tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38650322024-03-18T03:04:16.903+00:001169 And Counting.....<b>...an award-nominated Irish blog, with over one million hits, on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday - all 32 Counties !</b><br>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2692125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-68109917655048339762024-03-13T11:13:00.000+00:002024-03-13T11:13:21.876+00:001921 IN COUNTY CLARE - "MEN WITH STRANGE ACCENTS..."<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG_BGGxzkx5ucRF8OpFu9s17sdebM30-QKbobAqnWTzKGYjLIJnnENIfG6uwizVuw9giiR9pOrKonAELyYsISKHJJ2poT0hhr3nxgEU8byrZsQEL2uigTQMcdDJ0cXyord_F41QXBALMtORJasKjp9qAmc3aIWTx3DGvdk30VJ2zyGkUzf9yWKw/s309/1920%20March%2013TH..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="76" data-original-width="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG_BGGxzkx5ucRF8OpFu9s17sdebM30-QKbobAqnWTzKGYjLIJnnENIfG6uwizVuw9giiR9pOrKonAELyYsISKHJJ2poT0hhr3nxgEU8byrZsQEL2uigTQMcdDJ0cXyord_F41QXBALMtORJasKjp9qAmc3aIWTx3DGvdk30VJ2zyGkUzf9yWKw/s320/1920%20March%2013TH..jpg"/></a></div><br></br>
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<b>On the 13th March, 1920, about sixty Volunteers from the Listowel, Ballyduff and Ballybunion Companies of the IRA, County Kerry, ensured all roads leading into the town of Ballybunion, from the Listowel, Tralee and Ballylongford directions, were impassable.</b><br></br>
<b>Then, under the leadership of Jim Sugrue and Stephen Fuller, the Volunteers attacked and attempted to take over the RIC Barracks in Ballybunion but the bomb they intended to use was a dud so, armed only with shotguns, rifles and revolvers, they fired on the barracks for about an hour, then noticed lights coming from the direction of the Liselton RIC hut and, running dangerously low on ammunition, retired from the attack and returned safely to base.</b>
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<b>On March 13th, 1920, a Mr Peter Gavin appeared on bail in front of Major Thackeray at Kildare Petty Sessions, charged with arson at the military
pumping station, Brownstown, County Kildare, in February.</b><br></br>
<b>In February</b> <i>(on the 11th)</i><b>, a military shed at the Brownstown pumping station was burnt down in the early hours of the morning.</b><br></br>
<b>The fire brigade from the Curragh Camp tried to save the building.</b><br></br>
<b>The shed was at the spot where <a href="https://11sixtynine.wordpress.com/2024/02/14/from-1919-a-stick-a-firearm-and-case-closed/">Patrick Gavin was shot by a sentry</a> while on his way from Tully to the fair at Newbridge...</b>
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<b>'SINN FÉIN REPLIES TO MR. HANNA'.</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>Speaking at the Annual Conference of the 'Ulster Unionist Council' on March 10th last, Mr Hanna, the Stormont 'Minister of Home Affairs', referring to the Sinn Féin candidates in the forth-coming Westminster election, said -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"The law with regard to candidates in the Imperial Parliament is this : a person must be a British subject.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>But that has been extended in such a way that a person who is either a full British subject or who has the rights of a British subject is entitled to be a candidate.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Under the recent <a href="https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1948/act/22/enacted/en/html">'Ireland Act'</a> it is possible that the citizens of Éire can claim the rights of a British subject. How they have the nerve to claim that right I do not know, but they have it..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Mr Hanna's assertion that Sinn Féin candidates are claiming British citizenship for the purpose of the Westminster elections is ridiculous and meaningless and would not even provoke a reply from us but for the amazing credibility of the Irish people...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>On the 13th March, 1921, a Mr Thomas Shannon, a magistrate in <a href="https://www.historyireland.com/revolutionary-justice-the-dill-eireann-courts/">the Dáil Courts</a>, answered a knock on his house door, late at night, in Moyasta, County Clare, to be met by two Black and Tans from the Kilkee area</b> <i>(men with "strange accents", according to his wife)</i><b> and was shot dead.</b><br></br>
<b>In June 1919 Dáil Éireann</b> <i>(not to be confused with the Leinster House institution)</i><b> had issued a decree authorising the setting up of 'Republican Arbitration Courts' and West Clare was the first electoral area to respond.</b><br></br>
<b>Propagandised rumour was circulated by anti-republican elements that Mr Shannon 'was not identified as with any political organisation...he was in conflict with local republicans...he had refused to pay a Sinn Féin levy..' but Mr Shannon was known to be a well-liked and respected local magistrate by all who dealt with him, except the British.</b><br></br>
<b>Another Judge, a Mr Bodkin, awarded his widow, Bridget, €3,000 in compensation.</b>
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<b>On the 13th March, 1921, a farm labourer, Tim Hourihan (57), was walking across a field at Paddock, Coppeen East, Enniskeane, in County Cork, when he was shot dead by a member of the British Auxiliaries.</b><br></br>
<b>The British 'police', the RIC, later claimed that two warning shots were fired in his direction before the fatal shot was fired, but this was disputed by an IRA Volunteer who witnessed the event -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"Tim Hourihane, to whom I had been speaking a short time before, appeared about 20 yards away.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I beckoned to him to move off, and just as I did, the Auxie, who had seen him, came along and searched him.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I remained under cover. After the search Hourihane was allowed to proceed, and as he moved along the high ground, I heard a shot and saw poor Hourihane fall to the ground.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>In a short space of time about twenty Auxies were gathered around him..."</b></i> <b> - more <a href="https://www.ucc.ie/en/theirishrevolution/collections/cork-fatality-register/register-index/1921-141/">here.</a></b>
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<i><b>"About the end of the summer 1920 a raid for mails was made at Waterfall which resulted in the capture of a letter from</b></i> <i>(Thomas)</i> <i><b>Nagle, a local postman, to a man by the name of O'Sullivan, an ex-British soldier.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>They</b></i> <i>(the IRA)</i><i><b> arrested Nagle, who gave all information, also a photo of O'Sullivan and details of the place in Cork city where he was to meet with him.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Leo </b></i> <i>(Murphy, Officer Commanding, Third Battalion IRA)</i><i><b> and some others went there instead of Nagle and shot him dead.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Later Nagle was also tried and shot. Nagle had been in the RIC and actually had a brother still in the force and stationed at Tuckey Street Barracks in Cork city..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>- statement issued by the Third Battalion (Ballincollig) of the Cork Number 1 Brigade, IRA, and verified by the IRA Volunteers from the D (Aherla) Company, Cork Number 1 Brigade IRA, who pulled the trigger.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Thomas Nagle was arrested by the IRA on the 12th March, 1921, charged with espionage, tried, and executed by them, at Kilbawn, Aherla, County Cork, on the 13th March 1921.</b><br></br>
<b>He was an 'ex'-RIC operative, a green grocer, caretaker of one of the local Masonic Halls and was registered at the 'Petty Sessions Court' as a 'Civil Bill Officer'.</b><br></br>
<b>'British liability' was accepted, and compensation of £1,400 was awarded to his family.</b>
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<b>On the 13th March, 1921, IRA Volunteer Richard Newman</b> <i>(a scout/messenger with the Castletownbere IRA Company)</i><b>, from Na hAilichí</b> <i>('Allihies', the Cliff Fields)</i><b>, County Cork, was in his house when, at about 2pm, he seen armed and uniformed members of the 'King's Own Scottish Borders' regiment of the British Army approach his house to raid it, and 'arrest' him.</b><br></br>
<b>He decided to make a run for it out the back door but a BA Private, named Reid, spotted him and opened fire ; the bullets hit him in the loins and in the stomach and he was taken to the hospital in Castletownbere, but died there at about 2am the next day.</b><br></br>
<b>His funeral was witnessed by "a large attendance of the people of Castletown" and John Cronin, the Captain of the Castletownbere Company IRA, and other Volunteers, were also present.</b>
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<b>On the 13th March, 1921, a Mr Thomas Hennessy (48), an ex-British Army 'Labour Corps' member, who was now employed as an agricultural labourer and worked occasionally for a Mrs Kate Sisk on her farm, was present when a joint British Army/RIC patrol, from 'Queenstown', consisting of about 20 armed men, raided her house, in the Crosshaven area of Cork.</b><br></br>
<b>A report in 'The Cork Examiner' newspaper stated -</b> <i><b>'During the searches the residence of Mrs Sisk was visited, and while the armed party were there, two shots were heard.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>A few minutes later, some of the party brought Thomas Hennessy into the kitchen and laid him on the ground. One of them said they had ordered Hennessy to put up his hands, but Hennessy had not complied with the order and was fired upon...'</b></i><br></br>
<b>Mr Hennessy, a widower, died from his wounds shortly afterwards, leaving his eight children with no parent.</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 11th March, 1921, as three 'off-duty' RIC members were crossing Victoria Square, in Belfast, they were shot at by the IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>Two of them - 'Constables' John McIntosh and Robert A. Crook - died in the shooting, and their colleague, Walter H. Cooper (28), died from his wounds two days later, on the 13th March 1921.
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<b>SO, FAREWELL THEN, CELTIC TIGER....</b><br></br>
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<i>It had to happen, sooner or later.</i><br></br>
<i>Most of the pundits and economists were too busy singing the Celtic Tiger's praises to notice, but a few critical observers worried all along about the weaknesses of a boom economy that depended so much on a few companies from one place - the United States.</i><br></br>
<i>By <a href="https://blog.pmpress.org/authors-artists-comrades/denis-ohearn/">Denis O'Hearn</a>.</i><br></br>
<i>From 'Magill' Annual 2002.</i>
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<b>The resulting flow of foreign investments was sufficient to create rapid economic growth, but only because Ireland is so small to begin with.</b><br></br>
<b>These are things that other countries cannot emulate ; they can reduce their tax rates but they cannot teach everyone to speak English, they can cut back on social spending and wages but they cannot reduce their populations below five million and, most of all, not everyone can get a forty per cent share of US investments in Europe.</b><br></br<
<b>There is just not enough to go around.</b><br></br>
<b>The <a href="https://www.idaireland.com/">'Irish Industrial Development Authority'</a> can be praised for its foresight and success in attracting foreign industry ; don't expect anyone else to follow.</b><br></br>
<b>But we may even want to question whether the 'Celtic Tiger' strategy works for Ireland...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>On the 13th March, 1922, an 'Appointments Office' was opened at the Courthouse, Naas, County Kildare, by the new Free State administrators, to secure recruits for their new 'Civic Guard'</b> <i>('An Garda Síochána')</i><b> in the Kildare and Carlow areas.</b><br></br>
<b>We don't know how many people they recruited at that time, but it <a href="https://carlow-nationalist.ie/2022/07/10/garda-suspended-for-alleged-link-to-drug-gangs/">hasn't gone too good</a> for them since then...</b>
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<b>On the 13th March, 1922, as RIC 'Sergeant' Christopher P. Clarke was making his way up the Falls Road in Belfast, he was shot dead by the IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>He had just attended the funerals of two of his colleagues, RIC 'Constables' James Cullen (23) and Patrick O'Connor (35), who were shot dead at the corner of Dunlewey Street and the Falls Road on the 10th March.</b><br></br>
<b>Even though fire was returned by other RIC members, the IRA Volunteers returned safely to base, but they hit and killed a civilian, a Mr Daniel Rogan. </b><br></br>
<b>Mr Clarke was said to be also a member of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_William_Nixon">'the Nixon Gang'</a>, which would have brought him to the particular attention of the rebels.</b>
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<b>On the 13th March, 1922, the 'Limerick City Workers Housing Association', led by William James Larkin, took over houses in Garryowen Villa that had previously being occupied by the British Army's 'Royal Engineers Corps'</b><i> (who were evacuating the city as per <a href="https://rsf-kildare.blogspot.com/2011/12/treaty-of-surrender-and-its-legacy.html">the 'Treaty of Surrender'</a> arrangement)</i><b> ; forty adults and 87 children moved into 27 houses.</b><br></br>
<b>The 'landlords'</b> <i>(some of whom were local politicians)</i><b> classed them as 'squatters' and moved against them, legally, and the occupied houses were soon back in the possession of the 'landlords', supported by the Free State court and 'police' system.</b>
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<b>On the 13th March, 1922, Mr James Craig, the '1st Viscount Craigavon PC PC (NI) DL' ETC</b><i> (!)</i><b>, and the 'First Prime Minister of Northern Ireland</b><i> (sic)</i><b>', brought it to the attention of his Stormont Cabinet that Field Marshal 'Sir' Henry Wilson</b> <i>(who had just retired as 'Chief of the Imperial General Staff')</i><b> had agreed to take the position as 'Military Advisor to the NI Government'.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Craig said it should be celebrated that he had managed to get "so distinguished a soldier" to advise on security issues.</b><br></br>
<b>At 2.20 pm, on Thursday, 22nd June 1922, Mr Henry Wilson was shot dead on the doorstep of his Belgravia home, in London, by IRA Commandant Reggie Dunne and Volunteer Joe O'Sullivan.</b>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s1438/Beir%20Bua!.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1044" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s200/Beir%20Bua!.jpg"/></a></div> <b>The Thread of the Irish Republican Movement from The United Irishmen through to today.</b><br></br>
<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<b>ROBERT EMMET AND THE IRELAND OF TODAY...</b><br></br>
<i><b>"Did, then, these dead heroic men</b></i> <i>(sic)</i><i><b> live in vain?</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Has Ireland learned a truer philosophy that the philosophy of 1798, and a nobler way of salvation than the way of 1803?</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Is Wolfe Tone's definition superseded, and do we discharge our duty to Emmet's memory by according him annually our pity?</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>To do the English justice, I do not think they are satisfied that Ireland will accept Home Rule as a final settlement. I think they are a little anxious to-day.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>If their minds were tranquil on the subject of Irish loyalty they would hardly have proclaimed the importation of arms into Ireland the moment the Irish Volunteers had begun to organise themselves.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>They had given the Ulster faction which is used as a catspaw by one of the English parties two years to organise and arm against that Home Rule Bill which they profess themselves so anxious to pass : to the Nationalists of Ireland they did not give two weeks.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Of course, we can arm in spite of them : today we are organising and training the men and we have ways and means of getting arms when the men are ready for the arms..."</b></i>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font><br></br>
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<b>On the evening of the 12th March, 1923, three IRA prisoners - John Creane</b><i> (from Taughmon, County Wexford)</i><b>, James Parle</b> <i> (Clover Valley, Taughmon, County Wexford)</i><b> and Patrick Hogan</b><i> (William's Street, County Wexford)</i><b> - were informed by a Free State representative that they were to be executed the following day at 8am.</b><br></br>
<b>A republican and former parish priest of Rathangan, Father Patrick Walsh, attended the men, and later stated that Volunteer John Parle had requested him to get word to his Commanding Officer, Robert Lambert</b> <i> (the Volunteer in charge of the Kyle Flying Column, IRA)</i><b> that he did not want reprisals carried out following their executions.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 13th March, 1923, the three IRA prisoners were blindfolded and lined up against the outside wall of the jail.</b><br></br>
<b>The Free State troops fired a volley of shots but Volunteer Patrick Hogan, who had been placed in the middle, was the only one of the three to die instantly.</b><br></br>
<b>A Free State officer then shot Volunteer Parle and Volunteer Creane twice in the head with his revolver.</b><br></br>
<i><b>'And now you three – we'll honour thee,</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>And your memories shall not fade,</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Since 'twas your lot – in the rebel plot,</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Your bodies to be laid.'</b></i><br></br>
<b>Also, on the 13th March, 1923, William Healy</b> <i> (from Donaghmore, County Cork)</i><b> was executed by the Staters in Cork, and James O'Rourke</b><i> (1 Upper Gloucester Street, Dublin)</i><b> was executed in Dublin</b> <i> (for his part in an attack on Free State soldiers in Dame Street, Dublin, on the 21st February 1923)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Ten days later three Free State soldiers were taken from a public house in the townland of Ballagh, near Adamstown, in County Wexford, and shot dead later that night as a reprisal for the executions.</b>
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<b>IRA Volunteer John Walsh, from Kilmacthomas in County Waterford</b> <i>(who operated with Thomas Keating's Column of the West Waterford Brigade IRA)</i><b> had been 'arrested' by the Staters in March, 1923, and taken to Kilkenny Jail</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>.</b>
<b>On the 13th March, during the morning role call, the IRA prisoners decided not to cooperate with the Staters and they refused to acknowledge their names, when called upon to do so.</b><br></br>
<b>A Free State soldier started to beat Volunteer Walsh and then shot him ; he died from his wound the next day in the prison hospital and was brought home to Kilmacthomas to be waked, and then buried in the Republican Plot in Kilrossanty, County Waterford.</b>
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<b>On the 12th March, 1923, two IRA Volunteers, Frank Slevin and James O'Donnell, were in the town of Manorhamilton, in County Leitrim, on a fund-raising operation, disguised as women, to investigate how secure the bank was but, finding it heavily guarded inside by Free State soldiers, they decided to leave and report back to their base.</b><br></br>
<b>Both Volunteers were 'arrested' by the Staters on their way out of the town.</b><br></br>
<b>In the town of Kiltyclogher, County Leitrim, on the 13th March, 1923, the Staters came across eight IRA Volunteers, led by Philip Rooney, and a gun battle ensued, which lasted for about two hours, following which the eight Volunteers were captured.</b>
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<b>On the 13th March, 1923, 'The Irish Times' newspaper</b> <i>(!)</i><b> quoted <a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/666479/pdf">Mr Kevin Christopher O'Higgins</a>, a republican-gamekeeper-turned-Free State-poacher</b> <i>(who 'served' in several high-ranking positions in the Leinster House assembly)</i><b> as declaring that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EasterRisingStories/photos/the-neutral-ira-were-those-who-fought-during-the-war-of-independence-who-didnt-w/2742496839327084/?paipv=0&eav=AfZrg96G8jqobf8zeiUqFf3lB3u83j_Sq47f9NvtYBdWOWU2M9LoS8YEOCCpioRru9c&_rdr">the 'Neutral IRA'</a> were either "moral cowards" who knew that the IRA campaign was wrong and were afraid to say so or were "physical cowards" who thought that it was right but were afraid to participate in it!</b><br></br>
<b>The IRA (proper), however, were not 'neutral' in regards to Mr O'Higgins ; at 12 Noon on Sunday, 10th July 1927, Mr O'Higgins (35) was assassinated by three IRA members </b> <i>(Tim Coughlan, Bill Gannon and Archie Doyle)</i><b> in revenge for his part in the executions of 77 IRA prisoners during the Civil War </b> <i>(in the six months between November 1922 and the end of the Civil War in May 1923, the Staters executed 77 IRA men for political offences)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr O'Higgins was walking from his home on Cross Avenue, in Blackrock, Dublin, to mass on Booterstown Avenue.</b><br></br>
<b>He had sent his armed State detective away to buy cigarettes and, as he approached the junction with Booterstown Avenue, one of the IRA men emerged from a parked car and shot him.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr O'Higgins ran a short distance before collapsing, and one of the Volunteers shot him again as he lay on the ground.</b><br></br>
<b>The men then got back in their car and drove away but, despite being hit eight times, Mr O'Higgins did not die for almost five hours.</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 13th March, 1923, two Free State soldiers, Captain Michael Cleary</b> <i>(from Whitegate, in County Clare, a republican-gamekeeper-turned-Free State-poacher)</i><b> and Lieutenant Alfred Glynn </b> <i>(from Gort, in County Galway)</i><b>, were experimenting with throwing grenades into the River Neale, near Listowel, in County Kerry.</b><br></br>
<b>The 'experiment' went wrong and led to both of their deaths ; there was a premature explosion which killed Mr. Glynn instantly, and seriously wounded Mr. Cleary, who died in hospital the next day.</b>
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<b>'Politician Shoots Himself In The Foot...'!</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 13th March, 1925, Mr Winston Churchill - realising that his <a href="https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/government-of-ireland-act-1920-what-system-did-it-create/">'Government of Ireland Act 1920'</a> in relation to 'the Irish Question' - gave his puppet Stormont political administration in 'the North of Ireland'</b> <i>(sic)</i><b> responsibility for funding social services but wrote, in private correspondence</b> <i>(in his personal diary?)</i><b> that the provision of such social services depends on a "sufficiently large area and large numbers of trades" which that particular area doesn't have!</b><br></br>
<b>Too late, Mr Churchill : you break it, you bought it...!</b>
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<b>NA hOILEÁIN CHANÁRACHA - SEO LINN ARÍS!</b><br></br>
<b>ISLAS CANARIAS - AHÁ VAMOS. ¡DE NUEVO!</b><br></br>
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<b>Well...</b><br></br>
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<b>...it's that time of year again!</b><br></br>
<b>Myself and the Girl Gang are going back to the Canary Islands in a few days time, courtesy of our families, who have gifted the five of us very special</b> <i>(and much appreciated!)</i> <b> 'Mother's Day' presents, all paid for</b> <i> (including a few bob spending money each)</i><b>, in a beach-front Villa</b> <i>(own pool)</i><b> on an 'extendable holiday' - meaning that we can stay on for another week (or longer) if we book it in the final three days.</b><br></br>
<b>And we just might do that, if the three weeks aren't enough for us!</b><br></br>
<b>We're going to <a href="https://greeneyedtraveller.com/lanzarote-canary-islands/">Lanzarote</a>, where we have been before, for a well-deserved break</b> <i>(...or so the husbands, brothers, children and grandchildren tell us!)</i><b> and we are really looking forward to temporarily exchanging a wet, wind-swept, 10ºC island for a sun-kissed, warm-breezed 25ºC island, and having nothing to do and all day to do it!</b><br></br>
<b>So, obviously - because the two lads that work the blog with me will also be taking a break - we won't be posting again until sometime in April</b> <i>(as we probably will take up the offer of an extra week)</i><b> but I'll probably still manage to post a few comments on <a href="https://twitter.com/1169AndCounting">'Twitter/X'</a></b> <i>(if they stop censoring me!)</i><b> and on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ceclia.lynch">'Facebook'</a>, as well.</b><br></br>
<b>So, until we meet again on the blog...behave yerselves, and remember :</b><br></br>
<b>'The Great Only Appear Great Because We Are On Our Knees. Let Us Rise!'</b><br></br>
<i><b>Slán anois - go n-éirí leat! </b></i>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading ; see yis in April!</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-20255760426565982402024-03-10T16:29:00.000+00:002024-03-10T16:29:38.058+00:00'PASSING THE PARCEL' IN IRELAND, IN THE 1920's...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZ-oyZDJ-74PCSMU0z3jAaRJxqdW4mPJCSct6H3qUFBl3yaHI0v42PN6PaUgoE6scHO-XgrwX7JGLHBjZBNAChfJB829V6c7gUrFhzdZmYiQnpJvM3SqEsBgkxtvIwjMVsmEWRmHhFOVnUziGOzE_mgW0wgaDvF-IeP3nMBBSype3eKsd9s1GMA/s569/Postmen,%201921..JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZ-oyZDJ-74PCSMU0z3jAaRJxqdW4mPJCSct6H3qUFBl3yaHI0v42PN6PaUgoE6scHO-XgrwX7JGLHBjZBNAChfJB829V6c7gUrFhzdZmYiQnpJvM3SqEsBgkxtvIwjMVsmEWRmHhFOVnUziGOzE_mgW0wgaDvF-IeP3nMBBSype3eKsd9s1GMA/s320/Postmen,%201921..JPG"/></a></div><br></br>
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<b>In between the Mother's Day and the State Referendums celebrations, you might think that we'd be too busy to pay attention to our lil' corner of the interweb but no, we're not - dedicated</b> <i>(or is it stubborn?!)</i><b>, if nothing else!</b><br></br>
<b>We're working on a 20-part post for Wednesday, 13th March 2024, and we'll be referencing a Post Office raid by the IRA in late 1920 which also showed results for them in the following year, plus a good few other bits and pieces...</b>
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<b>1920, Kerry - what might have been wasn't, because of a lack of ammunition...</b><br></br>
<b>1955 - a pro-British loyalist in the Occupied Six Counties is challenged over his remarks about Sinn Féin and British citizenship...</b><br></br>
<b>1921 - British propaganda after a Sinn Féin Judge was assassinated by their forces in Ireland - they eventually compensated his wife, financially...</b><br></br>
<b>1921 - a farm labourer was shot dead by a British Army soldier, but the deed was witnessed by an IRA Volunteer...</b><br></br>
<b>1922, Belfast - this Crown Servant was in pensive mood as he had just attended the funerals of two of his colleagues, and perhaps he wasn't paying as much attention to those around him as he normally would do...</b><br></br>
<b>So put away the Ma's Day drinks, let your pen rest until the next State referendum or vote, and give us a shout on Wednesday, 13th March 2024, but a quiet one, if ya don't mind : our heads will probably still be hoppin'...!</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading ; see y'all on the 13th!</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-46855503829739327282024-03-06T09:31:00.001+00:002024-03-06T10:51:34.500+00:001918 - DEATH OF THE "IRELAND IN DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE" IRISH POLITICIAN.<b>ON THIS DATE (6TH MARCH) 101 YEARS AGO : FIVE FREE STATE SOLDIERS KILLED BY IRA.</b><br></br>
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<b>On March 6th, 1923</b> <I>(101 years ago on this date)</I><b>, five Free State soldiers - Captain Michael Dunne, Dublin, Captain Edward ('Joseph') Stapleton from Dublin, Lieutenant Patrick O’Connor from Castleisland, Private Laurence O’Connor from Causeway and Private Michael Galvin from Killarney - were killed in Knocknagoshel in County Kerry, by a booby trap mine placed by the IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>The target of the trap was a local Free Stater by the name of Paddy 'Pats' O'Connor who, according to the IRA, was a notorious torturer of republican prisoners.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr O'Connor had joined the Free State army because of the treatment of his father by the local IRA.</b><br></br>
<b><a href="https://digital.ucd.ie/view/ucdlib:30846">The Dublin Guards</a>, who had been in Kerry since the previous August, were commanded by Paddy O'Daly. He was furious over the booby trap and it subsequently became clear that he was responsible for what took place following the Knocknagoshel incident ; at around 2am on March 7th, 1923, nine IRA prisoners, many of whom had been tortured, were brought to Ballyseedy Wood where they were told that they were to remove an 'irregular'</b> <I>(ie IRA)</I><b> road block.</b><br></br>
<b>However, it was clear to the men what was in store for them when they had been shown 9 coffins in the barracks. Each were offered a cigarette and told it would be the last one any of them will have. They were then tied together to the mined road-block and blown up. Some of the men were still alive and were finished off by grenade and machine gun.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzOtWbY141zRCPWYeCTUUd1MGbIner6_SYMfG_KWP8hgwQOD51fb1aBTlNnaZK8IDO4jk5vngcWHDK5x-2BrpHQPmOFS4o7Te6l1-hexwuH34k7yAH33M9W4BQqQrFTEBpu16zg/s1600/Memorial+on+Countess+Bridge%252C+Kerry..png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzOtWbY141zRCPWYeCTUUd1MGbIner6_SYMfG_KWP8hgwQOD51fb1aBTlNnaZK8IDO4jk5vngcWHDK5x-2BrpHQPmOFS4o7Te6l1-hexwuH34k7yAH33M9W4BQqQrFTEBpu16zg/s200/Memorial+on+Countess+Bridge%252C+Kerry..png" width="133" height="200" data-original-width="183" data-original-height="275" /></a></div><i>A memorial on Countess Bridge, Killarney, County Kerry, in memory of the IRA Volunteers butchered there by Free State forces in 1923.</i><br></br>
<b>Unbeknownst to the Free State troops one man was blown clear and managed to escape.</b><br></br>
<b>His name was Stephen Fuller</b> <i> (who was later to turn his back on Irish republicanism to become a FF 'TD' in 1937)</i><b>. Because the bodies were so badly mangled all nine coffins were filled with the remains of the eight who perished.</b><br></br>
<b>This was to lead to a near riot in Tralee when the coffins were handed over to the families at the gates of Ballymullen barracks. The families broke open the coffins to try and identify the remains.</b><br></br>
<b>Later on the same day a very similar incident took place at Countess Bridge in Killarney where five IRA prisoners where asked to remove a mined road block which was also blown up. Three of the men who lay wounded were finished off by grenade. Again, amazingly, a fifth man, Tadhg Coffey, survived and escaped.</b><br></br>
<b>Five days later 5 more men were killed near <a href="https://skelligphoto.blogspot.com/2014/09/bahaghs-work-house-cahersiveen-county.html">Bahaghs Workhouse in Cahersiveen</a>.</b><br></br>
<b>In order to prevent any more escapes the men were first shot in the legs, then put over a mine and blown up.</b><br></br>
<b>When the details slowly emerged about what happened the Free State government was forced to call an inquiry into the executions and, in April, 1923, appointed none other than Major General Paddy O'Daly to oversee the 'court of inquiry'. </b><br></br>
<b>It was never going to be anything other than a whitewash.</b><br></br>
<b>One Free State soldier, Lieutenant McCarthy, resigned his commission after the incident and called his colleagues</b> <I><b> "a murder gang"</b></I><b>. Captain Niall Harrington</b> <I> (author of <a href="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/kerry-landing/">the 'Kerry Landings' book</a>)</I><b> of the Dublin Brigade reported that</b> <I><b> "..the mines used in the slaughter of the prisoners were constructed in Tralee under the supervision of two senior Dublin Guards officers.."</b></I><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>But neither he nor Free State Lieutenant McCarthy was ever called to testify, but <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/bloodbath-to-whitewash-the-civil-war-crimes-of-paddy-o-daly-1.3358645">the truth became known</a> later.</b><br></br>
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<b>1924 : REPUBLICAN-GAMEKEEPERS-TURNED-FS POACHERS TURN POACHERS ON THEIR NEW COMRADES...</b><br></br>
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<b>When the IRA ordered its Volunteers to 'Dump Arms'</b> <i>(officially on the 24th May 1923, but the Staters knew it was about to happen)</i><b>, the politicians in Leinster House saw the opportunity to put more money into their own coffers by reducing their military force(s) by at least 30,000 operatives</b> <i>(including 2,200 officers)</i><b> by the end of March 1924.</b><br></br>
<b>They knew that many of their newest recruits were 'unsuitable material for a full-time professional</b> <i>(!)</i><b> army' as they were badly trained and undisciplined, and talk of enforced/compulsory/mandatory redundancies was widespread.</b><br></br>
<b>Charlie Dalton</b> <i>(top pic)</i><b> and Liam Tobin </b> <i>(bottom pic)</i><b> were two IRA Volunteers who accepted <a href="https://rsf-kildare.blogspot.com/2011/12/treaty-of-surrender-and-its-legacy.html">the 'Treaty of Surrender'</a> and donned a Free State Army uniform.</b><br></br>
<b>They were both evidently unhappy with their personal progress in and through their Free State system as, indeed, were dozens of other ex-republican gamekeepers so, in February/early March 1924, they planned a coup against their Leinster House political and military regime which, as they knew, was about to downsize its military requirements.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 6th/7th of March, 1924, between 50 and 90 FSA Officers abandoned their posts, seized weaponry - ammunition, Lewis guns, grenades and revolvers - and, led by Mr Tobin and Mr Dalton, attempted to hold the Free State entity as a 'hostage' - the IRA were both bemused and amused at their antics!</b><br></br>
<b>The Free State/anti Free State 'mutineers'</b> <i>(!)</i><b> delivered their 'ultimatum' to the Free State 'President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State'</b> <i> (1922-1932)</i><b>, a Mr Liam Cosgrave -</b><br></br>
<i><b>Mar-06-1924.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>'To President Liam Cosgrave.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Sir,</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>On behalf of the I.R.A. Organisation we have been instructed to present the following Ultimatum to the Government of Saorstát Eireann.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Briefly, our position is this :—</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The I.R.A. only accepted the Treaty as a means of achieving its objects, namely, to secure and maintain a Republican form of Government in this country.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>After many months of discussion with your Government it is our considered opinion that your Government has not those objects in view, and that their policy is not reconcilable with the Irish people's acceptance of the Treaty.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Furthermore, our interpretation of the Treaty was that expressed by the late Commander-in-Chief, General Michael Collins, when he stated :</b></i><br></br><i> "I have taken an oath of allegiance to the Irish Republic and that oath I will keep, Treaty or no Treaty."</i><br></br>
<i><b>We claim Michael Collins as our leader, and again remind you that even after the Treaty was signed, that drastic action was taken against enemies of the unity and complete independence of our country. Both in oath and honour bound, it is our duty to continue his policy, and therefore present this Ultimatum to which we require a reply by 12 noon, 10th March, 1924.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We demand a conference with representatives of your Government to discuss our interpretation of the Treaty on the following conditions :—</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>(a) The removal of the Army Council.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>(b) The immediate suspension of Army demobilisation and re-organisation.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>In the event of your Government rejecting these proposals we will take such action that will make clear to the Irish people that we are not renegades or traitors to the ideals that induced them to accept the Treaty.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Our Organisation fully realises the seriousness of the action that we may be compelled to take, but we can no longer be party to the treachery that threatens to destroy the aspirations of the Nation.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>LIAM TOBIN, Major-General, President of the Executive Council.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>C.F. DALTON, Col., Secretary to Executive Council.'</b></i><br></br>
<b>On the 7th March, 1924, the 'Executive Council of the Free State Government' ordered the arrest of Mr Tobin and Mr Dalton but, despite searches, they eluded arrest, and the mutiny was quashed by the Free Strate 'Director of Intelligence', Michael Costello, but Richard Mulcahy and the FS Army Council were forced to resign.</b><br></br>
<b>Such a pity they weren't as efficient against the British...</b>
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<b>'SINN FÉIN NOTES...'</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>Arrangements have been made by the <a href="https://books.google.ie/books?id=-hTErLVkOdgC&pg=PT53&lpg=PT53&dq=jackie+griffith+ira&source=bl&ots=uJJOQuJ7Zw&sig=rqm3I-SVTke1Fm4Q1zmCAgE_0-8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwidi9jY5f7JAhVCiQ8KHVGpADg4ChDoAQgkMAE#v=onepage&q=jackie%20griffith%20ira&f=false">Jackie Griffith</a> and the <a href="https://1169andcounting.blogspot.com/2021_04_11_archive.html">Austin Stack</a> Cumann, Dublin, to hold conventions for the selection of their candidates.</b><br></br>
<b>Tom Keena has been selected by the Barnes and McCormack Cumann, Clara, County Offaly, as their candidate for Offaly County Council, and the Drogheda and Dundalk Urban Councils and Louth County Council are being contested also, but arrangements have not yet been made for the selection of candidates.</b><br></br>
<i>(END of 'Sinn Féin Notes' ; NEXT - 'Sinn Féin Replies To Mr. Hanna', from the same source.)</i>
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<b>Betweem the 6th March 1919 and the 10th March 1919, Sinn Féin prisoners held by Westminster in English jails were released, as the severe outbreak of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2596813/">influenza in England</a> worried the political leadership there to the extent that Irish political figures dying in English jails would have reflected in a bad way on the English political leadership</b> <i>(ie 'let them die in Ireland, not England'!)</i><br></br>
<b>A Sinn Féin MP, <a href="https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland/index.php/articles/funeral-held-for-sinn-fein-mp-who-died-of-flu-in-british-custody">Mr Pierce McCan</a>, had already died from the flu in British custody</b> <i>(he died on the 6th of March, 1919, and was buried in Dualla, Cashel, County Tipperary, on the 9th of March)</i><b> and it wasn't 'a good look' on the world stage for Westminster.</b><br></br>
<b>Eleven of the released prisoners</b><i> (among their number was Seamus O'Neill of Tipperary, Michael Fleming from Kerry, and Art O'Connor, from Celbridge, in County Kildare)</i><b> were too ill from the flu to travel and had to convalesce in England until they got their strength back.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 4th March that year, Westminster had made the decision to remove the prisoners from their own country, to Ireland, and those released included Arthur Griffith, William T Cosgrave, Darrell Figgis and Constance Markievicz.</b>
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<b>ON THIS DATE (6TH MARCH) 106 YEARS AGO : "IRELAND IN DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE...".</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qlOob1gvNdm8amigrHrjle0jqvEVyFWPIa1Aq8V21K86uT60VkoDCzI-IWTR6WYdFGztJs6HvdrIK9Qp5b5HziCeRk0xuDJUeQbTkqqQ8dADZ7DEaOSK1EEkuafkTGr8ou2FUw/s1600/JOHN+REDMOND%2527S+%2527CALL-TO-ARMS%2527..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qlOob1gvNdm8amigrHrjle0jqvEVyFWPIa1Aq8V21K86uT60VkoDCzI-IWTR6WYdFGztJs6HvdrIK9Qp5b5HziCeRk0xuDJUeQbTkqqQ8dADZ7DEaOSK1EEkuafkTGr8ou2FUw/s200/JOHN+REDMOND%2527S+%2527CALL-TO-ARMS%2527..jpg" width="138" height="200" data-original-width="755" data-original-height="1098" /></a></div><I><b>"I have publicly promised, not only for myself, but in the name of my country, that when the rights of Ireland were admitted by the democracy of England, that Ireland would become the strongest arm in the defence of the Empire.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The test has come sooner than I, or anyone, expected.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I tell the Prime Minister that that test will be honourably met.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I say for myself, that I would feel myself personally dishonoured if I did not say to my fellow countrymen, as I say today to them here, and as I will say from the public platform when I go back to Ireland, that it is their duty, and should be their honour, to take their place in the firing line in this contest..."</b></I><br></br>
<b>- John Redmond, from <a href="https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland/index.php/articles/in-comradeship-with-our-friend-in-the-north-we-will-defend">here</a>.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Redmond, the leader of the 'Irish Parliamentary Party', was born into a 'Big House'-type Catholic family on the 1st September in 1856 and, after a 'proper' education</b><I> (in Clongowes College in Kildare and Trinity College in Dublin)</I><b> he became a political 'player' in the British so-called 'House of Commons', where he supplemented his income as a clerk.</b><br></br>
<b>He was only 25 years-of-age when he was first elected as an MP, having worked his way up the establishment ladder, and was elected as the leader of the 'Irish Party' on the 6th February, 1900.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfKq9UCsjgu2_59Ki9GdFZED3PU49k5bsDgG7WuQhW8cvcej4a4la_LbNEyhqUYAnsJVfXig6VYSIJ10sW_aNngmfeELei1lWdFBpnUJSEew0UcySx0iIPcgoU77HUKzPdXgfbg/s1600/Redmond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfKq9UCsjgu2_59Ki9GdFZED3PU49k5bsDgG7WuQhW8cvcej4a4la_LbNEyhqUYAnsJVfXig6VYSIJ10sW_aNngmfeELei1lWdFBpnUJSEew0UcySx0iIPcgoU77HUKzPdXgfbg/s200/Redmond.jpg" width="133" height="200" data-original-width="300" data-original-height="450" /></a></div><I>John Redmond pictured - 'Irishmen, honour your history, fight for England..'</I><br></br>
<b>He was an Irish nationalist</b> <I> (small 'n')</I><b> politician who, occasionally, campaigned for his followers</b> <I> (and anyone else that would listen to him)</I><b> to join the British Army in its fight against Germany, and did so infamously, and unashamedly, in a public speech he delivered in Woodenbridge in County Wicklow on the 20th September in 1914, where he stated -</b><br></br>
<I><b>"The interests of Ireland - of the whole of Ireland - are at stake in this war. This war is undertaken in the defence of the highest principles of religion and morality and right, and it would be a disgrace for ever to our country and a reproach to her manhood and a denial of the lessons of her history if young Ireland confined their efforts to remaining at home to defend the shores of Ireland from an unlikely invasion, and to shrinking from the duty of proving on the field of battle that gallantry and courage which has distinguished our race all through its history.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I say to you, therefore, your duty is twofold.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I am glad to see such magnificent material for soldiers around me, and I say to you : 'Go on drilling and make yourself efficient for the work, and then account yourselves as men, not only for Ireland itself, but wherever the fighting line extends, in defence of right, of freedom, and religion in this war..".</b></I><br></br>
<b>And, unfortunately, in the months that followed his 'call to arms', tens of thousands of Irishmen joined his 'Cause' and fought alongside imperialism to the extent that one of his modern-day <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4500446/Prince-Charles-shakes-hands-Gerry-Adams-Dublin.html">political mirror-images</a> </b><I> (..who called for Irish people to join and support the British 'police force' in Ireland!)</I><b> all but called Redmond a traitor for encouraging such folly.</b><br></br>
<b>Other political leaders did not agree with John Redmond and, among them, was James Connolly, the Irish Trade Union leader, who was also in command of the Irish Citizen Army - he answered Redmond's call thus :</b><br></br>
<I><b>'Full steam ahead, John Redmond said,<br></br>
that everything was well, chum ;<br></br>
Home Rule will come when we are dead,<br></br>
and buried out in Belgium'.</b></I><br></br>
<b>Also, some of John Redmond's own men disagreed with his pro-British 'call-to-arms' ; Eoin MacNeill, who was then in a leadership position within the 'Irish Volunteers', was of the opinion that the 'Irish Volunteers' should only use force against the British if* Westminster first moved against them ; a bit 'watery', definitely, but he was, however, against fighting with the British</b><I> (*if having your country occupied by a foreign power cannot be considered a 'first move against us' then Mr MacNeill had a different understanding of the English language than we have!)</I><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Just over a year after Mr Redmond had delivered his 'join imperialism'-speech in Woodenbridge, a British Army Major-General, 'Sir' Lovick Bransby Friend</b><I> (..perhaps his parents never bonded with him?)</I><b> the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in Ireland, said that 1,100 recruits were needed from Ireland every week "to replace wastage"</b><I><b> (!)</b></I><b> of existing Irish soldiers.</b><br></br>
<b>The comments were made at a private conference on recruiting in Ireland that was held under the presidency of the 'Lord' Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Wimborne, at the Viceregal Lodge in Dublin's Phoenix Park, where it was also stated that approximately 81,000 Irishmen had 'heeded Redmond's call-to-arms'.</b><br></br>
<b>The political mirror-image, mentioned above, had a point : if a call to assist the foe comes from 'the right quarters', it will - unfortunately - be heeded by those who should know better.</b><br></br>
<b>Anyway : the 'fight-for-England-for-Ireland' man died on the 6th March 1918 - 106 years ago on this date - after a medical operation that month to remove an intestinal obstruction ; the operation appeared to progress well at first, but then he suffered heart failure and died a few hours later at a London nursing home.</b><br></br>
<b>But <a href="https://republican-news.org/current/news/2011/04/union_jack_raised_over_sinn_fe.html">his party lived on</a>, albeit with a name change..!</b>
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<b>In the 1920's in Ireland, the pro-British 'police force', the 'Royal Irish Constabulary' (RIC), were continuing to come under pressure from the public and their representatives in the IRA, and they were forced to abandon barracks and headquarters in, for instance, Maynooth, Leixlip, Kilcock, Carbury, Rathangan and Robertstown, in County Kildare.</b><br></br>
<b>This was on top of the problems they were facing from early retirements, resignations and morale issues, leaving the RIC drained of members and bereft of enthusiasm.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 6th March, 1920, the RIC barracks in Leixlip, in County Kildare, was abandoned/evacuated by the 'police force', the 'Sergeant' there was transferred to Maynooth and his fellow members were put into whatever other barracks that were still standing in that county - the barracks in Celbridge, for instance, received most of those rejects, as it was a heavily fortified building overlooking the River Liffey, giving it some degree of safety and, by the summer of 1920, it was the only RIC barracks remaining open in North Kildare.</b><br></br>
<b>Indeed, as the RIC were packing up their ill-gotten gains in Leixlip on the 6th March, their colleagues in Doon Barracks, in County Limerick, were coming under attack by the IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>No rest for the wicked, you might say..!</b>
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<i><b>"Redouble your energies. Remember these amounts were not realised by any magic formulae, they are the results of hard work and ceaseless endeavour.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Gold is once and a half as useful to us as English paper currency. When dealing with such a country as America, gold is as valuable as it formerly was.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>- Michael Collins, 6th March, 1920, in a letter he dispatched to Sinn Féin officers for distribution to all involved in <a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/810836/summary">the 'Dáil Loan' campaign.</a></b><br></br>
<b>In his letter, Mr Collins stated that £98,124 had been received so far, which was short of the target, and he praised some constituencies</b><i> (such as West Limerick and Mid-Cork)</i><b> for their fund-raising activities.</b><br></br>
<b>A businessman, <a href="https://www.dib.ie/biography/oconnor-bartholomew-batt-phartalan-a6582">Mr Batt O'Connor</a>, used his connections to acquire gold for the Fund, as did other business owners</b> <i>(such as <a href="https://www.dib.ie/biography/gogarty-oliver-st-john-a3513">Oliver St John Gogarty</a>)</i><b> and operatives</b> <i>(like <a href="https://www.photopol.com/martello/daithi.html">Dáithí Ó Donnchadha</a> [Daithi O’Donoghue] and <a href="https://www.corriganfunerals.ie/about-corrigan-funerals/">Peter Corrigan</a>)</i><b> were tasked with keeping the financials safe from the British, which they did - the collected gold was brought to Mr O'Donoghue who put them in small tobacco tins and, when full, those tins contained either £250 or £500 worth of gold coin.</b><br></br>
