dublin in 919 AD ; he had fought and won many battles and in one report is mentioned as leading a naval expedition against the Norsemen of the Hebrides.
However he suffered an embarrassing episode in 939 AD when in a surprise raid his enemies' ships raided his fortress of Aileach (outside Derry) and carried him off, and he was forced to ransom his own release to regain his freedom.
Muirchertach, under the ancient rule of the kingship of Tara alternating between the northern and southern O'Neills, was due to replace King Donnachadh on the latter’s demise but, sometimes, ambition got the better of him and he clashed with his senior colleague and at other times co-operated with him.
Muirchertach married Donnchad's daughter Flann, but relations between the two were not good ; conflict between them is recorded in AD 927, 929, and 938.
His most remarkable feat came in 941 AD when he carried out a 'Circuit of Ireland' with a picked force of 1,000 men and secured pledges from all the principal kingdoms and carried away with him hostages as security.
The Dalcassians (Brian Boru’s people) alone refused to submit.
Muirchertach eventually handed over all his hostages to Donnachadh as a mark of respect, but his luck ran out in 943 AD when he was taken by surprise by the Vikings of Dublin somewhere near Ardee in County Louth.
It looks like Muirchertach was attempting to fend off a raid by them that was heading north towards Armagh when he was taken off guard.
Muirchertach son of Niall, heir designate of Ireland, was killed in Áth Firdia by the 'foreigners' of Áth Cliath (Dublin) on February 26th, 943 AD - 1082 years ago on this date.
A FEW SNIPPETS RE THE 'TAN WAR' REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER, 'AN T-ÓGLÁCH'.
The Irish Volunteers leadership knew from past experience the value of a newspaper in the propaganda war, and for more effective communication between the ranks.
One of the then leaders of the Irish Volunteers (Oglaigh na hEireann), Michael Collins, helped to found an Irish republican newspaper in August 1918 - 'An t-Óglách' ('The Volunteer').
The newspaper was printed by the 'Gaelic Press', Probys Lane, in Dublin, which had a record of pro-republican activity, and it did not bother the Irish Volunteers nor the management/owners of the 'Gaelic Press' that, immediately upon publication of its first issue, the British declared 'An t-Óglách' to be "an illegal publication."
Westminster used the 'Defence of The Realm Act' ('DORA') to suppress the newspaper, and anyone found in possession of a copy of it would be "charged and imprisoned".
The 'An t-Óglách' newspaper published an issue every two weeks, comprising four pages, and sold for twopence an issue ; its masthead declared it to be 'The Official Organ of The Irish Volunteers'.
Piaras Béaslaí (pictured), its editor, was a 37 years young Liverpool-born Volunteer, who had fought the British in 1916, and was to become the Director of Publicity for the IRA ; he was born in Liverpool in 1881 and was, at the young age of 23, the editor of 'The Catholic Times' newspaper in England before coming to Ireland, where he joined the 'Gaelic League', and fought with the rebels in 1916, at 35 years of age, in the North King Street area of Dublin.
He was subsequently jailed by the British, in March 1919 (Ernest Blythe, a republican-gamekeeper-turned-Free State-poacher, took over as editor), imprisoned in Mountjoy Jail first and then transported, in May, to Strangeways Prison in Manchester.
However, Mr Béaslaí (and others!) was released (!) from Strangeways by the IRA in October, 1919 (Mr Béaslaí was actually imprisoned two times within four months during 1919, and escaped both times!), and took over again as Editor of 'An t-Óglách' and was also appointed as 'Director of Publicity' for the IRA.
Under his stewardship, that Irish republican newspaper became a weekly publication, with each issue containing a leading article, editorial notes and a 'War News' column, highlighting the republican activities carried out since its last issue.
What it didn't highlight, however, were the words of Mr Michael Collins to those who walked with him through the streets of London, after they had agreed to the British 'Treaty of Surrender' document -
"When you have sweated, toiled, had mad dreams, hopeless nightmares, you find yourself in London's streets, cold and dank in the night air.
Think - what have I got for Ireland?
Something which she has wanted these past seven hundred years?
Will anyone be satisfied at the bargain?
Will anyone?
I tell you this ; early this morning I signed my death warrant.
I thought at the time how odd, how ridiculous - a bullet may just as well have done the job five years ago..."
'An t-Óglách' is gone, but the campaign for a British military and political withdrawal from all of Ireland continues...
On the 10th February, 1923, Archbishop John Mary Harty (pictured) of Cashel, County Tipperary, and a Father Duggan, met with the 'Neutral IRA' organisation to discuss the political situation in the country.
Mr Harty, known as a GAA man and a supporter of Mr John Redmond and his IPP, was something of a mixed bag - not only did he denounce the 1916 Easter Rising and those who took part in it, but he congratulated those of 'his flock' who refused to fight against the British war machine.
He was against the Westminster policy of conscription in Ireland ("every man with a drop of Irish blood in his veins should sign the protest against it...") , yet he was also against Irishmen and women defending themselves against the perpetrators of that policy!
Those present at that meeting on the 10th agreed between themselves that, pending a State election, there should be an immediate cessation of armed actions by the IRA, that all IRA arms should be dumped and that after the election those arms should be retrieved and handed over to the Leinster House administration.
They also agreed that their proposals should be put to the IRA (Army) Executive and, on the 26th February (1923), they were discussed at a meeting of the IRA 1st Southern Division Council meeting held at James Moynihan's safe house in Gortnascorta, Coolea, County Cork.
Eighteen IRA officers were at that meeting, including Liam Lynch but, even though the majority present voiced pessimism about any prospect of a military victory against the Staters and their puppet-masters in Westminster, the 10th February proposals were seen as a bridge too far.
However, as it transpired, on the 24th May that year (1923) , the IRA leadership issued an order that all IRA Volunteers were to dump arms rather than surrender them or to continue a fight which they were incapable of winning.
A sad time in our history ; the IRA were on the canvas, but not yet out of the ring...
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Thanks for reading - glad ya popped in!
Sharon and the team.