<b>Full tins were brought by Mr O'Donoghue to Corrigan's Undertakers in Camdem Street, in Dublin, where Peter Corrigan buried them at the back of his premises. Men (and women) like Mr O'Donoghue and Mr Corrigan are the unsung heroes of that period in our history.</b>
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<b>SO, FAREWELL THEN, CELTIC TIGER....</b><br></br>
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<i>It had to happen, sooner or later.</i><br></br>
<i>Most of the pundits and economists were too busy singing the Celtic Tiger's praises to notice, but a few critical observers worried all along about the weaknesses of a boom economy that depended so much on a few companies from one place - the United States.</i><br></br>
<i>By <a href="https://blog.pmpress.org/authors-artists-comrades/denis-ohearn/">Denis O'Hearn</a>.</i><br></br>
<i>From 'Magill' Annual 2002.</i>
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<b>An alternative point of view is that Irish economic growth was due to a very special set of (mostly external) circumstances.</b><br></br>
<b>Without them, all the macroeconomic stability or neoliberal economic policies in the world could not have achieved such results.</b><br></br>
<b>What were these special circumstances?</b><br></br>
<b>Irish economic growth was clearly dominated by the country's ability to attract a huge share of investments by transnational corporations ('TNC's') in a changing global environment ; the historic expansion of information technologies (IT) in the 1990's sent US computer firms on a global hunt for new markets and, since access to the 'Single European Market' was a major prize, these companies revived their investments in the EU to get a foot in the door.</b><br></br>
<b>And Ireland got more of them than its fair share ; they came to Ireland primarily because of its extremely low corporate tax rates, and also because of its cheap, educated, English-speaking labour force and its lack of bureaucratic restrictions on foreign investors...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>An RIC member, 'Sergeant' James Maguire (49), operated as a 'Liaison Officer' for a British Army Intelligence Officer</b> <i>(BA Lieutenant Harold Browne)</i> <b>in the Limerick area, and was said to be good at his job.</b><br></br>
<b>His diligence brought him to the attention of the East Limerick Brigade of the IRA who were then made aware that it was Mr Maguire who had given the British information which led to <a href="https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/598951/limerick-men-killed-in-action-after-mass-100-years-ago-today.html">the deaths of two IRA Volunteers</a>, and the Limerick Volunteers organised themselves to address the situation.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 6th March, 1921, as Mr Maguire was out for a walk in the Kilmallock area of Limerick, five IRA Volunteers approached him and shot him dead.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Maguire had twelve children, seven of whom emigrated to New York City and one of whom, a daughter called Mary Catherine, married an RIC member, a Mr Patrick Joseph Meade</b> <i>('RIC Number 69103')</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Maguire should have put family first.</b>
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<b>On the 6th March 1921</b> <i>(some sources list the date as the 5th)</i><b> a woman who lived in Ballylea, Tralee, in County Kerry, Bridget Walpole (57), never returned home from an outing, and her neighbours were worried about her.</b><br></br>
<b>She was comfortable, financially, and owned a fine house and some acres of land.</b><br></br>
<b>The next morning, a young boy who was out walking about 400 yards from Bridget's house, found her body - the poor woman had been shot in the back of her head, and a small notice had been tied around her neck -</b><br></br>
<i><b>'Convicted Spy, and all others beware. RIP.'</b></i><br></br>
<b>M/s Walpole was indeed known to the IRA, because she assisted them occasionally</b> <i>(one of the 'safe houses' in the area)</i><b>, as best she could, and also helped out the '<a href="https://fiannaeireann.com/nfe-history-1964-2000s/#history-of-na-fianna-1960s-2009-excerpt-from-centenary-booklet">Na Fianna Éireann</a>' organisation.</b><br></br>
<b>The IRA and NFE investigated the shooting and one of the IRA investigators later stated -</b><br></br>
<i>"A short time afterwards I came to Ballygarron, Spa, to the house of a man named Rail.</i><br></br>
<i>There I was informed that a woman named Mrs Walpole was found that morning shot dead on the side of the road with a label on her chest which read 'shot as a spy'.</i><br></br>
<i>I knew this could not be correct as I had stayed at her house several times since I first went on the run. I investigated the matter and discovered that the shooting was the result of a family row...'</i><br></br>
<b>But before the IRA/NFE could fully complete their investigation, <a href="https://rsf-kildare.blogspot.com/2011/12/treaty-of-surrender-and-its-legacy.html">the 'Treaty of Surrender'</a> intervened and, unfortunately, the matter was not pursued, but questions were raised about a life assurance policy that M/s Walpole held, and her valuable house and lands...</b>
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<b>The 6th March 1921 was an horrendous day for the Republican Movement in County Tipperary -</b><br></br>
<b>Volunteer Tom Larkin, 1st Battalion, Rosegreen, was shot dead by the British Army in Drangan, the Commandant of the 2nd Battalion, Patrick Hogan, was killed in action near the village of New Inn, the Captain of the 7th Battalion of the Moyglass Column, Richard Fleming, was shot dead by Crown Forces at Knockroe, near Drangan, Volunteer Patrick Hackett, attached to the Drangan Column, was shot dead by the British Army as was Volunteer Martin Clancy, Drangan Column.</b><br></br>
<b>Martin Clancy, Patrick Hackett and Richard</b><i> (Dick)</i><b> Fleming were attending an IRA Battalion Council meeting of Tipperary No. 3 Brigade at Knockroe, County Tipperary, when they were shot dead by a British Army raiding party.</b><br></br>
<b>Carelessness by the IRA sentries allowed soldiers from the Lincolnshire Regiment</b> <i>(under the command of BA Lieutenant M M Ormond)</i><b> gain access to the meeting, at which 12 IRA officers were in attendance.</b><br></br>
<b>Martin Clancy was only wounded in the attack, placed 'under arrest' by the foreigners, then shot dead</b> <i>(his brother, Patrick, had been shot dead by the British Army on November 19th, 1920)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Patrick Hogan, who was Officer Commanding, 2nd Battalion, Tipperary No. 3 Brigade, IRA, was shot dead after Crown Forces raided the house in which he was staying at Derrycloney, New Inn, in County Tipperary.</b><br></br>
<b>RIP to those brave Irish men.</b>
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<i><b>"The British Army never travel the same route more than once a week. Also, they travel always in convoy of more than seven lorries generally accompanied by an armoured car..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>- Tom Barry</b> <i> (pictured, Officer Commanding of the Cork No. 3 Brigade, IRA Flying Column)</i><b>, in an IRA report he wrote on the 6th March, 1921.</b><br></br>
<b>That British Army 'Standing Order' travel plan 'officially' came into operation on the 20th June, 1921, but was actually put into practice in early 1921, due to the losses suffered by enemy forces in IRA ambushes.</b>
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<b>On the 6th March, 1921, the QM of the Toames Company, 7th Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade IRA, Cornelius Foley, was shot by British Auxiliaries who had come across about 20 men near Toames. He was brought to Macroom Castle and died there later in the day.</b><br></br>
<b>Before he died, he was interrogated by his captors but would only say to them -</b> <i><b>"Up de Valera. We'll kill all you bastard English before long..!"</b></i>
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<i><b>'From November 1920 the IRA – referred to in the British and Unionist media at the time as Sinn Féiners – began a campaign of sabotage in locations across England and Wales, including arson attacks and the cutting of telegraph wires...'</b></i><br></br>
<b>On the 6th March, 1921, arson attacks were carried out by IRA in Newcastle, South Shields and Hyde in England : more <a href="https://www.creativecentenaries.org/on-this-day/ira-sabotage-campaign-in-england">here</a>.</b>
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<b>On the 6th March, 1921, chauffeur John O'Neill, an ex-British Army man, was driving two clients to Portmarnock Golf Club, in North County Dublin, in a 'fancy car'.</b><br></br>
<b>As he was driving up the Malahide Road, near Donnycarney, he was stopped by the IRA and was shot dead.</b><br></br>
<b>It transpired that he wasn't shot because he was ex-British Army, but because it was a case of mistaken identity by the IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr O'Neill was working as the chauffeur for Edward McGrath</b> <i> (the owner of a tea merchant company)</i><b> and was driving a party to Portmarnock Golf Course for a game.</b><br></br>
<b>Thomas Shannon, a pro golfer working at Portmarnock Golf Club, was in the front passenger seat and three other men were in the back of the car. Mr O'Neill was shot in the head and stomach and died at the scene, and one of the other men was wounded. Both were taken to the Mater Hospital.</b><br></br>
<b>The IRA had been monitoring the road, as it was the route taken by known British Army officers who travelled, on that day at that particular time, to the golf club, in a chauffer-driven 'fancy car'....</b>
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<b>On the 6th March, 1921, British Army soldiers from Carlow Barracks made their way to the Church in the village of Rathanna, in County Carlow, acting on information that IRA Volunteers from the local Flying Column were due to attend Mass there.</b><br></br>
<b>Having surrounded the Church, they stopped, searched and harassed the men leaving Mass but one man, a Mr James Hayden, a local farmer, who was some distance away from one of the armed British soldiers and, it being a very windy day, didn't hear the instruction to stop where he was.</b><br></br>
<b>A British Army soldier shot him dead.</b>
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<b>A few men were playing a <a href="https://irelandseye.ie/pitch-and-toss">game of 'Pitch and Toss'</a> near Saxe Lane, in Sutton, Dublin, on the 6th March, 1921, when a gang of <a href="https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland/index.php/articles/explainer-who-were-the-black-and-tans-and-the-auxiliaries">British Auxiliaries</a> arrived on the scene.</b><br></br>
<b>The Auxies opened fire on the men, killing a Mr Henry Guy and wounding two of his friends.</b><br></br>
<b>In a statement released afterwards by Major-General Sir Gerald Farrell Boyd 'KCB CMG DSO DCM' etc, the 'General Officer Commanding' of the British Army in the Dublin District, it was simply acknowledged that shots had been fired, by his soldiers</b> <i><b>"...somewhat hastily, as it turned out that they were confronted by unarmed civilians.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Mr Boyd died of cerebral spinal fever in 1930, which wouldn't have been a "somewhat hastily"-acquired death.</b>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
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<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<b>ROBERT EMMET AND THE IRELAND OF TODAY...</b><br></br>
<i><b>"But England, we are told, offers us terms.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>She holds out to us the hand of friendship.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>She gives us a Parliament with an Executive responsible to it.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Within two years the Home Rule Senate meets in College Green and King George comes to Dublin to declare its sessions open. In anticipation of that happy event our leaders have proffered England our loyalty.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Mr. Redmond accepts Home Rule as a "final settlement between the two nations" ; Mr. O'Brien, in the fullness of his heart, cries "God Save the King" ; Colonel Lynch offers England his sword in case she is attacked by a foreign power.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>And so this settlement is to be a final settlement.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Would Wolfe Tone have accepted it as a final settlement? Would Robert Emmet have accepted it as a final settlement?</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Either we are heirs to their principles or we are not.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>If we are, we can accept no settlement as final which does not "break the connection with England, the never-failing source of all our political evils" ; if we are not, how dare we go on an annual pilgrimage to Bodenstown, how dare we gather here or anywhere to commemorate the faith and sacrifice of Emmet...?"</b></i>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font><br></br>
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<b>Just under 500 people were killed in Belfast between July 1920 and July 1922 and about 230 of that number died between February and May 1922.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 6th March</b> <i>(listed elsewhere as the 13th and/or 15th March)</i><b>, 1922, IRA Volunteer Andrew Leonard (21), from Duffy Street in Belfast, was shot in the neck near Townsend Street in Belfast and died later in hospital, Catherine Lynch (51) was shot dead in her home on the Falls Road, and Thomas Heathwood and William Warder were shot dead by British military patrols in the Wall Street and Hanover Street areas respectively.</b><br></br>
<b>A book that was published in 1922, </b><i><b><a href="https://www.purcellauctioneers.ie/catalogue/lot/33258f43c2b4f945f60fe9e4a0d4aa08/81B29AB6FA187A02A829C1899B734425/collection-of-irish-historical-interest-books-maps-journal/">'Facts and Figures of the Belfast Pogrom 1920-1922'</a></b></i> <b>, written from a republican/nationalist perspective, was intended to impress upon the new Free State government that the Catholic community in the city was under siege. It was written by Fr John Hassan, a Catholic priest in the city, who wrote under the pseudonym 'GB Kenna'.</b><br></br>
<b>Just 18 copies were published, and the rest were pulped in August 1922, just before Michael Collins's death, on the instructions of the Free State government, which feared its details would give succour to the IRA...</b>
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<b>By the 6th March 1922, the IRA were reorganising Waterford Military Barracks</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> to suit themselves.</b><br></br>
<b>A party of about 80 IRA Volunteers</b> <i>(commanded by <a href="https://www.waterfordmuseum.ie/exhibit/web/Display/article/317/20/Memoirs_Of_George_Lennon_1922_Waterford_City_Part_1_.html">George Lennon</a>)</i><b> took over control of the building, after arguing about the legal position of doing so with the pro-British force that then occupied it - the RIC</b> <i>(under the command of a 'Captain' Sheehan)</i><b>, who was in charge of the 60-or-so RIC members who were in situ.</b><br></br>
<b>Meanwhile, about 30 other IRA Volunteers had taken over control of the 'Artillery Barracks' in the same town.</b><br></br>
<b>Local author and historian <a href="https://www.waterfordmuseum.ie/exhibit/web/Display/article/219/Keohan_Edmund_18521934.html;jsessionid=6B93CC8F7C356B5EBAC06D9C5E4D5036">Edmund Keohan</a> described at the time what the change of use of both barracks meant to the ordinary people of the town and the sense of impending occasion they felt -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"The occupants of the old Castle were now to be changed. The English forces were to leave ; the old premises were to fall into the possession of the Irish people alone.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>This old fortress had in the olden time been washed by the waters of the Colligan, and the sentries at night could listen to the swish of the waves as they beat against its ancient walls.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>In this defensive stronghold were garrisoned the troops of the English King and kept there for 750 years. It was symbolic, in every respect, of British rule in Ireland..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>The "troops of the English King" are still occupying six of our north-eastern counties ; we have won battles, but not the war.</b><br></br>
<b>Yet...!</b>
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<i><b>'McGloin, we know you are a British Spy and Informer. Give it up at once or your days are numbered. Final Notice.'</b></i><br></br>
<b>- an IRA warning notice delived to an RIC member, Patrick McGloin, in late February/early March, 1922.</b><br></br>
<b>Between the 6th and the 15th March, 1922, three</b><i> (ex-)</i><b> RIC members and one of their civilian supporters</b> <i>(Patrick Cassidy)</i><b> were shot in a hospital</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> in Galway City.</b><br></br>
<b>Two of them were killed outright - 'Sergeants' John Gilmartin and Tobias Gibbons - as was Mr Cassidy, who was shot four times, and a third RIC member, Patrick McGloin, was left with life-changing injuries.</b><br></br>
<b>RIC member Gilmartin had been observed hitting, whipping and humiliating civilians, alongside his British Auxiliaries colleagues, in the town of Moycullen, in County Galway, RIC member Gibbons received stripes from Westminster for his 'work' in Tuam, County Galway, and was actually signalled out and named in an IRA 'Intelligence Document' as a person of interest, and RIC member McGloin was, it seems, just a tad too eager to exchange his RIC outfit for that of a British soldier.</b><br></br>
<b>Those who carried out the shootings</b> <i>(said to be seven men)</i><b> were never identified.</b>
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<b>On the 6th March, 1922, Free State political and military leader Michael Collins sent a telegram to one of his managers, Winston Churchill, giving him an update on progress</b> <i>(!)</i><b> in the British colony that both men were working together on.</b><br></br>
<b>In his telegram, Mr Collins informed Mr Churchill that</b> <i><b> "..the total death toll</b></i> <i>(in the Occupied Six Counties)</i> <i><b> since eleventh Feb now amounts to 48 and 198 wounded while total casualties since Orange Pogrom beginning July 1920 number 257..."</b></i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>No doubt the two men blamed everyone else except themselves for those deaths and injuries...</b>
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<b>Between the 6th and the 7th of March, 1922, the British Government agreed to break the law but to keep quiet about it.</b><br></br>
<b>Westminster's <a href="https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/in-depth/government-of-ireland-act">'Government of Ireland Act 1920'</a> </b> <i>(sic)</i><b> contained stipulations which forbade it to, in effect, allocate extra funds to the Occupied Six County area which were over and above which "other areas of the UK"</b> <i>(sic)</i><b> were allocated but, being a contested area, the O6C required different 'policing' methods.</b><br></br>
<b>The British Cabinet decided to give £850,000 to the Stormont administration to underwrite the cost of the Specials for the following six months but, in order to do so 'legally', they had to temporarily classify the USC/Specials as 'a military force' rather than 'a police foce', which meant they were paid for from the 'Imperial Purse' rather than exchequer/taxpayer funds and, in a further cover-up, that money was described as "assistance in a general grant of money to Ulster</b> <i>(sic)</i><b> for unemployment and other services..."</b><br></br>
<b>On the 6th March, 1922, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/aehr.321004">'Sir' Otto Ernst Niemeyer GBE KCB ETC</a></b><i> (!)</i><b>, the financial controller of the UK's Treasury Department, wrote in a memo that this arrangement was probably illegal and was not "within the four corners of the 1920 Act" nor was it compatible with <a href="https://rsf-kildare.blogspot.com/2011/12/treaty-of-surrender-and-its-legacy.html">the Treaty</a>.</b><br></br>
<b>'Creative accounting and bookkeeping '...!</b><br></br>
<b>However...</b><br></br>
<b>...in July that year </b> <i>(on the 19th, 1922)</i><b>, the Stormont kitty needed to be replenished as their 'police force' were apparently almost broke</b> <i>(!)</i><b>, financially, again, and the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, a Mr Richard Horne, agreed to give £2 million to Stormont to fund the USC/Specials on the condition that "it is all that I can grant for the financial year 1922/1923", and the 'Stormont PM', a Mr James Craig</b> <i>(the '1st Viscount Craigavon')</i><b> accepts the 'Terms and Conditions' and gets the money.</b><br></br>
<b>But...</b><br></br>
<b>...in September that year </b> <i>(on the 19th, 1922)</i><b>, Mr Craig wrote to Mr Churchill saying that he wanted a further £200,000 for 1922/1923 to fund the USC/Specials, and a commitment from Westminster to provide a further £1.35 million for 1923/1924 ; he got the extra money and a 'promise' that his requested commitment would be looked into...</b><br></br>
<b>...yet..</b><br></br>
<b>...in November that year</b> <i>(on the 6th, 1922)</i><b>, Mr Craig wrote to the 'British Colonial Secretary' looking for, among other things, "the renegotiation of outstanding financial questions" in regards to funding for the USC/Specials</b> <i>(in other words, a blank cheque!)</i><b> and, that same month</b> <i>(November, 1922, on the 23rd)</i><b>, Mr Craig wrote to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stanley-Baldwin">Stanley Baldwin</a>, the new British PM, in Westminster, looking for £200,000 to fund the USC/Specials for the current financial year and, on the 28th November, added to his begging letter with a threat - </b><br></br>
<i><b>"I doubt if anyone could be found to carry on here unless they were assured that the present magnificent system of Special Constabulary was maintained at its present strength..."</b></i><b>, and then declared that his earlier £1.35 million estimate/request had now increased to £1.5m!</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Craig got the extra</b> <i>(extra, extra, extra etc!)</i><b> money he was looking for, bringing his total funding for the USC/Specials</b> <i>(for the fiscal year 1922-1923)</i><b> to £2.7m! </b><br></br>
<b>The abolition of the last of the USC/Specials was a central demand of the 'Northern Ireland </b> <i>(sic)</i><b> Civil Rights Movement' in the late 1960s and, on the 30th April, 1970, that armed grouping was finally stood down, as a result of <a href="https://dbpedia.org/page/Hunt_Report">the Hunt Committee Report.</a></b><br></br>
<b>We didn't want 'em, and the Brits couldn't afford 'em...!</b>
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<b>On the 6th March, 1923, eight Free State soldiers arrived at Bairinarig Wood, near Knocknagashel, Castleisland, in County Kerry, to search for an IRA arms dump that they believed was buried somewhere there, acting on information they had received.</b><br></br>
<b>The IRA had laid a trip-mine in the area, before they lured the Staters into the vicinity with a false 'arms dump' story, and one of the enemy forces detonated the device, killing himself and four of his colleagues - Lieutenant Paddy O'Connor, a local man, Captains Michael Dunne and Edward Stapleton, from Dublin, and Privates Michael Galvin, from Killarney, County Kerry, and Laurence O’Connor, from Causeway, County Kerry.</b><br></br>
<b>Another State soldier, Joseph O’Brien, was so badly injured that both his legs had to be amputated.</b><br></br>
<b>It appears that Mr O'Connor was the intended target, as the IRA had targetted him before - more <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20235804.html">here</a>.</b><br></br>
<b>Also, on the 6th March, 1923, a Free State soldier</b> <i>('Service Number 20034')</i><b>, William Newcombe (20), from Castlemaine Street, Athlone, in County Westmeath, who was attached to the FS '5 Infantry Battalion', was shot and killed in an IRA ambush at Glasson/Three Jolly Pigeons pub, County Westmeath. He was a member of Na Fianna Éireann prior to joining the Staters, and another young FS soldier, Richard Duggan, was accidently shot in Waterford Infirmary where he was stationed. He died on March 11th.</b><br></br>
<b>An IRA Volunteer, John T O'Sullivan, was shot dead by the Staters at Gleesk, near Glenbeigh, in County Kerry.</b>
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<b>On the 6th March, 1923, the IRA Chief-Of-Staff, Liam Lynch, received a letter from a high-ranking IRA Officer complaining about the dumping of arms -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"It is outrageous that about 1,200 rifles are in the 1st Southern Area of which close on 500 are dumped, yet this area will not assist other areas, where opportunities afford, for using arms.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>By early 1923, the offensive capability of the IRA had been seriously eroded and when, in February 1923, republican leader <a href="https://www.dib.ie/biography/deasy-liam-a2497">Liam Deasy</a> was captured by Free State forces, he called on the republicans to end their campaign and reach an accommodation with the Free State.</b><br></br>
<b>The State's executions of IRA prisoners, 34 of whom were shot in January 1923, also took its toll on the republicans' morale and, by the beginning of 1923, the republican armed campaign was mostly over in many parts of the country but in the southwest the conflict continued for many more months, ensuring that Kerry would long be synonymous with the most bitter and violent episodes of the war...</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading.</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-53157429883651106002024-03-03T22:23:00.000+00:002024-03-03T22:23:58.495+00:00LETTERS, TELEGRAMS, CORRESPONDENCE AND DEADLINES...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvrZVPyFHE41fTkVYN4iX_J29xmqe8IfTRofDpxDRKsVKnq2jLB7eNCLn9f124HJFqiHrYz2c8AXeyGtaP5HRWSxbW2mlXyKnE0eYfMgI2h3sRuvAy0RD6sNZaewg-QMAfhHgzLYhb04kuPEHagjlTwyN5IMvX1ZVGJC-FsZEHknwgSVou6nHjA/s158/D%C3%A1il%20Loan..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvrZVPyFHE41fTkVYN4iX_J29xmqe8IfTRofDpxDRKsVKnq2jLB7eNCLn9f124HJFqiHrYz2c8AXeyGtaP5HRWSxbW2mlXyKnE0eYfMgI2h3sRuvAy0RD6sNZaewg-QMAfhHgzLYhb04kuPEHagjlTwyN5IMvX1ZVGJC-FsZEHknwgSVou6nHjA/s200/D%C3%A1il%20Loan..jpg"/></a></div><br></br>
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<b>We're gonna outdo ourselves this Wednesday, 6th March, 2024, as we're putting together a 27-part post in which letters and telegrams will feature in some of them - communications between a Mr Michael Collins and a Mr Winston Churchill in relation to a part of Ireland abandoned by one but not the other, and correspondence between two 'Prime Ministers of the Empire' in relation to the grubby issue of finance and 'policing' in the occupied area - talk about begging letters and the need to keep sending them...!</b>
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<b>We also came across, in one of our 1920's vaults, details of letters/telegrams between the IRA and the Leinster House Free State administration in which the Republicans didn't hold back, and included a deadline in their script, and a letter sent from one IRA leader to another, querying as to what was going on in one particular area of the country.</b><br></br>
<b>And we have way more than that - as stated, it's a 27-part post, so - hopefully - you'll find something of interest in it for yerself!</b><br></br>
<b>So don't forget 1169 on the 6th for 27...!</b><br></br>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading : see ya on Wednesday, 6th March 2024!</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-66567877726286740982024-02-28T08:11:00.000+00:002024-02-28T08:11:10.266+00:00IRELAND, 1920 - BRITISH ARMY SCAB LABOURERS FOR THE BUSINESS CLASS.<b>ON THIS DATE (28TH FEBRUARY) 224 YEARS AGO : "ON THE BRIDGE OF TOOME TODAY..."</b><br></br>
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<i><b>'O see the fleet-foot host of men, who march with faces drawn,<br></br>From farmstead and from fishers' cot, along the banks of Ban;<br></br>They come with vengeance in their eyes. Too late! Too late are they,<br></br>For young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today...'</b></i> <i>(From <a href="http://www.irish-folk-songs.com/roddy-mccorley-lyrics-and-chords.html">here</a>.)</i><br></br>
<i><b>'Upon Friday last, a most awful procession took place here, namely the execution of Roger McCorley who was lately convicted at a court-martial, to the place of execution, Toome Bridge, the unfortunate man having been born in that neighbourhood.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>As a warning to others, it is proper to observe that the whole of his life was devoted to disorderly proceedings of every kind, for many years past, scarcely a Quarter-sessions occurred but what the name of Roger McCorley appeared in a variety of criminal cases.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>His body was given up to dissection* and afterwards buried under the gallows...thus of late we have got rid of six of those nefarious wretches who have kept this neighbourhood in the greatest misery for some time past...'</b></i><br></br>
<b>- from the 'Belfast Newsletter' newspaper, 4th March 1800</b><i> (*..a 'politically correct' way of attempting to describe what had actually happened - Roddy McCorley's body was removed from the scaffold and, in front of the hundreds of on-lookers, was disembowelled.</i><br></br>
<i>The various parts were swept up and disposed of in a hole under the scaffold, at the rise of the bridge, where those going from Antrim to Derry and back again would be forever minded that such was the fate of those "nefarious wretches" who dared stand up to Westminster.</i><br></br>
<i>Those body parts lay there for fifty-two years)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>However, the British exposed their own 'nefariousness' by presenting McCorley as a common criminal, a 'felon', yet prosecuting him at a military court martial rather than through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assizes_%28Ireland%29">the 'assizes' criminal system</a>, which was where those they considered to be 'common criminals' were given 'justice'.</b><br></br>
<b>Anyway - that same 'newspaper'</b> <i>('The Belfast Newsletter')</i><b> had, one month earlier, published a 'letter to the editor'</b> <i>(signed as being from 'A Christian')</i><b> in which Roddy McCorley was mentioned as being one of</b> <i><b>"..a knot of ruffians, who so lately infested the neighbourhood of Ballymena..(guilty of)..murders of the deepest dye, robberies and burglaries of the most calamitous kind.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>No change there, then, from those pro-British elements in this country - destroy the character first to make it easier to 'destroy' the person.</b><br></br>
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<i>A depiction of the murder of Roddy McCorley, 28th February, 1800 - 224 years ago on this date.</i><br></br>
<b>Roddy McCorley was an Irish republican activist who was active in <a href="http://www.theirishstory.com/2017/10/28/the-1798-rebellion-a-brief-overview/#.WpZf2NSLQrg">1798</a></b> <i>(considered to be "a common rebel", not a leadership figure, and is known to have continued on the fight afterwards until he was captured)</i><b>, a part he would have played even if he had not witnessed his father being put to death by the British for allegedly stealing sheep - the man was one of many hungry Irish 'peasants' murdered by Westminster as an 'example to other Irish troublemakers' : this 'sheepstealer' was a miller by trade, and was proud of his membership of <a href="https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/defenderism">'The Defenders'</a> - after he was 'given justice' by the British, his wife</b> <i>(a Protestant woman, from the McErlean family)</i><b> and children were evicted from their hovel.</b><br></br>
<b>Roddy McCorley was unfortunate enough to be 'arrested', as he attempted to flee the country, in what the 'authorities' called "a clampdown on a notorious band of outlaws" which, they claimed, was led by <a href="https://www.ballymenaguardian.co.uk/news/2021/03/31/gallery/what-connects-hammer-horror-ghostly-tales-a-random-chip-paper-and-the-1798-rebellion-14338/">Thomas Archer</a>, from Ballymena in Antrim, who had left the notorious <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antrim_Artillery">'Antrim Militia'</a>, a proper 'band of outlaws' which had been assembled by Westminster in 1793 to 'put down' any inkling of rebellion by the Irish or, as the British put it - "the horrible and unnatural rebellion" (!)</b><br></br>
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<b>Fifty-two years after he was 'dissected' by the British, his nephew Hugh McCorley found himself in charge of a construction crew who were working on a new bridge across the River Bann, in roughly the same location where the 'common criminal' was put to death in 1800 - he recovered the remains and gave them a proper burial in the graveyard at Duneane Parish, in County Antrim, but left the grave unmarked ; no doubt because he was aware of just what the ghouls in Westminster were capable of.</b><br></br>
<i><b>'The aged persons were telling the tales of bygone feuds and their consequences, and of chiefs who fell victims to their own folly. They were telling of the valiant youths hanged at Toome in those days, and pointed to the very trees on which they had atoned for their rebellious crimes. The young, with the interest peculiar to their years, were listening attentively, and gazed with awe as the stones were removed and the bones presented to view, of him who has been the subject of song, which has kept fresh in his country's memory the events of his short life and his sad end, having been cut down in maturity and vigour of life, before the eyes of those nearest related to him in this world...'</b></i><br></br>
<b>And so it continues to this day - the lives and times of those who stood here before us being relayed to those who will stand here after us.</b><br></br>
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<b>'SINN FÉIN NOTES...'</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>The most urgent need at the moment is to ensure that sufficient funds will be available for the nomination of all 12 candidates and the expenses entailed by publicity during the campaign.</b><br></br>
<b>The Committee urges all Cumann to make an all-out effort to organise committees in every parish throughout the country so that the Ulster people will know when the election takes place that the whole nation is with them in their demand for freedom.</b><br></br>
<b>These committees should consider ways and means of raising money most suitable to their particular district and need not be confined to members of Sinn Féin.</b><br></br>
<b>Local Government Elections :</b><br></br>
<b>Sinn Féin candidates will be nominated for Cork City Corporation, County Council and Urban Councils. Arrangements are being made to hold conventions to select candidates...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>A sad, lonely entry, recorded here for the (internet) record(/'tag') :</b><br></br>
<b>On the 28th February, 1919, a pensioner, Thomas Meehan, died after being struck by a British Army vehicle in Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>We were unable to find out more about the poor man.</b>
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<b>On the 28th February, 1919, a 20-year-old (Canadian) 'Royal' Air Force pilot</b> <i>('54th Squadron')</i><b>, Llyod Lyon, lost his life in Dublin Bay, when his plane fell 9,000 feet.</b><br></br>
<b>Three airplanes had left Chester, in England, to fly to Baldonnell, in County Dublin but, as they neared their target, Mr Lyon's airplane developed engine trouble and he was forced to land in Dublin Bay, where the plane sank.</b><br></br>
<b>It is known that the pilot survived the crash, but drowned afterwards.</b>
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<b>SO, FAREWELL THEN, CELTIC TIGER....</b><br></br>
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<i>It had to happen, sooner or later.</i><br></br>
<i>Most of the pundits and economists were too busy singing the Celtic Tiger's praises to notice, but a few critical observers worried all along about the weaknesses of a boom economy that depended so much on a few companies from one place - the United States.</i><br></br>
<i>By <a href="https://blog.pmpress.org/authors-artists-comrades/denis-ohearn/">Denis O'Hearn</a>.</i><br></br>
<i>From 'Magill' Annual 2002.</i>
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<b>When economic growth continued, the name 'Celtic Tiger' stuck.</b><br></br>
<b>It came to signify a highly successful economic model that other developing countries might want to emulate.</b><br></br>
<b>Yet the usual explanations of Irish economic growth are debatable - most economists say that growth came from restraints on public spending, social partnership agreements that assured wage restraint and flexible labour (a nice term for weak trade unions and no job security), two decades of educating more engineers than we needed, and a generally stable macroeconomic environment.</b><br></br>
<b>EU economists use Ireland to support their orthodox economic mantra : if a country maximises the openness of its trade, gets the macroeconomics right and encourages labour flexibility, it will achieve rapid economic growth.</b><br></br>
<b>They prescribe the same neoliberal medicine for the 'convergence countries' (Spain, Portugal,Greece) and the 'accession countries' (Poland, Hungary, etc).</b><br></br>
<b>The IMF has used Ireland in pretty much the same way as an example for countries of the global South...</b>
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<b>The 1920's in Ireland didn't only see the armed battles continue between Irish republicans and British forces in the country, but ensured that the 'pen and paper' battle between British 'Civil Servants' and Irish republican administration staff intensified, and sometimes armed British soldiers were used as scab labour to replace workers who were on strike.</b><br></br>
<b>This example is from 'The Freemans Journal' newspaper of the 14th July, 1919 -</b><br></br>
<i><b>'FARM-LABOURERS OUT.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Haymaking and Work at a Standstill in Kildare and Meath.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Owing to a dispute between farmers and labourers of Kildare and Meath, about 2,000 of the later are now on strike. Work on the land is accordingly at a stand-still.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The seriousness of the position will be realised now that thousands of acres of hay are in danger of being lost. Women workers, out of sympathy with the men, decline to assist farmers at this work, offers of 2s. an hour providing unavailing. On a farm in the vicinity of the Curragh Camp on Saturday military officers were seen haymaking.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>A load of grains going from Hazelhatch station to a farmhouse was upset on the road by strikers. Pickets from the Transport Union, to which the men belong, are active in the various districts.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Within a radius of 5 miles of Celbridge practically all farm labourers are out. In a few cases employers granted the demands made by the Union. There is presently no prospect of a settlement of the matters in dispute...'</b></i>
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<b>On the 28th February, 1920, labourers at Naas Urban District Council (UDC) went on strike for better pay and working conditions, as did the workers at Naas Waterworks and, once again, British Army scabs were called in - 'Royal Engineers' from the Curragh Camp took over the jobs in the Waterworks.</b><br></br>
<b>In March 1920, the members of Naas UDC issued a strong condemnation of the murder of <a href="https://www.corkcity.ie/en/a-city-remembers-cork-1920-to-1923/interviews/lord-mayor-toms-maccurtain/">Lord Mayor McCurtain</a> in Cork "who was foully done to death because of his life's work and continuous sacrifices on behalf of his country's independence..."</b>
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<b>On the 28th February, 1920, as a group of five armed British Army soldiers were making their way to their barracks in Rushbrooke, 'Queenstown' (Cobh) in County Cork, near the Bunker Hill area, they were approached by another group of men - IRA Volunteers.</b><br></br>
<b>The five soldiers were relieved of their weaponry but, after they handed them over, one of them - a 20-year-old Private, William Henry Newman</b><i> (Number 123987, a member of the 'Sherwood Foresters')</i><b>, from Nottingham, in England tried to run away and was shot by an IRA man, and seriously wounded.</b><br></br>
<b>Private Newman died the next day, at 5.35am, from his wound.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Newman had enlisted in the British Army on the 8th August, 1918, and was 'mobilised' on the 24th of that month, 'serving', at first, with the 51st ('Young Soldier') Battalion Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment.</b><br></br>
<b>He was sent out to France on the 10th March 1919, left Germany on the 28th August 1919 and arrived in Ireland on the 2nd September 1919. His four colleagues were released, unharmed, on that faithful day, as it was only their weapons that the IRA wanted.</b><br></br>
<b>The coroner’s inquest did not return a verdict of 'murder'.</b>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
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<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<b>ROBERT EMMET AND THE IRELAND OF TODAY...</b><br></br>
<i><b>"It is not that we are apostles of hate.</b></i><b></br>
<i><b>Who like us has carried Christ's word of charity about the earth?</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>But the Christ that said, "My peace I leave you, My peace I give you," is the same Christ that said, "I bring not peace, but a sword.”</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>There can be no peace between the right and wrong, between the truth and falsehood, between justice and oppression, between freedom and tyranny. Between them it is eternal war until the wrong is righted, until the true thing is established, until justice is accomplished, until freedom is won.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>So when England talks of peace we know our answer : "Peace with you? Peace while your one hand is at our throat and your other hand is in our pocket?</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Peace with a footpad? Peace with a pickpocket? Peace with the leech that is sucking our body dry of blood?</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Peace with the many-armed monster whose tentacles envelop us while its system emits an inky fluid that shrouds its work of murder from the eyes of men?</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The time has not yet come to talk of peace..."</b></i>
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<b>In late February, 1921, Cork Number 1 Brigade of the IRA give orders to the two City battalions to shoot any British soldiers found out of barracks in Cork City, without regard for whether the enemy soldiers were armed or unarmed or in uniform or in civilian clothes.</b><br></br>
<b>On the evening of the 28th February, the orders were carried out ; between around 7pm and midnight, six enemy combatants were shot dead.</b><br></br>
<b>Private John Beattie of the Hampshire Regiment of the British Army was shot around 7pm on the Infirmary Rd, Private Thomas Wise of the 'Royal Army Service Corps'</b><i> (RASC)</i><b> was shot a little earlier near Grand Parade, Bandsman Albert Whitear and Signaller George Bowden were shot at the corner of Leycester's Lane and Glanmire Road</b> <i>(Bowden died immediately and Whitear died the following day)</i><b> William Gill of the Hampshire Regiment was killed on Patrick's Street and another soldier injured, also around 7pm.</b><br></br>
<b>At about 8.15pm, Corporal Leonard Hodnett of the 'RASC' was shot on the Ballyvolane Road.</b><br></br>
<b>All Volunteers involved returned safely to base.</b>
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<b>On the 28th February, 1921, IRA Volunteers from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd West Cork Brigade</b> <i>(led by Battalion Commandant Jim Hurley)</i><b> ambushed six RIC members near their barracks in Rosscarbery, in County Cork.</b><br></br>
<b>One RIC member - Alfred VG Brock</b> <i> (aged 31)</i><b> from London - was shot in the stomach and died the following morning.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Brock had seven months 'service' with the RIC, and originally worked as a labourer before joining the British Army, which he left for a 'career' with the RIC.</b><br></br>
<b>He 'made a name for himself' at what became known as <a href="http://homepage.eircom.net/~corkcounty/burgatia.html">'The Battle at Burgatia House'</a> where he was particularly 'gung-ho' about carrying out the 'queens writ' in this country and, apparently, some people didn't like the name he had 'made...'.</b>
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<b>On the 28th February, 1921, an IRA Volunteer in the Second Battalion area of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Northern Division </b> <i>(Glencolmcille and Kilcar region of Donegal)</i><b>, Mícheál O h-Ighne/Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh</b> <i> (Michael Heaney)</i><b> was at home when he spotted a gang of British Black and Tans/Auxiliaries in his yard, about to raid his house.</b><br></br>
<b>He knew he was a wanted man and the raiders were coming to kill him, so he escaped from the house, heading for the cover of some sheds beside his home but was shot in the back and killed. </b><br></br>
<b>The 'County Inspector' later claimed that Mícheál O h-Ighne was shot when he pointed a shotgun at the RIC, while other reports state that he was shot by 'a soldier from the British Army's 'Rifle Brigade' who said that he seen him leaving an outhouse with two guns...' </b><br></br>
<b>This brave man is buried in the local Church Graveyard in Glencolmcille, and is the first IRA Volunteer listed on the Donegal 'Republican Roll of Honour'.</b><br></br>
<b>Rest In Peace, Volunteer Ó hÉanaigh.</b>
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<b>On the 28th February, 1921, the body of a man was found dead in a lane at Balreask on the outskirts of Navan, in County Meath. </b><br></br>
<b>He had been shot a number of times by men from the 2nd Meath Brigade, IRA. His name is unknown</b> <i>('Michael O'Brien'?)</i><b>, but he is thought to have been from Scotland -</b><br></br>
<i><b>'As he finished, he dropped dead and fell on his back. I turned him over and took my handkerchief off his wrists. We left the scene, leaving him where he lay...the stranger was found next day. The RIC called on McLoughlin at his place of business and questioned him. He later attended the inquest and identified the body as that of the man who called the previous day and inquired about the IRA. The stranger spoke with a Scottish accent..'</b></i> <i>(...from <a href="http://www.navanhistory.ie/index.php?page=xx">here.</a>)</i><br></br>
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<b>On the 28th February, 1921, Lieutenant Victor Bickersteth Murray, from Newcastle, in England</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>, of the British Army's 'Cameron Highlanders', committed suicide on Spike Island, in County Cork.</b><br></br>
<b>His own people described him as "a 24-year-old veteran of the Great War" who, at the time that he shot himself in the chest, "was temporarily of an unsound mind..".</b><br></br>
<b>In 1921, Spike Island was the largest military prison operated by the British in Ireland</b> <i> (approximately 300 Irish republican prisoners and 900 internees were imprisoned there)</i><b> and Mr Murray, an armed British military operative "of unsound mind" should not have been placed anywhere near other people. He should have been at home, under care.</b>
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<b>IRA Volunteer Richard Boyce was shot dead by a mixed party of British Army soldiers and RIC members for allegedly failing to halt when told to do so at Bawnmore, Ardpatrick, Co. Limerick, on the 28th February, 1921.</b><br></br>
<b>Volunteer Boyce was born at Bawnmore, Limerick, in 1894, and was educated at Broadford National School.</b><br></br>
<b>He joined the Volunteers in 1917 and served with 'B Company', and was an active Volunteer until he was shot down by Crown Forces.</b><br></br>
<i><b>'Always Ready To Serve The Cause Of Irish Freedom'.</b></i><br></br>
<b>Rest In Peace, Volunteer Boyce.</b>
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<i><b>"In accordance with the terms of the Treaty approved by the majority of the Dáil, a meeting of representatives elected for constituencies in Southern Ireland was convened to formally endorse the Treaty and set up the Provisional Government. That Government was duly established.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Dublin Castle has been handed over to it, and the evacuation of the country* by the British forces was begun and is still in progress. It was intended to ascertain the will** of the Irish electorate at the earliest moment, and if this will sustained the Treaty to proceed with the drafting of an Irish *** Constitution.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The leaders of the minority party in the Dáil, however, contended that more time was needed for the electorate to form a correct judgment, and that the Constitution should be published before the election. An agreement to this effect was signed, and in conformity with it I went to London **** with the Minister for Home Affairs and secured that no election will be held during the three months' period agreed upon.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Since the last meeting the Cabinet decided it was advisable to discontinue the Belfast Boycott, with a view to instituting an era of good will with our dissident ***** fellow-countrymen in the North-East.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The object is not yet achieved, but we are hopeful that it will be. The Dáil Departments will function as hitherto until the election. The Provisional Government Departments have been actively functioning in harmony with them, and in the interests of peace and good order will continue to do so..."</b></i><br></br>
<b> - Mr Arthur Griffith</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>, speaking in the Leinster House institution on the 28th February, 1922.</b><br></br>
<i><b>*</b></i> <b> - "the country" wasn't evacuated by British forces then, and they are still here today. In 1922, they were evacuating the Free State, not "the country".</b>
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<i><b>**</b></i> <b> - not "the will" of the people, but</b> <u><b> the fear</b></u> <b>of the people :</b> <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40758888.html">"immediate and terrible war..."</a>.
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<i><b>***</b></i> <b>- "Irish Constitution" ? No, not unless the whole of Ireland had input into it. What Mr Griffith referenced was a Free State Constitution.</b>
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<i><b>****</b></i> <b>- London : the Free State's 'Mother Parliament', where issues effecting Irish politics had to be discussed and approved first.</b>
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<i><b>*****</b></i> <b> - "dissident" meant the same then as it does today - Irish republicans who continue to campaign for a Free Ireland, not just a 'Free State' within Ireland.</b>
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<i>(That speech was delivered to the 'Fourth Session of the Second Dáil' (Day One), 28th February 1922 - more <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1922-02-28/">here</a>.)</i>
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<b>Meanwhile, as Mr Griffith was unpacking his bags after his sojourn to London, a patrol of British <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53912810-the-b-men">'Ulster Special Constabulary'</a> members was attacked by Irish "dissidents" in York Street in Belfast </b> <i> (on the 28th February 1922)</i> <b> – there were no fatalities.</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading.</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-72714355820856864292024-02-25T22:45:00.002+00:002024-02-25T22:45:57.511+00:00'MAKING A NAME' FOR HIMSELF IN IRELAND, IN 1921...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_U8YDW8MNErmxnuFj_XmWlr5P1pyjtg2QqPD_FYmPbsKDflX84ujBZxluHvINCa3AlXayQ38S-Y37tr-89Rg6EtH7QeoZa9N845knmAX7Pw4wzThjkxBSeY7pp5rI_gW5BBYm1lxVg-K5Aj8PJwcJI0VAN2yspgRRRHuBec8W9XvCcY4eWN7ljQ/s499/RIC%20funeral..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_U8YDW8MNErmxnuFj_XmWlr5P1pyjtg2QqPD_FYmPbsKDflX84ujBZxluHvINCa3AlXayQ38S-Y37tr-89Rg6EtH7QeoZa9N845knmAX7Pw4wzThjkxBSeY7pp5rI_gW5BBYm1lxVg-K5Aj8PJwcJI0VAN2yspgRRRHuBec8W9XvCcY4eWN7ljQ/s200/RIC%20funeral..jpg"/></a></div><br></br>
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<b>We're dottin' the 't's' and a-crossin' the 'i's' or whatever on a 15-part post that we're getting ready for Wednesday, 28th February 2024, with one piece highlighting how the newly-minted</b> <i>(!)</i><b> Staters had to have their proposed script approved by Westminster before they could talk about it to Irish republicans!</b><br></br>
<b>And we'll also have a few more words to say about the following -</b><br></br>
<b>The British savagely executed this Irishman and labeled him as "a common criminal" but had already exposed themselves as propagandists in doing so by the manner in which they prosecuted him...</b>
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<b>From the 1900's - this young man, an RAF pilot, was 'flying high' over Dublin, nearing his destination, when his aircraft developed a problem and he was forced to crash land. He wasn't killed in the crash, but...</b>
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<b>1920's in Ireland - these armed British Army soldiers didn't sign up to open, close, adjust and repair 'giant taps' or to maintain crops in the Irish countryside, and probably never seen themselves as union scabs either, but that's what they became...</b>
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<b>In 1921, this RIC man, from England, 'made a name for himself' in one particular engagement with the IRA in Cork, and liked to 'trade' on it until, while out with his colleagues one day, his 'credit' ran out...</b>
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<b>So don't forget us on Wednesday, 28th February 2024 - see y'all back here then!</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading.</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-45787419668476069742024-02-21T11:38:00.000+00:002024-02-21T11:38:07.631+00:00A "WAR" WHEN IT SUITS WESTMINSTER, A 'SKIRMISH' WHEN IT DOESN'T...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1fNx8j5T1YpeJJpqRz9ohqUpf-dcOxEWUbswlAIexvOI2WYlkPE0jnVP5kN14qaZAwk0jihTw0DO_JmwbpEoIPOQO3oupthwjtE_7pmXIXYuiHMDtspZ-Uc_ze19KeaOxit6uNBKNeIwc4gpgqTmZHKhSD_nthr_Ne7qKahuvhOrgGXn7Rp3dA/s306/1919%20,%20FEB%2021ST..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="71" data-original-width="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1fNx8j5T1YpeJJpqRz9ohqUpf-dcOxEWUbswlAIexvOI2WYlkPE0jnVP5kN14qaZAwk0jihTw0DO_JmwbpEoIPOQO3oupthwjtE_7pmXIXYuiHMDtspZ-Uc_ze19KeaOxit6uNBKNeIwc4gpgqTmZHKhSD_nthr_Ne7qKahuvhOrgGXn7Rp3dA/s320/1919%20,%20FEB%2021ST..jpg"/></a></div><br></br>
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<b>On the 21st February, 1919, two-hundred-and-twenty workers went on strike at Fulton's Woolen Mill in Caledon, County Tyrone.</b><br></br>
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<b>The strike was led by Irish republican activist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peadar_O%27Donnell">Peadar O'Donnell</a> and, even though the majority of the workers were unionist, they agreed that unity on the floor of the workplace was needed if they were to improve their pay and conditions.</b><br></br>
<b>The striking workers had joined the 'Irish Transport and General Workers Union' and held their ground for the first few weeks but, slowly, the comradeship splintered to the point that, after about one month, at least ninty of them had reluctantly returned to work, leaving about 130 still on the picket lines.</b><br></br>
<b>The Mill's management then hired scab workers from <a href="https://celt.ucc.ie/published/E900002-003/text022.html">the 'Carsonite Ulster Workers Union'</a> and divided the remaining strikers by offering loyalists on the picket their jobs back.</b><br></br>
<b>The strike collapsed in July 1919.</b>
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<b>'SINN FÉIN NOTES...'</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>Sinn Féin statement re IMRA :</b><br></br>
<i><b>"At a meeting of the National Executive of the 'Irish Monetary Reform Association' held on March 20th, 1955, Mr Liam Bolton, Vice-Chairman</b></i> <i>(sic)</i><i><b>,presiding, the following resolution was proposed by Liam Bolton and passed -</b></i><br></br>
<i>'1. That the National Executive of IMRA is prepared to accept the Constitution of Sinn Féin as issued to the Irish people.</i><br></br>
<i>2. We consider that on the financial issue the social and economic programme of Sinn Féin is not sufficiently specific, but we are prepared as individual members of Sinn Féin through our Cumann to work for full monetary control."</i><br></br>
<b>Northern Elections :</b><br></br>
<b>The Joint Election Committee met at Headquarters on Sunday, 6th March last, and the business of this Committee is to co-ordinate all the activities of the organisation in the election campaign...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>On the 20th January, 1920, a British-proxy semi-political/military grouping, <a href="http://ndl.ethernet.edu.et/bitstream/123456789/12011/1/139.pdf">the 'Dublin Metropolitan Police'</a>, raided Number 4, Oakley Road, in Ranelagh, Dublin</b> <i>('Cullenswood House')</i><b>, where the then IRA Chief of Staff, Richard Mulcahy</b> <i> (pictured, a republican-gamekeeper-turned-Free State-poacher)</i><b> lived.</b><br></br>
<b>The raid was led by DMP Deputy Inspector William Charles Forbes Redmond</b> <i>(who was assassinated by the IRA just over one year later, on the 21st January 1921 ; he was the DMP 'Assistant Commissioner' at the time)</i><b>, believed to be acting on information from a British spy in the IRA, a man named John Charles Byrne (38), from Romford, in Essex, England.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Byrne 'traded' under a fictitious name, 'John Jameson', and was shot dead by the IRA on the 7th March, 1920, on the Ballymun Road in Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>Richard Mulcahy was in the house on that day in January 1920, with Mr Michael Collins, and both would have been caught had it not been for a spy of their own ; a DMP Detective, a Mr James McNamara, heard about the raid as it was being organised and tipped-off one of his IRA contacts, a Mr Tomas Cullen who, along with IRA man Frank Thornton, rushed to Number 4 and got their men off the premises with minutes to spare.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 21st February that year</b> <i>(1920)</i><b>, the DMP raided the house again.</b><br></br>
<b>Richard Mulcahy was there, but managed to escape</b> <i>(dressed in his pyjamas!)</i><b> but the raiders got their hands on IRA documents which, they claimed, contained "complete addresses of 3,000 members of the Dublin Brigade IRA."</b><br></br>
<b>But, whether or not they had those details, it didn't prevent the Dublin IRA from <a href="https://www.theirishstory.com/2016/08/31/the-dublin-brigade-ira-1917-1921/">defending itself</a> and its people against the British forces in Dublin, and Ireland.</b>
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<b>SO, FAREWELL THEN, CELTIC TIGER....</b><br></br>
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<i>It had to happen, sooner or later.</i><br></br>
<i>Most of the pundits and economists were too busy singing the Celtic Tiger's praises to notice, but a few critical observers worried all along about the weaknesses of a boom economy that depended so much on a few companies from one place - the United States.</i><br></br>
<i>By <a href="https://blog.pmpress.org/authors-artists-comrades/denis-ohearn/">Denis O'Hearn</a>.</i><br></br>
<i>From 'Magill' Annual 2002.</i>
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<b>It is time to reassess the Celtic Tiger.</b><br></br>
<b>Two crucial questions bear examination ; the first is whether a Celtic Tiger could have ever been sustainable, and the second - and far more important question - is what are the social consequences of Irish growth or stagnation?</b>
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<b>At the end of the 1980's the future of the southern Irish economy did not look good ; the economy was stagnant, unemployment was higher than anywhere in the European Union except possibly Spain, and the State was one of the most indebted in the world.</b><br></br>
<b>Socially, things appeared to be going from bad to worse as the State compounded economic miseries with an austerity programme that shut down or cut back many facilities for the poorest sections of the population.</b><br></br>
<b>By 1994, however, the economic growth rate rose to six per cent. </b><br></br>
<b>It was so high by EU standards that an article in <a href="https://www.morganstanley.com/">Morgan Stanley's 'Euroletter'</a> asked whether Ireland was now a Celtic Tiger, after the high-growth tiger economies of East Asia...</b>
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<b>On the 21st February, 1921, a six-person RIC foot patrol was making its way, in single file, through the town of Maynooth, in County Kildare, at about 10pm, when they came under fire from an IRA Unit.</b><br></br>
<b>RIC 'Sergeant' Joseph Hughes (34), from Rathaspick, Wolfhill, near Ballylinan, in County Laois, fell to the ground, wounded, as his fellow gunmen ran for cover, firing as they went. The gun battle lasted for about ten minutes, after which the IRA withdrew from the scene.</b><br></br>
<b>The IRA Volunteers, from the Kilcock and Leixlip Companies, used shotguns, rifles and revolvers in the attack, hoping to replenish their stock with RIC weapons which, unfortunately, didn't happen this time.</b><br></br>
<b>RIC member Hughes worked as a miner as a 15-years-young youth, and then got a job as a postman, but joined the RIC in 1909, at about 23 years of age ; the bullet wound that he received that night killed him - the round hit him in the right jaw and exited at the back of his head.</b><br></br>
<b>That IRA operation had been planned by Paddy Mullaney, a national schoolteacher from Leixlip, in County Kildare, who had been appointed Officer Commanding of the 1st Kildare Battalion IRA in November 1920.</b><br></br>
<b>The inquest into the shooting found that RIC member Hughes had been killed "by armed rebels".</b>
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<b>On the 21st February, 1921, 'The Freeman's Journal' newspaper announced that British forces in the area had released a 'proclamation'</b> <i>(signed by a Colonel-Commandant PCB Skinner)</i><b> stating that fairs and markets in the districts of Bagnalstown, Carlow and Castledermot would not be going ahead due to the IRA attacks on roads and bridges in those areas.</b><br></br>
<b>The reason for such 'proclamations' was two-fold : to limit themselves as targets on 'Fair Days' and to try and turn the people against the IRA as 'instigators of the trouble caused'. </b><br></br>
<b>But, as a tactic, it failed, as the Movement went <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/truce-and-treaty-how-the-ira-stepped-up-its-campaign-against-crown-forces-in-1921-1.4556105">from strength to strength.</a></b>
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<b>On the 21st February, 1921, The IRA carried out an ambush on members of the Devonshire Regiment in Friary Street in Kilkenny City.</b><br></br>
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<b>But the operation wasn't a success : IRA Volunteers Thomas Hennessy was shot dead and Michael Dermody died of his wounds on the 4th March </b> <i>(having been shot by Private Harley Turner and Lance Corporal Ernst Higgins, respectively)</i><b>, and a civilian, Tom Dollard, was shot dead by a British Army soldier, who claimed he thought Mr Dollard was an IRA man.</b>
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<b>On the 21st February, 1921, <a href="https://www.dib.ie/biography/greenwood-sir-hamar-a3610">'Sir' Hamar Greenwood</a> </b><i>(pictured)</i><b> delivered a speech in the British 'House of Commons' during which he stated that elections to the</b> <i> (British spawned)</i><b> Dublin and Belfast political administrations would be held within two months, and also declared that "the 'Government of Ireland Act'</b> <i>(which <a href="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/irish-partition/">partitioned Ireland</a>)</i><b> provides for the political unity of Ireland..."</b> <i>(!)</i><b>.</b>
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<b>Mr Greenwood's colleagues, who disagreed with any type of 'United Ireland' sentiment from anyone, soon made their 'esteemed friend' aware of what they thought of his utterances : eight Conservative British Government Coalition MP's 'crossed the floor'</b> <i> (ie refused to support the 'Government of Ireland Act')</i><b>, seven Liberal British Government MP's voted against their own administration, and eighty-eight of them showed their annoyance by abstaining from voting.</b><br></br>
<b>Poor Hamar was hammered!</b>
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<b>A shop owner in Rosslea, in County Fermanagh, a Mr George Lester, was well known locally as a 'bully boy', a loud mouth, and carried that attitude with him as he put on his 'Ulster Special Constabulary' ('USC') uniform to 'safeguard the Union' ; he was known to actually issue threats to Catholic children and adults, using his 'USC' membership and uniform as a 'shield'.</b><br></br>
<b>His constant attempted terrorising of local Catholic children and adults brought him to the attention of the local IRA Unit who, in a letter to him, advised him to calm down, but it didn't work - he continued treating the same demographic in the same manner.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 21st February, 1921, as he was opening up his shop for business, the IRA shot him, only wounding him - a warning to stop his bullying behaviour.</b><br></br>
<b>It was because of his hatred for Catholics that he was popular with his 'USC' colleagues and a gang of them assembled that same evening to 'avenge' the shooting of their friend ; the 'Specials' and their <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/irish-historical-studies/article/abs/ulster-volunteer-force-and-the-formation-of-the-36th-ulster-division/9644ADD960ED47A4E597A3E25F475E9A">UVF</a> colleagues drove into the village of Roslea, attacked and looted the priest's house, and burned down at least ten houses in which Catholics lived.</b><br></br>
<b>During their attack on the village, a 'USC' member, Samuel Finnegan, used the butt of his rifle to break open a house door but the weapon discharged, killing him instantly.</b><br></br>
<b>A few weeks later, in a single night, the IRA targeted about 16 houses where 'Specials' lived and killed three of them.</b><br></br>
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<b>In February, 1921, acting on information supplied to them, the British Crown Forces dismantled an IRA arms dump in Cork and removed the weapons that were stored in it.</b><br></br>
<b>An investigation by the IRA concluded that a Mr John Sheehan, from Kanturk, in County Cork, had given the location of the arms dump to the British and further inquiries revealed that he had briefed his mother not to open the door as it could be "the Sinn Feiners come for me...".</b></br></br>
<b>On the night of the 21st February 1921/early morning of the 22nd, the IRA took him in for questioning and he was shot dead by them in early March. His body was discovered on the 21st March</b> <i>(1921)</i><b> with a notice beside it -</b> <i><b>"Spies, Traitors, Informers ; associate with the Military, Police and Black and Tans in Kanturk, you will be listed. Beware. IRA".</b></i><br></br>
<b>The IRA issued a statement saying -</b> <i>"During March 1921 a spy was found guilty of giving information to the enemy and was executed by members of the Kanturk Battalion".</i>
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<b>On the 21st February, 1921, The 'Judge Advocate General' of the British Army, a Mr Felix Cassel, wrote to the British Secretary of State for War*, a Mr Laming Worthington-Evans, voicing concern about the death sentence that was pronounced on an Irish rebel, Seán Allen</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>, the previous month</b> <i>(January 1921)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Seán, from Bank Place in Tipperary, was a member of the Tipperary No.3 Brigade IRA and was convicted of possession of a revolver on the 19th January, 1921. Five of his comrades</b> <i>(Timothy McCarthy, Thomas O'Brien, Daniel O'Callaghan, John Lyons and Patrick O'Mahony)</i><b>, who were captured after <a href="http://homepage.eircom.net/~corkcounty/dripsey.html">the Dripsey ambush</a>, were also sentenced to death by the British.</b><br></br>
<b>The 'Execute' ruling had been referred to the British 'High Court' to determine its legality, but that 'court' washed its hands of any responsibility in declaring that it had</b> <i><b> "...no power to interfere with the findings of a military court while war* was being waged.."</b></i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 28th February, 1921, all six Irish rebels were executed in the 'Military Detention Barracks' in Cork City by the British.</b><br></br>
<b>The IRA instructed its Volunteers to shoot any British Army soldiers that they came across in Cork, and twelve British Army men</b> <i>(some in plain clothes)</i><b> were shot, of whom six died from their wounds.</b><br></br>
<i>(</i><b>*</b><i> - when it suited Westminster, it was a "war" it was fighting against the IRA, and when it suited them, it wasn't : it was 'a skirmish against terrorists...')</i>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s1438/Beir%20Bua!.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1044" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s200/Beir%20Bua!.jpg"/></a></div> <b>The Thread of the Irish Republican Movement from The United Irishmen through to today.</b><br></br>
<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<i><b>'WHY WE WANT RECRUITS'.</b></i><br></br>
<i>(Padraic H. Pearse, May 1915.)</i><br></br>
<i><b>"We do not anticipate such a moment in the very near future, but we live at a time when it may come swiftly and terribly.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>What if Conscription be forced upon Ireland?</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>What if a Unionist or a Coalition British Ministry repudiate the Home Rule Act?</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>What if it be determined to dismember Ireland?</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>What if it be attempted to disarm Ireland?</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The future is big with these and other possibilities.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>And these are among the reasons why we want recruits."</b></i>
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<b>ROBERT EMMET AND THE IRELAND OF TODAY.</b><br></br>
<i>(Padraic H. Pearse ; an address delivered at the Emmet Commemoration in the Aeolian Hall, New York, March 9th, 1914.)</i><br></br>
<i><b>"We who speak here to-night are the voice of one of the ancient indestructible things of the world. We are the voice of an idea which is older than any empire and will outlast every empire.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We and ours, the inheritors of that idea, have been at age-long war with one of the most powerful empires that have ever been built up upon the earth ; and that empire will pass before we pass. We are older than England and we are stronger than England. In every generation we have renewed the struggle, and so it shall be unto the end.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>When England thinks she has trampled out our battle in blood, some brave man rises and rallies us again ; when England thinks she has purchased us with a bribe, some good man redeems us by a sacrifice.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Wherever England goes on her mission of empire we meet her and we strike at her : yesterday it was on the South African veldt, today it is in the Senate House at Washington, tomorrow it may be in the streets of Dublin.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We pursue her like a sleuth-hound ; we lie in wait for her and come upon her like a thief in the night : and some day we will overwhelm her with the wrath of God..."</b></i>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font><br></br>
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<b>The 1922 Ard Fheis of the Sinn Féin organisation was a somewhat testy affair, understandably, as some of the roughly 2,500 delegates present had already decided to accept <a href="https://rsf-kildare.blogspot.com/2011/12/treaty-of-surrender-and-its-legacy.html">the 'Treaty of Surrender'</a> and were about to side with the British in fighting against the IRA and Irish Republicanism.</b><br></br>
<b>In the hope of remaining civil to each other at the Ard Fheis, both sides present agreed to abide by three rules -</b><br></br>
<i><b>'1. That no election would be held in next three months.</b></i> <br></br>
<i><b>2. That that the Dáil</b></i> <i>(elected as a 32-County body)</i><i><b> would continue to function as before the Treaty.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>3. That a new Constitution would be put to the people at same time as they would be asked to vote on the Treaty.'</b></i><br></br>
<b>One of the pro-Treaty delegates, a <a href="https://www.dib.ie/biography/mccullough-denis-a5636">Mr Denis McCullough</a>, spoke about "their people in the North (who) were being murdered day by day" which, if anything, the Treaty he supported was going to prolong! </b><br></br>
<b>There were about 300 delegates present from Ulster, and they implored the Ard Fheis to "maintain unity", with the majority of those present assuming that the new Constitution would be republican in character </b> <i>(which it wasn't)</i><b>, if not in spirit</b> <i>(which, again, it wasn't)</i><b>.</b>
<b>In relation to 'Number 1', above, the author <a href="https://thestandwitheamondunphy.com/guest/diarmaid-ferriter/">Diarmaid Ferriter</a> was later to wisely opine that</b> <i>"...three months was a long time to allow events to drift.."</i><br></br>
<b>And, unfortunately, things have "drifted" ever since, for all, except traditional Irish republicans.</b><br></br>
<i>(More about the 1922 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis <a href="https://www.creativecentenaries.org/on-this-day/meeting-of-the-ard-fheis">can be read here</a>.)</i>
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<b>On the 21st February, 1922, the 'Irish Labour Party' held a conference at which it's secretary, Tom Johnson</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> welcomed the 'Treaty of Surrender' but condemned the pro and anti-Treaty sides in Sinn Féin, which is not really surprising as what passes for a <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/06/22/labour-party-ran-publicity-stunts-and-mishandled-certain-policy-decisions-while-in-government-secret-report-finds/">'Labour Party'</a> here has not only never been a republican organisation but has, and is, a pro-State, pro-capitalism, anti-republican collection of individuals wanting to feather their own nests.</b><br></br>
<b>Well-suited for 'careers' in Leinster House, in other words.</b>
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<b>In late January 1922, the Free Staters began to change Irish society to suit their new 'respectable' image and, among other dispositions, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Republican_Police">the IRA Police</a> were disbanded and a new</b> <i>(26 County)</i><b> 'Civic Guard' was established.</b><br></br>
<b>The first commissioner of the new 'police force' was Michael Staines, from County Mayo, the first recruit was Patrick Joseph Kerrigan, also from Mayo, and the first serving member was Patrick McAvinia, from County Cavan. We've no idea on whose shoulders the first republican head they cracked rested.</b><br></br>
<b>And it has been <a href="https://www.rabble.ie/2014/07/14/a-garda-greatest-hits-parade/">all down hill</a> since then<a href="https://www.sundayworld.com/crime/irish-crime/arrests-made-as-dublin-gardai-accused-of-extorting-cash-from-foreign-delivery-drivers/a1807958117.html">...</a></b>
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<b>On the 21st February, 1922, the British Army barracks in Ennis, County Clare, was vacated by the foreign soldiers, as was the RIC Barracks in Ennis</b> <i>(on the 25th February)</i><b>, and both buildings were taken over by the IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>The vacated 'Ordnance Survey Building' in Ennis was abandoned by British civil servants and Free Staters, under the command of Michael Brennan</b> <i>(a republican-gamekeeper-turned-Free Stater)</i><b> took it over.</b><br></br>
<b>In July that year</b> <i>(1922)</i><b>, the IRA were forced by the Staters to abandon both buildings, but torched them on exiting and, with both buildings no longer serviceable, the Staters had to rough-up a headquarters for themselves in the Corofin Workhouse</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>!</b>
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<b>On the 21st February, 1922, the IRA raided the house of former British Army officer, Leslie Huddlestone, at the Cairn, Ramelton, in County Donegal, looking for arms and ammunition.</b><br></br>
<b>2nd Lieutenant Joseph Duffy</b> <i>(from Milford, in County Donegal)</i><b>, D Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Northern Division of the IRA was in charge of the operation and, while attempting to gain entry to the house, the hall door was opened from the inside and one shot was fired - the bullet hit Lieutenant Duffy in the heart, killing him instantly.</b><br></br>
<b>The IRA later released a statement confirming that 2nd Lieutenant Joseph Duffy </b> <i><b>"...was engaged in an official raid for arms when he was shot and killed.."</b></i>
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<b>On the 21st February, 1922, British Army General Nevil Macready wrote a letter to 'Sir' Laming Worthington-Evans</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>, the British Secretary of State for War, in which 'the Irish situation' was mentioned.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Macready stated to Mr Worthington-Evans that it was his belief that</b> <i><b>"...it is quite possible that (Michael) Collins and company will have to fight for their lives, not only with the ballot boxes, but also with automatics and rifles.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>And sure no doubt he would have supplied Collins' Crew with more weapons with which to do so again...</b>
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<b>ON THIS DATE (21ST FEBRUARY) 48 YEARS AGO : IRISH REPUBLICAN 'BURIED' BY FREE STATERS UNDER SIX FEET OF CONCRETE.</b><br></br>
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<i><b>'Frank Stagg was the seventh child in a family of thirteen children, born at Hollymount near Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, in 1942. Stagg was educated to primary level at Newbrooke Primary School and at CBS Ballinrobe to secondary level. After finishing his education, he worked as an assistant gamekeeper with his uncle prior to emigrating from Ireland to England in search of work. In England, Frank was employed as a bus conductor and later qualified as a bus driver. In 1970 he married Bridie Armstrong from Carnicon, Co Mayo.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>He joined Sinn Féin in Luton in 1972 and shortly afterwards joined the IRA. Frank remained in touch with home and spent his annual holidays in Hollymount up to the year of his arrest and imprisonment in 1973.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>In the words of his mother, "he never forgot he was Irish..." '</b></i> <i>(From <a href="https://stairnaheireann.net/2016/10/04/1942-birth-of-frank-stagg-proinsias-stagg-in-co-mayo/">here</a>.)</i><br></br>
<b>Frank Stagg had begun his fourth (and final) hunger strike in late 1975 - having been convicted under the notorious 'British Conspiracy Laws' - as it was the only 'weapon' he had at his disposal with which to impress on his British captors his desire to be repatriated to Ireland.</b><br></br>
<b>He died, blind and weighing just four stone, in Wakefield Prison on 12th February 1976, after 62 days on hunger strike.</b><br></br>
<b>His remains were hijacked by suited, uniformed and armed members of the State, acting under orders from FS Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and his 'Justice' Minister, Paddy Cooney - the airplane carrying his coffin was diverted from Dublin to Shannon and, when it landed, the Special Branch surrounded it and forcibly removed the coffin and buried it, supported by an armed escort, under six feet of concrete in Leigue Cemetery in Ballina, County Mayo, in a grave purchased by the Free Staters and which was located about 70 meters from the Republican Plot in that cemetery ; on that day - Saturday, 21st February, 1976, 48 years ago on this date - the Requiem Mass was boycotted by almost all his relatives.</b><br></br>
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<b>For the following six months, armed State operatives maintained a heavy presence in the graveyard to prevent Irish republicans from affording Frank Stagg a proper burial but they were not the only group keeping a watch on the grave : the IRA were aware of their presence and, after the Staters withdrew, the IRA made their move : on the night of the 5th of November, 1976, the IRA disinterred Frank Stagg's remains and reburied them with his comrade, Michael Gaughan.</b><br></br>
<b>When questioned in Leinster House about this sordid affair, its 'Director', Paddy Cooney, stated -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"The persistent attempts by members of an unlawful organisation and their associates to exploit the situation that arose are well known and, indeed, notorious. Because of this and because also of certain obligations of confidentiality, I must decline to make any comment on the question of the choice of burial place.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>The "question of the choice of burial place" was, thankfully, not one that was left to Cooney and his thugs to decide.</b><br></br>
<b>Frank Stagg, aged 33, had three funerals and two burials. One funeral had no body and one burial was done in darkness.</b><br></br>
<b>In his final message to his comrades in the Republican Movement he wrote :</b><br></br>
<i><b>"We are the risen people, this time we must not be driven into the gutter. Even if this should mean dying for justice. The fight must go on. I want my memorial to be peace with justice."</b></i><br></br>
<b>That objective has still to be obtained and those in Leinster House, Stormont and Westminster are still working against it, still pouring 'concrete' on Irish republicanism.</b><br></br>
<b>Shame on them.</b>
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<b>On the 21st February, 1923, the IRA in Dublin carried out an economic operation against the Free State when they attacked and burnt down State and business premises in Nassau Street, Upper Gardiner Street and Lower O'Connell Street : in one attack, on a State income tax office, a civil servant, Peter Carney, was fatally injured when the office in which he worked was set on fire.</b><br></br>
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<b>About seventy-five Volunteers were involved in the operation, but six of them were captured by the Staters.</b><br></br>
<b>One of those captured, Volunteer James O'Rourke, from 1 Upper Gloucester Street in Dublin, was put on a Free State Army 'Wanted' list for his part in that operation, as he had to defend himself from armed Staters in Dame Street on the 21st, during the economic operation and, on the 13th March that year</b> <i>(1923)</i><b> the Staters put him to death.</b><br></br>
<b>A Free State Army report released after his execution stated that Volunteer James O'Rourke</b> <i><b>'..had been tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for his role in the IRA attack on National Army</b></i> <i>(sic)</i><i><b> members at Jury's Hotel, Dublin, on 21 February 1923 and for having in his possession arms and ammunition without proper authority...'</b></i><br></br>
<b>What the Staters described in that statement as "proper authority" was, in fact, permission granted to them by Westminster, and still is to this day...</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading.</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-10024651373293944412024-02-18T23:48:00.003+00:002024-02-19T10:28:42.963+00:00IRELAND, 1920 - WHEN TWO SPIES WORK SUCCESSFULLY AGAINST ONE ANOTHER...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjHaUeJA9rJpcaEPS-EZj66JYCtJtVBrS-1fMVkCpdytXb9IRfy_D3J1ZPt49r8gz2k4HitjbgxsPNX69QENEfeeOOWb5Egkla_67ORMGaadAoqNnoNS-OyN4LdTzwU6WBjA1OOj7rxpyepUuETYWDF_kwDWaG7OogB6pb5VrcFkXvD39rsHPkQ/s1071/Sinn%20F%C3%A9in%20Ard%20Fheis%201922..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="1071" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjHaUeJA9rJpcaEPS-EZj66JYCtJtVBrS-1fMVkCpdytXb9IRfy_D3J1ZPt49r8gz2k4HitjbgxsPNX69QENEfeeOOWb5Egkla_67ORMGaadAoqNnoNS-OyN4LdTzwU6WBjA1OOj7rxpyepUuETYWDF_kwDWaG7OogB6pb5VrcFkXvD39rsHPkQ/s200/Sinn%20F%C3%A9in%20Ard%20Fheis%201922..jpg"/></a></div><br></br>
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<b>We're putting the finishing touches to a 20-part post for Wednesday, 21st February 2024, in which we'll be mentioning loads of interesting stuff</b> <i>(!)</i><b>, including the following...</b><br></br>
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<b>From 1922 - two high-ranking British politicians holding a discussion in which 'the Irish problem' is mentioned : one of them voices fear for Michael Collins and his administration in the Free State, declaring that "the ballot box" may not be enough to defeat the Irish rebels...</b>
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<b>This Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in the 1920's proved, as expected, to be a somewhat lively affair, so 'rules of engagement' were agreed by the two different sides present. No blood was actually spilt, but it was a 'loud' meeting...</b>
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<b>Westminster remains adamant to this day that there never was a "war situation" in Ireland in relation to their military and political 'presence' (!) here- rather it was, according to themselves, a "peace-keeping" exercise/mission against "terrorists". But this 1921 letter between their 'War Cabinet' declares otherwise...</b>
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<b>A house raid in Dublin by pro-British forces in 1920 which was set-up by a British spy within the IRA and foiled by an IRA spy in the British camp...!</b>
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<b>...so don't have us doing all this work and putting the effort in, and then not botherin' yer barney to check back with us. 'Cause if ya don't show up here on Wednesday, 21st February 2024, we'll send the boys around, righ'...?!!</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading : see yis all on the 21st</b></i> <i>(...or else..)</i><i><b>!</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-51678720679615415022024-02-14T00:29:00.000+00:002024-02-14T00:29:50.651+00:00FROM 1921 - 'ANTI-SINN FÉIN SOCIETY' MEMBERS PAID A VISIT...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6ruicnFaDhz-yTyup5RKm1F3ZDCXu6Kyc0QxeJg_aAZ_SjgHWrO-3y7v_TW8mKHk42yOj3LrXvznSwLEzDSfSV3xL1v7kScH2Xt1jBJSUDYi4CZM5AtS0r1_jw-CzZdmQjC12MvAGGz5-GQ2J3GWFfPr5oYeRBE0I8H_x9P0wWSEBu6DCPi1jA/s307/14TH%20FEBRUARY%201919,.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="74" data-original-width="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6ruicnFaDhz-yTyup5RKm1F3ZDCXu6Kyc0QxeJg_aAZ_SjgHWrO-3y7v_TW8mKHk42yOj3LrXvznSwLEzDSfSV3xL1v7kScH2Xt1jBJSUDYi4CZM5AtS0r1_jw-CzZdmQjC12MvAGGz5-GQ2J3GWFfPr5oYeRBE0I8H_x9P0wWSEBu6DCPi1jA/s320/14TH%20FEBRUARY%201919,.jpg"/></a></div><br></br>
<br></br><b>On the 14th February, 1919, word began to circulate in Maddenstown, the Curragh, County Kildare, and surrounding districts, of a shooting that had happened the previous day.</b><br></br>
<b>It wasn't long before bad news was confirmed : a local man, in his 40's, a Mr Patrick Gavin, who worked for about 15 years as a farmhand for a Mr Moore, from the townland of Tully, was driving a bullock to a market at the Newbridge Fair when he was shot dead by a British soldier.</b><br></br>
<b>The British Army soldier, a Private Arthur Gay from the 'Duke of Wellington Regiment', was one of three soldiers on sentry duty when, he claimed, he was attacked by Mr Gavin, who was carring a stick. His two armed colleagues were elsewhere</b> <i>(!)</i><b> when Private Gay "was attacked by Patrick Gavin" and, when the two of them arrived at the scene</b> <i>(!)</i><b>, they said, Mr Gavin was dead from a gunshot wound.</b><br></br>
<b>At the 'inquest', the jury</b> <i>(!)</i><b> stated that perhaps only more experienced soldiers should be placed on sentry duty, and then discharged Private Arthur Gay from the 'court'.</b><br></br>
<b>Case closed.</b>
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<b>'SINN FÉIN NOTES...'</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>GLASGOW...</b><br></br>
<b>Weekly concerts and dancing competitions are held at various centres, and a commemoration will be held at the grave of Thomas Brady, former chairman</b> <i>(sic)</i><b> of the Cumann, on Easter Sunday and, that same night, a concert will be held in aid of <a href="https://republicansinnfein.org/cabhair/">An Cumann Cabhrach.</a></b>
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<b>NEW CUMANN.</b><br></br>
<b>New Cumann have been formed during the past month in Carrickmacross, in County Monaghan, in Galway City, Carlow, and Hilltown, in County Down.</b><br></br>
<b><a href="https://www.dib.ie/biography/lennon-james-a4791">'IRISH MONETARY REFORM ASSOCIATION'</a> JOINS SINN FÉIN.</b><br></br>
<b>We are very glad and proud to welcome into our organisation the members of the 'Irish Monetary Reform Association'. The following statement has been released to the press for publication...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>On the 14th February, 1920, at least 120 armed IRA Volunteers, led by Eoin O'Duffy</b> <i> (pictured - a republican gamekeeper-turned Free State poacher)</i> <b> armed with a dozen rifles, twenty revolvers and about thirty shotguns, made their move to capture their first RIC barracks in Ulster at Ballytrain, County Monaghan.</b><br></br>
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<b>The barracks housed between about six and ten armed RIC members and those inside were ordered by the IRA to surrender - they refused the offer - but accepted same soon after when an explosion caused a large hole to appear in the gable wall of the building </b><i>(...courtesy of some gelignite liberated from Monaghan County Council builders yard!)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Any weapons and ammunition on the premises were taken by the IRA and the RIC members were released.</b><br></br>
<b>It has been recorded that, among the IRA Volunteers who took part in that attack were Ernie O'Malley, Dan Hogan, Seamus McKenna, Terry Magee, James Flynn, Phil Marron, P J Daly, John Donnolly, Thomas Donnelly, Patrick McDonnell, Charles Walton, Barney Marron and Patrick McCabe, and first aid was given to any of the RIC members who were injured in the explosion.</b><br></br>
<b>However, within about one month of that raid for arms, most of those who took part were 'arrested' by British forces but, by then, the liberated weapons had been dispersed to other IRA Units.</b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtsJ9RflvTPcEE4M_yrJJSCRH6Ez2Bv8rZwQJQwV5_PSZSJRojT4aa-YTSF9ENhEUSgkNF5suHy2cZSMwfzJ3fytuc9Ivcpi93gobhY0S4PNn5FpHgDGVHpZYsMEzrDMyXInUV0RczRY7RdVwReW1GkxyCJolWRWiuL7aTn-1nenSa3TSmpycJw/s585/Funeral%20of%20Diarmuid%20Hurley%20IRA..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtsJ9RflvTPcEE4M_yrJJSCRH6Ez2Bv8rZwQJQwV5_PSZSJRojT4aa-YTSF9ENhEUSgkNF5suHy2cZSMwfzJ3fytuc9Ivcpi93gobhY0S4PNn5FpHgDGVHpZYsMEzrDMyXInUV0RczRY7RdVwReW1GkxyCJolWRWiuL7aTn-1nenSa3TSmpycJw/s200/Funeral%20of%20Diarmuid%20Hurley%20IRA..jpg"/></a></div><i>The funeral of IRA Commandant Diarmuid Hurley.</i><br></br>
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<b>On the 14th February, 1920, an IRA Unit under the instruction of Commandant Diarmuid Hurley captured an RIC Barracks at Castlemartyr, in County Cork.</b><br></br>
<b>Commandant Hurley was killed by enemy forces on the 28th May, 1921</b> <i> (funeral pic, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/clonmult/photos/a.1267686529926085/4624007324293972/?type=3">more information here</a>)</i><b> -</b><br></br>
<i><b>'In the month of September, so charming,<br></br>
It is well I remember the day,<br></br>
Five thousand, in order, were marching,<br></br>
How sadly our bands did play.<br></br>
<br></br>
After Diarmuid's remains,<br></br>
Whose blood flowed in streams,<br></br>
When he fought for old Ireland and you,<br></br>
In that dear sainted plot, he will ne'er be forgot,<br></br>
Where he sleeps with his comrades so true...'</b></i><br></br>
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<b>On the 14th February, 1920, Mr Michael Ensko, a 26-year-old shoemaker by trade, from Drumbiggle in County Clare, died after being hit by a British Army lorry. He left behind a wife, Bridget, and two daughters, Bridget and Teresa.</b><br></br>
<b>RIP.</b>
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<b>On the 14th February, 1920, the 'Buttevant Soldiers Home' in Buttevant, County Cork, which was attached to Buttevant British Army Military Barracks, went on fire, and the Attendant of the premises, who slept there, a lady named Ella Constance Wood, died in the fire.</b><br></br>
<b>The British military and political leadership held an 'inquest' on the same day</b> <i>(14th)</i><b>, an unusual development, and agreed on the wording for the 'Certificate of the Fact of Death' - "shock caused by burning". </b><br></br>
<b>If the fire had been considered to be other than accidental</b> <i>(ie arson)</i><b> the inquest would not have been held so quickly, I presume?</b>
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<b>On the 14th February, 1920 </b><i> (...this shooting has also been stated to have occurred on the 17th and the 25th, but our sources continue to list it as having happened on the 14th)</i><b>, a Mrs Ellen Morris</b> <i>(aged 61 and a mother of 15 children)</i><b>, who lived in Ballagh, near Gorey, in County Wexford, was disturbed in her house by six armed men.</b><br></br>
<b>The men were looking for any weapons that might have been in the house, as one of her sons was in the British 'Royal Army Service Corps' and, for his own safety and that of his family, would probably have kept a firearm, or firearms, in the house.</b><br></br>
<b>The woman of the house got to her feet, grabbed a spade and went for one of the men with it ; he shot her dead.</b><br></br>
<b>One of the residents in the house wanted to leave to get a priest, but was told to stay put. When they had finished their business, the IRA told the residents not to leave the house for two hours - the six men then left.</b><br></br>
<b>Later that year</b> <i>(1920)</i><b> thirteen men were brought to 'trial' over the shooting and one of them, John Lacy (18), admitted firing the shot but said that it was not intentional.</b><br></br>
<b>An RIC man, who was 'working the case', had collected statements but he was shot dead before he could present his 'evidence'. John Lacy pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received 18 months in prison with hard labour.</b>
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<b>SO, FAREWELL THEN, CELTIC TIGER.</b><br></br>
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<i>It had to happen, sooner or later.</i><br></br>
<i>Most of the pundits and economists were too busy singing the Celtic Tiger's praises to notice, but a few critical observers worried all along about the weaknesses of a boom economy that depended so much on a few companies from one place - the United States.</i><br></br>
<i>By <a href="https://blog.pmpress.org/authors-artists-comrades/denis-ohearn/">Denis O'Hearn</a>.</i><br></br>
<i>From 'Magill' Annual 2002.</i>
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<b>As long as the historic US economic boom continued, the Irish economy could grow on its back.</b><br></br>
<b>But once the boom ended - and it went on much longer than anyone could have imagined a decade ago - the possible consequences for Ireland should have been obvious.</b><br></br>
<b>Now the boom is over, and the US is heading into a recession that will undoubtedly be deepened by the fallout from September 11th. North Americans, they say, will stop travelling and stop buying.</b><br></br>
<b>The southern Irish economy, which was humming along at ten per cent growth, already seemed headed for two straight quarters of zero growth, even before the attacks. That is some people's definition of a recession.</b><br></br>
<b>Only last year top economists were predicting rapid economic growth for at least another five years. Now people are beginning to ask what happened - and what will happen...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>On the 1st February, 1921, an informer named Thomas Bradfield (56), from Knockmacool, Willsgrove, in County Cork, was shot dead by the IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 14th February, 1921, at about 2am, two men from <a href="https://www.mayobooks.ie/Spies-Informers--Anti-Sinn-Fein-Society-Intelligence-War-Cork-John-Borgonovo-Irish-Academic-Press">the 'Anti-Sinn Féin Society'</a> broke into the Coffey family home in Breaghna, Desertserges, in County Cork, and quickly opened the locked front door, where about ten 'off duty' British Army soldiers </b> <i> (from the 'Essex Regiment') </i><b> and various Black and Tans were waiting.</b><br></br>
<b>Two young men in the house, James (24) and Timothy Coffey (23), who both lived in Breaghna, County Cork, both IRA Volunteers</b> <i> ('Numbers 66 and 67' on a 'hit list' of 168 names compiled by the British, from information supplied to them by informers)</i><b> were dragged from their beds, taken outside, and marched away.</b><br></br>
<b>They were forced into a near-by field</b> <i>(farmed by a neighbour, a Mr O'Donoghue)</i><b> where they were beaten and interrogated about the shooting dead of the informer Bradfield.</b><br></br>
<b>The two brothers, Jim and Tim Coffey, were then shot dead.</b><br></br>
<b>The two men who had broken into the house were tracked down and the West Cork IRA later released a statement - "Two members of the ('Anti-Sinn Féin Society') gang were arrested, court-martialed and shot without delay".</b>
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<b>In February, 1921, RIC member John Carroll arrived in the village of Ballywilliam, County Wexford, to visit his father.</b><br></br>
<b>After his visit, he disappeared.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 14th February, his blindfolded body was found in a field near Nenagh, in County Tipperary ; he had been shot in the head by IRA Volunteers under the command of Michael McCormack</b><i> (an IRA GHQ organiser)</i><b>.</b>
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<b>His family were told by the IRA that they would pay a visit to the man of the house and his three other sons if there were any reprisals but, soon after, a Mr Denis Hayes </b> <i>(a cousin of the Carrolls)</i><b> had his house burned down ; rumour had it that Mr Hayes had tipped-off the IRA that RIC member John Carroll would be in Ballywilliam, visiting his family.</b><br></br>
<b>But, </b> <i>codladh an ghioria</i><b>, on the 12th June the following year</b> <i>(1922)</i><b>, the Carroll house was burned down, and a Mr Patrick Carroll was shot dead.</b>
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<b>On the 14th February, 1921, the 'General Officer Commanding' of the 5th Division of the British Army, 'Sir' Major-General Hugh Sandham Jeudwine</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>, wrote to the 'General Officer Commanding' of the British Army in Ireland, General Nevil Macready</b> <i> (the last in a long line of 'Commanders of the British Army' in Ireland)</i><b> and opined that martial law should be imposed on the whole country as this</b> <i><b>"...would substitute for the present divided control by military and police (and) under martial law, the extreme penalty should be relentlessly enforced for levying war, or carrying or using guns.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Mr Jeudwine was an effective military operative but is said to have 'earned a reputation for unpopularity'. He died on the 2nd December, 1942, aged 80, in Surrey, in martial law-free England.</b>
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<b>John O'Leary (33), an ex-British Army soldier, was shot dead by members of the 2nd Battalion, Cork Number 1 Brigade, IRA, near his home at 30 Gerald Griffin Avenue in Cork City, on the 14th February, 1921</b> <i>(NOTE - other dates given for this shooting are the 12th and 15th February)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>His active military 'career' was brought to an end after he lost a leg in 'World War 1', and he then took up a position with British Army Captain Campbell Joseph O’Connor Kelly</b><i> ('OBE, MC, MM'!)</i><b> in the 'Intelligence (6th) Division' in the British Army's Victoria Barracks in Cork.</b><br></br>
<b>Four IRA Volunteers, dressed in plainclothes, stopped him about a hundred yards from his house and asked to see his documents, and he showed them his barracks pass. After having confirmed his identity, he was shot three times and died of his wounds three days later in the North Infirmary Hospital, in Cork.</b><br></br>
<b>Michael Murphy, Commander of the Second Battalion of the Cork No. 1 Brigade, IRA, later recalled the liquidation of British Army Captain Kelly's associates :</b> <i><b> "Captain Kelly was in charge of the British intelligence system here. He had six intelligence officers on his staff. Each of them was wiped out one after the other..."</b></i>
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<b>On the 14th February, 1921, James Charles Beale</b> <i>(an Englishman married to a Sarah Blemens)</i> <b> was shot dead by the IRA in the Wilton area of Cork.</b><br></br>
<b>Sarah Blemens father and brother</b> <i>(James and Frederick)</i><b> had been kidnapped and shot in November 1920 by the IRA, who stated that they were members of an anti-Sinn Féin organisation with connections to the <a href="https://rebelstreetscork1919-1923.blogspot.com/search?q=YMCA">Cork YMCA</a> and Cork <a href="http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/3rd-june-1922/5/sinn-fein-rule-in-ireland-attacks-upon-freemasons">Freemasons</a>.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Beale worked as a manager at the Woodford and Bourne Company in Patrick's Street in Cork, a grocers and wine merchants and, as he left work on the 14th at about 6pm and made his way home, he was intercepted by Jeremiah Keating and John Horgan from 'G Company', 2nd Battalion, Cork Number 1 Brigade IRA, and driven to the Wilton area of the city and shot dead. </b><br></br>
<b>A placard stating -</b> <i><b> 'Convicted Spy. The penalty for all those who associate with the Auxiliary Cadets, the Black and Tans, and the RIC. IRA. P.S. Beware'</b></i> <b> was attached to his body.</b><br></br>
<b>It is thought that the IRA had acquired information on those three men through details which they came across from mail bag grabs, which they had in their possession.</b><br></br>
<b>The IRA stated that they were watching</b> <i><b> "...the approaches to College Road. We spotted Beale as he was crossing Southgate Bridge en route to his home. We got revolvers, picked up Beale and brought him by car to the Wilton district, where he was shot...we found in his possession papers giving valuable information relating to the spy organisation with which he was connected.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>In our opinion the shooting of Beale broke the back of the anti-IRA-Sinn Féin organisation in Cork City. As a result of disclosures which came to light in the papers found on Beale, members of his organisations were picked up by other IRA Companies in the city and suitably dealt with. This had a discouraging effect on the Anti-Sinn Fein League which faded out, thus removing a serious threat to the Cork IRA..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>James Charles Beale's name appears in the 'Compensation Commission Register'</b> <i>(dated 14th February 1921)</i><b> with the notation -</b> <i> 'Agreed 50/50' split on liability between British and Irish. Compensation of £900 was awarded. His widow Sarah Beale was awarded compensation of £3,250, and his children Matilda and Ross of Southsea in Portsmouth in England were granted compensation of £900..'</i>
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<b>Between the 13th and the 14th of February, 1921, the IRA trenched roads in South Kildare, Booleigh and Kilmeade, felled trees across roads at Mullaghmast and between Bolton Hill and Castledermot and from Kilkea to Castledermot, to slow down enemy movement.</b>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
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<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<i><b>'WHY WE WANT RECRUITS'.</b></i><br></br>
<i>(Padraic H. Pearse, May 1915.)</i><br></br>
<i><b>"We want recruits because we have work for them to do. We do not propose to keep our men idle. We propose to give them work — hard work, plenty of work. We would band together all men capable of working for Ireland and give them men’s work.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We want recruits because we are able to train them. The great majority of our officers are now fully competent to undertake the training of Irish Volunteers for active service under the conditions imposed by the natural and military facts of the map of Ireland. Those officers who are not so competent will be made competent in our training camps during the next few months.</b></i>
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<i><b>We want recruits because we are able to arm them. In a rough way of speaking, we have succeeded already in placing a gun and ammunition therefor in the hands of every Irish Volunteer that has undertaken to endeavour to pay for them. We are in a position to do as much for every man that joins us.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We may not always have the popular pattern of gun, but we undertake to produce a gun of some sort for every genuine Irish Volunteer ; with some ammunition to boot.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Finally :</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We want recruits because we are absolutely determined to take action the moment action becomes a duty. If a moment comes — as a moment seemed on the point of coming at least twice during the past eighteen months – when the Irish Volunteers will be justified to their consciences in taking definite military action, such action will be taken..."</b></i>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font><br></br>
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<b>On the 14th February, 1922, a British Army Lieutenant, John Hubert Wogan-Browne</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>, was buried in Naas, in County Kildare.</b><br></br>
<b>He had been shot in the head on the 10th February during an IRA fund-raising operation in Kildare Town, when a British Army regimental payroll was targeted outside 'The National Bank'.</b><br></br>
<b>The money was being carried by the British Army man ; the IRA knew there would be between £135 and £500 in cash in his possession, but he fought with the Volunteers to hold on to the money.</b><br></br>
<b>Michael Collins was, at that time, in command of the newly-spawned Free State Army and, on hearing of the shooting, he contacted Mr Winston Churchill
and assured him that he would do all in his power to bring those IRA Volunteers to justice, as any good servant would do, and told him that his men would assist the RIC and the British Army in finding those who had carried out the robbery and the shooting.</b><br></br>
<b>Then, on the 13th February, Mr Collins telegrammed Mr Churchill to inform him that three IRA Volunteers had been 'arrested for the crime' -</b> <i><b>"Have just been informed by telephone that we have captured three of those responsible for the attack on Lieutenant Wogan-Browne. Everyone, civilian and soldier, has co-operated in tracking those responsible for abominable action. You may rely on it that those whom we can prove guilty will be suitably dealt with..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Mr Collins had somewhat placated his political and military mentors in Westminster with his 'we will pursue them' statement and, later, done the same in his own country - no trial was ever held, no-one was imprisoned for the robbery or the shooting. Disgraceful that he had ever placed himself in the position where he had to turn on his own countrymen and women to please the British.</b>
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<b>On the 14th February, 1922, British Army Field-Marshall 'Sir' Henry Wilson</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>, who was on the verge of retiring from his position as 'Chief of the Imperial Staff'</b> <i>(!)</i><b> suggested to Winston Churchill and his 'British Cabinet Committee on Ireland' that "nothing could solve the Irish problem</b> <i>(sic)</i><b> except re-conquest..."</b><br></br>
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<b>Mr Churchill 'compromised' with both men and their 'suggestions' - he sent three (more) battalions of British soldiers to patrol and secure their imposed border in Ireland!</b>
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<b>ON THIS DATE (14TH FEBRUARY) 103 YEARS AGO : IRA MAN WHO REFUSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESCAPE WAS DECLARED 'GUILTY' BY HIS BRITISH CAPTORS AND THEN EXECUTED.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTBJmGZKUnPszcGoY-bPhzU5fJfPDWOmARsi87DD59ClFwdpZwcczE1077qDVkjAtdcb-AGMf4LlKH2PkQjjYGfUTrNgiSEXXEaRjHhz-qYicTZf0ekpbIE3obvzZkfSDIGBxLA/s1600/patrick-moran-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTBJmGZKUnPszcGoY-bPhzU5fJfPDWOmARsi87DD59ClFwdpZwcczE1077qDVkjAtdcb-AGMf4LlKH2PkQjjYGfUTrNgiSEXXEaRjHhz-qYicTZf0ekpbIE3obvzZkfSDIGBxLA/s200/patrick-moran-photo.jpg" /></a></div><i>IRA Volunteer Patrick Moran (pictured): </i><i><b> "I don't want to let down the witnesses who gave evidence for me..."</b></i><br></br> <b> - the words of Patrick Moran, Adjutant of D Company Irish Volunteers, 2nd Battalion (Dublin), to his comrades <a href="https://www.dib.ie/biography/omalley-ernest-bernard-ernie-a6885">Ernie O'Malley</a></b> <i>(who had passed himself off to the British as 'Bernard Stewart')</i> <b> and <a href="http://kilmainhamtales.ie/resources/Escape%20-%20Frank%20Teeling.gif">Frank Teeling</a> as they were about to walk to freedom through a gate in Kilmainham Jail in Dublin, which they had forced open, on the 14th of February 1921 - 103 years ago on this date.</b><br></br>
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<b>Patrick Moran believed he would be found innocent at his 'trial' and saw no reason why he should take the opportunity to escape.</b><br></br>
<b>He was a 'dangerous man', as far as Westminster was concerned, and had been imprisoned in Dublin Castle on the 7th of January 1921 and charged with the 'murder' of two British Army/paramilitary gang members, Ames and Bennett, after been mistakenly identified as having been involved in the shooting dead of both men - Lieutenant <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24652199/peter-ashmun-ames">Peter Ashmun Ames</a> and British Army Lieutenant <a href="https://www.dublin-fusiliers.com/cairo-gang/bennett.html">George Bennett</a></b> <i> (both of whom were in command of 'The Cairo Gang')</i> <b> on the 21st of November 1920 at 38 Upper Mount Street in Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>Patrick Moran stayed behind on the night of the prison break ,refusing to take part in same, having encouraged <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Donnelly_(Irish_republican)">Simon Donnelly</a> to go in his place, a decision which was was to cost Patrick Moran his life.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 15th of February 1921, he was put on 'trial'</b> <i>(during which sixteen people and an RIC man verified he was elsewhere!)</i> <b> but was, as expected, found 'guilty' and, three days later - on the 18th of February 1921 - he was transferred to Mountjoy Jail, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>On Wednesday, 9th of March 1921, Patrick Moran was sentenced to death and he was executed by hanging five days later, on Monday, the 14th of March.</b><br></br>
<b>He had defended the integrity of his country in Jacob's Factory Garrison during Easter week in 1916, where he served under <a href="https://todayinirishhistory.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/mcdonagh.gif">Thomas MacDonagh</a>, and had been imprisoned at Knutsford and Woorwood Scrubs in England, and in Frongoch Internment Camp in Wales.</b><br></br>
<b>He was one of <a href="http://homepage.tinet.ie/~eirenua/2001/sep01/saoirse4.htm">'The Forgotten Ten'</a> in that he, and his nine comrades, were 'forgotten' by the State but have always been remembered by <a href="http://republicansinnfein.org/">the Republican Movement</a>.</b><br></br>
<b>Finally, the planning and execution of the escape itself is worthy of a few paragraphs : On the 11th February 1921, Frank Teeling and Ernie O'Malley were joined in Kilmainham Jail by Simon Donnelly, who was taken into their confidence and told of the up-coming plan of escape. The peep-holes in the cell doors were three inches in diameter and, if one of the men could get his arm through it, it would be possible to open the door from the outside.</b><br></br>
<b>The plan then was to make their way to the yard, as the men had noticed that the door leading from the prison to the yard was usually left closed-over, but not locked, and then cross the yard to a large iron gate on the west side of the jail, cut the bolt on it and escape.</b><br></br>
<b>A 'Plan B' had been made in case the bolt cutter should fail - IRA Volunteers from 'F' Company, Fourth Battalion, Dublin Brigade, would take up positions outside the prison wall with a rope ladder and, awaiting an agreed signal, throw in the rope attached to the ladder, so that the prisoners could haul the ladder over to their side of the wall.</b><br></br>
<b>Oscar Traynor</b> <i> (on the left, <a href="http://historyhub.ie/assets/Irish_rev_part_9_960.jpg">in this photograph</a>)</i><b>, IRA Dublin Brigade O/C, had secured a bolt cutter and that, along with two revolvers, were packaged and smuggled into the prison by a friendly British soldier. The prisoners were not sure that the bolt cutter would be up to the job but were determined to carry out the escape plan, as Frank Teeling was in line for execution ; on the night of February 13th, 1921, the three men made their way to the outer prison gate but, as the handles of the bolt cutter were incorrectly fitted, they were unable to cut the bolt.</b><br></br>
<b>They went to 'Plan B', and gave the signal for their comrades on the other side of the prison wall to throw in the rope attached to the ladder - the rope jammed on top of the wall and snapped when the men outside attempted to pull it back to them. The three prisoners had no alternative but to return to their cells.</b><br></br>
<b>The following day, the 14th February, 1921, the British soldier who was in on the plan repaired/adjusted the handles on the bolt cutter and, that night, at 6.30pm, the three prisoners decided to make another escape attempt.</b><br></br>
<b>The three Irish republican prisoners again made their way down to the gate and, this time, the bolt cutter worked. They used butter and grease, which they saved from their meals, to help ease the remaining portion of the corroded bolt out from its latch and two of the men got their revolvers at the ready as the third man pulled on the heavy door which creaked open sluggishly on its rusty hinges and the three men walked out!</b><br></br>
<b>Simon Donnelly had tried to persuade Patrick Moran to join them, but Moran - who was not involved in shooting Ames or Bennett, and had what he considered the perfect alibi for that night - refused to leave the prison except by the front gate as a free man.</b><br></br>
<b>Patrick Moran paid with his life for relying on British justice : as stated above, on Wednesday, 9th of March 1921, Patrick Moran was sentenced to death and he was executed by hanging five days later, on Monday, the 14th of March.</b><br></br>
<b>Not the first innocent man to be put to death by the British, and not the last Irish person to be punished by them in revenge.</b><br></br>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading.</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-27922534777292567042024-02-12T21:28:00.001+00:002024-02-12T21:28:43.283+00:00FROM 1922 - BRITISH ARMY FIELD-MARSHALL OFFERS A COMPROMISE...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCgVMkAzUNg3aJ7uLNUKVOY6EouY5CqWjvJOKbuoopYqKyRL_uEZ7KsfuHk0711ukcM_upoaOTHBNpKWNkEBT51XpVl2Vb_G3DWXfzXv40ZLv8SZEMlXWig5vjkYpMjWxV1kGuIziUMqKJZF6QYI13arDVf9ZWCf8kr-4Cm9ah00m-_7O0gwRAw/s1524/%27Specials%27..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCgVMkAzUNg3aJ7uLNUKVOY6EouY5CqWjvJOKbuoopYqKyRL_uEZ7KsfuHk0711ukcM_upoaOTHBNpKWNkEBT51XpVl2Vb_G3DWXfzXv40ZLv8SZEMlXWig5vjkYpMjWxV1kGuIziUMqKJZF6QYI13arDVf9ZWCf8kr-4Cm9ah00m-_7O0gwRAw/s320/%27Specials%27..jpg"/></a></div><br></br>
<b>From 1921 - three members of this extended family were shot by the IRA for their anti-republican activity, which led to some public unease in the areas where they lived.</b><br></br>
<b>Then paperwork came to light which exposed the actions of the three men and pinpointed their political allegiance, and named others who felt as they did...</b>
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<b>From 1922 - Michael Collins confirmed to Churchill in Westminster that he would capture the IRA Volunteers that had killed a British Army Lieutenant in Ireland and bring them to justice, but...</b>
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<b>...and speaking of Mr Churchill, the poor man had other Irish-related issues on his plate : his own people wanted him to militarily invade the Free State!</b>
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<b>This imprisoned IRA man had the opportunity to escape from British custody, and had the means to do so, but decided to stay where he was. It was a bad call - he barely lived long enough to regret it...</b>
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<b>It being</b> <u><b> St Valentine's Day</b></u><b> on Wednesday, 14th February 2024 </b> <i>(...yeah, that's right, lads - forget it at your peril..!)</i> <b>we're putting together 18 pieces about Irish men and women that had real desire, attraction and love...for their country, that is, and we write about how they expressed those emotions.</b><br></br>
<b>So there ya have it - breakfast in bed, and a fair bit of reading</b> <i>(four sample pieces above)</i><b> to be gettin' on with, on Wednesday, 14th February 2024. Just make sure you don't get yer toast crumbs on the page. </b><br></br>
<b>Or else...!</b><br></br>
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<br></br><i><b>Thanks for reading - see yis on Wednesday 14th!</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-59948239523869872762024-02-07T12:48:00.000+00:002024-02-07T12:48:05.193+00:00CHECKING BOOTS AND BATONS WHEN A SHOT RANG OUT...<b>ON THIS DATE (7TH FEBRUARY) 84 YEARS AGO - WESTMINSTER EXECUTES TWO IRA VOLUNTEERS.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="https://11sixtynine.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/ca080-banrnes-mccormick2bira2b1940.jpg" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" src="https://11sixtynine.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/ca080-banrnes-mccormick2bira2b1940.jpg?w=300" width="200" height="129" /></a></div><i>James McCormack (aka 'James Richards') was born in Mullingar in County Westmeath in 1910, and he joined a unit of the IRA in Tullamore, County Offaly, the same county where his comrade, Peter Barnes, was born - in the town of Banagher, in 1907.</i><br></br>
<i><b>'I have the honour to inform you that the Government of the Irish Republic [32 counties], having as its first duty towards its people the establishment and maintenance of peace and order here, demand the withdrawal of all British armed forces stationed in Ireland. The occupation of our territory by troops of another nation and the persistent subvention here of activities directly against the expressed national will and in the interests of a foreign power, prevent the expansion and development of our institution in consonance with our social needs and purposes, and must cease.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The Government of the Irish Republic believe that a period of four days is sufficient notice for your Government to signify its intentions in the matter of the military evacuation and for the issue of your Declaration of Abdication in respect of our country. Our Government reserves the right of appropriate action without further notice if upon the expiration of this period of grace, these conditions remain unfulfilled...'</b></i> <b>- IRA ultimatum to the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, 12th January, 1939. </b>
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<b>Thirteen days later - on Friday, the 25th August</b> <i> (a few days before Hitler's German army invaded Poland)</i><b> - an IRA man from Cork, Joby O'Sullivan, was strolling through Broadgate, in Coventry, wheeling a push bike, on his way to a police station. The bike repeatedly got stuck in tram tracks on the road and, frustrated, he removed it from the road and propped it up against a wall.</b><br></br>
<b>The bike had an armed bomb in the basket that was fixed to the handlebars, which had been wired up to an alarm clock timer, which was set for about 2.30pm. He left it there, and walked away. The five-pound bomb exploded prematurely, killing five people and injuring dozens more - it was one of about 150 IRA bombing incidents in England at that time, targeting infrastructure such as electricity stations, post offices, gas stations and government buildings.</b><br></br>
<b>Not long after the explosion, Peter Barnes</b> <i>(who was in London on the day of the explosion)</i><b> was arrested at the lodgings he was staying in and, three days after that, James McCormack</b><i> (aka 'James Richards')</i><b> was pulled-in along with the other tenants of the house he was staying in. The 'trial' began in December (1939) and both men were convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. Throughout the court case, James McCormack remained silent until he told the court -</b> <i><b>"As a soldier of the Irish Republican Army, I am not afraid to die, for I am dying in a just cause."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Peter Barnes stated to the court -</b><i><b> "I would like to say as I am going before my God, as I am condemned to death, I am innocent, and later I am sure it will all come out that I had neither hand, act or part in it. That is all I have to say."</b></i><b> In his last letter</b> <i>(to his brother)</i><b> he wrote -</b> <i><b> 'If some news does not come in the next few hours all is over. The priest is not long gone out, so I am reconciled to what God knows best. There will be a Mass said for us in the morning before we go to our death. Thank God I have nothing to be afraid of. I am an innocent man and, as I have said before, it will be known yet that I am.'</b></i><br></br>
<b>In the last letter he ever wrote, James McCormack said -</b> <i><b> "This is my farewell letter, as I have been just told I have to die in the morning. As I know I am dying for a just cause, I shall walk out tomorrow smiling, as I shall be thinking of God and of the good men who went before me for the same cause."</b></i> <i> (That letter was addressed to his sister, as both of his parents were dead.)</i><br></br>
<b>In Winson Green Prison, Birmingham, at 8.50am on Wednesday, 7th February 1940 - 84 years ago on this date - the two men received a final blessing. Minutes later they walked together to the scaffold and were hanged by four executioners.</b><i>(...short video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm_HLv_D1P8">here</a>, in relation to those two men, and a few paragraphs re Jimmy Steele...)</i><br></br>
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<b>One of the few Irish republicans to be charged by Westminster with "treason felony"</b> <i> (an archaic charge originally devised for John Mitchel, the Young Ireland leader, in 1848)</i><b> Jimmy Steele, who was born in Belfast on the 8th August, 1907, lived his life as a soldier, writer and poet, and devoted his 63 years in this world to the Republican Movement and the cause of Irish freedom.</b><br></br>
<b>At the age of 12, he joined Na Fianna Éireann and was active with his young comrades in assisting the Volunteers in his own area, the New Lodge Road, during the Tan War. Following the Treaty of Surrender in December 1921, and the split in the Movement, Steele remained true to his republican principles and, in the early 1920's, he joined the IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>Arrested twice - in 1923 and 1924 - he was held for several months in Crumlin Road Jail. Following his release later that year and the freeing of the internees in 1925, he assisted with the re-organising of the IRA and NFÉ in Belfast. On the 25th April 1936, while attending an IRA court-martial in connection with the abortive Campbell College raid in December 1935, at the rooms of the Craobh Rua Club at Crown Entry in Belfast, Steele and most of the Belfast Battalion Staff were 'arrested' by British forces.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 29th May 1936, he was charged with 'treason felony' and, along with twelve others, was found guilty and sentenced to five years penal servitude in Crumlin Road Jail.</b><br></br>
<b>Released in May 1940, he reported back to the Army leadership and continued on as before.</b><br></br>
<b>While 'on the run', he married Anna Crawford, a member of Cumann na mBan who came from a staunch republican family ; unfortunately, married life in freedom was to be short-lived - the following December he was re-arrested and sentenced to ten years in jail. In January 1943, along with Patrick Donnelly, Ned Maguire and Hugh McAteer, Steele escaped from Crumlin Road Jail.</b><br></br>
<b>Despite a reward of £3000 being offered by the Stormont administration for his capture and his photograph being displayed throughout the Six Counties, he reported back for active service and was appointed Adjutant of the Northern Command Staff IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>He figured in two major operations during his brief period of freedom : in March 1943, along with Liam Burke and Harry White, he organised and assisted in the escape of 22 IRA Volunteers from Derry Jail and, in April 1943, he participated in the Broadway Cinema operation on the Falls Road when armed Volunteers took over the cinema and stopped the film while Steele and McAteer went on stage and read a statement from the IRA Army Council.</b><br></br>
<b>The two men finished off the nights entertainment for the packed cinema by reading the 1916 Proclamation!</b><br></br>
<b>By May 1943, Steele was back in jail, this time sentenced to twelve years. When he was released in September 1950, he was the last republican prisoner of that era to be freed, leaving Crumlin Road Jail empty of political prisoners for the first time since partition. During the following years, Steele edited two Belfast newspapers - 'Glor Uladh' and ' Resurgent Ulster', and was the main author of two books published by the National Graves Association - 'Antrim's Patriot Dead' and 'Belfast Patriot Graves'.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 21st December 1957, following the beginning of the IRA's Border Campaign, internment was once more introduced in the Six Counties and Steele was among the 167 republicans interned in Crumlin Road Jail - he was released three years later and reported back to the IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>He was an outspoken opponent of the policies being pursued by the leadership of the Republican Movement and, in an oration at the re-interment of the remains of Peter Barnes and James McCormick at Mullingar, County Westmeath, in July 1969, he severely criticised the leadership and in particular the running-down of the IRA. </b><br></br>
<b>Within six months</b> <i>(January 1970)</i><b> the inevitable split in the Republican Movement occurred and, following 'the parting of the ways' Jimmy Steele, a member of the IRA's Belfast Brigade Staff and the Provisional Army Executive</b> <i> (a position he held until his death)</i><b> was active in Belfast re-organising and re-arming IRA units to defend nationalist areas from attack by Orange mobs backed-up by the B-Specials and RUC.</b><br></br>
<b>A founder member of ' Republican News' in June 1970, the four-page weekly paper under the editorship of Steele soon had a circulation of 15,000 copies per week. Jimmy Steele was Editor of that 'paper when he died on the 9th August, 1970, at 63 years of age : more than twenty of those 63 years were spent in jail.</b><br></br>
<b>Steele by name, and Steele by nature - hard to break.</b>
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<b>On the 7th February, 1919, the British war ship HMS Hyderabad</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>, a 'Q' ship, specially designed with a shallow draught that would allow a torpedo to pass underneath it, was on a'goodwill visit' to Dublin.</b><br></br>
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<b>A ship worker</b> <i>(a 'stoker')</i><b>, 'Royal' Navy Reserve man Arthur William Young, from Yorkshire, fell overboard from the vessel at Alexandra Basin in Dublin Port, and drowned.</b><br></br>
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<b>'SINN FÉIN NOTES...'</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>CORK...</b>
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<b>CUMANN BRIAN DIOLUN.</b><br></br>
<b>The activities of the Brian Dillon Cumann, Cork, augur well for the future of the organisation in the St Patrick's Parish area of the city.</b><br></br>
<b>In order to form a common basis on which discussions could be held, it was decided that all members of the Cumann should read certain passages from books by Padraic Pearse and other notable writers, and then hold a general discussion.</b><br></br>
<b>This is to be recommended strongly as the Cumann can derive immense benefit from such discussions.</b><br></br>
<b>TIPPERARY.</b><br></br>
<b>The Nenagh Cumann held a special general meeting on Tuesday, 8th February. Arrangements were made to intensify the drive to spread the organisation into adjoining areas.</b><br></br>
<b>Paddy McLogan presided at the meeting which was very enthusiastic, and the out-going Officer Board was re-elected for a further 12 months.</b>
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<b>GLASGOW.</b><br></br>
<b>The Connolly Sinn Féin Cumann, Glasgow, has its headquarters at 150 Gorbals Street, and its membership is showing a steady increase...</b><br></br>
<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>On the 7th February, 1920, a house in Cloncurry, County Kildare, was surrounded by a patrol from the British 'police force' in Ireland, the RIC, who were supported by their comrades in the British Army.</b><br></br>
<b>The house belonged to, and was lived in, by a widow woman, a Mrs Ennis, who was told by the invaders that they were searching for 'a fugitive (political) offender..' </b><br></br>
<b>The poor woman heard later that two other small houses nearby</b> <i>(belonging to a Mr John Feeney and a Mr Tom Harris)</i><b> were also intruded on that night, and a local graveyard was 'searched'</b> <i>(desecrated)</i><b> by the same gang of marauders.</b>
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<b>On the 7th February, 1920, a group of RIC members were huddled around the open fire in their barracks in Moyne, County Tipperary, making preparations to go out and terrorise the locals.</b><br></br>
<b>Some of them would have been checking their boots and their batons, while others were checking and cleaning their guns, getting ready for the 'sport' when, suddenly, a shot rang out.</b><br></br>
<b>The RIC members ducked, dived and ran for cover, the 'Night Guard' didn't know which way to jump, and the sleeping RIC members woke with the noise and stumbled out to the day room to see what was happening. Except for a 'Constable' Edward Mulholland (32), a 15-year 'veteran' and "a powerfully built Sligo man", who "reeled and collapsed" near the fire - he had been shot in the back.</b><br></br>
<b>It transpired that one of RIC member Mulholland's colleagues had been cleaning his revolver when it went off, killing RIC man Mulholland, and ending that 15-year terror spree.</b>
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<b>ON THIS DATE (7TH FEBRUARY) 177 YEARS AGO : 'THE LIBERATOR' FINALISES HIS PLEA TO WESTMINSTER - 'ONE IN FOUR WILL DIE UNLESS YOU HELP...'</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCoEsBopjv9dvnhVq1BfqvBGuZDautdSmNiLyq_GqZXTzxPaMqom20uzWeqjpmb0GNLTOwPgvhrRZGhTEbvBJ9bkmr7glkiopiKQKJSoAggMmxYWjOxu1DzIYHvqDlZ0hg0jhyw/s1600/O%2527+CONNELL..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCoEsBopjv9dvnhVq1BfqvBGuZDautdSmNiLyq_GqZXTzxPaMqom20uzWeqjpmb0GNLTOwPgvhrRZGhTEbvBJ9bkmr7glkiopiKQKJSoAggMmxYWjOxu1DzIYHvqDlZ0hg0jhyw/s200/O%2527+CONNELL..jpg" width="124" height="200" /></a></div><b>On the 7th February 1847, the then 72-year-old 'Liberator', Daniel O'Connell</b><i> (pictured)</i><b> put the final touches to his last speech in the British 'House of Commons' : his words were in connection with the so-called 'Irish famine'</b><i> <a href="http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/why-we-should-call-it-the-great-hunger-and-not-the-irish-potato-famine">(attempted genocide)</a></i><b> and, in it, he stated -</b> <i><b>"Ireland is in your hands and in your power. If you do not save her, she cannot save herself. And I solemnly call on you to bear in mind what I am telling you now in advance, something of which I am absolutely certain, that one out of every four of her people will soon die unless you come to her aid..."</b></i><br></br> <b>The use of the term 'famine', in this instance, is a misnomer if ever there was one - </b> <i><b>'In the early summer of 1845, on the 11th September of that year, a disease referred to as blight was noted to have attacked the crop in some areas. In that year, one third of the entire crop was destroyed. In 1846, the crop was a total failure. This report came from a Galway priest - "As to the potatoes, they are gone – clean gone. If travelling by night, you would know when a potato field was near by the smell. The fields present a space of withered black stalks..." Though 1847 was free from blight, few seed potatoes had been planted...yet the country was producing plenty of food. As the Irish politician, Charles Duffy wrote: "Ships continue to leave the country, loaded with grain and meat." As food was scarce people would eat anything such as nettles, berries, roots, wildlife, animals, dogs and cats in order to survive...'</b></i> <i>(from <a href="https://www.ego4u.com/en/read-on/countries/ireland/great-famine">here</a>.)</i><br></br>
<b>O'Connell was to plead with Westminster to save the people of Ireland who were being decimated by sickness and disease, caused by a lack of nourishment, and request that, instead of building roads and other such infrastructure, the money available for same should be used to encourage the Irish to cultivate the soil to plant oats and barley etc and, eventually, a 'compromise' (of sorts) was arrived at - cheap Indian corn was brought into Ireland, for the people, sometimes on the same ships that, when unloaded, would then be loaded again with Irish-produced oats and barley - 'cash crops', according to the landlords, for export, not for home consumption!</b><br></br>
<b>The imported 'corn' was considered by the Irish to be a type of animal feed, the grain of which was so tough as to cause great pain and, even at that, the amount of it imported was inadequate for the number of people in need.</b><br></br>
<b>Daniel O'Connell died, age 72, in Genoa, Italy, 13 weeks after his February 1847 speech and, as he requested, his heart was buried in Rome and the remainder of his body was buried in Glasnevin, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>Father Ventura of the Theatine Order delivered the oration, during which he stated -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"My body to Ireland – my heart to Rome – my soul to heaven : what bequests, what legacies, are these! What can be imagined at the same time more sublime and more pious than such a testament as this! Ireland is his country – Rome is the church – heaven is God. God, the Church and his country – or, in other words, the glory of God, the liberty of the Church, the happiness of his country are the great ends of all his actions – such the noble objects, the only objects of his charity! He loves his country and therefore he leaves to it his body; he loves still more the Church and hence he bequeaths to it his heart ; and still more he loves God, and therefore confides to Him his soul! Let us profit then, of this great lesson afforded by a man so great – a man who has done such good service to the Church, to his country, and to humanity..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>It was on this date - 7th February - 177 years ago that Daniel O'Connell finalised his last speech to the British 'House of Commons', which he delivered the next day.</b>
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<b>In the 1920's in Ireland, the IRA hindered enemy movement by felling trees, destroying bridges and digging trenches across roads.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 7th February, 1921, local men were filling-in one such road trench either because it didn't suit them to have the road trenched or because they didn't want the British forces inconvenienced.</b><br></br>
<b>The IRA happened upon the scene, in Cooraclare, County Clare, and fired a few shots in the general direction of the civilian 'road workers' to scare them off but one of them, a Mr Patrick Falsey (24) was hit, and died that same evening.</b><br></br>
<b>Poor compensation for Mr Falsey's family, I know but, after some public pressure, his father received £700 in compensation from the British 'authorities'.</b>
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<b>On the 7th February, 1921, three wanted IRA men were captured by the RIC in Kilfennora, in County Clare.</b><br></br>
<b>The three Volunteers - John Joe Neylon </b> <i>(IRA Captain, Ennistymon Company, 4th Battalion, Mid-Clare Brigade)</i><b>, Tom McDonagh and Joe Murphy - were 'roughly handled' for a few days, before they were given over to the British Army.</b><br></br>
<b>They were tortured by, and under the orders of, a British Army Sergeant, a David Finlay, but all three Volunteers survived the ordeal and lived to fight another day.</b><br></br>
<b>Sergeant David Finlay, however, who stood his ground </b> <i>(!)</i><b> in County Clare, was shot dead in Ennis, County Clare, on the 13th January 1922.</b><br></br>
<b>But he wasn't tortured beforehand, except mentally and morally, perhaps...</b>
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<b>Elizabeth 'Letty' Bray, a deaf woman, was out and about in the Castle Street area </b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> of Belfast on Monday, 7th February, 1921, when she was badly wounded by a British soldier, and died from her wound in the Mater Hospital 12 days later.</b><br></br>
<b>The British Army Sergeant who was present on the day stated that the woman had ignored an order to stop</b> <i>(the poor woman was deaf)</i><b> and, anyway, the soldier had fired his weapon at her when he wasn't ordered to do so!</b><br></br>
<b>An RIC member who was also present on the day declared that the soldier could easily have simply "caught the girl if he wanted to".</b><br></br>
<b>Saved himself the walk, I suppose...</b>
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<b>IRA Captain/Section Commander Patrick O'Driscoll was accidently killed by one of his comrades near Skibbereen, County Cork, on the 7th February 1921.</b><br></br>
<b>IRA Commander Tom Barry witnessed the tragedy, telling how, when an IRA sentry was going off duty, Commander Barry asked him to state what his duties were, for the benefit of Captain O'Driscoll -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"About halfway through his recital a shot rang out and Pat O'Driscoll swayed towards me. Catching him, I lowered him gently, but he was dead before I placed him on the ground.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I turned to the man who had shot him. His face was a mask of consternation, and he dropped the Webley revolver. I spoke to him, but he could not answer, and then, with a moan, he too collapsed, for the man he had accidentally shot was his best friend..."</b></i>
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<b>On the 7th February 1921, an RIC member from Ardnaree, in County Mayo, James Nixon (34)</b><i> ('Service Number 64718')</i><b> was in a Crossley Tender truck in the Mount Talbot area of County Roscommon with his colleagues when one of them, who was sitting behind 'Constable' Nixon, discharged his carbine rifle.</b><br></br>
<b>The round hit RIC man Nixon in the hip and he died from the wound on the 2nd March 1921.</b>
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<br></br><b>On the 7th February, 1921, the IRA ambushed an 'Ulster Special Constabulary' patrol in Warrenpoint, County Down : a USC officer was killed and two other members wounded by gunfire and grenades.</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 7th February, 1921, a group of young boys were playing a game of hurling in Knocknagree, in County Cork, and a small crowd of people had assembled to watch the game.</b><br></br>
<b>The match was interrupted by the arrival of three British Army lorries</b> <i>(from the 6th Division of the British Army)</i><b> which approached the village from the Gneeveguilla direction.</b><br></br>
<b>Suddenly, for no reason, two long bursts of gunfire were directed from one of the lorries at the hurlers and the small crowd, who scattered in all directions. Soldiers jumped from the vehicles and ran on to the pitch, firing as they went.</b><br></br>
<b>When the firing stopped, three boys had been shot ; Michael John Kelleher (14) lay dead, and two of the Herlihy brothers, Michael (13) and Dónal (12) had been badly wounded.</b><br></br>
<b>In what they termed an 'Official Report' into the shootings, the British Army claimed that they were "returning fire" but all local accounts vehemently denied this, and in the 'Official Record' of the British Army's 6th Division, no ambush is recorded for the day...</b>
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<b>ON THIS DATE (7TH FEBRUARY) 38 YEARS AGO : ONE EPISODE IN THE 'SECRET' HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH...</b><br></br>
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<i><b>The boy's parents, Glenn and Faye Gastal, refused 'out of court' settlements and sought twelve million dollars in their lawsuit against the Catholic Church because, they said, it harboured the priest even after learning that he was a child molester. The predominantly Catholic jury also awarded the boy's parents 250,000 dollars. The abuse started when the boy was seven years of age. Father Gilbert Gauthe was sentenced to twenty years in prison last October</b></i> <i> (ie October 1985)</i><i><b> after admitting he molested the children at Saint John Parish Church in the community of Esther. The Lafayette Diocese has settled lawsuits with thirteen families against Father Gilbert Gauthe for a reported five-and-a-half million dollars, with not one of those thirteen cases going to trial...'</b></i> <i>(from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evening_Press">'The Evening Press' newspaper</a>, 8th February 1986 ; thirty-eight years ago on this date.)</i>
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<b>These are the same self-righteous hypocrites that, at the drop of a Bishop's hat, will - and have - condemned Irish men and women for challenging, and seeking to change, the political and social system in Ireland.</b><br></br>
<b>A corrupt system which nurtures a corrupt Church.</b>
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<b>IRELAND ON THE COUCH...</b><br></br>
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<i><b>A Psychiatrist Writes.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>'Magill' commissioned <a href="https://www.blackrockhealth.com/consultants/prof-patricia-casey">Professor Patricia Casey</a> to compile an assessment of Irish society at what may emerge as the end of a period of unprecedented growth and change.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>This is her report.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>From 'Magill Magazine' Annual, 2002.</b></i>
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<b>If dissenting voices were stifled by an authoritarian Church in the past, it is the liberal opinion formers and media acolytes who enforce censorship today.</b><br></br>
<b>This would not be so worrying if it did not preclude open debate of the multitude of problems that assail modern Ireland.</b><br></br>
<b>Ireland has come through a period of very rapid social change in the past 30 years ; as a nation we remain materially contented but socially and emotionally vulnerable - the religious revival may spring from this realisation.</b><br></br>
<b>Meanwhile, parents are in a state of disquiet and ambivalence, and community life as we traditionally know it may be slowly crumbling. Far from being a place for open discussion, modern Ireland is very harsh on those who point out its flaws.</b><br></br>
<b>However, the recent downturn in our suicide rate, always a good barometer of our social health, may be a portent that the tide of disintegration has been stemmed.</b><br></br>
<b>Let us truly hope so.</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(END of 'Ireland On The Couch' : NEXT - 'So, Farewell Then, Celtic Tiger', from 'Magill' Annual, 2002.)</b></font>
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<b>The 'Royal' Dublin Fusiliers</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> was an infantry regiment of the British Army which was formed on the 1st July, 1881.</b><br></br>
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<b>It was one of eight Irish regiments raised largely in Ireland, and served the counties of Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Carlow, and recruited in the east of Ireland mostly.</b><br></br>
<b>The last detachment of this regiment left Naas Barracks on the 7th February, 1922, on their way to Bordon, in Hampshire, England, where they amalgamated
with their the 1st Battalion, before being disbanded in June 1922, as were five other 'RDF' regiments. The 'RDF', despite its 'Dublin' title, were apparently about as fair to the Irish in Ireland as their British Army comrades were...</b>
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<b>On the 7th February, 1922, a pre-arranged evacuation of Kilkenny Military Barracks took place between the British and the Free State Army.</b><br></br>
<b>Since 1803, the barracks had housed over sixty Infantry Regiments of the British Army and also operated as the 'Brigade Headquarters of Artillery' from 1908, and 'The King’s Overseas Dominions Regiment' (!)</b><i> [a cavalry detachment]</i><b> also sheltered there.</b><br></br>
<b>On that date, the Free State Army, having exchanged pleasantries with their colleagues in the British Army, moved in to the premises and used it as the British had used it - to quell the republican struggle. More information <a href="https://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/history-heritage/heritage-towns/st.-johns-parish-kilkenny/james-stephens-military-b/#:~:text=Following%20the%20passing%20of%20the,the%20Civil%20War%20that%20followed.">here</a>.
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<i>"Do my darling use your influence now for some sort of moderation or at any rate justice in Ireland. Put yourself in the place of the Irish. If you were ever leader you would not be cowed by severity and certainly not by reprisals which fall like the rain from Heaven upon the Just and upon the Unjust. It always makes me unhappy and disappointed when I see you inclined to take for granted that the rough, iron-fisted 'Hunnish' way will prevail..."</i><br></br>
<b>The Monaghan Footballers 'Arrest' of 1922 included an action which took place when...</b><i><b>"Eoin O’Duffy sent IRA units across the border on Feb 7</b> <i>(1922)</i><b>. They met more resistance than expected but still seized 43 Unionists and brought them back across the border as hostages to stop the three executions in Derry...'</b></i><br></br>
<b>Three IRA Volunteers - Pat Leonard, Thomas O'Shea and Patrick Johnstone - were due to be hung by the British in Derry Jail but had their sentences commuted to 15 penal years servitude and were eventually released in August 1925.</b><br></br>
<b>This story <a href="https://www.facebook.com/warofindependence/posts/january-14-1922-members-of-the-monaghan-gaelic-football-team-are-arrested-in-co-/2008384939307409/">can be read here</a> in some detail.</b>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
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<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<i><b>'WHY WE WANT RECRUITS'.</b></i><br></br>
<i>(Padraic H. Pearse, May 1915.)</i><br></br>
<i><b>"The faith is that Ireland is one, that Ireland is inviolate, that Ireland is worthy of all love and all homage and all service that may lawfully be paid to any earthly thing ; and the hope is that Ireland may be free.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>In a human sense, we have no desire, no ambition but the integrity, the honour, and the freedom of our native land.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We want recruits because we are sure of the rightness of our cause. We have no misgivings, no self-questionings. While others have been doubting, timorous, ill at ease, we have been serenely at peace with our consciences. The recent time of soul searching had no terrors for us. We saw our path with absolute clearness ; we took it with absolute deliberateness.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We could do no other. We called upon the names of the great confessors of our national faith, and all was well with us. Whatever soul-searchings there may be among Irish political parties now or hereafter, we go on in the calm certitude of having done the clear, clean, sheer thing. We have the strength and the peace of mind of those who never compromise. We want recruits because we believe that events are about to place the destinies of Ireland definitely in our hands, and because we want as much help as possible to enable us to bear the burden.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The political leadership of Ireland is passing to us not, perhaps, to us as individuals, for none of us are ambitious for leadership and few of us fit for leadership ; but to our party, to men</b></i> <i>(sic)</i><i><b> of our way of thinking : that is, to the party and to the men</b></i> <i>(sic)</i><i><b> that stand by Ireland only, to the party and to the men</b></i> <i>(sic)</i><i><b> that stand by the nation, to the party and to the men</b></i> <i>(sic)</i><i><b> of one allegiance..."</b></i>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font><br></br>
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<b>The 'Ulster Protestant Association' (UPA) evolved</b> <i>(!)</i><b>, in July 1920, out of the 'Belfast Protestant Association', an organisation which was established for the expulsion of Catholics and "rotten Prods", as they put it, from 'their' areas in Belfast.</b><br></br>
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<b>An RUC member, an 'officer' - District Inspector R.R. Spears - told 'Sir' Bates that, over the period since it came to official attention in the autumn of 1920, it ran four 'branches'</b> <i> (in Ballymaccarrett, York Street, Shankill and the Ormeau Road)</i><b> and that</b> <i><b> "..the whole aim and object of the club</b></i> <i>(!)</i><i><b> is simply the extermination of Catholics by any and every means.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Mr Spears estimated that the 'UPA' had killed at least six Catholics between June and October 1922.</b><br></br>
<b>Author <a href="https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/parkinson-alan-f">Alan F. Parkinson</a> wrote that</b> <i><b>"...loyalists of one hue or another were probably responsible for well over half of the terror-related fatalities in the North. The response of the (Stormont) authorities</b></i> <i>(sic)</i><i><b> to the threat of loyalist terror seemed to many to be half-heated and belated in nature and only got going once the IRA's campaign had petered out.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Collusion was, and is, no illusion.</b>
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<b> ¡VOLVEMOS EN MARZO!</b><br></br>
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<i>The five of us had such a brilliant time in Spain that we've booked it again, for next month (March 2024)!</i><br></br>
<i>We usually save like mad for our New York holiday each year and, between that few bob and a bit of luck we had on 'the Markets' (...set-up and managed for us by a family member, a part-time trader who knows his beans from his onions!) we have the cash and we booked our flights and our accommodation.</i><br></br>
<i>We can't all get a month or six weeks off from home and outdoor work commitments at the same time to travel to New York (not worth our while going for a week or two) but we</i> <u><i> can</i></u> <i> all get the time for a few weeks in Spain again, so that's what we've done!</i><br></br>
<i>It hasn't got the same buzz as NYC, but it's a break in guaranteed sunshine with guaranteed great company, sight-seeing, shopping, food etc, so the plan has been made and paid for, but it's not for a few weeks yet. For those that might have missed it, I put up a few posts on <a href="https://twitter.com/1169AndCounting">'X'</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ceclia.lynch">'Facebook'</a> about our recent sojourn in that wonderful country, and I'll be doing the same again in March.</i><br></br>
<i>And now for some even better news - we'll be here again (on the blog, silly, not Spain...) next Wednesday, 14th February 2024!</i>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading.</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-12113579765744649202024-02-04T17:52:00.009+00:002024-02-05T21:25:41.222+00:00SPANISH SIESTA - ALMOST RECOVERED...!<b>DIA DHUIT. TÁIMID AR AIS...SAGHAS AR..!</b><br></br>
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<b>Hola! ¡Estamos de vuelta... más o menos...!</b><br></br>
<b>Hello! We're back...sort of..!</b><br></br>
<b>Shivering here, in wet and windy 14°C in Ireland, compared to the sun-drenched 27°C we enjoyed in España!</b><br></br>
<b>And we had a Ball ; weather, shopping, sight-seeing, food, few</b> <i>(!)</i><b> drinks, great company, and even more shopping. And we never even needed bail money, 'cause the Spanish cops were very understanding...!</b><br></br>
<b>We enjoyed it so much that the five of us actually went ahead and...</b><i>ah</i><b> sure ya wouldn't be interested, probably just think that I'm rubbing yer noses in it, been bitchy, like...</b><br></br>
<b>..but I'll more than likely say a few extra words about it on Wednesday, 7th February 2024, when we post our 20-piece offerings - yeah, that's right - we'll have a </b> <b><u> 20 piece</u></b><b> post ready for yis all </b> <i>(...including our friends in the Gorbals who, we're told, will be looking in with interest!)</i><b> and we'll be covering the following issues, and way more -</b>
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<b>In the early 1920's, this Stormont Minister asked for, and received, a report/update on a certain loyalist 'club' and this was given to him by a high-ranking RUC member : a well-known book author apparently got wind of the transaction and had a few words to say about it as, indeed, did the high-ranking RUC member...</b>
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<b>In 1915, Irish republicans knew that a political and military storm was coming and soul-searched to find an alternative path to remove the British political and military presence from Ireland but, when they found that no such alternative existed, they readied themselves for the inevitable...</b>
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<b>Which highly placed British politician's wife sat him down and wagged her finger at him about how he was mistreating the Irish, asking him directly if he would put up with such abuse if he found himself in the position that he and his had placed the Irish in...?</b>
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<b>This 'royal' regiment of the British Army had to pack-up from their headquarters in County Kildare and prepare themselves for their return from whence they came. We don't actually know how they felt about it, nor do we care...</b>
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<b>From the early 2000's - the problems that beset Ireland then can be seen, today, as only a temporary inconvience, although it didn't seem so at the time...</b>
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<b>This particular organisation, rooted in Ireland, managed to spread its tentacles worldwide, but met a 'speed bump' in Louisiana, in the United States...</b>
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<b>Ireland, early 1920's, a group of young lads were playing in a field when English soldiers played a 'game' of their own with them - blood was spilt...</b>
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<b>...and that's only seven out of the twenty pieces we're gonna have for ya on Wednesday, 7th February, 2024, plus there'll be a few words said about our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5LveBIjg3o">Spanish Stroll...!</a></b><br></br>
<b>Right : 'nuff said for now - see yis on the 7th!</b><br></br>
<i><b>Thanks for reading,</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-28779698154505131942024-01-17T11:17:00.000+00:002024-01-17T11:17:28.877+00:00FROM 1922 - THE BLIND EYES OF "FAIR-MINDED BLAMELESS MEN".<b>ON THIS DATE (17TH JANUARY) 52 YEARS AGO - POW DEEP DIVE...!</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0zgOlSaBvVqvo7jjXLCYEBtDUXXuvCdYRBoNFIoiw_-iMY2hccF3jxCxoT_z53LkBAAZXSS9br2uiRsY5wy4hlqm0aBdnxTPtBkrYfvAXguE7ZAXXk5dLdC194dgrrICHVrmiQ/s1600/The+Maidstone+Prison+Ship..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0zgOlSaBvVqvo7jjXLCYEBtDUXXuvCdYRBoNFIoiw_-iMY2hccF3jxCxoT_z53LkBAAZXSS9br2uiRsY5wy4hlqm0aBdnxTPtBkrYfvAXguE7ZAXXk5dLdC194dgrrICHVrmiQ/s320/The+Maidstone+Prison+Ship..jpg" width="320" height="186" data-original-width="595" data-original-height="345" /></a></div><b>52 years ago on this date</b> <i> (17th January 1972)</i><b>, seven IRA prisoners escaped from an 'escape proof' British prison ship, which was anchored in Irish waters : the ship had three decks, the top one of which was sometimes used as an 'exercise yard' for a few hours each day by the republican POW's, with the other two 'converted' into living quarters.</b><br></br>
<b>Approximately 850 people were present on the ship at any one time, consisting of around 700 British military personnel and 150 prisoners, including Provisional and Official IRA members and some others that were not involved with either group.</b><br></br>
<b>James Emerson Bryson, Tommy Tolan, Thomas Kane, Tommy Gorman, Peter Rodgers, Martin Taylor and Sean Convery, a group of Irish republicans that became known as 'The Magnificent Seven' because of the nature of their escape from the Maidstone prison ship</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> on January 17th, 1972, were determined that their 'stay' on the ship would be a short one.</b><br></br>
<b>Of the 226 men detained following the introduction of internment in August 1971, 124 were initially held in Crumlin Road Jail while the remainder were held on the Maidstone, a prison ship moored at the coalwharf in Belfast docks. The prison ship, used as an emergency billet for British troops who arrived in 1969, was totally unsuitable as a prison - it was cramped, stuffy and overcrowded, with the 'lock-up' section located at the stern below the deck, which was used twice a day for exercise.</b><br></br>
<b>On January 16th, 1972 , fifty men were transferred from the ship to the new camp at Magilligan : this sudden move spurred on some of the internees who were planning to escape.</b><br></br>
<b>One of the group had spotted a seal slip through a gap in the barbed-wire draped around the ship and it was decided that if the seal could come in, then they could go out!</b><br></br>
<b>The men used black boot polish to camouflage themselves and smeared each other in butter, to keep out the cold. They had already cut through a bar in a porthole which they now slipped through, and clambered down the Maidstone's steel hawser and entered the water.</b><br></br>
<b>Several of them were badly cut by the barbed-wire, but they all managed to get through it. In single file, they swam the 400 yards through the ice-cold floodlit water to the shore : it took them twenty minutes, as some of the men could not swim and had to be helped by the others. On the bank, Volunteers of the Andersonstown Unit of the IRA's Belfast Brigade were waiting with four cars to transport the escapees to safety, but the escapees landed at the wrong spot, approximately 500 yards away.</b><br></br>
<b>The men realised their mistake and made their way to Queen's Road bus terminus where they commandeered a bus and drove across the city to the Markets area. During the journey, the bus was spotted by a British Army Land Rover which attempted to stop the vehicle ; however, the British soldiers backed-off when the bus entered the staunchly republican Markets district, which was then quickly surrounded by British reinforcements.</b><br></br>
<b>A search of the area was carried out by the British Army and RUC, but none of the escapees were found - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRetvJpxBpM">the 'Magnificent Seven'</a> were long gone to a different part of Belfast and, days later, gave a <a href="http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/intern/docs/jmcgpic11.htm">press conference in Dublin.</a></b><br></br>
<b>That 'deep dive' by Irish republican POW's took place on the 17th January 1972 - 52 years ago on this date. </b>
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<i><b>'On April 4th, 1919, Michael Collins’s motion to Dáil Éireann to approve a £250,000 Dáil loan was approved.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Nothing was left to chance by the newly appointed minister of finance to ensure the success of the first Dáil loan and to fund the counter-state government that had been set up when the first Dáil met in January 1919.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Two million promotional leaflets and 500,000 copies of the prospectus were printed and distributed. More than 50,000 letters were sent to high-net-worth individuals. Full-page newspaper advertisements were budgeted, and €30,000 in today’s money was spent on a promotional film...'</b></i> <i>(From <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/a-century-on-the-dail-loan-that-set-the-state-on-road-to-financial-sovereignty-1.3849383">here</a>.)</i><br></br>
<b>On the 17th January, 1920, Mr Collins and his <a href="https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Collections-Research/Collection/Civil-Disobedience/Artefact/$25-Republican-Loan-Bond,-1920/a8db6eb4-fa8f-423c-899d-90050b282387">Dáil Loan</a> team, aware that interference by the British had effected the true potential of the 'Loan' to raise funds, issued a public circular announcing that the scheme had been extended until the 1st May 1920 and, on that same date</b> <i>(17th January 1920)</i><b>, the initiative was launched in America by Éamon de Valera, where about $5.5m was raised and just under £400,000 was raised in Ireland.</b>
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<b>'SINN FÉIN NOTES...'</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>CORK...</b>
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<b>CUMANN BRIAN DIOLUN.</b><br></br>
<b>The activities of the Brian Dillon Cumann, Cork, augur well for the future of the organisation in the St Patrick's Parish area of the city.</b><br></br>
<b>The Cumann is also contemplating the formation of a Dramatic Group to promote amateur dramatics of a national and cultural background among its members and the organisation in general.</b><br></br>
<b>During the last few weeks the Cumann has had the pleasure to listen to two well-delivered lectures, one on John Mitchel, by Domhnall O Cathain, in which he dealt with the life of Mitchel and the part he played in the struggle for complete separation from England.</b><br></br>
<b>The other lecturer, Liam Early, gave a detailed and concise lecture on 'The Primary Objectives Of Sinn Féin', in which he traced the objectives of Sinn Féin since its inception up to the present day, and all members joined in the subsequent discussions.</b><br></br>
<b>Various and interesting motions have been forwarded to the next meeting of the Comhairle Ceanntair, covering a wide range of activities which include the forthcoming Local Government Elections, house-to-house collections, <a href="https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/docs/sf/sinnfein79.htm">the Sinn Féin social and economic programme</a> and the invitation of speakers from the Ard Comhairle to speak to the Cumann...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>On the 17th January, 1921, the British Labour Party launched its campaign for 'Peace in Ireland' at a meeting in Manchester, which was just one such meeting in a series of about 500 overall, in various cities in England, Scotland and Wales.</b><br></br>
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<b>One of the organisers, <a href="https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp01896/arthur-greenwood">Arthur Greenwood</a>, at the Manchester meeting, told the audience that "Manchester under German rule would be like Cork or Dublin under British rule today", but that level of support was absent from the higher level in British politics ; Llyod George jeered at the "Bolshevists and Sinn Féiners and faddists and cranks..." who were organising and attending those meetings.</b><br></br>
<b>However, <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/when-lloyd-george-met-de-valera-why-do-you-insist-upon-republic-saorstat-is-good-enough-1.4612967">within months of his jeer</a>, Mr George himself was negotiating with those same "Bolshevists and Sinn Féiners and faddists and cranks..."!</b>
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<b>During the on-going campaign against Westminster interference in Irish political affairs, <a href="https://artilleryclub.ie/listings/fort-mitchel-spike-island-cork-harbour/">the fort on Spike Island</a> in County Cork was the largest British military run prison for republican prisoners and internees in the 'Martial Law' area.</b><br></br>
<b>During 1921‚ approximately 300 prisoners and 900 internees were imprisoned there and a headcount carried out by the British, on the 17th January, 1921, gave a figure of 1,478 internees altogether at that point in time.</b>
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<b>On the 17th January, 1921, 25-year-old RIC member Robert Boyd</b> <i>('Enlisted Number 708233')</i><b>, from Banbridge, in County Down, was drinking a glass of stout in Margaret Moran's pub in Cappawhite, in County Tipperary.</b><br></br>
<b>The political atmosphere 'on the ground' was tense, as the death of Cork republican <a href="https://www.corkcity.ie/en/cork-public-museum/visit/upcoming-events/suffering-the-most-tomas-maccurtain-and-terence-macswiney.html">Terence James MacSwiney</a></b> <i>(Toirdhealbhach Mac Suibhne)</i><b>, a well-respected political and military activist, had occurred, at the hands of the British, on the 25th October 1920.</b><br></br>
<b>Four IRA Volunteers - P. English</b> <i>('B' Company)</i><b>, J. Fitzpatrick</b> <i>('C' Company)</i><b> J. Ryan and O. Aherne</b> <i>(both from 'D' Company)</i><b> entered the pub, approached the RIC man and shot him dead.</b><br></br>
<b>Mrs Moran's niece was hit in the leg by a ricochet.</b><br></br>
<b>Later that day, the RIC and their colleagues in the British Army burned down two business premises in Cappawhite. </b><br></br>
<b>Also on that same date</b> <i>(17th January 1921)</i><b>, an RIC car coming from the direction of Sixmilebridge was ambushed at Clonloun Cross, in County Clare.</b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRQCYuTnzp6qZ2g2mfZK_QgjPDGFNCGas_VCkqYI5tMBwX3EdvkXWDj4Dnm7yuXWF-7uwJNHFazwgYd_zY6GlPfK4entQQtTyjkgnMathWEwzUcFVbvvOB8nntbzJZpQpmaQnnVGqtr16ZLOXkG5bzjliZ4cb4-PixUk0TKaMtQ60TMJMkQ3jAQ/s822/Killed%20himself..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRQCYuTnzp6qZ2g2mfZK_QgjPDGFNCGas_VCkqYI5tMBwX3EdvkXWDj4Dnm7yuXWF-7uwJNHFazwgYd_zY6GlPfK4entQQtTyjkgnMathWEwzUcFVbvvOB8nntbzJZpQpmaQnnVGqtr16ZLOXkG5bzjliZ4cb4-PixUk0TKaMtQ60TMJMkQ3jAQ/s200/Killed%20himself..jpg"/></a></div><br></br><b>British Army Private Alfred John Blitchford Williams</b><i> (aged 18, 'Enlistment Number' 5373728)</i><b> of the First Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Regiment, based at Ballyvonare Military Camp, Buttevant, County Cork, died as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the abdomen, on the 17th January, 1921, while he was said to be "temporarily insane".</b><br></br>
<b>He is buried in St John's Churchyard at Buttevant.</b><br></br>
<b>He was born in 1903 in Cornwall, England, and died, with no family member present, in a foreign country, as a teenager, in 1921. Sad.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bwg0Kgaj0jNtlsW5BdFZKBElXLaOiOun6xA7d39Grh1xTOPPXr8hQmLhu2wrwj-ylnryISiDGw9YfF7Zzk0qVhEZybagqCeJ_VZzvalkrisEzGIhPX21oH3yrUi_fYPhG26i9HDocNS-yujKDCtUa2gppV8jECW88ru8v5oesIjmJHD3pLw1LQ/s1030/Williams%20death..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="1030" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bwg0Kgaj0jNtlsW5BdFZKBElXLaOiOun6xA7d39Grh1xTOPPXr8hQmLhu2wrwj-ylnryISiDGw9YfF7Zzk0qVhEZybagqCeJ_VZzvalkrisEzGIhPX21oH3yrUi_fYPhG26i9HDocNS-yujKDCtUa2gppV8jECW88ru8v5oesIjmJHD3pLw1LQ/s200/Williams%20death..jpg"/></a></div>
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<b>ON THIS DATE (17TH JANUARY) 193 YEARS AGO : 'SLAP-DOWN' SCRIPT FOR IRISH 'PET REBEL' APPROVED.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejC3Adv4pLcxVv8eCbHVCkSDYDJFSaZoLiKESUJ01M2keV7wqQDzEXFevr81O9uR4kdAsGllEoCrCmzMA3iENQTXDKJMhaMOrQTrhRLA7mYMA5YPGl-YFBmfeMFCfQbINaEntOg/s1600/Daniel-OConnell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejC3Adv4pLcxVv8eCbHVCkSDYDJFSaZoLiKESUJ01M2keV7wqQDzEXFevr81O9uR4kdAsGllEoCrCmzMA3iENQTXDKJMhaMOrQTrhRLA7mYMA5YPGl-YFBmfeMFCfQbINaEntOg/s200/Daniel-OConnell.jpg" width="200" height="135" /></a></div><b>Daniel O'Connell</b> <i> ('The Liberator', pictured)</i><b> never claimed to be an Irish republican despite involving himself in an issue which, then as now, required a republican solution in order to obtain a just resolution.</b><br></br>
<b>Although he campaigned on behalf of those who suffered as a result of injustices inflicted by Westminster, he made it clear that it was his desire that Ireland should remain as a unit governed by the British 'Monarchy' - saying, if you like - 'stay if you want, just treat us better'.</b><br></br>
<b>He had publicly and repeatedly vowed to work within 'the law' - British 'law'.</b><br></br>
<b>The only force to be used, he stated, was</b> <i><b> "moral force"</b></i><b>, but even this was too much of a demand for Westminster - 'Sir' Robert Peel</b> <i>(the then British Prime Minister)</i><b> replied that to 'grant' O'Connell his way</b> <i> "would not merely mean the repeal of an Act of (British) Parliament, but dismemberment of a great Empire. Deprecating as I do all war but above all, civil war, yet there is no alternative which I do not think preferable to the dismemberment of Empire.."</i> <b> In other words - 'thus far, O'Connell, but no further'.</b><br></br>
<b>His subservience to British 'law' could have been used against him at any time and, in December 1830, that's what happened : he was one of a group of 'troublemakers' that were rounded-up for questioning in connection with meetings/assemblage of a type which had been forbidden by the British 'Lord Lieutenant of Ireland' - Westminster was 'jittery' regarding its political position in Ireland due, in the main, to four issues : corn</b><i> (availability and price of)</i><b>, currency devaluations, the overall banking system and the 'catholic problem' ; this period in our history witnessed the beginning of </b> <i>'an Cogadh na nDeachúna'</i><b> - <a href="https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/tithe-war-1830-1838">the 'Tithe War'</a>, and also heralded in catholic unrest in Belgium and Poland.</b><br></br>
<b>Westminster would not allow such actions to gather pace here, if it could help it, and so it was that, on the 17th January, 1831, the final 'Charge Sheet' against Mr O'Connell was presented to, and approved by, British 'legal eagles'.</b><br></br>
<b>The following day</b><i> (18th January 1831)</i><b>, Daniel O'Connell was charged on 31 counts</b> <i>(14 of which were for 'violating the Suppression Act of 10 George IV 1829', to which O'Connell pleaded guilty)</i><b> including 'conspiracy', and was arrested, fined 2,000 pounds and imprisoned for one year.</b><br></br>
<b>He served three months, mostly because the '1829 Acts' expired in April that year and those imprisoned under it were released by default. Westminster had 'boxed clever' - it had been seen to 'punish offenders' but not to the extent where the offender would become radicalised due to the severity of the punishment, a trick it performs to this day on those Irish people who <a href="https://eurofree3.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/toast-irish-independence.gif?w=590&h=400&crop=1">consider themself to be 'radicals'!</a> </b>
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<b>In a report to Winston Churchill's 'Provisional Government of Ireland Committee' regarding the 'Ulster Special Constabulary', presented on the 17th January, 1922, it was recommended to stop funding the 'Specials' "at the earliest date that is legal or possible".</b><br></br>
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<b>That advice wasn't given because Westminster was suddenly concerned that the vicious actions of their 'Special' forces in Ireland was bringing them into further disrepute, but rather because the 'buck' could now be passed.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 9th November, 1921, responsibility for 'security measures'</b> <i>(!)</i><b> in the Occupied Six Counties had been transferred from Westminster to the puppet/Stormont regime in Belfast, and they were being told that it was now</b> <i><b> also</b></i><b> their responsibility to finance their own 'security'!</b><br></br>
<b>'Mammy Bear' was hacking at the apron strings, and is still hacking at them...</b>
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<b>On the 17th January, 1922, British Army General 'Sir' Cecil Frederick Nevil Macready</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>, 1st Baronet, GCMG, KCB, PC ETC ETC</b> <i>(!)</i><b> issued a 'Special Order of the Day' to all under his command -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"While I feel there is no desire on the part of the army to rake up past animosities or bitterness, you have been called upon to perform a duty in many respects repugnant to our traditions, and devoid of all the glamour of war, though in many ways entailing greater strain and greater individual danger...the Government having decided that the time has arrived to commence withdrawing troops from Ireland...you, officers and men, have accomplished the most difficult task that any soldier can be called upon to undertake and you have emerged with your discipline unshaken and your conduct in the eyes of all fair-minded men blameless.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>When history is written you will find that by your pluck, vigilance and discipline, you have contributed no inconsiderable share towards what we hope may prove eventually to be the settled peace and prosperity of Ireland..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>The arrogance of the man, and of that which he represented ; his upper lip was so stiff that it evidently covered his eyes and his ears.</b>
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<b>IRELAND ON THE COUCH...</b><br></br>
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<i><b>A Psychiatrist Writes.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>'Magill' commissioned <a href="https://www.blackrockhealth.com/consultants/prof-patricia-casey">Professor Patricia Casey</a> to compile an assessment of Irish society at what may emerge as the end of a period of unprecedented growth and change.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>This is her report.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>From 'Magill Magazine' Annual, 2002.</b></i>
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<b>Stating that life is sacred from conception until natural death will stimulate chants of "hypocrisy" or "misogyny", as it recently did in Dail Éireann </b><i> (sic)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Comments by Cardinal Connell about the theological prowess of one of his Church of Ireland colleagues reported in a book led to exhaustive media coverage, and comments in the same book by a senator - an icon of liberal Ireland - that the Pope was "an instrument for evil" received scarcely a mention from our national broadcaster, nor from the 'paper of record' (The Irish Times), even though his view could be interpreted as insulting at best and possibly sectarian.</b><br></br>
<b>So in modern Ireland, certain issues are deemed out of bounds for public discussion by our politically correct elite, and those who attempt to raise them are branded, often, as fundamentalists...</b>
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<b>ON THIS DATE (17TH JANUARY) 102 YEARS AGO : DUBLIN UNEMPLOYED GROUP PREPARE TO OCCUPY LANDMARK BUILDING.</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 17th January, 1922, the Dublin-based 'Council of Unemployed' held a meeting to finalise their protest to highlight their grievances and the lack of address by the 'authorities' to same :</b><br></br>
<b>'On January 18th 1922, a group of unemployed Dublin workers seized the concert hall of <a href="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8405/8617836771_bdfb45acc6.jpg">the Rotunda</a>. 'The Irish Times' of the following day noted that</b> <i><b> '..the unemployed in Dublin have seized the concert room at the Rotunda, and they declare that they will hold that part of the building until they are removed, as a protest against the apathy of the authorities...a 'garrison', divided into 'companies', each with its 'officers', has been formed, and from one of the windows the red flag flies..'</b></i><br></br>
<b><a href="https://www.historyireland.com/liam-oflahertys-1922-manifesto/">Liam O'Flaherty</a>, as chairman of the 'Council of Unemployed', spoke to the paper about the refusal of the men to leave the premises, stating that no physical resistance would be put up against the police and that the protest was a peaceful one, yet they intended to stay where they were -</b><i>"If we were taken to court, we would not recognise the court, because the Government that does not redress our grievances is not worth recognising.."</i><b> O'Flaherty told the Times...'</b><i> (more <a href="https://comeheretome.com/2010/08/27/raising-the-red-flag-at-the-rotunda-the-workers-occupation-of-january-1922/">here</a>.)</i><br></br>
<b>Rather than 'tackle'</b> <i>(occupy, in this case)</i><b><u> symptoms</u></b><b> of the disease</b> <i>(ie the Rotunda Hall and other 'Establishment' venues)</i><b>, <a href="http://www.trinitylodge.com/files/images/new/51220e5f82a80.jpg">the actual disease itself</a> should be 'tackled', providing those doing so have no</b> <i><b> <a href="https://unitetheunionireland.org/2017/01/17/unite-reveals-that-15-merrion-square-was-offered-for-homeless-relief-three-years-ago/">apparent</a></b></i> <b> <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0116/845263-merrion-square-development/">embarrassing baggage.</a></b>
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<b>ON THIS DATE (17TH JANUARY) 90 YEARS AGO : LAST FULL DAY ON EARTH FOR AN IRISH NATIONALIST LEADER.</b><br></br>
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<b>Mr. Devlin stated -</b> <i> "The Protestants are to be armed. Their pogrom is to be made less difficult. Instead of paving stones and sticks they are to be given rifles."</i><br></br>
<b>Joe Devlin led a busy life - a barman and journalist at the start of his working life, he was elected as a 'Home Rule MP' (British Parliament) for North Kilkenny in 1902, at 31 years young, and held his seat until 1906, when he was elected again, this time for the West Belfast area.</b><br></br>
<b>He was that area's representative in Westminster until 1922 ; he acted as General Secretary for the 'United Irish League' (UIL)/Home Rule Party', from 1904 to 1920, and was also involved with the 'Ancient Order of Hibernians' when, at 34 years of age, he served as the 'National President' of that organisation, a position he held for 29 years</b> <i>(!)</i><b>, during which time he forged links between the 'AOH' and the 'United Irish League'.</b><br></br>
<b>He first took a seat in Stormont in 1921</b> <i>(at 50 years of age, and stayed there until 1934)</i><b> ; in 1928 he founded, and chaired, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_League_of_the_North">the 'National League of the North'</a>. Incidentally, he was not related to Bernadette Devlin or Paddy Devlin.</b><br></br>
<b>The 'Irish News' newspaper wrote the following piece the day after Joe Devlin died - </b><br></br>
<i><b>"It is with feelings of the most profound sorrow that we record the death of Mr Joseph Devlin, MP...his own people, like many others, were driven from the country by the conditions of the times into the growing city of Belfast, and lived in humble circumstances in the West Division. A little household typical of thousands where life was a daily struggle to avert poverty, and where the youngest were expected to do their share, was the home of his early years...like the majority of the Catholic youth of Belfast at that period, he left school early to take his part in the battle of life...Speaking of him, Mr John Redmond M.P., said: "Mr Devlin's career has been a proud one for Ireland. It has been more than that – it has been a hopeful one for Ireland. Few public careers in the last century have been so rapid as the career of Mr Devlin. He today holds a foremost position in the public life of our country, and if I were asked to explain the reason, in my opinion, for the rapidity and success of his career, I would say that its success and rapidity have been due to the combination of several great qualities – superb debating power and dauntless courage, combined with a cautious mind and a cool judgement ; transparent honesty and enthusiasm combined with an absolutely untiring industry; perfect loyalty to his leader for the time being, to his comrades, and to his Party – combined, let me say, with a modest and lovable disposition...".</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>At the General Election of 1906 Mr Devlin was elected by a majority of 16...there was an indescribable outburst of enthusiasm when the figures were announced. Angered by the rout of the Tory, a mob of Unionists, who had been expecting the defeat of Mr Devlin and had come to the Courthouse on the Crumlin Road, where the votes were counted, with drums, bands and banners to celebrate the event, gave full expression in the usual manner to their chagrin.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>As Mr Devlin MP was descending the steps of the Courthouse, surrounded by his friends, a police inspector advised him not to leave that way. Mr Devlin's response was characteristic. "I am not going to sneak out by the back way." He then proceeded down the steps in face of the mob, and one of the police, realising his undaunted courage, shouted for fair play for Mr Devlin. The West was truly awake that night ; it was Belfast's night of jubilation, in which old and young came out to expression to the joy they felt at the triumph of their fellow citizen – a man who later was destined to plead their cause all over the civilised world.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The historic division that night was ablaze with bonfires and illuminations, and the dawn had broken before the people retired to rest..."</b></i> <br></br>
<b>Joe Devlin died young, at 63 years of age, on Thursday, the 18th January 1934 - 90 years ago tomorrow.</b>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
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<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<i><b>'WHY WE WANT RECRUITS'.</b></i><br></br>
<i>(Padraic H. Pearse, May 1915.)</i><br></br>
<i><b>"We want recruits because we have undertaken a service which we believe to be of vital importance to our country, and because that service needs whatever there is of manly stuff in Ireland in order to do its effective rendering.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We want recruits because we have a standard to rally them to.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>It is not a new standard raised for the first time by the men of a new generation. It is an old standard which has been borne by many generations of Irish men, which has gone into many battles, which has looked down upon much glory and upon much sorrow ; which has been a sign to be contradicted, but which shall yet shine as a star.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>There is no other standard in the world so august as the standard we bear ; and it is the only standard which the men of Ireland may bear without abandoning their ancient allegiance. Individual Irishmen have sometimes fought under other standards : Ireland as a whole has never fought under any other.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We want recruits because we have a faith to give them and a hope with which to inspire them. They are a faith and a hope which have been handed down from generation to generation of Irish men and women unto this last..."</b></i>
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<i><b>"it is merely a question of whether at some stage of the descent of Ireland into anarchy and chaos the British Government will step in. If Ireland is to be left to its own devices, it is an ugly sore and in the end may poison the whole body of the Empire..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>That quote is taken from a letter that its author, Charles Stewart Henry Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry</b> <i>(sic)</i><b>, KG, MVO, PC, PC ETC ETC </b> <i>(!)</i><b> - 'Lord Londonderry'</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> - sent to Winston Churchill, on the 17th January, 1923.</b><br></br>
<b>If Westminster had only left Ireland "to its own devices", and not interfered here, politically and militarily as, indeed, it continues to do in six of our counties, we wouldn't be such "an ugly sore".</b><br></br>
<b>The so-called 'British Empire' claimed jurisdictional control over at least 56 countries, all of which it "poisoned" in one form or another.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Charles Stewart Henry Vane-Tempest-Stewart died, at the age of 70, in 1949, in County Down, from a stroke. His body, like his mind and morality, was 'poisoned', you could say...</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading.</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<i>We won't be here next Wednesday [24th] or the following week, or the...!</i><br></br>
<i>Myself and the rest of the Girl Gang were Christmas-gifted an all-expenses paid holiday to Spain by our families [including a few bob spending money!] and we'll be heading over there within the next week, and staying until mid-February. The two lads said they'd keep the blog going but the three of us then decided that we'd all take a break and get back to business here, refreshed, sometime in February.</i><br></br>
<i>I'll still be on <a href="https://twitter.com/1169AndCounting">'X'</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ceclia.lynch">Facebook</a>, and sure I might even post a few pics of the five of us <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD3RN5mnGXI">on the beach...!</a></i><br></br>
<i>So take care, y'all - off now to do some packing ; sun-cream oil, bikinis, sun hats, sunglasses...all the stuff you won't need, y'know...!</i><br></br>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-29611642864860229812024-01-13T22:16:00.001+00:002024-01-13T22:16:59.536+00:001830's IN IRELAND : AN AWKWARD BIND FOR WESTMINSTER...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LIxGgehbAEPNuSuuWX5ppkyZLonmugO-9wkxjz0zJcMtS_E6tl6metm79sVs5Rjbmc6-xjBZ8gFN4nlc1TxlKeLHfBjupW_t4QV_ouJLj0YJb1BUuyWh_QVyX8Hrw8up2117jDvl0Re1h0BVwWfjf9qkykAznLEndfO_9qkfc9SPvAUrNAPGjg/s988/On%20the%20way...!.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="988" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LIxGgehbAEPNuSuuWX5ppkyZLonmugO-9wkxjz0zJcMtS_E6tl6metm79sVs5Rjbmc6-xjBZ8gFN4nlc1TxlKeLHfBjupW_t4QV_ouJLj0YJb1BUuyWh_QVyX8Hrw8up2117jDvl0Re1h0BVwWfjf9qkykAznLEndfO_9qkfc9SPvAUrNAPGjg/s200/On%20the%20way...!.jpg"/></a></div><br></br>
<b>We're working on a 15-piece post for Wednesday, 17th January 2024 and, as we're only about halfway through it as I type, I won't delay ya </b> <i> (or meself!)</i> <b> too long.</b><br></br>
<b>Among the pieces we'll be covering is one particular inspiring occurrence from the 1970's about a deep dive</b> <i> (!)</i><b> that Irish republican POW's entered into, so as not to seal</b> <i> (!)</i><b> their fate...</b>
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<b>From the 1950's - Cork republicans were up early</b> <i> (!)</i><b> to study, hear and learn about these objectives...</b>
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<b>From the 1830's in Ireland - an awkward bind for Westminster ; how do you appear to punish a well-known Irish political figure without actually 'properly' punishing him, and without being so severe in the punishment that you drive him to become a 'radical'...?</b>
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<b>From 1922 - a group of men in Dublin put their plan in action to 'announce' themselves but perhaps showed their hand too much by announcing that no physical resistance would be offered if the 'authorities' objected...</b>
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<b>In the early 1900's, this Irish politician was 'advised' by the pro-British 'police force' to vacate a particular building in Belfast by the back door, but refused the 'advice', which brought an unexpected response from the 'cops'...</b>
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<b>There'll be at least another nine pieces from much the same time periods as above, all going on this blog on Wednesday, 17th January 2024.</b>
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<b>Give us a shout on the 17th, if ya can - now, back to another century for me, to do a wee bit of investigating..!</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading ; see ya Wednesday!</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-25838984921071208232024-01-10T15:07:00.002+00:002024-01-10T15:07:35.260+00:00FROM 1867 - "THE ARISTOCRATIC LOCUSTS IN IRELAND..."<b>ON THIS DATE (10TH JANUARY) 43 YEARS AGO - SERIOUSLY ILL FEMALE REPUBLICAN POW "RELEASED ON LICENCE".</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCOv8cFfP_B58yLsQqx2hQOyYqYIXHG04nyoiyj_8NjIRKKJNyyI2UlFdElkfN7bTXTREIeKPmq8KL0KLZ0Vot_pgpkXnNjRb6LWyziT4BeBKecsOJzKEompsq9N5KjeM1FS9HA/s1600/Pauline+McLaughlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCOv8cFfP_B58yLsQqx2hQOyYqYIXHG04nyoiyj_8NjIRKKJNyyI2UlFdElkfN7bTXTREIeKPmq8KL0KLZ0Vot_pgpkXnNjRb6LWyziT4BeBKecsOJzKEompsq9N5KjeM1FS9HA/s320/Pauline+McLaughlin.jpg" width="220" height="171" data-original-width="400" data-original-height="314" /></a></div><b>In October 1980, protesting POW's in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh began a hunger strike for political status ; on the 1st December, 1980, they were joined by three republican women prisoners in Armagh Jail - Mairead Farrell, Mairead Nugent and Mary Doyle. These were the only three women weighing more than eight-and-a-half stone :</b><br></br>
<i>'One of the notable figures of the dirty protest, Pauline McLoughlin, was a 19-year-old from Derry when she was arrested and held on remand in Armagh before being sentenced in 1978 for complicity in the killing of a British soldier...as an initial member of the protest, Pauline lived in the unsanitary conditions from the first days and, because of a previously existing stomach condition, became increasingly ill as time went on.</i> <br></br>
<i>After having lost all of her prison privileges as a member of the dirty protest, Pauline was suddenly unable to receive the packages of food which had kept her sustained and began to vomit continuously after every prison meal...between the poor food and the grotesque conditions she found herself living in, her weight quickly dropped from 9.5 stone to around 6 stone...on 18th March, a prison doctor cautioned that, should she not be given medical attention immediately, she would most likely die and she was subsequently declared unfit for punishment and sent to the hospital to recover (but) after an incomplete recovery, she was returned to Armagh where her condition worsened again, causing her to be sent back to the hospital; this was a pattern that would continue for multiple trips...</i><br></br>
<i>Upon hearing of Pauline’s condition, the public immediately began to protest the treatment of her poor health, which was blamed on her "voluntary" involvement in the dirty protest by prison officials and doctors. The activists group called the 'Women of Imperialism' issued a pamphlet advocating for Pauline's return to health and an improvement of prison conditions by juxtaposing a picture of a healthy Pauline, pre-arrest, with the following description of her condition : 'She landed in the hospital so dehydrated that eight bags of special fluid had to be drip fed into her to stop her heart [from] collapsing. Yet one week later Pauline was back in her cell in Armagh prison. Her condition was still undiagnosed and untreated. At the age of 23 her hair is grey, her teeth rotting and falling out (and) she has dizzy spells and blackouts if she tries to walk. Weighing just over 5 stone, she looks like the victim of a famine —too thin even to sit in one position for any length of time..'(from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armagh_Prison_no-wash_protest#Pauline_McLoughlin">here</a>).</i><br></br>
<b>In October 1980, <a href="https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/82e08900-767a-4c56-af7f-453145c00a4e">the 'British Socialist Feminist Conference'</a></b> <i> (which was attended by 1,200 women)</i><b> supported the demand for political status and pledged its aid to campaign for the release of Pauline McLoughlin from Armagh Jail.</b><br></br>
<b>The 'no wash' protest was halted as <a href="http://www.hungerstrikes.org/background/1980.html">the hunger strikes</a> began, putting Westminster under political pressure and, fearful of a Christmas bombing campaign, which hunger strike deaths could have sparked off, on December 18th, 1980, a 30-page document was released outlining proposals and assurances from the British Government that, step by step, the five demands - the right not to wear a prison uniform, the right not to do prison work, the right of free association with other prisoners and to organise educational and recreational pursuits, the right to one visit, one letter and one parcel per week and the full restoration of remission lost during the protest - would be met.</b><br></br>
<b>The hunger strike was called off and the fulfilment of promises was awaited. They were never fulfilled.</b><br></br>
<i>'Sentenced before 1976, McLaughlin qualified for special prisoner status, but was denied this. She originally joined the protest movement inside the Northern Irish prisons to gain this special status, but became ill and according to some sources, 'blackmailed by the prison doctor to end her action'..she suffered from stomach problems and was unable to digest food, which caused her to rapidly lose weight. Shuffled between prison hospital and Armagh, her condition was viewed as potentially fatal and there were calls by the anti-H-Block movement for her to be released on compassionate grounds. However the Thatcher government refused to do so, with Northern Ireland Secretary Humphrey Atkins claiming that her condition was</i> <i><b> "Not at present critical...while Miss McLaughlin's health does give cause for serious concern, it is considered in the light of all the advice available that there are insufficient grounds for taking the exceptional course of releasing her on licence from the indeterminate sentence and using the Royal Prerogative to remit the balance of the fixed terms.."</b></i><i> (from <a href="https://hatfulofhistory.wordpress.com/category/pauline-mclaughlin/">here</a>)</i><b>.</b>
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<b>However, after a sustained campaign in Ireland and Britain, Pauline McLoughlin was released, on licence, on the 10th January, 1981 - 43 years ago on this date. </b><br></br>
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<b>'SINN FÉIN NOTES...'</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>CORK :</b>
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<b>CUMANN BRIAN DIOLUN.</b><br></br>
<b>The activities of the Brian Dillon Cumann, Cork, augur well for the future of the organisation in the St Patrick's Parish area of the city.</b><br></br>
<b>Meetings are held weekly with full attendance of officers and members and, since its foundation last May, the Cumann has shown a remarkable increase in membership, having now over thirty active members.</b><br></br>
<b>The Cumann is publishing a booklet on 'The Life of Cathal Brugha'</b> <i>(mentioned <a href="https://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/2022-12/22042-HOYD-Book-Volume-5_v6.1.pdf">here</a>, page 59)</i><b>, and the objective of this publication is to raise funds to purchase a suitable premises for the Cumann in the Dillon's Cross area.</b><br></br>
<b>It is the aim of the committee to have the publication on sale before Easter, and to distribute it throughout the 32 Counties, England, Scotland and the USA, and they take this opportunity of appealing to all Cumann throughout the country to cooperate fully by selling as many copies as possible...</b>
<br></br> <font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>On the 10th January, 1919, the British 'Chief Secretary for Ireland', a Mr Edward Shortt</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> got his promotion to the position of British Home Secretary and was replaced by a <a href="https://www.dib.ie/biography/macpherson-james-ian-a5289">Mr Ian Macpherson</a>.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Macpherson had very little time for Irish 'troublemakers' and, as such, felt at home and politically comfortable in the Cabinet in Westminster, which he shared with other anti-Irish luminaries like Lloyd George, Bonar Law, Walter Long and FE Smith, all of whom would have made their way on to one 'Irish Troublemakers' list or another...</b><br></br>
<b>Dublin-based Mr Walter Long was regarded by his superiors in Westminster as a particularly valuable 'asset' and was given the position of the 'First Lord of the Admiralty' ; apparently, the British Cabinet were of the opinion that Mr Long 'had his finger on the pulse' of Irish republicanism but in actual fact he 'deduced' his insider knowledge</b> <i>(!)</i><b> from his close associations within the unionist/loyalist 'Big House' owners, and from friends of his wife, Dorothy</b> <i>(nee Boyle)</i><b> : her father was the 'Ninth Earl of Cork'.</b><br></br>
<b>Still - Mr Long managed to trade that which he hadn't got for that which he desired, and was seen as 'successful' in some circles for being able to do so!</b>
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<b>IRELAND ON THE COUCH...</b><br></br>
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<i><b>A Psychiatrist Writes.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>'Magill' commissioned <a href="https://www.blackrockhealth.com/consultants/prof-patricia-casey">Professor Patricia Casey</a> to compile an assessment of Irish society at what may emerge as the end of a period of unprecedented growth and change.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>This is her report.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>From 'Magill Magazine' Annual, 2002.</b></i>
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<b>Modern Ireland has a number of icons and</b> <i>shibboleths</i><b> that are untouchable.</b><br></br>
<b>So pointing out that we must mature and begin to examine the faults of the present, about which we can do something, rather than constantly focusing on the past over which we have no control, might lead to accusations of defending abuse.</b><br></br>
<b>Pointing out that marriage is better than single parenthood, that it may not be good for young people to drink alcohol, that the primary educators are parents and not the State or that, for women who wish it, staying at home with young children might be the ideal option etc is likely to provoke the vast right-wing conspiracy theorists into apoplexy.</b><br></br>
<b>Expressing the view that counselling does not cure all our ills or that pills cannot mend our lives will lead to charges of lack of compassion...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>In early January, 1921, orders were issued from IRA HQ to all ASU's throughout the country to render their local infrastructure unusable to the enemy.</b><br></br>
<b><a href="https://iarc.ie/exhibitions/previous-exhibitions/burning-the-big-house-the-story-of-the-irish-country-house-in-revolution-1920-1923/">The 'Big House'</a> had always been a target because those that lived in them were the 'gentry' who were, for the most part, predisposed towards the politics of Westminster rather than the Irish Republic, and those that were so either directly or indirectly assisted the invaders and, as such, must have known what to expect as a result.</b><br></br>
<b>Roads and bridges were now to be targeted as well, to hamper the movement of British forces : roads had trenches dug across them and bridges were destroyed.</b><br></br>
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<b>Between the 9th and the 11th of January, 1921, in the Kildare area, for instance, bridges at Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip, Straffan, Kilcock, Allenwood and Rathangan were damaged by the local IRA and trenches were dug along the road from Rathangan to Edenderry and, in some districts, trees were felled across the road.</b><br></br>
<b>The British Army and other enemy forces then had to use secondary roads</b> <i>(<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/764978686689734888/">'boreens'</a>)</i><b> and <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/old-stone-bridge-carries-narrow-road-163125707">small bridges</a> which not only slowed them down but provided the rebels with cover from which to attack them.</b>
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<b>At that time, most of the country was suffering under Westminster-imposed martial law, but Dublin had not yet been included in the 'lock down', so the 'dissidents' could still take to the streets to defend themselves.</b><br></br>
<b>The British Army vehicle was carrying two British Army officers and one of their wives when it came under sustained gunfire from the rebels and, although each round found its target and the vehicle was riddled with bullets, only one of the occupants was hit - and he walked away with slight wounds.</b><br></br>
<b>Incidentally, between that month</b> <i>(January 1921)</i><b> and July that year, it was recorded that there was 1,000 casualties altogether, which included RIC members, British Army soldiers, IRA Volunteers and civilians.</b>
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<b>On the 10th January, 1921, in North Brunswick Street in Dublin City Centre, two British Army Auxiliaries were shot at and one of them fired his revolver in the general direction of where he believed the shots came from.</b><br></br>
<b>Two Dublin civilians were hit - a Mr James Farrell died from his wounds and a Mr Thomas Connolly, from Temple View, in Broadstone, was wounded but survived.</b><br></br>
<b>What was described at the time as "a semi-official" statement was issued which claimed, simply, that "Auxiliary police</b> <i>(sic)</i><b> were fired upon and one of them replied with his revolver..".</b>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s1438/Beir%20Bua!.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1044" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s200/Beir%20Bua!.jpg"/></a></div> <b>The Thread of the Irish Republican Movement from The United Irishmen through to today.</b><br></br>
<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<i><b>'Fenian Proclamation 1867 :</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Proclamation To The Irish People Of The World.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>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.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>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.</b></i><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFu6A4AKzgSQ004FOg-vmAjck2syVwLNESoQSeG_eKm8NqwkcEXFLhYr3eB_allqt6QKU799Cg7-mF-ULbkr5BtpRT0PAKR9kg4Ka6OJgqkyWUyMoc8CurIrqyMaiah8bEOTaYkaukEZKAtdyOAA5Eh8DTh0NdYwlV20J0kqoeyrJoilBVvV-9g/s1600/Wexford,%201798..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFu6A4AKzgSQ004FOg-vmAjck2syVwLNESoQSeG_eKm8NqwkcEXFLhYr3eB_allqt6QKU799Cg7-mF-ULbkr5BtpRT0PAKR9kg4Ka6OJgqkyWUyMoc8CurIrqyMaiah8bEOTaYkaukEZKAtdyOAA5Eh8DTh0NdYwlV20J0kqoeyrJoilBVvV-9g/s200/Wexford,%201798..jpg"/></a></div><i><b>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.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>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.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Herewith we proclaim the Irish Republic.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.'</b></i>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font><br></br>
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<b>On the 10th January, 1922, at what was the Third Session of the Second Dáil – Day Fifteen – Mr Arthur Griffith was elected as the President of Dáil Éireann, and Mr Eoin MacNeill</b> <i> (<a href="https://www.adams.ie/53844/VOLUNTEERS-COMPLETELY-DECEIVED-EOIN-MacNEILL-s-MANUSCRIPT-COUNTERMANDING-ORDER-22nd-APRIL-1916-A-single-sheet-of-folded-notepaper-6-7/8-x-4-%C2%BC-ins-175-mm-x-108-mm-embossed-at-head-with-address-Wo?Itemid=0&ipp=10&keyword=&view=lot_detail">he of the 'Countermanding Order' in 1916</a>)</i><b> moved a motion in what was still then the 32-County Dáil Éireann, seeking, in effect, recognition of the name 'Dáil Éireann' for the 26-County abomination</b> <i> (putting in place the groundwork for the Irish 'Free State', which was to be 'legally' formed on the 6th December 1922)</i><b> to be based in Leinster House, Kildare Street, in Dublin, as per Westminster's instructions -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"That Dáil Eireann affirms that Ireland is a Sovereign Nation, deriving its sovereignty in all respects from the will of the people of Ireland ; that all the international relations of Ireland are governed on the part of Ireland by this sovereign status ; and that all facilities and accommodations accorded by Ireland to another state or country are subject to the right of the Irish Government to take care that the liberty and well-being of the people of Ireland are not endangered..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Éamon de Valera, in reply, stated -</b> <i><b> "I regret this resolution has been brought forward. As Deputy MacNeill said he would withdraw it if it was controversial, I think, from one point of view, it should be withdrawn.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>But the main idea can be served, perhaps, very much better by an amendment.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Our attitude is this : this resolution of the approval of the Treaty was simply a license to the Executive — the new Executive — that they might promote the setting up of a Provisional Government in accordance with the terms ; in other words, that we would not be actively hostile to the setting up of the Government, though we do not, and cannot, admit its right as the Government of this country until the Irish people have spoken..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Mr de Valera and his supporters objected to Mr MacNeill's motion and to the probable promotion of Mr Griffith, as the latter was offering 'pledges to subvert the Republic on one hand and maintain it on the other' and, after <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1922-01-10/5/">further discussions</a>, they walked out of the assembly.</b><br></br>
<b>As they were leaving, Mr Michael Collins shouted at them, declaring that they were</b> <i><b>"...deserters all, to the Irish nation in her hour of trial.."</b></i><b> to which the Countess Markievicz shouted back that Mr Collins and his supporters were</b> <i>"...oath-breakers and cowards.."</i><b> : Mr Collins called after them that they were all</b> <i><b>"...foreigners..americans..english.."</b></i> <b>which, in turn, drew a shouted response from the Countess that they were</b> <i>"Lloyd Georgeites"</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>It was after Mr de Valera, the Countess and their supporters had left, temporarily, that Mr Arthur Griffith was elected as the President of Dáil Éireann, Michael Collins as Minister for Finance, William Cosgrave as Minister for Local Government, Charles Gavin Duffy as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kevin O'Higgins as Minister for Economic Affairs, Richard Mulcahy as Minister for Defence and EJ Duggan as Minister for Home Affairs.</b><br></br>
<b>The 'dissenters' then returned to the assembly and took their seats, in a tense atmosphere. For instance, when Robert Erskine Childers requested Arthur Griffith to clarify a point of policy, Mr Griffith shouted back that he </b> <i><b>"...would not reply to any damned Englishman in this Assembly.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>The split was enlarging.</b><br></br>
<b>The session ended, adjourned, until February 28th, 1922.</b><br></br>
<b>It should be noted that, in May 1926, Éamon de Valera and others</b> <i> (including the Countess Markievicz)</i><b> decided to abandon Sinn Féin, and republicanism, and spawned the Leinster House '<a href="https://www.rebelnews.ie/2021/10/04/the-fall-and-fall-of-fianna-fail/">Fianna Fáil</a>' party.</b>
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<b>On the 10th January, 1922, some of the IRA leadership held a meeting to discuss the happenings in the Dáil.</b><br></br>
<b>Three GHQ members, six Divisional Commanders and the Officers Commanding of the two Dublin Brigades talked about what happened and were agreed that the IRA's allegiance to the Dáil was based on the (32-County) Republic being upheld and they that the decision of the Dáil to accept the Treaty means that, since the Dáil is no longer upholding the Republic, the IRA no longer owes it allegiance to that political institution.</b><br></br>
<b>The meeting was agreed that the IRA must return to being ruled and guided by its own</b> <i>(military)</i> <b>Executive, rather than any political body, and that a full meeting (Convention) of the IRA organisation must be held, and these instructions were put in writing, signed by Rory O'Connor, Liam Mellows, Sean Russell, James Donovan, Oscar Traynor, Liam Lynch and other IRA Commandants, and delivered to Richard</b><i> (Risteárd)</i><b> Mulcahy in Leinster House.</b>
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<b>The British Cabinet held one of its meetings, on the 10th January, 1922, to discuss establishing a 'Boundary Commission' in relation to how best</b> <i>(ie to suit themselves)</i><b> to partition Ireland, as required in <a href="https://rsf-kildare.blogspot.com/2011/12/treaty-of-surrender-and-its-legacy.html">the 'Treaty of Surrender'</a>.</b><br></br>
<b>And they talked, and talked, and...etc, as the actual Commission didn't hold its first 'official' meeting until late 1924</b> <i>(...and was disbanded in late 1925)</i><b>!</b><br></br>
<b>It was queried by those present if they should even recognise the body, or if they should just ignore it altogether but, as a then top British politician, Bonar Law</b> <i>(who was to become their Prime Minister in October that year)</i><b> had received assurances that either their 'Lord' Clyde or 'Lord' Dunedin would be in an effective influential position on the Commission, and that their 'Sir' Edward Carson would be in charge of the entity, they agreed to be seen to co-operate with it.</b><br></br>
<b>Those at that meeting also agreed that "no immediate decision should be given" to the press or to the public. Or, indeed, to the Irish, as to do so would expose the hand of Jokers they were intending to play...</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 18th April, 1920, Volunteers from 'D' Company of the 4th Battalion, West Limerick Brigade IRA, Ballysteen, in County Limerick, raided the house of a local man, a Mr Peter Switzer, a farmer, who was known to have no time for the campaign to remove the British political and military presence from Ireland.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Switzer got to one of his guns first and fired on the Volunteers, <a href="https://ballysteengaa.ie/history/">killing IRA Lieutenant Dan Neville</a>.</b><br></br>
<b>The Officer Commanding of the West Limerick Brigade, Seán Finn, contacted IRA GHQ to notify them that they still intended to relieve Mr Switzer of his guns and to seek justice for the death of Lieutenant Neville but he was ordered by a superior Officer, Richard James Mulcahy</b> <i>(a republican-gamekeeper-turned-Free-State poacher)</i><b> not to do so.</b><br></br>
<b>And there the matter rested.</b><br></br>
<b>Until, that is, September that year </b> <i>(1920)</i><b> when, on his way to Mass, Mr Switzer was persuaded by the IRA to surrender two of his revolvers to them.</b><br></br>
<b>And there, once again, the matter rested. But it's a long road that has no turning...</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Switzer's encounters with the IRA had, it was believed locally, turned him from not only refusing to support the freedom struggle of his neighbours but to actually work against them in their struggle.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 10th January, 1922, as he was attending the funeral of one of his sisters in Castletown, in County Limerick, Mr Switzer was shot dead by the IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Richard James Mulcahy was not asked his opinion before or after the operation, as he had, by then, abandoned the freedom struggle himself and was wearing the military uniform of the Free State.</b>
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<b>John T. Prout</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> was born in 1880, in Dundrum, in County Tipperary, on the 25th October and, as a young man, emigrated to America, joined the army there and, at 36 years of age, took part in the 'First World War' as a soldier in the '69th Infantry Regiment', and soldiered for some months with the 'French Command'.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGHzXClZLg24lz_lPSJxuoITides2pBZsbstlXHo-Gw1jDzJCtyu1VHxt6lGz_e2BzZadGxqSqX2bq-enTjq0NMd7a2vzjVqrxaIkd-q6GDpIoy9dxKQA5kGngzOn-ksenyvHwxspJ0DDpyK9Y6R7c_xatgevYjAyJwzD4cXY6E4IIAjFy9ERkQ/s1676/John%20T%20Prout.%20%282%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1676" data-original-width="690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGHzXClZLg24lz_lPSJxuoITides2pBZsbstlXHo-Gw1jDzJCtyu1VHxt6lGz_e2BzZadGxqSqX2bq-enTjq0NMd7a2vzjVqrxaIkd-q6GDpIoy9dxKQA5kGngzOn-ksenyvHwxspJ0DDpyK9Y6R7c_xatgevYjAyJwzD4cXY6E4IIAjFy9ERkQ/s200/John%20T%20Prout.%20%282%29.jpg"/></a></div><br></br>
<b>That was in 1916 and, naturally enough, the Rising back home in Ireland caught his attention.</b><br></br>
<b>He returned to Ireland at the end of 'WW1', joined the IRA and was put to work as a Training and Intelligence Officer for the Third Tipperary Brigade, based at Galtee Castle, in County Tipperary.</b><br></br>
<b>In 1922 he left Irish republicanism behind him and joined the Free State Army in the rank of 'Commandant General' in charge of the South-East of the new State, and was based in County Kilkenny, but there soon developed a sense of unease between him and some of his superiors in the Stater army ; a report from within his own ranks, in October 1922, stated -</b><i><b> "Prout is too weak as well as too guilless to handle traiterous or semi-mutinous incompetents.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>On the 10th January, 1923, the West Waterford area of his command was stripped from him, but he had his supporters, too, and was promoted to the rank of 'Major General', a position he held when, in June 1924, he was 'demobilised' from the ranks of the FSA, an action which upset at least one of his supporters, General Richard Mulcahy, the Commander in Chief of the Stater Army -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"I think that is a very regrettable matter. Major-General Prout has been made the butt of an attack by a none too sober and none too industrious section here in the country and it is a most disconcerting matter that an officer of Major-General Prout's record and service during the last 18 months or two years finds himself now demobilised..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Mr Prout returned to America and settled in New York. He died in 1969, at the age of 89, in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, and is buried in Brattleboro, Vermont, <a href="https://www.reformer.com/local-news/political-activist-braves-storm-for-free-state-cause/article_8b3e95a8-b122-56ff-b2eb-7c90fe019889.html">where Free Staters go to die...!</b></a>
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<b>From the 10th January to the 20th, in 1923, the IRA in the County Kerry area concentrated on making infrastructure unusable for Free Staters to use against them.</b><br></br>
<b>This had been an aspect of the IRA campaign since August 1922, when <a href="https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Collections-Research/Art-and-Industry-Collections/Exploring-the-Irish-Wars,-1919-1923/Bitter-Divisions/Lost-Leaders-Liam-Lynch">Liam Lynch</a> had issued general orders to this effect -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"Owing to the use of railways by the Free State HQ for the conveyance of troops and war material and for the purposes of army communication, the destruction of the railways under Free State control is an essential part of our military policy.."</b></i><br></br>
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<b>The bridge</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> just outside the small village of Currans, in County Kerry, for example, was 'dismantled' by the IRA in 1922 as it was of more use to the Staters than it was to the IRA, but Leinster House organised for it to be rebuilt.</b><br></br>
<b>Not long after it was reconstructed and the photo-ops with the local politicians had come to an end, the IRA paid the structure a visit and, again, deconstructed it...!</b>
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<i><b>And that's it for our first proper post of 2024 - thanks for the visit, and for reading!</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-90550869723059023402024-01-06T23:21:00.000+00:002024-01-06T23:21:01.365+00:00"HE TRADED WHAT HE HADN'T GOT FOR WHAT HE DESIRED..."<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgv6a-uPAEl847ZmPrT0QVCSWBqahn_J49VKXGS-Qam8hYJF7Pou8Lms13CAJnq6TJM4J9OjicfYYA6bxHLGjNfFkzcY1-4DGBOf0V0TO-h7y9Q6HWB2BYznBJR1COxYLmHupONrCRYn8UkkwjsHuXGPe1KCaV71xMZPCtDqiAmzxd_Bfl8W8-7w/s269/Blog%20Post%202024..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="77" data-original-width="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgv6a-uPAEl847ZmPrT0QVCSWBqahn_J49VKXGS-Qam8hYJF7Pou8Lms13CAJnq6TJM4J9OjicfYYA6bxHLGjNfFkzcY1-4DGBOf0V0TO-h7y9Q6HWB2BYznBJR1COxYLmHupONrCRYn8UkkwjsHuXGPe1KCaV71xMZPCtDqiAmzxd_Bfl8W8-7w/s200/Blog%20Post%202024..jpg"/></a></div><br></br>
<b>...and we're back!</b><br></br>
<b>Almost...</b><br></br>
<b>Crazy Christmas and Nuclear New Year : between the three of us, we got to eleven Christmas/New Year parties in houses, pubs and nightclubs, opened seventeen presents that were gifted to us </b> <i>(...won't tell ya how many we gave in return, between us, as this machine would run out of ink!)</i><b>, spent hours talking on screen to all our colleagues, comrades and friends in New York and somehow managed to find a few hours here and there to put something</b> <i><b> dacent </b></i> <b>together for ya - but not yet, as we're still working on a post or two.</b><br></br>
<b>We'll be here on Wednesday, 10th January 2024, with a fourteen-piece post, included in which will be the following -</b><br></br>
<b>In the 1980's, this female Irish republican prisoner received worldwide attention for the plight she was in, including the use of a British 'Royal Prerogative...'</b>
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<b>In 1919, there was fierce political comings and goings</b> <i> (!)</i><b> between Westminster and their 'command structure' in Ireland, to the point that neither side of that particular British 'coin' knew what they were doing, but one of their wily operators managed to trade that which he hadn't got for that which he desired...</b>
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<b>From 2002 - marriage V single parenthood, alcohol and young people, primary educators - parents, or the State? - and stay-at-home parents : issues that now, 22 years later, are still being discussed in this State...</b>
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<b>In the 1920's, infrastructure used by the State, politically and militarily, from Kildare to Kerry and all points in between and further afield, was recognised by the IRA to be of more value to the Staters than it was to them...</b>
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<b>From the early 1920's in Ireland ; semi-official</b> <i> (!)</i><b> statements from British forces were the equivalent of 'Breaking News/Press Releases' from Leinster House today...</b>
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<b>From the late 19th Century - a statement issued by Irish rebels to the working-class people in England...</b>
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<b>...and we've more, as stated ; it's a 14-piece post that we're working on for Wednesday, 10th January, 2024.</b><br></br>
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<b>So add that to your</b><i> (otherwise failed!)</i><b> 'New Year Resolution List' - must check-in with the '1169 Crew' on Wednesday, 10th January 2024...!</b><br></br>
<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading : see y'all on the 10th!</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-24469710907911475922023-12-20T16:07:00.000+00:002023-12-20T16:07:35.798+00:00IRELAND, 1922 - THE 'CID' AND THE GHOST OF THE 'CDF'.<b>ON THIS DATE (20TH DECEMBER) 101 YEARS AGO : REPUBLICAN GAMEKEEPER-TURNED-FREE STATE POACHER SHOT DEAD BY IRA.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaozbVkWwM972Rwb0o_zrcB9dJYiar1PgyaRfqllM6xHYQEpjVSn7XIP56t1Yb_WT3yZKHs0ljAcDm3WJHfeJVXI5FyJ2xtrvxv4z2NPbdqwnNP69nG6lEo21ZFKi0TbftVKE-w/s1600/1916-1922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaozbVkWwM972Rwb0o_zrcB9dJYiar1PgyaRfqllM6xHYQEpjVSn7XIP56t1Yb_WT3yZKHs0ljAcDm3WJHfeJVXI5FyJ2xtrvxv4z2NPbdqwnNP69nG6lEo21ZFKi0TbftVKE-w/s200/1916-1922.jpg" width="153" height="200" data-original-width="444" data-original-height="582" /></a></div><i><b>'Seamus Dwyer was christened James and took the Irish form of his name in later life. He was the younger of twin boys ; he and his elder brother, Luke, were born on the 15th November 1886...(he became) increasingly active in Sinn Féin politics and was recognised as a very prominent member of Sinn Féin in the Rathmines and South Dublin areas.</b><br></br>
<i><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahir_Davitt">Cahir Davitt</a>, a Judge in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A1il_Courts">the Dáil Courts</a> in 1921 and later the first Attorney General of the Free State, recalled sitting as a judge in the District Court in Rathmines around this time where the other two judges were Erskine Childers and James Dwyer (neither judge was to survive the Civil War)...Dwyer also become involved in the military struggle for Irish independence and served as the Intelligence Officer (I/O) for G Company, 4th Battalion, Dublin Brigade IRA, during the War of Independence. He was arrested and imprisoned by the British for a time in 1920.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>He worked with Michael Collins on policy material, rather than military operations (and) was a member of the Second Dáil, which sat on August 16, 1921 (until 8th June 1922)...the controversial Anglo-Irish Treaty (was) signed on 6th December 1921 (and) Dwyer was a strong Pro-Treaty member.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b><a href="http://www.anphoblacht.com/files/images/orig/2013/pg26-CID-Oriel-House.jpg">Oriel House</a>, a prominent building in the centre of Dublin located on the corner of Fenian Street and Westland Row, was the headquarters of the Free State Intelligence Department which comprised of three sections - the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Protective Corps and the Citizen's Defence Force....though there is no record of Dwyer having an official position in the CDF*, it is clear that he was strongly associated with it in the minds of republicans...</b></i>
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<i><b>On the evening of Wednesday 20th December 1922</b></i> <i>(101 years ago on this date)</i><i><b>, as the day's trading drew to a close (in his shop) Marie was upstairs in their accommodation while her husband, Seamus (37), served customers and spoke with friends in the shop below...it was only five days before Christmas, no doubt trade was brisk and Dwyer was looking forward to the Christmas break.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>It was also the day after seven republican prisoners had been <a href="http://www.kildare.ie/ehistory/index.php/death-in-december-90th-anniversary-of-curragh-executions/">executed in Kildare</a> following their capture carrying arms, one of the largest single executions during the Civil War...standing less than a yard away from his victim, (the IRA man) reached into the inside breast pocket of his overcoat and whipped out the revolver, pointed it directly at Dwyer's chest and fired two shots into him from point blank range.</b></i>
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<i><b>Dwyer was hit in the heart and died instantly, falling behind the counter...his death was noted in the records of Blackrock College by Fr John Ryan CSSp, College historian and archivist:</b></i> <i> 'Shot 1922..political assassination – connected with his attitude re killing of <a href="http://www.theirishstory.com/2016/06/27/to-cost-you-in-blood-rory-oconnors-1916-rising-and-aftermath/#.WjaPldSLQrg">Rory O'Connor</a>?'</i> <b>(From <a href="https://www.theirishstory.com/2013/09/02/who-was-seamus-dwyer/">here</a>.)</b><br></br>
<b>*To declare that Seamus Dwyer "had no official position in the CDF" is questionable -</b> <i><b>"Dwyer was also the head of a shadowy organisation called the Citizens Defence Force which operated out of Oriel House alongside the infamous CID and it is likely that this is the reason why he was killed, probably as a reprisal for the executions which the Free State had started shortly beforehand..."</b></i> <i>(from <a href="https://politics.ie/threads/90-years-ago-the-battle-of-dublin-28-june-5-july-1922.191394/page-29#post-6089991">here</a>)</i><b>, and then there's this, which also counters that declaration -</b><br></br>
<i><b>'The CDF was was set up to protect private property. One of it's first leaders, Seamus Dwyer, was shot dead in his own shop. Leadership of this body passed on to Harrison*, a former British Army officer. There were 101 members in this body, mostly former BA men, probably recruited from the British Legion. It was a very secretive organisation and used numbers instead of names when writing reports and communicating. Three of it's members were killed during it's existence. It was the first body to be abolished after the ending of the civil war...'</b></i> <i>(from <a href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:A1tNXq9Dl1AJ:https://irishconstabulary.com/citizens-defence-force-t1148.html+&cd=11&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ie">here</a> / *Captain Henry Harrison, O.B.E., M.C. secretary of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Dominion_League">'Irish Dominion League'</a>)</i><b>.</b></i><br></br>
<b>Seamus Dwyer, killed in his own business premises, is reported to have been in overall charge of the CDF but Leinster House records show although considered for the post he did not take it up. The man was obviously predisposed towards the objectives of the CDF and that was apparently recognised by the then State 'authorities'.</b>
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<b>A local (Clondalkin, Dublin) connection re the above-mentioned execution of Seamus Dwyer -</b><br></br>
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He was a member of the Fourth Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IRA.</i>
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<b>Robert Bonfield was born in Youghalarra, Nenagh, County Tipperary in 1903</b> <i>(he was only 20 years of age when he was kidnapped and killed by the Staters)</i><b> and was a member of the Fourth Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>He was educated by the Christian Brothers at Synge Street, Dublin and, at the age of 17, entered University College, Dublin, to study dentistry.</b><br></br>
<b>He joined the IRA through contacts in that College. A number of weeks before his death</b> <i> (29th March 1923)</i><b> he was arrested at his home by the Staters, but he escaped from their custody</b> <i>(in Portobello Barracks)</i><b> and went on the run, and remained a free man until his recapture and subsequent 'disappearance'.</b><br></br>
<b>He was visiting the Seven Churches on Holy Thursday and it would appear was accompanied by another man when he was picked up</b> <i> (visiting the Seven Churches was a custom in Dublin during that period, when its citizens would visit all seven churches during Holy Week)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>After being captured he was dragged towards the Baggot Street corner of Stephen's Green, near the Shelbourne Hotel, and in the direction of both Oriel House and the new CID Headquarters which was just a few hundred yards away on Merrion Square. He was assaulted on several occasions by his escort in full public view and this was the last time he was seen alive.</b><br></br>
<b>His body was discovered the following day, Good Friday, by a shepherd at Clondalkin, Dublin - the previous day</b> <i> (Thursday, 29th of March 1923, between 6.30pm and 7pm)</i><b>, a young girl named Bella Brown, who lived near the Red Cow in Clondalkin, heard six shots as she was bringing milk to a neighbour's house.</b><br></br>
<b>The following day, Friday 30th March 1923, the body of Robert Bonfield was discovered in a field close by - he had been shot several times in the head.</b>
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<b>According to testimony given by several witnesses at the inquest there is no doubt that Commandant Bonfield was arrested by members of (Free State) President Cosgrave's personal body guard and later murdered, either by them, or their associate detectives operating out of Oriel House. He was discovered lying on his side at the bottom of a ditch at Dowling's Farm, Newlands Cross - he had been shot a number of times.</b><br></br>
<b>He was aged 20 years. His remains were refused admission to his local Parish church in Ranelagh and he was buried in the family plot, St. Paul's section, Glasnevin Cemetery :</b><br></br>
<i><b>'Bonfield was arrested on 07th March 1923 by a Lieut. Bolger after his house at 103 Moyne Road, Ranelagh was raided and a veritable arsenal (including a Lewis Gun and three revolvers) were seized.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>He was taken to Portobello Barracks from where he subsequently escaped a couple of nights later. He went to the house of schoolmates of his, Brendan and Kevin Mangan, at Albany Terrace, Ranelagh and had a wash and some food before going on the run. A 'servant girl' who had helped give him the meal probably reported him to the authorities.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The following night the Mangan's house was raided by "a group of men in plain clothes accompanied by a man in the uniform of an Army Lieutenant" who were looking for Bonfield. Brendan Mangan was taken to the back garden and interrogated. His parents attempted to intervene and when his mother asked why he was not arrested and charged in the 'proper way', the chilling reply was "We are out to execute, not make arrests".</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Mangan's excuses were believed and the group left, which was rather lucky as Bonfield had hidden arms under the floor of the Mangans henhouse and Brendan was aware of this. The Mangans kept the guns hidden for many years and later when the family moved house Brendan transferred the guns to the hen house at their new address.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>It was only years later when there was an amnesty that his brother Kevin handed in the guns. On the 29th of March 1923, about 2 weeks later, Bonfield was lifted by Cosgraves bodyguard which included Joe McGrath, John O'Reilly (who was either a Colonel, a Commandant or a Superintendent) and an unnamed guard. Two of these men took Commandant Robert 'Bobbie' Bonfield to Clondalkin and shot him...'</b></i> <i>(from <a href="http://theirishwar.com/information-required-irish-volunteers-1916-etc/">here</a>.)</i>
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<i><b>Nothing was heard of Lawlor until the 1st of January 1923 when his body was found on Orwell Road...if Frank Lawlor was killed</b></i> <i>(he was killed by Staters on the 29th December 1922)</i><i><b> in revenge for Dwyers death, it appears..that they got the wrong man, as according to IRA officer Séan Dowling it was another man, Bobby Bonfield who shot Dwyer, for which Bonfield was himself assassinated by pro-Treaty forces in March 1923..'</b></i><b>, and yet another IRA man, <a href="https://comeheretome.com/2013/02/15/thomas-oleary-of-armstong-street-harolds-cross/">Thomas O'Leary</a>, had his name linked by Staters to the Dwyer execution ; both IRA men were shot dead by Leinster House operatives, either because of the whispered 'Dwyer link' or simply due to the fact that they continued to be Irish republicans, unlike those that shot them.</b><br></br>
<b>Seamus Dwyer, a member of the Free State political establishment - whether or not he was a member/supporter or leader of the anti-republican CDF organisation, he was a gamekeeper-turned-poacher - was shot dead by the IRA on this date - 20th December - 101 years ago.</b>
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<b>'SINN FÉIN NOTES.'</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>GALWAY :</b>
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<b>Sinn Féin went in strength to the Galway v Clare game at Ballinasloe on Sunday, 20th March last.</b><br></br>
<b>Cumann members from Galway City, Ballygar, Ballyforan, from Dublin and County Clare were very well received by the Gaels.</b><br></br>
<b>Every available copy of 'The United Irishman' was sold and a good collection made for the 'Northern Election Fund'.</b><br></br>
<b>All our members were greatly impressed by the reception they received, and it has been decided to hold public meetings in Tuam and Ballinasloe to explain Sinn Féin policy to the County Galway people ; the Tuam meeting will be held on Saturday, 16th April, at 8pm, and the Ballinasloe meeting will be held on Sunday, 17th April, at 12.30pm...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-8QM9tljNl56NX4UrJjZqqcfPiBWwR4MrkqanN8Y7_g3Tc677rbC8nHPlKI9dBFtZXaNJzJMRcdbpXC8XVGO18nkbHDyCz0t-BFDt0hA5HyBo1rS14AtUxPg_N_vNNNQlNksa8UkhJGl_RAA8vjwvaiuqOD-2KMDiz6MKSRKOKl39zdRVDHCEw/s309/20th%20December%201919..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="74" data-original-width="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-8QM9tljNl56NX4UrJjZqqcfPiBWwR4MrkqanN8Y7_g3Tc677rbC8nHPlKI9dBFtZXaNJzJMRcdbpXC8XVGO18nkbHDyCz0t-BFDt0hA5HyBo1rS14AtUxPg_N_vNNNQlNksa8UkhJGl_RAA8vjwvaiuqOD-2KMDiz6MKSRKOKl39zdRVDHCEw/s320/20th%20December%201919..jpg"/></a></div><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKoiyy-r5cfq5K6kfCd4QA1L79uzzKIfIbhVZ6CfnNlZpJkldzVOd6aOHMUNY990jwIL5pBicAb8339u1p5KaTQrISGrRgW74MJKsxpIgFmvxWZKm7xfWjN5Ni4SksO55D6AlTSuurdUi2Meg9Y6ydPfTDjcg2fbPsJaXSD1GEv_9EuB6ZhExhQ/s344/RIC%20DI%20Redmond..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKoiyy-r5cfq5K6kfCd4QA1L79uzzKIfIbhVZ6CfnNlZpJkldzVOd6aOHMUNY990jwIL5pBicAb8339u1p5KaTQrISGrRgW74MJKsxpIgFmvxWZKm7xfWjN5Ni4SksO55D6AlTSuurdUi2Meg9Y6ydPfTDjcg2fbPsJaXSD1GEv_9EuB6ZhExhQ/s200/RIC%20DI%20Redmond..jpg"/></a></div><br></br><b>On the 20th December, 1919, an RIC 'Detective Inspector', a Mr William Charles Forbes Redmond</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>, arrived in Dublin to take over as the boss of the 'G Division' of the 'Dublin Metropolitan Police'</b> <i>('G Division' was a plainclothes ['Special Branch'] divisional office of the 'Dublin Metropolitan Police' which concentrated on 'detective police work'. Divisions 'A' to 'F' of the DMP were uniformed sections which patrolled particular districts of Dublin)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Redmond had been head of the RIC's 'Detective Division' in Belfast</b> <i>( and was later to be appointed 'Assistant Commissioner of the DMP' on January 5th 1920, which would bring him further into the spotlight...)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Redmond didn't travel on his own, as he was accompanied by a few of his equally 'old guard' colleagues who were to operate as his new 'office staff'.
The group 'roughed it' for a while in <a href="https://www.rareirishstuff.com/vintage-irish-advertising-/the-standard-hotel-harcourt-street-dublin-1951.7609.html">'The Standard Hotel'</a> in Harcourt Street in Dublin while they were waiting for 'secure accommodation' to be prepared for them in <a href="https://issuu.com/obair/docs/2022-03-31_opw-dublin-castle-booklet_15">Dublin Castle</a>.</b><br></br>
<b>At his first meeting with 'G Division' operatives, Mr Redmond told them that they had one month "to get (Michael) Collins" or else he would order them to resign, and also told them that he was bringing in some more of his old RIC colleagues from Belfast which, apparently</b> <i> (and understandably!)</i><b> didn't go down too well with the existing operatives.</b><br></br>
<b>On Wednesday, 21st January 1920, he left his Dublin Castle Headquarters and was walking down Harcourt Street when he was shot dead by the IRA. Had he lived, he would have known that 'his men' never did catch Michael Collins, who was himself later to be shot dead by the IRA...</b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2VEtLAtxxNUKTG0zciDmOSgjJFvCr2m-vdp_8mNQjeXebsYvFf23zJebXp0m6isbbNFGSdHUloE8PlAPntpTvhrW-GeOaM9chdm1Q1QE-p_r0al3YP-HA93huM-hvlQsu2xls8j_JSEFmukjK79LtclwhBuOCtY19_2naNZLN4KlWVFM18vTuA/s537/Arthur%20Griffith.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2VEtLAtxxNUKTG0zciDmOSgjJFvCr2m-vdp_8mNQjeXebsYvFf23zJebXp0m6isbbNFGSdHUloE8PlAPntpTvhrW-GeOaM9chdm1Q1QE-p_r0al3YP-HA93huM-hvlQsu2xls8j_JSEFmukjK79LtclwhBuOCtY19_2naNZLN4KlWVFM18vTuA/s200/Arthur%20Griffith.jpg"/></a></div><br></br><b>On the 20th December, 1919, Mr Arthur Griffith</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> hopefully woke up, after a sleepness night, wondering about - maybe even regretting? - what he done the previous day.</b><br></br>
<b>For it was on the 19th December that he had proposed the following motion in the (32 County) Dáil Éireann -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"That Dáil Éireann approve the Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland signed in London on December 6th, 1921."</b></i><br></br>
<b>...and it's all been down hill since then.</b>
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<b>On the 20th December, 1919, Peadar Clancy</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> and other IRA Volunteers finalised their plan to pay a 'visit' to the offices of the pro-British 'Irish Independent' newspaper </b> <i>(!)</i><b> offices in Dublin to convey to the management and staff of that enterprise that they objected to them having described <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/the-botched-assassination-attempt-of-the-hated-french-1.3745322">IRA Volunteer Martin Savage</a> as "a would-be assassin".</b><br></br>
<b>The IRA Unit called to the premises the next day and the machinery on site was put out of action.</b><br></br>
<b>Message delivered.</b>
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<b>IRELAND ON THE COUCH...</b><br></br>
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<i><b>A Psychiatrist Writes.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>'Magill' commissioned <a href="https://www.blackrockhealth.com/consultants/prof-patricia-casey">Professor Patricia Casey</a> to compile an assessment of Irish society at what may emerge as the end of a period of unprecedented growth and change.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>This is her report.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>From 'Magill Magazine' Annual, 2002.</b></i>
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<b>For all of our self-indulgence, we are still a very generous nation, giving hugely both spiritually and emotionally when the time requires this.</b><br></br>
<b>Witness the collections a few Sundays ago for famine relief in Afghanistan, or the outpouring of grief at the day of mourning on the 14th September for the victims of the bombing in America. Attend any funeral and the people carry the coffins of the dead and comfort the bereaved in very practical ways.</b><br></br>
<b>We have had a recent diet of stories of terrible sexual and physical abuse from the 1950's and 1960's, resulting in books, court cases and a commission of inquiry.</b><br></br>
<b>The perpetrators, ie the Church and the State, have been rightly vilified. However, the constant preoccupation with the past is also unhealthy, since it distracts us from examining the problems in our midst.</b><br></br>
<b>Sexual abuse still occurs today and may possibly be more common than in the past, since the circumstances that promote it are rampant. The 1950's were imperfect, but so too is the new millennium and we should not be smug...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>On the 20th December, 1920, the IRA ambushed an RIC/British Army patrol at Nine Mile House, County Kilkenny -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"(It was on) Monday the 20th December, 1920, at a point about 300 yards from the village of Nine Mile House. There was an excellent ambush position
there, where the road from Kilkenny to Clonmel turns sharply to the right and then, about 40 or 50 yards further on, turns sharply to the left before entering the village of Nine Mile House.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The road from Mullinahone to Nine Mile House joins the main road at the latter sharp bend. There was ample cover along the steep slopes on the left-hand side of the road and a perfect view of the countryside.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Armed with a miscellaneous collection of weapons, shot guns, rifles and revolvers, over eighty men assembled at the ambush position at about 7 a.m. on the morning of the 20th. I had a service rifle which Father Delahunty had brought from Dublin and given to me some time before his arrest. Ammunition was our biggest worry, as a check-up revealed that there was scarcely ten rounds per man.</b></i><br></br>
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<i><b>As a precaution to prevent information reaching the (British) military in Callan, road blocks were not erected.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The day wore on with no sign of any lorries of British forces but about 2 p.m. we saw a cycle patrol of fourteen British troops and two men coming along the Mullinahone road. They dismounted from their bicycles and slowly pushed them up the steep incline towards the main road. It looked as if they were going to be sitting ducks when they entered the ambush position.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Unfortunately, at that stage, one of our men fired an accidental shot. The two R.I.C. men who were at the rear of the patrol turned and cycled back towards Mullinahone. The soldiers discarded their bicycles and ran back down the road. We opened rifle fire on them at 300 yards range but without effect.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The soldiers left the road, got cover in a hog and from there had an exchange of fire with us at a range which I gave as 1,000yards. One soldier was
wounded in this latter exchange. The engagement was broken off almost immediately afterwards, our only booty being the soldiers' bicycles.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>On being dismissed, the men separated to go to their own areas. With about thirty men I retreated cross-country to Garryricken and Trenchmore and afterwards crossed the Kilkenny-Clonmel road at a point about two miles from Callan. There was no sign of British forces on the road when I reconnoitred it but they arrived on cycles from Callan within minutes of our crossing.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We had not gone more than 200 yards from the road when two of our men, Paddy Ryan and a chap named Maher, who was cycling from Nine Mile House on two
of the captured bicycles, came into conflict with the military. Shots were exchanged in which Ryan shot one of the soldiers, a Private Squib, through the head.</b></i><br></br>
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<i><b>British forces were by that time concentrating into the area and firing was going on all over the countryside. It was particularly heavy in the Mullinahone direction but that, as I again learned later, was due to indiscriminate firing by British troops who had run amok.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Another party of British forces arrived from the Callan direction and, mistaking the troops who had pursued Ryan and Maher for I.R.A. men, opened fire on them. The mistake was mutual and the fire was returned with the result that a Constable Walsh of the R.I.C. was shot dead.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>As I have said, it was dark when all this was going on and we had no idea at the time of what exactly was happening but I would say that the confusion amongst the British forces was a big factor in enabling us to reach our homes safely.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>That night and on the following day Auxiliaries, Black and Tans, and (British) troops concentrated into the area around Nine Mile House. There were widespread raids and searches. They terrorised the inhabitants of the village, burned stacks of hay at farmhouses and wrecked O'Sullivan's licensed premises..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>The <a href="https://www.militaryarchives.ie/collections/online-collections/bureau-of-military-history-1913-1921/reels/bmh/BMH.WS1642.pdf">words of Edward Halley</a>, Ballywater, Callan, in County Kilkenny, Vice Commander of the 7th Battalion IRA, Kilkenny Brigade.</b>
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<b>On the 20th December, 1920, British soldiers and RIC members, numbering about 100 men, with the help of their 'Royal Navy', landed on Inishmore Island</b> <i> (pictured, the largest of the Aran Islands)</i><b> to 'arrest suspects' and search for weapons.</b><br></br>
<b>They 'arrested' eleven men, ten of whom they said were IRA Volunteers, and shot one man dead, a Mr Laurence McDonagh who, it was reported at the time, was an Irish speaker who didn't understand the English language.</b><br></br>
<b>The British soldier who shot him said later that he had 'ordered' Mr McDonagh (in English) to stay where he was standing and, when Mr McDonagh kept moving</b> <i> ("...trying to escape..")</i><b>, he shot him dead.</b>
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<b>On the 20th December, 1920, two IRA men - Captain James Lobby and Volunteer William Delaney - were 'arrested' by British Auxiliaries in Dulla, in County Tipperary, and taken towards the town of Cashel, in that county.</b><br></br>
<b>But they never made it - as the British Army convoy was passing near <a href="https://tippfm.com/podcasts/tipp-today/think-episode-9-kilfeacle/">Kilfeacle Cemetery</a>, according to the British Army report, 'the two prisoners tried to escape custody' and were shot dead.</b><br></br>
<b>The following night, British forces burst into a local house and removed Laurence Lobby </b><i>(James’s brother)</i><b> and shot him dead.</b>
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<b>On the 20th December, 1920, two armed and masked men entered McDonnell's Bar in Ballyroan, County Laois, and demanded the money from the till.</b><br></br>
<b>Patrick McDonnell and his son-in-law, James Whelan, tackle the two thieves but Patrick was wounded, and James was shot dead.</b><br></br>
<b>Two British Army Auxiliaries - JH Cockburn and John Reive, both of whom were were stationed in Abbeyleix Barracks - were found guilty of the attack, 'escaped from custody' but were caught again.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 18th of June, 1921, they were sentenced to death for murder by a general court martial but their sentences were commuted to penal servitude for life.</b><br></br>
<b>Paperwork and media interest over, they were released on the 8th May, 1922.</b>
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<b>In December, 1920, the South Wexford Brigade of the IRA planned to destroy the RIC Barracks in Carrig-On-Bannow, Danescastle, in County Wexford, described locally as being 'strongly fortified and regarded as impregnable'.</b><br></br>
<b>A local man, James Walsh, ran a pub and a shop from the same premises</b> <i>(see pic)</i><b> and, as well as making a few bob from the British 'police', he also rented out rooms above the premises to them.</b><br></br>
<b>A Mr Tom Traynor, who was employed as the Wexford County Engineer, was also an IRA Volunteer, and he had calculated the amount of explosives required for the job.</b><br></br>
<b>Another IRA Volunteer, Francis Carthy, later described the IRA plan -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"...to place a large quantity of gelignite in the public house against the inner wall of the barracks. The charge was calculated to be sufficient to destroy the barracks and its contents completely.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>On the 20th December (1920), the leader of the IRA Unit, Volunteer David Sears, entered the shop to buy some cigarettes, recce it and see who was there etc, and report back to the eleven Volunteers waiting near-by to carry out the operation, but Mr Walsh became suspicious of him, words were exchanged and it came to a fist fight.</b><br></br>
<b>The 'boxing match' spilled on to the street outside and then two shots were fired, hitting James Walsh, who died minutes afterwards. The RIC in the Barracks were now alerted and fired a few shots at the IRA men who, having lost the element of surprise, withdrew from the area.</b>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s1438/Beir%20Bua!.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1044" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s200/Beir%20Bua!.jpg"/></a></div> <b>The Thread of the Irish Republican Movement from The United Irishmen through to today.</b><br></br>
<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<i><b>'Fenian Proclamation 1867 :</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Proclamation To The Irish People Of The World.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Today, having no honourable alternative left, we again appeal to force as our last resource.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>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.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>All men</b></i> <i>(sic)</i> <i><b> 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.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>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.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>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...'</b></i>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font><br></br>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHPvUEO5we5chnCoUWrgp20v_TG-DirRVpclS7NVk21C5PCRxOx7ijH3b2TEmBoJoK_eg-h7s4ySXFbLgFbwTbMbbAzPZFus2pc6IC9zMrrbyqQ8JMcPYxYcJkkk9OU6gCRKcttmYyNbAhxugztyZHALzIqMw9uS3iCACFHF2I-4OdprxG4JXoQ/s720/LH%20not%20the%20Dail..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHPvUEO5we5chnCoUWrgp20v_TG-DirRVpclS7NVk21C5PCRxOx7ijH3b2TEmBoJoK_eg-h7s4ySXFbLgFbwTbMbbAzPZFus2pc6IC9zMrrbyqQ8JMcPYxYcJkkk9OU6gCRKcttmYyNbAhxugztyZHALzIqMw9uS3iCACFHF2I-4OdprxG4JXoQ/s200/LH%20not%20the%20Dail..jpg"/></a></div><br></br><b>The 20th December, in 1921, was the sixth day of the third session of <a href="https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/106501">the Second Dáil</a></b> <i>(the 32-County political institution, not to be confused with the entity which exists now in Kildare Street, in Dublin.)</i><br></br>
<b>The debates on <a href="https://rsf-kildare.blogspot.com/2011/12/treaty-of-surrender-and-its-legacy.html">the 'Treaty of Surrender'</a> resumed, and those present went into a 'Private Session' in the afternoon to discuss the military situation which existed in the country at that time.</b><br></br>
<b>Most of the IRA Officers present say that a return to pre-'Truce' military conditions was not possible and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sean-T-OKelly">Seán T. O'Kelly</a></b> <i>(a republican-gamekeeper-turned-Free State-poacher)</i><b> stated -
<i><b>"The two great principles for which so many have died - no partition and no subjugation of Ireland to any foreign power – have gone in this Treaty and some good men are thinking of voting for it..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Shortly afterwards, Mr O'Kelly voluntarily "subjugated" himself to the rule of the Free State...</b>
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<b>On the 20th December, 1922, a Mr Patrick Fitzgerald, a Free State Army member, was shot dead at the corner of Granby Road and Dorset Street, in Dublin, by 'persons unknown' and, on that same day, while 'fumbling in the greasy till' in his shop in Number 5 Rathmines Terrace, in Dublin, a Mr Seamus Dwyer, a pro-'Treaty' politician and a personal friend of the late Michael Collins, was shot dead - see our 'Opening Post', above, for further details.</b>
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<b>On the 20th December, 1922, the Belfast to Dublin train was boarded by IRA Volunteers at Castlebellingham, in County Louth, and the passengers were ordered to disembark, which they did.</b><br></br>
<b>The train was shunted into a siding, derailed, and the carriages were burnt.</b><br></br>
<b>On the same day, a commercial goods train was making its way north when it was stopped. The driver and other workers onboard were ordered off and the train was set, driverless, down the track where it crashed into a stationary passenger train.</b>
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<b>In early April, 1922, William Blennerhassett, a (Protestant) farmer, was evicted, along with his wife and seven children, from their farm at Culleneghy, Beaufort, near Killarney, in County Kerry, by a group of armed and masked men.</b><br></br>
<b>A local man, John Murphy, had had his family members evicted from that farm, by the British, in the 1880's, and tensions were understandably high in the area because of that and other Westminster-encouraged intrusions into Irish matters.</b><br></br>
<b>The following day, however, the local IRA Battalion Officer Commanding reinstated the Blennerhassett family on the farm, which wasn't an acceptable outcome to many of the locals, so some of them decided to take a legal case regarding the proper ownership of the farm.</b><br></br>
<b>In mid-June, 1922, the High Court in Dublin ruled in favour of the Blennerhassett family in their land dispute with John Murphy and his supporters.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 20th December, 1922, the farmhouse was burnt down.</b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHY-kk41-jYqNO4wfblCFbzi-HDbbCxolkC8aoyS21x0sZa9o4QDF_4J7B_bEcUgV6vnuWcG8jQVVjScAI2-ZCQ6fMGQ6PkNflCKvJYoWVisxBsFfCBnr9w2nLAwhu0NMS3v1Bw/s1600-h/'UP+THE+REPUBLIC+!%27.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHY-kk41-jYqNO4wfblCFbzi-HDbbCxolkC8aoyS21x0sZa9o4QDF_4J7B_bEcUgV6vnuWcG8jQVVjScAI2-ZCQ6fMGQ6PkNflCKvJYoWVisxBsFfCBnr9w2nLAwhu0NMS3v1Bw/s320/'UP+THE+REPUBLIC+!%27.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146544279697642578" /></a> <font face="Arial"color="green"><i><b> UP THE REPUBLIC - OUR DAY WILL COME !</b></i></font><br></br>
<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>NOLLAIG SHONA DAR LEITHEOIRI! </b></font><br></br>
<i><b>Ar eagle an dearmaid...</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Ba bhrea an rud e siocháin bhuan bunaithe ar an gceart a bheith againn in Éireann. Is i an bronntanas is fearr a d'fheadfaimis a thabhairt duinn fein agus dar gclann.
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Coinniodh an ceart agus an tsiocháin uainn le breis agus ocht gcead bliain , de bharr ionradh , forghabhail agus miriaradh na Sasanach. Socrú ar bith a dheantar in ainm mhuintir na hÉireann agus a ghlacann le riail Shasana agus a dhaingnionn an chriochdheighilt , ni thig leis an ceart na an tsiocháin bhuann a bhunu.<br></br>
Ni dheanfaidh se ach la na siochána buaine a chur ar an mhear fhada agus an bhunfhadb a thabhairt do ghluin eile . Tharla se seo cheana nuair a siniodh Conradh 1921 agus cuireadh siar ar mhuintir na hÉireann e in ainm na siochána. Is mór ag <a href="https://republicansinnfein.org/">Sinn Féin Poblachtach</a> Éire a bheith saor agus daonlathach, an cuspoir ceanna a bhi i gceist ag Wolfe Tone agus ag na Poblachtaigh uile anuas go dti 1916 agus an la ata inniu ann.<br></br>
Rinne a lan fear agus ban croga iobairti mora, thug a mbeatha fiu, ar son na cuise uaisle seo.</b></i><br>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><i><b>CEART. SAOIRSE. DAONLATHAS.</b></i></font>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>A PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS TO OUR READERS !</b></font><br></br>
<i><b>Least we forget...<br></br>
A just and permanent peace in Ireland is most desirable. It is the greatest gift we could give to ourselves and our children.<br>
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We have been denied justice and peace for more than eight centuries, because of English invasion, occupation and misrule of our country.
Any arrangement which, in the name of the Irish people, accepts English rule and copperfastens the Border, will not bring justice and lasting peace. It will only postpone the day of permanent peace, handing over the basic problem to another generation.<br></br>
This happened before when the Treaty of 1921 was signed and was forced on the Irish people in the name of peace. <a href="https://republicansinnfein.org/">Republican Sinn Féin</a> cherishes the objective of a free, democratic Ireland, as envisaged by Wolfe Tone and all Republicans down to 1916 and our own day. Many brave men and women sacrificed a lot, even their lives, for this noble Cause.</b></i><br></br>
<font face="Arial"color="green"><i><b>JUSTICE. FREEDOM. DEMOCRACY.</b></i></font><br></br>
<i>From the '1169' Crew, December 2023. PLEASE NOTE : we are on a short break now from normal posting, although we will return to 'normal' early in the New Year.</i><br></br>
<i>Yeah - that's all we can say for now - "early" 'cause, between the family, our political colleagues, the Girl Gang, our neighbours and other friends, we've got about a dozen Christmas parties to get to and literally dozens more house calls to make!</i><br></br>
<i>I'll still be having me say on <a href="https://twitter.com/1169AndCounting">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ceclia.lynch">Facebook</a>, as ya can't keep a Dublin young wan from spaking her mind!</i><br></br>
<b>Go raibh maith agat, and we hope a good 2024 will come to your door! </b><br></br>
<b>Nollaig shona dhaoibh is go méadaí Dia bhúr stór san Athbhliain!</b><br></br>
<i><b>Sharon and the Crew ; signing off for 2023.</b></i><br></br>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-28883569150184263352023-12-17T22:13:00.002+00:002023-12-17T22:13:37.337+00:00"THIS IS WHERE YOU GET OFF...!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EIs44pYgB8khcr6hcFF4LMi4I0C-Yf-U_aoYj8DlHC5GRE07x0NaJST5KEyfIxWbdXJk2OnwhxFxumvibLz2NMYMCsFmPc0RI_UBu6EVDazcXzrblKdvANLG6k91Bv_o_ieY22WzwFNcJzI6T1QtMWU03G6_7PZ3NRuuRZ1Lf6pIZv0oEeihZg/s420/cominatya!.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EIs44pYgB8khcr6hcFF4LMi4I0C-Yf-U_aoYj8DlHC5GRE07x0NaJST5KEyfIxWbdXJk2OnwhxFxumvibLz2NMYMCsFmPc0RI_UBu6EVDazcXzrblKdvANLG6k91Bv_o_ieY22WzwFNcJzI6T1QtMWU03G6_7PZ3NRuuRZ1Lf6pIZv0oEeihZg/s200/cominatya!.jpg"/></a></div><br></br>
<b>We're working on another 17-part post for Wednesday, 20th December 2023, and I'm told - despite the Christmas distractions - it'll be ready to go by then</b> <i>(Ho! Ho! Ho!)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Among the 17 occurrances we'll be posting about is one in which, over one hundred years ago, a shopkeeper in Dublin received some callers he didn't welcome whereas they, in turn, welcomed the opportunity to pay him a visit. He gets a mention in two of our pieces, so popular was he, apparently...!
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<b>In 1919, Westminster decided to send one of its top paramilitary operatives to Dublin, with a 'hit team' he picked himself, to sort out the damned Irish rebels in Dublin ; it was hoped that he could 'chop the head off the snake' and he thought he could do it, too. On a fine day in December, he ventured out into the city centre, probably to do some Christmas shopping, but he got more than he could afford to pay for...</b>
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<b>This man was over in London, representing the Irish Republican Movement but, on his return to Dublin, he wasn't representing the Movement anymore...</b>
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<b>From the 1920's in Ireland - the story of how a stray shot from an IRA gun caused two different sections of the Crown Forces to begin shooting at each other...</b>
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<b>Two armed British Auxies were a bit stuck for Christmas drinking money and decided to rob the cash from the local pub, shooting dead an employee in the process. But they were caught, imprisoned, "escaped from custody", caught again, and sentenced to death. But, when the media attention had been focussed elsewhere...</b>
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<b>Dublin, 1920's - a 'Private Session' by the IRA leadership discussed the military situation in Ireland and one of those who spoke was to betray his own words in the then near future...</b>
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<b>A train journey in the 1920's turned into more than that when armed men boarded the train and ordered the passengers to disembark...</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for droppin' by - hope ya check in with us again on Wednesday, 20th December 2023.</b></i>
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<i><b>See yis then!</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-77493178675490025892023-12-13T13:28:00.000+00:002023-12-13T13:28:16.803+00:00IRELAND, 1920's - 'ABOUT 115,550 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS, TRAINED AND DRILLED...'<b>SECOND DAY OF THE 'BORDER CAMPAIGN' OPERATION BEGINS : 13TH DECEMBER 1956.</b><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdK9_rtsMPirq5QH5eZkkH7FhlTaKwOLcSHei3pYCPoDdV_XCikqk2Rn3EDrxcga6zHJ4JrVVIk-GsKPdgEtubu8WBnjJmtgxmpNibKu4Ain191sUu4BGpy5FwmklocC8Xphe0w/s1600/IRA+Border+Campaign+activists..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdK9_rtsMPirq5QH5eZkkH7FhlTaKwOLcSHei3pYCPoDdV_XCikqk2Rn3EDrxcga6zHJ4JrVVIk-GsKPdgEtubu8WBnjJmtgxmpNibKu4Ain191sUu4BGpy5FwmklocC8Xphe0w/s200/IRA+Border+Campaign+activists..jpg" /></a></div><i>IRA Volunteers, pictured around the time of the Border Campaign.</i><br>
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<b>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 <a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1954-06-22a.211.3">raid on Gough Barracks</a>, in Armagh, on Saturday 12th June that year (1954), in which some 300 weapons were liberated from the British Army.</b><br></br>
<b>Fianna Fail considered that proof enough that the IRA</b> <i> "..had renewed its activities, was rearming, recruiting young men and engaging in drilling and other manoeuvres..."</i> <b> and indeed they were.</b><br></br>
<b>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, British Army barracks, courthouses, bridges, roads and custom posts : the 'Resistance Campaign/Operation Harvest', had begun</b> <i> proper</i> <b>, on the 12th/13th December, 1956, and operations were co-ordinated from County Monaghan.</b><br>
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<b>In a letter from the then leadership of the Sinn Féin organisation, which was signed by Maire Ni Gabhan and Miceal Treinfir [see 'Sinn Féin Rally In Dublin', <a href="http://1169andcounting.blogspot.ie/2005/04/dying-by-sword.html">here</a>] </b> <i> (and which was sent from the Sinn Féin Office, 3 Lr. Abbey Street, Dublin)</i> <b> 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', 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.</b><br>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8xGs_jba_YGDL0R7hNZawbNALgrmetwWXaI76cG2yq69oclEBlo7bPABPw6iDhFsuuIjTVrnmIHwJuUEv5fV5Zx6Ufo4YwQQQ0h0JKg4_lms7xa1sB3nm92IZDCe_J4CaPCxNOR8cIcRMiXOipM232vjgXTBFn6cUJtpCX8Yl7PcUlOJe45XKA/s1379/Border%20Campaign..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8xGs_jba_YGDL0R7hNZawbNALgrmetwWXaI76cG2yq69oclEBlo7bPABPw6iDhFsuuIjTVrnmIHwJuUEv5fV5Zx6Ufo4YwQQQ0h0JKg4_lms7xa1sB3nm92IZDCe_J4CaPCxNOR8cIcRMiXOipM232vjgXTBFn6cUJtpCX8Yl7PcUlOJe45XKA/s200/Border%20Campaign..jpg"/></a></div><b>Although it <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soldiers-Folly-Border-Campaign-1956-1962/dp/1848890168">did not</a> achieve its objectives, the Border Campaign kept 'the National Question' in the political forefront, enabled the Republican Movement to make new connections and ensured that valuable operational lessons were learned and documented for the next generation.</b><br></br>
<b>On 26th February 1962 the IRA, through the Irish Republican Publicity Bureau, in a communication signed by <a href="https://www.dib.ie/biography/mcgarrity-joseph-a5661">J. McGarrity</a>, sent out the following message :</b><br></br>
<i><b>"The leadership of the resistance Movement has ordered the termination of the Campaign of Resistance to British Occupation launched in December, 1956.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>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.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>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.<br>
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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." </b></i><br>
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<b>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'.</b><br></br>
<b>Even when we appear to have lost, we win!</b>
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<b>Towards the end of 1919, an RIC 'Inspector General' in Ireland, a Mr Joseph Byrne, was rather annoyed</b> <i>(!)</i><b> that 'his team' was about to be supplemented by ex and demobbed British soldiers, as Mr Byrne knew that those men would find it hard to adjust to 'policing roles', to put it mildly.</b><br></br>
<b>He was of the opinion that </b> <i><b> "...the general public is prepared to suffer rather than openly condemn the criminal acts</b></i> <i>(sic)</i><i><b> of the republican fanatics.."</b></i> <i>(sic)</i><b>, and Westminster was looking at him with raised eyebrows</b> <i>("Too bloody soft on the natives, what...!")</i><br></br>
<b>'The Times' newspaper, London, was watching developments and, on the 13th December, 1919, wrote -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"The population in southern Ireland is between two coercions, laws imposing restrictions upon ordinary liberty. Of the two powers, Sinn Féin has the more terror. That perhaps should be neglected.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The serious part is that, on the whole, Sinn Féin has more moral authority."</b></i><br></br>
<b>'The Paper Of Record'</b> <i>(!)</i><b> got that part right, at least!</b><br></br>
<b>Incidentally and, no doubt, coincidentally, the 'Big Softie', Mr Byrne, was 'moved on'</b> <i>(!)</i><b> from his position in December 1919 and replaced by his deputy, a Mr TJ Smith, a well known <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/jul/09/northernireland.comment">Orangeman</a>...</b>
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<b>'AMERICAN NOTES...'</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>The death occurred on February 20th of Larry Cooke (Cavan), a trusted member of the James Connolly Club, Clan na Gael-IRA Veterans of America Inc, for many years.</b><br></br>
<b>A tribute to the memory of this staunch soldier of the Irish Republic was paid on February 22nd by the Clan na Gael and members of his own club.</b><br></br>
<b>Chairman</b> <i>(sic)</i><b> Patrick O'Mahoney (Kerry) paid a glowing tribute to his memory, Dr. Frank Monahan (Cavan) delivered the oration and a decade of the Rosary in Irish was recited by the assembly.</b><br></br>
<i>Imeasc laochra Gaedheal go raibh a Anam.</i><br></br>
<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(END of 'American Notes' ; NEXT - 'Sinn Féin Notes', from the same source.)</b></font>
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<b>In the British 'House of Commons', on the 13th December, 1920, <a href="https://alchetron.com/Thomas-McKinnon-Wood">Liberal MP T McKinnon Wood</a> questioned <a href="https://www.creativecentenaries.org/on-this-day/sir-hamar-greenwood-spends-gbp9000-on-publicity-to-counter-sinn-fein">'Sir' Thomas Hamar Greenwood</a>, the British 'Chief Secretary of Ireland'</b> <i>(and Chief 'Spin Doctor')</i><b> if anti-Sinn Féin notices were being published in Irish newspapers at British Army gunpoint or not!</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Greenwood, who <a href="https://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000653299/HierarchyTree?recordID=vtls000653299">was known to</a> 'condemn himself by his own immoral character', replied -</b> <i><b>"So far as can be ascertained, no members of the Crown Forces were responsible for the drawing up or the sending of the notices in question..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Somehow or other, that arrogant man, described by his wife as a "stick shaker", lived to be 78 years of age and then, presumably, got 'stick' himself elsewhere...</b>
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<b>A Dublin IRA Volunteer, John Hickey, was lying in a bed in Baggot Street Hospital, Dublin, on the 13th December, 1920, dying from two gunshot wounds.</b><br></br>
<b>John and a pal were walking near the Merrion Gates in Dublin on the 12th December when two men stopped them and asked him why he had his hands in his pockets.</b><br></br>
<b>Before he could answer or react, the strangers pulled out handguns and shot at him a number of times ; he fell to the ground, suffering two bullet wounds.</b><br></br>
<b>He died on the 14th December and is buried in Dun Laoghaire, in County Dublin. It is believed that the gunmen were 'off duty' members of the Crown Forces.</b>
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<b>A British Army soldier, a Private (Alfred) John Allport (26), from Walsall, in the West Midlands, in England, who was a member of the 1st Battalion of the Leicester Regiment, died in Athlone, in Westmeath, in Ireland, on the 13th December, 1920, after a "misadventure".</b><br></br>
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<b>He is buried in Bloxwich, in the West Midlands, in his own country.</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 13th December, 1920, Mary Maher, a sixty-year-old shopkeeper in Main Street, Templemore, in County Tipperary, was found in her house, lying unconscious on the kitchen floor.</b><br></br>
<b>Her skull had been fractured, and she died on the 16th December.</b><br></br>
<b>There was uproar locally, understandably and, eventually, a British Army Private, a man named O'Brien, a member of the Northamptonshire Regiment, admitted to murdering M/s Maher. He said his wife was also involved.</b><br></br>
<b>M/s Maher was one of at least 98 Irish women that were murdered in that manner between 1917 and 1921 :</b><br></br>
<i><b>'At the height of the Irish War of Independence, 1919–1921...brutally raped...died of terrible wounds, almost certainly inflicted by drunken British soldiers. This article discusses her inadequately investigated case in the wider context of fatal violence against women and girls during years of major political instability. Ordinarily her violent death would have been subject to a coroner’s court inquiry and rigorous police investigation, but in 1920, civil inquests in much of Ireland were replaced by military courts of inquiry...'</b></i> <i>(From <a href="https://mh.bmj.com/content/48/1/94">here</a>.)</i>
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<b>On December 13th, 1920, when <a href="https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-1916/1916irl/cpr/coir/ag/">Arthur Griffith</a> and other Irish rebels were in <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/25512721">'discussions'</a> with Lloyd George's political administration in London in relation to "the Irish question", Mr Griffith contacted a friend of his, a <a href="https://www.dib.ie/biography/clune-patrick-joseph-a1767">Fr Patrick Joseph Clune</a>, to discuss developments.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Griffith, rather annoyed about how the 'feeler talks' were going, told his friend that all was not well, that Lloyd George was offering the Irish 'terms that amounted to a call for surrender' and stated that</b> <i><b> "there would be no surrender, no matter what frightfulness was used..".</b></i><br></br>
<b>However, less than one year later, Mr Griffith was one of those who <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Irish_Treaty_D%C3%A1il_vote">accepted 'terms that amounted to a call for surrender'</a>.</b><br></br>
<b>'Put not your trust in Princes...'</b>
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<b>The RIC Barracks in Ballinalee, in County Longford, stood at the crossroads in the village and was 'staffed' by about 30 uniformed anti-republican operatives, under an RIC Sergeant, a man named Thomas C. Napier.</b><br></br>
<b>In early 1920, in order to 'consolidate their forces', the barracks was emptied of its personnel who were re-located to outlying barracks, and the building was boarded up and, within a few months, it had been set on fire by local republicans.</b><br></br>
<b>Following <a href="https://www.5thbattalionassociation.com/5th-battalion/longford-flying-column-.432.html">the 'Battle of Ballinalee'</a> in early November (1920), Crown Forces wanted to re-establish their presence in that village but their old barracks was not, by then, fit to accommodate man or beast, so they took over an empty shop </b> <i>(Pat Farrell's grocery shop)</i><b> and converted it into something like their old building.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 13th December, 1920, at between 1am and 2am, a loud explosion resulted in a wall, and the interior steel plating covering it, being shattered and, at the same time, another mine was thrown into the building from its roof, which exploded on the ground floor, killing an RIC man, Thomas Manfred Taylor</b><i> (18 years of age, 'Service Number 74612')</i><b> from Surrey, in England, and wounding three of his RIC colleagues.</b><br></br>
<b>Gunfire was exchanged until about 7am, when the IRA withdrew from the village ; when the Crown Forces and their reinforcements had regrouped and settled themselves, they went on a rampage, burning down about half the houses in Ballinalee.</b><br></br>
<b>The RIC abandoned the remains of their new nest</b> <i>(!)</i><b> so the local school committee renovated the building and an empty house next door to it</b> <i>('Rose Cottage', which used to be owned by the Reynolds family)</i><b> and turned it into something useful for the community - a new school!</b><br></br>
<b>Incidentally, three days after that attack</b> <i>(ie on the 16th December 1920)</i><b>, RIC Sergeant Thomas C. Napier received a letter in the post, addressed personally to him, in handwriting that he didn't recognise. The letter said -</b><br></br>
<i><b>'Ballinalee.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Take Notice.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>You were in command of the English Army here on Sunday, murdering Irishmen - congratulations on your flight - don't think you will escape.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>You are spying a long time in Longford, be prepared ; you won't do it much longer.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>No Army will be here or anywhere else but the IRA.'</b></i><br></br>
<b>Two days later</b> <i>(ie on the 18th December 1920)</i><b>, RIC Sergeant Thomas C. Napier was 'promoted' to the position of 'Head Constable' and was relocated to a different area...</b>
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<b>IRELAND ON THE COUCH...</b><br></br>
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<i><b>A Psychiatrist Writes.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>'Magill' commissioned <a href="https://www.blackrockhealth.com/consultants/prof-patricia-casey">Professor Patricia Casey</a> to compile an assessment of Irish society at what may emerge as the end of a period of unprecedented growth and change.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>This is her report.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>From 'Magill Magazine' Annual, 2002.</b></i>
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<b>Exploring other theological elements, closeness to the Church was highest in the cohort born after 1970</b> <i>(62 per cent)</i><b> and lowest in the 1930 cohort.</b><br></br>
<b>On sexual morality, the percentage believing that premarital sex is wrong has plummeted, with very few of the younger age group supporting this, even among those attending weekly mass</b> <i>(25 per cent)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>So whilst they adhere to many of the tenets of the Catholic faith, the young have discarded its sexual ethic. This is hardly surprising since our culture is highly sexualised with sex a marketable commodity. In addition, the serious flaws in the current religious education curriculum and the opting-out of parents from these sensitive areas means that many young people will be largely ignorant of the underpinnings of the traditional sexual ethic.</b><br></br>
<b>Contrary to popular opinion, Catholicism is alive and well in Ireland - although it may be popular devotion that is to the fore rather than the reflective faith so desired by the clergy...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>Three IRA Battalions, totalling about 1,550 men from the Kildare Brigade</b> <i>(2nd, 5th and 6th Battalions)</i><b> participated in training and drilling exercises in the 'Little Curragh' area of Kildare, on the 13th December 1921.</b><br></br>
<b>Programmes covered included engineering, first aid and military drills.</b><br></br>
<b>The IRA was a recognised and sophisticated guerrilla army which was based parish-by-parish ; a town </b> <i>(ie an area, neighbourhood or local community)</i><b> organised itself as a 'Company', and an agreed number of such Units comprised a Battalion</b> <i>(being from the same district or constituency)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>An agreed number of Battalions formed a Brigade</b> <i>(usually based by County)</i><b>, and these Units were organised into Divisions, when the need arose.</b><br></br>
<b>In the 1920's, the overall strength of the organisation was said to be 65 Brigades, 297 Battalions - a total of about 115,550 active Volunteers, all of whom were trained and drilled on a regular basis.</b>
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<b>On the 13th December, 1921, Roman Catholic Bishops in Ireland held a meeting to discuss the offerings of the 'Treaty of Surrender' and a majority of them decided that their church should support it</b> <i>(in 1921, there were 4 Archbishops, 23 bishops, 3082 secular priests and 754 members of male religious orders, societies and congregations in Ireland)</i><b> and they also agreed that their public statement about their meeting should be a "neutral" one in regards to the advice they were going to offer to their followers in relation to the 'Treaty'.</b><br></br>
<b>But that agreement was disregarded the following day when 15 members of the Irish Roman Catholic Hierarchy issued a statement supporting the 'Treaty', allowing</b> <i>(encouraging?)</i><b> Westminster and soon-to-be Free Staters in Ireland the opportunity to further brow-beat Irish citizens into voting for what transpired to be a 'false dawn/bad deal'.</b><br></br>
<b>Indeed, in a Christmas Day sermon in Ennis Cathedral in County Clare, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheLimerickSoviet1919/photos/a.447933725288401/2934052730009809/?type=3">Dr Michael Fogarty</a>, urged support for the 'Treaty' and warned of the dangers of a civil war if it wasn't accepted.</b><br></br>
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<b>However, <a href="https://www.rte.ie/history/michael-collins/2022/0803/1313790-the-catholic-church-and-the-irish-civil-war/">not all priests were in favour</a> of the 'Treaty of Surrender' and one in particular, <a href="https://www.dib.ie/biography/hagan-john-a3705">Monsignor John Hagan</a>, the Rector of the Irish College in Rome, stated -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"The bishops (in Ireland) don’t want to listen to arguments about their political partisanship and the damage it has done to religion.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>The bishops will not listen to any such view. They are persuaded that they are right and are inclined to tolerate no doubt. Indeed, I am inclined to gather that they regard doubts of the kind as a sort of personal affront.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Naturally, the main body of the priests in a diocese think as the bishop thinks, and thus we have a vicious circle, which bounds the horizon all round..."</b></i>
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<b>We lost the 'Treaty of Surrender' debate and outcome - one 'round' in a fight which still continues to this day!</b>
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<b>On the 13th December, 1921, the British Prime Minster, Mr David Lloyd George, sensing some apprehension in Mr Arthur Griffith about the 'Treaty' he was trying to sell to him, wrote a 'letter of assurance' to the then Sinn Féin rebel, giving him a guarantee that the British Exchequer would not go totally nuclear</b> <i>(!)</i><b> on the Irish in relation to the arbitration of Ireland's financial liability </b> <i>(?!)</i><b> to Westminster, that the British would not voice full opposition to the new 'Free State' lodging an application to the 'League of Nations' seeking membership, that the British would be sympathetic to the Staters while they drafted a 'Constitution' for their 'new State' and that the beginning of British troop evacuation from Ireland would start as soon as the 'Treaty' was ratified. </b><br></br>
<b>Mr Griffith, being too diplomatic for his </b> <i>(and our!)</i><b> own good, never did tell Mr George to go f**k himself.</b>
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<b>In a letter that he wrote to Mr Bonar Law</b> <i>(the British 'Lord Privy Seal'!)</i><b> on the 13th December in 1921, Mr James Craig </b> <i> (the '1st Viscount Craigavon' and the then 'Prime Minister of Northern Ireland [sic]')</i><b> stated -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"There is nothing in the terms of the (1921) Treaty (of Surrender) to show that the Boundary Commission must necessarily limit its functioning to little adjustments..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>In that same month, Mr Craig made a public speech in which he declared that the partioned area</b> <i>(ie the Occupied Six Counties)</i> <i><b>"..would oppose any boundary revision that threatened it with substantial loss of territory..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>A snake-oil salesperson, like any politician..!</b>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s1438/Beir%20Bua!.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1044" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s200/Beir%20Bua!.jpg"/></a></div> <b>The Thread of the Irish Republican Movement from The United Irishmen through to today.</b><br></br>
<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<i><b>'Fenian Proclamation 1867 :</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Proclamation To The Irish People Of The World.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We have suffered centuries of outrage, enforced poverty, and bitter misery.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>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.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>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.</b></i>
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<i><b>But we never lost the memory and hope of a national existence.</b></i>
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<i><b>We appealed in vain to the reason and sense of justice of the dominant powers but our mildest remonstrances were met with sneers and contempt and our appeals to arms were always unsuccessful...'</b></i>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font><br></br>
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<b>On the 13th December, 1922, IRA Volunteer Tom Barry </b> <i>(who was denounced, decades later, by the IRA, for his journalistic work for the Free State Army)</i><b> was in command of a Column of IRA fighters</b> <i>(consisting of about 100 men)</i><b> which entered the town of Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary.</b><br></br>
<b>The Free State Army were</b> <i> in situ</i><b> in the town and a gun battle erupted between the two armed forces, during which two FSA members were shot</b> <i>(one of whom, Lieutenant James Gardiner, died later)</i><b> and a civilian was injured.</b><br></br>
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<b>The IRA liberated 107 rifles, two Lewis machine guns, a Crossley Tender and two motor cars from the FSA that day, released their prisoners, unharmed, after a few days, and disappeared into the countryside!</b>
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<b>Thomas Behan, an IRA Volunteer who was held captive by the Staters, was shot dead in the Curragh on the 13th December, 1922, while allegedly trying to escape.</b><br></br>
<b>He was one of ten Volunteers that were removed by the FSA from a dugout under the stables of the Moore's farm in Mooresbridge, Rathbride, near the Curragh, in County Kildare, on the 12th December.</b><br></br>
<b>The Staters were aware that that particular IRA Active Service Unit had taken part in a number of attacks on them and had disabled local rail infrastructure in counties Kildare and Wicklow.</b><br></br>
<b>Seven of the ten Volunteers were courtmartialled and executed at the Curragh on the 19th December 1922 and, although the IRA in Kildare had lost friends and comrades, <a href="https://kildare.ie/ehistory/index.php/end-of-the-civil-war-in-kildare-24-may-1923/#:~:text=On%2027%20April%201923%20Eamon,death%2C%20called%20for%20a%20ceasefire.">the fight continued</a>, as, indeed, it does to this day.</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading.</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-17272881851866535072023-12-10T21:36:00.000+00:002023-12-10T21:36:34.108+00:00THE RIC 'DEVIL YOU KNOW...'.<b>'LETTERS OF ASSURANCE' AND ALL THAT...!</b><br></br>
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<b>On Wednesday, 13th December 2023, we'll be</b> <i><b> cominatya'</b></i><b> with a 17-piece post on Irish history and politics, mentioning various occurrences which took place in Ireland - North, South, East and West - and abroad, all connected to our on-going struggle and campaign for full independence.</b>
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<b>The happenings that we'll be covering include putting a bit of meat on the bones of a meeting held here, in the early 1920's, of the Catholic Church hierarchy, called specifically to discuss their 'direction' on the 1921 'Treaty of Surrender', and how that agreement between that hierarchy was broken by them the very next day...</b>
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<b>We'll also be looking at the 'generosity' (!) of a certain British Prime Minister to one of the top men in the Sinn Féin organisation, and referencing the 'letter of assurance' he sent to the 'Irish rebel'...</b>
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<b>...and then there's another 'letter of assurance' which one of Westminster's top men in Stormont sent to a top British political figure and, practically in the same breath, reneged on in public!</b>
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<b>An IRA 'Dump Arms!' order was issued by the leadership, the reasons for it and a statement of what will happen next.</b>
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<b>This RIC boss was wary of following orders from Westminster to recruit certain groups of people into 'his force' and was removed from his position, to be replaced by an even bigger bigot. 'The Devil You Know' and all that...!</b>
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<b>As stated, we will have 17 articles, like the above, ready for posting on Wednesday, 13th December 2023.</b>
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<b>Give us a shout then - if we disappoint you, sure ya always have Santa's visit to look forward to!</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading ; see ye on the 13th!</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comDublin, Ireland53.3498053 -6.260309725.039571463821154 -41.4165597 81.660039136178852 28.8959403tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-20008786465231318792023-12-06T11:31:00.000+00:002023-12-06T11:31:48.799+00:00FROM 1922 - "A REBEL ARMY! THE BRITISH EMPIRE IS DOOMED..."<b>ON THIS DATE (6TH DECEMBER) 102 YEARS AGO : A TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE IS BORN.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwz65SLwgYm22HDslqA6QJ1jxKg5FXrV6zW_L7XcVcChZBVmtQ5ZHdtExWNC4NZSVkt7XrGvuPdKt2r4tXuUg8YrV3jj-iSI9tIL4DrOPk-S5tm5Ha9T9jSKbkSZXEjdMrvfovjg/s1600/A+Treaty+for+West+Brits..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwz65SLwgYm22HDslqA6QJ1jxKg5FXrV6zW_L7XcVcChZBVmtQ5ZHdtExWNC4NZSVkt7XrGvuPdKt2r4tXuUg8YrV3jj-iSI9tIL4DrOPk-S5tm5Ha9T9jSKbkSZXEjdMrvfovjg/s320/A+Treaty+for+West+Brits..JPG" width="114" height="220" data-original-width="401" data-original-height="600" /></a></div><b>One of the leaflets (pictured) distributed by Irish republicans in late 1921 to counteract anti-republican propaganda that the 'Treaty (of Surrender)' was "a stepping stone" to that which they had fought for - indeed, one of those who accepted that Treaty, ex-republican Arthur Griffith, declared, in a press release immediately after signing same -</b><i><b> "I have signed a Treaty of peace between Ireland and Great Britain. I believe that treaty will lay foundations of peace and friendship between the two Nations. What I have signed I shall stand by in the belief that the end of the conflict of centuries is at hand."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Yet historian <a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/v13/n20/garret-fitzgerald/can-we-have-our-money-back">Nicholas Mansergh</a> noted that, at practically the same time as Griffith had penned the above, the British were talking between themselves of</b> <i><b>"...concessions (from the Irish) wrung by devices..some of which can be described at best as devious..every word used and every nuance was so important..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>On Monday 5th December 1921 - the day before the Treaty of Surrender was signed - the then British Prime Minister, Lloyd George, announced to the Irish side in the negotiations that he had written two letters, one of which would now be sent to his people in Ireland ; one letter told of a peaceful outcome to the negotiations, the other told of a breakdown in the negotiations - Lloyd George stated that if he sent the latter one</b> <i><b> "it is war, and war within three days. Which letter am I to send?"</b></i><br></br>
<i>(Years later, the Minutes of a British Cabinet meeting at which the 'Treaty' was discussed were released, and they showed that the majority of British politicians at the meeting "generally agree" that "the rough treatment to which the Irish extremists had been subjected during the past twelve months... had brought home to the (IRA) men in the field the need for some equitable compromise..." [UK National Archives, CAB 23/27/17]. Those people were also of the opinion "that a Boundary Commission would possibly give Ulster [sic] more than she would lose..")</i><br></br>
<b>That 'war letter' meeting took place on the afternoon of Monday 5th December 1921 ; at around 7pm that same evening, the Irish team left the Downing Street meeting to discuss the matter between themselves and returned to Downing Street later that night.</b><br></br>
<b>At ten minutes past two on the morning of Tuesday 6th December 1921 - 102 years ago on this date - Michael Collins and his team accepted 'dominion status' and an Oath which gave allegiance to the Irish Free State and fidelity to the British Crown - the Treaty was signed</b> <i>(and it should be noted that Collins and his team did not consult the [32-County] Dáil, the institution on whose behalf they were acting, before they signed it. Also, Mr Collins took the time to write to <a href="https://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/looking-at-places/longford/longford-people/kitty-kiernan-%281892-1945%29/">Kitty Kiernan</a> saying that he did not get to bed until five o'clock that morning. He added - "I don’t know how things will go now but with God's help we have brought peace to this land of ours – a peace which will end this old strife of ours forever." He was wrong about it bringing peace, but was soon to catch up on his sleep. Also, when <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/03324893221093561">Mr Arthur Griffith</a> got back to Dublin after his meetings in London, one of his first acts was to organise various meetings with 'representatives of the Southern unionists' [ie anti-republican elements in the country] to guarantee that "their interests would be safeguarded" in his new Free State!)</i><b> :</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 16th December (1921), the British so-called 'House of Commons'</b> <i> (by a vote of 401 for and 58 against)</i><b> and its 'House of Lords'</b> <i>(166 for, 47 against)</i><b> ascribed 'legitimacy' to the new State and, on the 7th January 1922, the political institution in Leinster House voted to accept it, leading to a walk-out by then-principled members who, in effect, were refusing to assist in the setting-up of a British-sponsored 'parliament' in the newly-created Irish Free State.</b><br></br>
<b><a href="https://www.theirishwar.com/de-valera-was-an-english-spy/">Mr Éamon de Valera</a> was reportedly very annoyed when he heard that the 'Treaty' had been signed without his final consent but, later that same day, he dressed-up in his academic robes and, in his capacity as 'Chancellor of the National University of Ireland', he chaired an event to mark the anniversary of the death of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dante-Alighieri">Dante Alighieri</a> in 1321. Mr de Valera was later to fully enforce the structure and operation of that same 'Treaty'. Mr Alighieri was known to have penned some verses on 'hypocrisy'...</b><br></br>
<b>But, at an IRA convention on the 26th March (1922), at which 52 out of the 73 IRA Brigades were present - despite said gathering having been forbidden by the Leinster House institution</b> <i>(!)</i><b> - the 'Treaty' was rejected and a statement issued deriding Leinster House for having betrayed the Irish republican ideal.</b><br></br>
<b>Within six months, a <a href="https://i0.wp.com/www.theirishstory.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Four-Courts-surrender.jpg">Civil War</a> was raging in Ireland, between the British-supported Free Staters and Irish republicans who did not accept the 'Treaty' and that vicious fight continued until the 24th May 1923 when the IRA were ordered by their leadership to</b> <i><b> "..dump arms (as) further sacrifice on your part would now be in vain and the continuance of the struggle in arms unwise in the national interest...military victory must be allowed to rest for the moment with those who have destroyed the Republic.." </b></i><b>, but, 'unofficially', Free Staters continued to <a href="https://books.google.ie/books?id=SEMTBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT134&lpg=PT134&dq=reprisals+after+the+1924+dump+arms+order+Ireland&source=bl&ots=b_IE0kmPvf&sig=Fn28H0CgNzouopED-DgsENhSFu8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjB86fr2e7XAhWIKcAKHSVhBxMQ6AEIUzAG#v=onepage&q=reprisals%20after%20the%201924%20dump%20arms%20order%20Ireland&f=false">exact revenge</a> on republicans for some time afterwards and, indeed, are still doing so today, albeit in a different manner.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 11th July 1924, the Treaty was registered at the 'League of Nations' by the Free State authorities which, in our opinion, would have been the ideal occasion for a legal challenge to it, based on the fact that, when Michael Collins and his supporters were attempting to 'sell' it to their own side, they made a big deal of the 'Boundary Commission' clause and in particular the part of it which stated that the 'border' could be adjusted "in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants", which is precisely why Westminster 'took' only six of the nine Ulster counties - a built-in 'majority'.</b><br></br>
<b>Also, the British actually took it on themselves to amend the 1921 Treaty of Surrender to allow themselves</b><i> (ie Westminster)</i><b> to unilaterally appoint a representative to speak on behalf of the Stormont 'Parliament'.</b><br></br>
<b>That Boundary Commission clause</b><i> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Boundary_Commission">('Article 12')</a></i><b> was not properly adhered to by the signatories of the 1921 Treaty thereby, legally, negating the Treaty itself but deep pockets would be required to take such an action.</b><br></br>
<b>And the only grouping in this State in a position to mount a challenge like that is the same (Free State) grouping which benefited then and continues to benefit today from that Clause and that which spawned it. For</b> <b><u> now</u></b><b> they do, anyway...</b><br></br>
<i>(Incidentally, decades after the 'Treaty of Surrender' had been signed, the diary kept by a prominent British Army officer and politician, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Henry_Wilson,_1st_Baronet"> 'Sir' Henry Wilson</a>, was opened [after his death] and, in it, he had opined about that 'Treaty'- "The Agreement [sic] is complete surrender...a farcical oath of allegiance...withdrawal of our troops...a Rebel Army! The British Empire is doomed..."</i><br></br>
<i>If only it truly was, Mr Wilson. If only...)</i><br></br>
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<b>'AMERICAN NOTES...'</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>The New York GAA have given the use of Gaelic Park for a field day in aid of the 'Prisoners Dependents Fund' on March 27th.</b><br></br>
<b>The president of the New York GAA, John Kerry O'Donnell, and the other officers of the New York Council, have given of their time to help plan the event, and preparations are also now nearing completion for the biggest Easter Commemoration that New York has had for years, and the <a href="https://www.leftarchive.ie/organisation/1135/">'Clan na Gael-IRA Veterans of America Inc'</a> will direct the proceedings.</b><br></br>
<b>An active committee representative of many organisations in overseeing arrangements for the function to be held at the Pythian Temple, West 70th Street, New York, on Easter Sunday night : Barney Rooney is the General Chairman </b> <i>(sic)</i><b>...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>ON THIS DATE (6TH DECEMBER) 98 YEARS AGO : A 'CON' ARTIST IS BORN!</b><br></br>
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<b>One of those 'other subjects' that Mr Houlihan occasionally visited was politics</b> <i>(he was a <a href="https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/con-houlihan-good-men-arent-always-wise/27964892.html">Fine Gael supporter</a>, it seems)</i><b> which prompted us to post a piece on this blog a few years ago in connection with <a href="https://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/patriot-games-have-always-been-a-cover-for-irish-bigotry-and-murder-26323224.html">a highly coloured article</a></b> <i>(!)</i><b> that the man wrote after he happened to share street-space with Ruairí Ó Brádaigh -</b><br></br>
<i><b>'Not so much (or at all, even) 'speaking ill of the dead' in this piece as highlighting the straws an 'artist' will clutch at when they attempt to stray onto another 'canvass'. And Mr. Houlihan was indeed an 'artist' when it came to discussing and dressing-up/colouring in matters of the field and had wonderful turns of phrase which he employed with great timing.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>But he done himself no favours when he attempted to 'stray' on to the well-trodden anti-republican 'canvass', where he was not as sure-footed as he was 'on the field' - indeed, the only way he could sustain an 'away trip' of that nature was to use a straw man argument in the hope that those as unfamiliar with that particular 'turf' as he was would consider him to be as good a 'pol corr' as he was a sports writer.</b><br></br>
<b>The first fault with Mr. Houlihan's effort in this piece is that a radio station would not be played through the same loudspeakers on the same stage at the same time as an Irish republican was addressing an Irish republican gathering. It just wouldn't happen, simple as and, whilst some might dismiss this example as 'nit picking', it is from such 'little acorns' that mighty deceptions spring from.</b><br></br>
<b>It was a 'straw man' introduction that the author invented in order to 'colour' the gathering as</b> <i><b> "inflamed with hatred..indoctrinated by bigots in pubs and cafes or by mob orators.."</b></i><b>, before bringing in the standard 'Nazi' comparison.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>All standard fare for any 'straw man' author - invent a 'connection' then rage against it. Mr. Houlihan got his answer days later from that particular "bigot (of a) mob orator" but the damage had been done : through deliberate misrepresentation, one anti-republican had 'confirmed' to others of that ilk just how right they were to despise Irish republicans and republicanism in general and, job done, Con parked his 'straw weapon' (in the back of the net, no doubt) to be (ab)used another day. Which he did, by the way - and often - but I'll not go into that here , as I have no desire to 'speak ill of the dead'..'</b></i> <i>(from <a href="http://1169andcounting.blogspot.ie/2012/08/come-down-from-palace-katie-taylor.html">here</a>.)</i><br></br>
<b>Mr. Houlihan died on the 4th August, 2012, at 86 years of age. He was a fantastic sports writer, so I'm told</b> <i>(regular readers will know that I'm not big into sports or those that write about it etc)</i><b> but I knew Ruairí, and I know how republicans carry themselves at rallies and protest marches etc and considered it fitting, and necessary, to repeat the above piece on the 'Con Almighty's' birthday. </b>
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<b>IRELAND ON THE COUCH...</b><br></br>
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<i><b>A Psychiatrist Writes.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>'Magill' commissioned <a href="https://www.blackrockhealth.com/consultants/prof-patricia-casey">Professor Patricia Casey</a> to compile an assessment of Irish society at what may emerge as the end of a period of unprecedented growth and change.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>This is her report.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>From 'Magill Magazine' Annual, 2002.</b></i>
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<b>Further evidence for the ongoing role that Catholicism has in people's lives came from the study by Greally and Ward, published in late 2000, which surveyed 1,010 people in the Irish Republic</b> <i>(sic)</i><b> as part of a larger, longitudinal European study.</b><br></br>
<b>The results are fascinating, not least because many of them are counter-intuitive and challenge the much-vaunted belief that the churches are empty and that our '20-somethings' have no interest in religion.</b><br></br>
<b>According to the results, Ireland is still the most religious country in Europe and there has been little change in weekly mass attendance during the 1990's, with the decline to the present level of 63 per cent occurring before the crop of clerical sexual scandals came to public attention.</b><br></br>
<b>The attitudes to the priests working in parishes at the coalface remain very positive, and the cohort now in their 20's have higher regard for these priests than any other age group, even when compared with their grandmothers born in the 1930's.</b><br></br>
<b>However, the institutional Church has suffered a serious decline in confidence since the last survey in 1991, with just 28 per cent having a great deal of confidence in the institutional Church...</b><br></br>
<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>6TH DECEMBER...</b><br></br>
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<b>1919 :</b><br></br>
<b>IRA Volunteer Edward Malone, of Dunbrin, Athy, in County Kildare</b> <i>(a nephew of well-known cleric <a href="http://athyeyeonthepast.blogspot.com/2013/07/rev-jj-malone.html">Reverend JJ Malone</a>)</i><b>, was back in a British prison </b> <i>(Ship Street Barracks)</i><b>, having been in 'court' the previous day</b> <i>(5th December)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>He had been charged with possession of 10 detonators, a document "likely to cause disaffection", a document "likely to prejudice discipline within the RIC"</b> <i>(!)</i><b> and possession of a Winchester Rifle.</b><br></br>
<b>Volunteer Malone refused to recognise the 'court' but was sentenced anyway - to two years imprisonment with hard labour</b> <i>(but one year was remitted later)</i><b>.</b>
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<b>1919 :</b><br></br>
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<b>John Charles Byrne</b> <i>(pictured)</i> <b>, aka 'Jack Jameson/Keith Prowse', a former British Army soldier who had been recruited into 'British Intelligence' by a Mr Basil Thomson of the London Metropolitan Police, arrived in Dublin on the 6th December, 1919, posing as a socialist theatre worker/musical instrument salesman, and let it be known that he could be helpful to the Irish republican Cause.</b><br></br>
<b>He was eventually put in contact with Michael Collins, who contacted one of his agents in London</b> <i>(Art O'Brien)</i><b>, who had supplied Mr Byrne with a cover note of introduction to Collins. The two men discussed the new 'benefactor', who had met with Collins twice and left an uneasy feeling behind him, on both occasions, with Collins and <a href="https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Collections-Research/Collection/The-Intelligence-War-The-Squad">Squad members</a>.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Byrne was given false information by the IRA and, when that information was acted on by British operatives, the jig was up for the 'benefactor' : his body was found in Drumcondra, in Dublin, on the 7th March 1920.</b><br></br>
<b>'British Intelligence' later described him as "..the best Secret Service man we had...".</b>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 6th December, 1920</b> <i>(listed as 'October 1920' by some sources)</i><b> as a <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/44027586">Republican Court</a> was in session in the village of Craggaknock, near Kilkee, in County Clare, armed and semi-uniformed men burst in to the building and stopped the proceedings.</b><br></br>
<b>The Black and Tans had arrived.</b><br></br>
<b>They were looking for one person in particular - an IRA man named William Shanahan</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> - they knew he had been there, but was no where to be found now.</b><br></br>
<b>But they wanted blood, so they opened-up on the unarmed civilians in the room, killing a local man, a Mr Thomas Curtin.</b><br></br>
<b>A local doctor stated that "the bullet had caused a wound about three to four and a half inches long. It had ripped up the skull, the coverings of the brain and the brain itself. The wound was about one inch wide. An ordinary rifle bullet was used, at about 500 yards range..."</b>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
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<b>On Monday, 6th December 1920, as Dublin Corporation was holding its monthly meeting in 'City Hall' in Dublin, <a href="https://www.alamy.com/a-royal-irish-constabulary-ric-policeman-with-a-british-soldier-and-two-auxiliaries-the-auxiliary-division-of-the-royal-irish-constabulary-was-a-paramilitary-unit-of-the-royal-irish-constabulary-ric-during-the-irish-war-of-independence-it-was-set-up-in-july-1920-and-made-up-of-former-british-army-officers-to-conduct-counter-insurgency-operations-against-the-irish-republican-army-ira-the-auxiliaries-became-infamous-for-their-reprisals-on-civilians-and-civilian-property-in-revenge-for-ira-actions-image343022344.html?imageid=60C54207-A31A-4016-BD6A-AB0F5F97ECD2&p=196516&pn=1&searchId=52dc24f10345afce475d60720ee8d578&searchtype=0">British Auxiliaries</a> stormed the venue, led by a <a href="https://www.theauxiliaries.com/men-alphabetical/men-k/king-wl/king.html">Captain William King</a>, and 'arrested' six elected political representatives - Michael Staines, Thomas Lawlor, Joseph Clarke, James V. Lawless, James Brennan and Michael Lynch.</b><br></br>
<b>Their intention was to disrupt Irish political life in Ireland, as they were aware that not all politicians supported 'the Crown'. They then "requisitioned" </b> <i>(under <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/parliament-and-the-first-world-war/legislation-and-acts-of-war/defence-of-the-realm-act-1914/">DORA 'legislation'</a>)</i><b> the 'City Hall' building and another political institution, 'Municipal Buildings', for use by the British political and military forces.</b>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 6th December, 1920, having been instructed by his betters</b> <i>(!)</i><b> in Westminster to do so, British Army Lieutenant-General 'Sir' <a href="https://www.ucc.ie/en/theirishrevolution/collections/mapping-the-irish-revolution/the-war-esclates-november-1920/">Henry Hugh Tudor</a></b> <i>('KCB, CMG etc!')</i><b> issued a notice to the British 'police force' in Ireland, the RIC, to, basically, 'calm down'.</b><br></br>
<b>That grouping, the RIC, had 'unofficially' been given</b> <i><b>carte blanche</b></i><b> by Westminster to run riots in Ireland and terrorise the population, in order to 'restore and maintain law and order'. Britain's version of 'law and order', that is - the order was effective, for a few days, and then ignored. Westminster, too, ignored the fact that it had issued the order in the first place.</b>
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<b>1922 :</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 6th December, 1922, Free State forces finally took over the town of Kenmare</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>, in County Kerry.</b><br></br>
<b>The town had been held by the rebels (IRA) since September, 1922, and the Staters had tried, twice, to take it from them, but failed on both occasions. But, on the 6th December that year, the Leinster House Free State administration sent in three military columns of their armed forces to 'secure' the town, which they did, this time, and 'arrested' fourteen rebels in the process.</b>
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<b>1925 :</b><br></br>
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<b>In order to 'legitimise the new Irish State in Northern Ireland'</b> <i>(sic)</i><b> in the political eyes of the world, Westminster and its offspring in Leinster House needed to present the 'Stormont Government'</b> <i>(sic)</i><b> in the Occupied Six Counties as 'an agreed positve advancement'.</b><br></br>
<b>So those three anti-republican, pro-British political institutions came up with a <a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1949-01-24/debates/707165c9-706f-495f-807d-5328704141c0/Eire%28TripartiteAgreement1925%29">'Tripartite Agreement'</a> which all three would get on board with and sign off on.</b><br></br>
<b>In a speech in Dublin, Mr Éamon de Valera</b> <i>(playing the rebel)</i><b> loudly objected, calling the 'Agreement' a "mediated crime" and described those in Leinster House as "Free Staters who had sold our countrymen for the meanest of all considerations – a money consideration..".</b><br></br>
<b>However, within two years, Mr de Valera and his followers had accepted political office in the Free State 'parliament' and Establishment...!</b>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s1438/Beir%20Bua!.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1044" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s200/Beir%20Bua!.jpg"/></a></div> <b>The Thread of the Irish Republican Movement from The United Irishmen through to today.</b><br></br>
<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<b>Republican Sinn Féin, likewise, follows in the traditions of Tone, Emmet, the Fenians and Pearse.</b><br></br>
<b>We accept the programme of previous generations of republicans - 'Ireland Free'. No compromising 'interim settlement' is acceptable.</b><br></br>
<i><b>"The task we take up again is just Emmet's task of silent unattractive work, the routine of correspondence and committees and organising. We must face it as bravely and as quietly as he faced it, working on in patience as he worked on, hoping as he hoped, cherishing in our secret hearts the mighty hope that to us, though so unworthy, it may be given to bring to accomplishment the thing he left unaccomplished, but working on even when that hope dies within us..."</b></i> <b> - Padraig Pearse.</b><br></br>
<b>The Union Creed Of The United Irishmen : </b><br></br>
<i><b>"I believe the land, or any part of it, cannot become the property of any man, but by purchase, or as rewards for forwarding and preserving the public liberty.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I believe our present connection with England must be speedily dissolved.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I believe that old age, pregnant women and labour should be honoured.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I believe that treason is the crime of betraying the people.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I believe religious distinctions are only protected by tyrants.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I believe applying the lands of the church to relieve old age, to give education and protection to infancy, will be more acceptable to a united people, than maintaining lazy hypocrites and ravenous tithe-gatherers.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>In this faith I mean to live, or bravely die..."</b></i>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font><br></br>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading.</b></i>
<br></br>
<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-30902199417809087702023-12-03T13:51:00.000+00:002023-12-03T13:51:39.601+00:00'DORA' WASN'T PRETTY IN IRELAND...<b>THE BRITISH 'DORA' IN IRELAND.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMf5R97wZt58MasqMkLn36fR3v1tmr-D54MHpEv-I9nIbznT5NtVjoxwBRjWZgvahGICxU-M2CKEe9OQZ4Tqq97LE9tqNBPuKfqX_IFlNw3MwZu0rogrVi9GK7PERWz9KfOb6sx3JZmnWEunp9kX12ALGLATovQgLp49G1LZ8iF62Bg61YOb5nA/s700/Looking%20into%20the%20past....jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMf5R97wZt58MasqMkLn36fR3v1tmr-D54MHpEv-I9nIbznT5NtVjoxwBRjWZgvahGICxU-M2CKEe9OQZ4Tqq97LE9tqNBPuKfqX_IFlNw3MwZu0rogrVi9GK7PERWz9KfOb6sx3JZmnWEunp9kX12ALGLATovQgLp49G1LZ8iF62Bg61YOb5nA/s200/Looking%20into%20the%20past....jpeg"/></a></div><br></br>
<b>...and we're back, after our 'working holiday'!</b><br></br>
<b>We had an eventful break</b> <i>(!)</i><b>, and enjoyed the two gigs laid on by the Movement, during and after the working days, but would ask that they be spaced-out better next year.</b><br></br>
<b>I mean, four days recovery time between gigs just isn't enough...!</b><br></br>
<b>And meself and the two lads have been busy - we are putting together a 12-piece post for Wednesday, 6th December 2023, mentioning happenstances</b> <i>("Ya wha', Shar...?!)</i><b> in connection with Irish history and politics that took place between 1919 and 2002, including...</b>
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<b>......what one high-ranking British military and political member of the British 'Establishment' wrote, in the 1920's, about what he considered to be a 'sell out' to the Irish...</b>
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<b>...how, in the 1950's, the GAA in New York came together and organised itself in connection with events to organise funds for the Republican Movement in Ireland...</b>
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<b>...the birth of a journalistic 'Con' artist and his alleged encounter with a committed Irish republican on a city street...
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<b>...from 2002 - "..the institutional Church has suffered a serious decline in confidence.." - but such a "serious decline" is not a death knell...
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<b>...and a few more articles mentioning events that took place between 1919 and 1925.</b>
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<b>So please do check back with us on Wednesday, 6th December 2023 : and sure we might even tell ya a bit more about the two gigs we attended.</b><br></br>
<b>Or we might not...!</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading : hope to see ya on the 6th!</b></i>
<br></br>
<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-24690486009875528142023-11-22T10:57:00.000+00:002023-11-22T10:57:49.114+00:00FROM 1920 - "HE WAS STABBED WITH BRITISH BAYONETS AND SHOT IN THE FACE SEVERAL TIMES..."<b>ON THIS DATE (22ND NOVEMBER) 100 YEARS AGO : DEATH OF AN IRA HUNGER-STRIKER.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlZTu8aIq8pjeL2Bm4LnEHQPGCjOSQGd0qpfrsBj4R0LFYTUILgDHqiF_lzYfZ3LfA5oGzkQEVMBxEh5MayEy3-ii8Qf3D1TrdLQqLVtwsim2Owd-o6m-8gCq9xdqMtAMAM3Gcw/s1600/Andy+O+Sullivan%252C+hunger-striker..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlZTu8aIq8pjeL2Bm4LnEHQPGCjOSQGd0qpfrsBj4R0LFYTUILgDHqiF_lzYfZ3LfA5oGzkQEVMBxEh5MayEy3-ii8Qf3D1TrdLQqLVtwsim2Owd-o6m-8gCq9xdqMtAMAM3Gcw/s320/Andy+O+Sullivan%252C+hunger-striker..jpg" width="154" height="220" data-original-width="183" data-original-height="231" /></a></div><b>Andrew Sullivan</b><i> (aka Andy O'Sullivan, pictured)</i><b>, 5th Battalion, Cork 4th Brigade, was one of three IRA men to die on hunger-strike in 1923 - he was 41 years of age at the time </b> <i>(the other two men were <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/90221251@N03/8440153173">Joe Witty</a>, 19 years young, and <a href="https://rebelcorksfightingstory.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/denny-barry.jpg?w=240">Dennis Barry</a>, 40 years of age ; Joe died on the 2nd September that year, and Dennis died on the 20th November)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<i><b>'Captain Andrew Sullivan was born in Denbawn, County Cavan in 1882, the oldest of eight children born to Michael Sorahan and Mary Smith...he eventually became the agricultural inspector for the Mallow area, County Cork and held that position for many years.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>During the War of Independence Sullivan was the Commanding Officer for Civil Administration in the North Cork area and later in the 1st Southern Cork division...a supporter of the anti-Treaty side during the Irish Civil War, he was arrested and interred on July 5, 1923. Between 1922 and 1923, hundreds of others in all parts of Ireland were arrested by the</b></i> <i>(*)</i><i><b> British controlled Irish police force</b></i> <i>(*)</i><i><b>, without any charge, and were kept in the prisons and internment camps without trial...in the Autumn of 1923 the conditions in the prisons grew worse and the men and women were being treated as convicts rather than political prisoners. To protest their imprisonment and bring public attention to the cruelty they were receiving, the only 'tool' they felt they had at their disposal was a hunger strike...'</b></i> <i>(from <a href="http://sullivancorcoran.blogspot.ie/2017/02/andrew-sullivan-hunger-striker-1923.html">here</a>)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<i>(*)</i><b>- an accurate description, in our opinion, but the timeline would show that, 'officially', at least, the then existing 'police force' would be acting under instruction from the then 'new' Free State administration in Leinster House rather than 'officially' taking orders from Westminster.</b><br></br>
<b>However, as republicans know</b> <i>(and history has since attested to)</i><b> that 'police force' was a proxy force for Westminster - as, indeed, was the Leinster House 'parliament' that established that 'police force' - so the description</b> <i><b> 'British controlled Irish police force'</b></i><b> is, as we said, accurate.</b><br></br>
<b>Also, as regards the POW's being treated as convicts, one of the prisoners, Alfred McLoughlin, who was interned for a year without being told why, managed to get a letter published in 'The Irish Times' newspaper in which he wrote -</b> <i><b>"I slept on bare boards in the Curragh military prison for five nights..I was handcuffed night and day..I was threatened, with a gun, several times, that I would be shot..." - </b></i><br></br>
<i><b>"I am one of the Hare Park prisoners referred to. In spite of what General Mulcahy says, I slept on bare boards in the Curragh military prison for five nights – April 24-28. I got one blanket. I was handcuffed night and day (day behind, night in front). The handcuffs were not off for meals ; they were off one wrist for alleged dinner, excluding Thursday, April 26, when they were both off for dinner, but on that day I was hanging handcuffed by the wrists to a kit-rack about six inches from the floor, for four-and-a-half hours. I was threatened with a gun several times [that] I was to be shot..."</b></i><br></br>
<b><a href="http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/what-is-available/literary-ireland/articles/william-butler-yeats/">W.B. Yeats, <a href="https://dbpedia.org/page/Earl_of_Granard">'Lord' Granard</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Mahon">Sir Bryan Mahon</a> campaigned for proper treatment for the prisoners and, in April 1923, the 'International Committee of the Red Cross' carried out an 'investigation' into the conditions in the prisons, reporting</b> <i>(in keeping with those who had facilitated their visit ie the Staters)</i><b> that "the prisoners were treated like prisoners of war". However, it later emerged that their report was flawed as not one prisoner was interviewed during their 'investigation'!</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTjlHcwP_HmB2XzXHt9ZUfHWih0eKjEU-iQAEZfi83e29mRlTsjzZowoBSj0S-9R4ftru5R0juuvvAllCGJ_TWGMDsFUDEas_47bUo6u28nEGUfgRErdJrpatsXPKRzASKf1UHUYcTXgpbBfau8U46u9M6rb-_IY0nPj2LXOyzX_XmLoIA-Zc8w/s600/Michael%20Kilroy..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTjlHcwP_HmB2XzXHt9ZUfHWih0eKjEU-iQAEZfi83e29mRlTsjzZowoBSj0S-9R4ftru5R0juuvvAllCGJ_TWGMDsFUDEas_47bUo6u28nEGUfgRErdJrpatsXPKRzASKf1UHUYcTXgpbBfau8U46u9M6rb-_IY0nPj2LXOyzX_XmLoIA-Zc8w/s200/Michael%20Kilroy..jpg"/></a></div><br></br><b>Anyway - in that particular year (1923), there were about 12,000 Irish republicans interned by the Free Staters and, as stated, above, those men and women "were being treated as convicts rather than political prisoners", and a decision was made, by both the POW's themselves and the leadership outside, to go on hunger strike and, on the 13th October 1923, <a href="http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/en/towns-villages/newport/history/general-michael-kilroy.html">Michael Kilroy</a></b><i> (pictured, a respected republican, at the time)</i><b> OC of the IRA POW's in Mountjoy Jail, announced that 300 republicans in that prison/internment camp</b> <i>(including ten men who had been elected to a 32-County Dáil Éireann)</i><b> had voted to go on hunger strike</b> <i>(those 300 men were soon joined by 162 more of their comrades in that institution)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Within days, thousands more imprisoned republicans joined the protest - 70 in Cork Jail, 350 in Kilkenny Jail, 200 in Dundalk Jail, 711 in Gormanstown Prison Camp, 1,700 in Newbridge, 123 in 'Tintown', 3,390 in the Curragh Camp, 100 in Harepark Camp and 50 women in the North Dublin Union prison</b> <i>(good condensed background piece <a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/2015/07/10/the-catholic-church-vs-the-ira-hunger-strikers-of-1923/">here</a> about that period in our history)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>While on hunger strike, Andrew wrote to his brother Michael on the 7th November, 1923 - the 25th day of the protest ;</b><br></br> <i><b>"Dearest Br. Miceal,<br></br>
Thanks ever so much. I really can't find words to explain adequately my gratitude for your prompt response to my appeal for some cash. I have been very hard up for many things especially smokes and of course I would not ask anyone - besides, I could never bring myself to beg. I am much cheered by the news that Cork is now with us in the fight. I always expected that and should it be a fight to a finish I shall die happy in the thought that my bones will moulder in its confines.<br></br> I asked you for to arrange that I should be buried by my old chief's side in Fermoy. My heart is so set on the freedom (of my people) that my spare moments are always devoted to devising ways and means to expedite that Glorious Dawn.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>With that object in view I have decided that if Mallow Republicans provide a Republican Plot in the new Cemetery near the Railway...I shall order my interment there instead of at Fermoy, as the latter place has enough in L. Lynch's and Fitz Gerald's graves to keep aflame the burning torch of Freedom.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Matter wants something in its midst to counter the awful shoneenism that permeates its walls and I came to the conclusion that if I can no longer alive take the same active part in the battle I may at least in my mouldering grave do still some little to help those who come after me with that object in view.<br></br> I ordered that nothing should be inscribed besides my name etc by way of epitaph. Over my remains but the simple motto of my late life work...when the Republic so estated functioning and duly recognised then, but not till then, let men dare to eulogise my name in cold press over my grave.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>Then too will Lynch's and Emmet's blazon forth. This is rather gruesome but one so often thinks of the apparent inevitable in this struggle that it becomes quite secondary, thoughts of the spiritual world.<br></br> In the latter line I am quite at peace, prepared and content. There will be no swerving from the straight rugged path to the goal. I set the motto for the strike, 'Freedom or Death'. I am Prison Adjutant now and by long ways the strongest man on the strike even though judging by the looseness of my clothes I must have dropped at least 3 stone weight. There are 124 of us on strike now.<br></br> A large number were shifted to the various camps and many of the leaders were taken from here to Kilmainham. It is all alike to us, we carry on. Of course some weak ones have given in. About 60 out of the total here have gone off and taken food on a promise of release. Immediately they were strong enough in hospital they were thrown back into C wing just as they were before the strike and told they could not be released until a big batch was ready.<br></br> Fr. James McCabe came up when they heard of my being on Hunger Strike and with his friend went to G.H.L and found they have me held on suspicion only but have no evidence and would release me if I went off strike and signed the usual form. Of course Fr. James asked me to do this and I sent him out the definite reply "NEVER!" At the same time my profuse thanks for his trouble in my behalf. Well, I must close this long winded letter. Remember the change, Mallow instead of Fermoy, in case I do. Undying Love,<br></br>
Your Aff Br. Andy."</b></i>
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<b>Finally - from 'The Scotsman' newspaper, 26th November 1923 (page 10) -</b> <i><b>'Death of Irish Hunger-Striker : At the inquest on Saturday on Andrew Sullivan, a hunger-striker, who after removal from Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, died on Friday afternoon in a military hospital, a doctor stated that Sullivan went on hunger-strike on October 14, and about a week ago he lost his sight. The jury found that death was due to pneumonia.'</b></i><br></br> <b>We mention that because the Friday in question would have been the</b> <i> 23rd</i><b> November, 1923 and, on researching the inconsistency, we found the following :</b><br></br>
<i><b>'Many of the newspapers of the time reported Captain Andrew O'Sullivan died on November 22, 1923. That may have been the date he was removed from Mountjoy Prison and brought to St. Bricin's Military Hospital where he was pronounced dead on November 23, 1923...he died on 23 November 1923 at St. Bricin Military Hospital, Dublin City, County Dublin, Ireland, at age 41.5...the information on the death record was provided by Louis A. Burns, coroner for the City of Dublin. Inquest held 24 November 1923...(and) at the inquest on Saturday on Andrew Sullivan, a hunger-striker, who after removal from Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, died on Friday afternoon in a military hospital, a doctor stated that Sullivan went on hunger-strike on October 14, and about a week ago he lost his sight...'</b></i> <i>(from <a href="http://www.mcintyregenealogy.com/p146.htm#i3430">here</a>)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>However, the majority opinion is that the man died on the 22nd November 1923, and we, ourselves, believe that to be the correct date.</b><br></br> <b>IRA Captain Andy O' Sullivan, from Cork, died after 40 days on hunger-strike, on the 22nd November 1923, at 41 years of age, 100 years ago on this date.</b>
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<b>'AMERICAN NOTES'</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>Republican Aid Committee : Support for the dependents of the men </b> <i>(sic)</i><b> in jail is growing steadily among the New York Irish.</b><br></br>
<b><a href="https://republicansinnfein.org/cabhair/">The 'Irish Republican Prisoners Aids Fund'</a> has been active here for more than 18 months but, since the sentencing of the eight young IRA men in connection with <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/42843185">the Omagh raid</a>, funds have rolled in much faster and steadier.</b><br></br>
<b>Also, attendance at affairs held to aid the prisoners has jumped enormously.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMWnL92hfsarlEbiggmNHl1eNGlLqBibzMVaKaLHA57mnb217MGjx8sBY_ZqP0buS-dBcuyxFEpZQlOIat-fsP08UxLgKBffKJXjsw3rY7uZYT4CfNlvX5TZ1asAqyi7pzcUhIuEmaErXYb64eZCuH-uDPB9avOrXDPCPlJsKzqMbEmItUQAcUA/s235/Liam+Cotter+,+GPO+,+Dublin+,+March+24+,+2008+.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMWnL92hfsarlEbiggmNHl1eNGlLqBibzMVaKaLHA57mnb217MGjx8sBY_ZqP0buS-dBcuyxFEpZQlOIat-fsP08UxLgKBffKJXjsw3rY7uZYT4CfNlvX5TZ1asAqyi7pzcUhIuEmaErXYb64eZCuH-uDPB9avOrXDPCPlJsKzqMbEmItUQAcUA/s200/Liam+Cotter+,+GPO+,+Dublin+,+March+24+,+2008+.jpg"/></a></div><b>The Chairman </b> <i>(sic)</i><b> of the 'Irish Republican Prisoners Aids Fund' of New York is Liam Cotter</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b>, a Kerry man, the Treasurer is Dr. Frank Monahan, from Cavan, and the Secretary is Chris McLoughlin, from Belfast.</b><br></br>
<b>New monthly dances and other social gatherings are held throughout New York, and other Irish clubs, organisations and county groupings have promised support. Some will hold functions, others will make cash contributions to the Central Committee in Dublin through the New York Committee...</b>
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<b>IRELAND ON THE COUCH...</b><br></br>
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<i><b>A Psychiatrist Writes.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>'Magill' commissioned <a href="https://www.blackrockhealth.com/consultants/prof-patricia-casey">Professor Patricia Casey</a> to compile an assessment of Irish society at what may emerge as the end of a period of unprecedented growth and change.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>This is her report.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>From 'Magill Magazine' Annual, 2002.</b></i>
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<b>Whatever the explanation - indifference or scepticism - opting out of this fundamental right has significant consequences.</b><br></br>
<b>It is said that counselling is the new religion, replacing the priest, but information from several sources shows clearly that formal religion is not dead but is doing well, in spite of a number of significant problems.</b><br></br>
<b>The event of the year, the tour of the relics of Saint Therese, demonstrated the need that the Irish have for traditional forms of worship.</b><br></br>
<b>During the ten-week tour, over two million people filed past the casket and huge numbers went to confession again, with predictions that there would be a subsequent revitalisation of the sacrament.</b><br></br>
<b>That this could happen in post-Catholic Ireland, as one politician famously dubbed it, astounded us all. There has also been a reported increase in pilgrimages such as those to <a href="https://www.loughderg.org/three-day-pilgrimage-season/">Lough Derg</a> in recent years...</b>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s1438/Beir%20Bua!.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1044" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s200/Beir%20Bua!.jpg"/></a></div> <b>The Thread of the Irish Republican Movement from The United Irishmen through to today.</b><br></br>
<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<b>Republican Sinn Féin, likewise, follows in the traditions of Tone, Emmet, the Fenians and Pearse.</b><br></br>
<b>We accept the programme of previous generations of republicans - 'Ireland Free'. No compromising 'interim settlement' is acceptable.</b><br></br>
<i><b>"The task we take up again is just Emmet's task of silent unattractive work, the routine of correspondence and committees and organising. We must face it as bravely and as quietly as he faced it, working on in patience as he worked on, hoping as he hoped, cherishing in our secret hearts the mighty hope that to us, though so unworthy, it may be given to bring to accomplishment the thing he left unaccomplished, but working on even when that hope dies within us..."</b></i> <b> - Padraig Pearse.</b><br></br>
<b>The Union Creed Of The United Irishmen : </b><br></br>
<i><b>"I believe in the Irish Union, in the supreme majesty of the people, in the equality of man* </b></i> <i>(sic)</i><i><b>, in the lawfulness of insurrection, and of resistance to oppression.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I believe in a revolution founded on the rights of man*, in the natural and imprescriptable right of</b></i> <i><b><u> all</u></b></i> <i><b> the Irish citizens to all the land. I believe the soil, or any part of it, cannot be transferred without the consent of the people, or their representatives, convened and authorised by the votes of every man* having arrived at the age of 21 years..."</b></i>
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<b>1919 :</b><br></br>
<b>A pro-British newspaper in Dublin, 'The Irish Times', carried a report on the 22nd November, 1919, that a Mr Alan Bell had been appointed as a 'Resident Magistrate' by Mr John French, who was the '1st Earl of Ypres' and the British 'Lord Lieutenant of Ireland'</b> <i>(a position he resigned from on the 30th April 1921)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Bell had come to the attention of the IRA before, as he had 'made a name' for himself as an RIC member who was particularly robust</b> <i>(!)</i><b> in his treatment of Irish republicans.</b><br></br>
<b>He kept that demeanour about him in his new position, which gave him even more scope and opportunities to practice his 'robustness'</b> <i>(!)</i><b> and, determined to further 'prove himself' to his new bosses, he organised the tracking-down and seizure of £71,000 belonging to the Movement.</b><br></br>
<b>Michael Collins, the then IRA Director of Intelligence, had instructed his men to observe Mr Bell's routine, and a plan to execute him was drawn-up ;
on March 26th, 1920, Collins ordered that the plan be acted on and, on that morning, Mr Bell was joined on the packed tram at Dalkey Station by three armed IRA men.</b><br></br>
<b>As the tram arrived at the corner of Simmonscourt Square at Merrion Road to take on and let-off passengers, another IRA man held it there ; the three IRA men on board rose from their seats and told Mr Bell to step off the tram with them - he refused and repeatedly called on the other passengers to help him.</b><br></br>
<b>Only one of the passengers on the packed tram attempted to help him, but he was quickly convinced to stay out of it. Mr Bell was then dragged off the tram by the three IRA men and, when they stepped onto the road, they were met by three other armed IRA men - the six Volunteers pushed Alan Bell across the road where he was shot three times in the head and died instantly. Mr Bell carried a pocket revolver for protection but never got the chance to use it.</b><br></br>
<b>The Dail Eireann National Loan recorded £357,000 in its account at the end of 1920, meaning that Dublin Castle had to continue to use its own money to pay its lackies in Ireland to do its bidding.</b><br></br>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
<b>The Secretary of the Newbridge </b><i> (County Kildare)</i><b> branch of the ITGWU, Michael Smyth, was on his way to a Council meeting on the afternoon of Monday, 22nd November, 1920, when he was 'arrested' in Naas by the British 'police force' in Ireland, the RIC.</b><br></br>
<b>His republican leanings, which he had at the time - he was later to become a 'Senator' in the Free State administration - had previously brought him to the attention of the British junta in Ireland and he had been 'taken into custody' by the Black and Tans in early July that year and was badly beaten up by them, before being deposited in their barracks in Newbridge, Kildare, and held there for about a week.</b><br></br>
<b>He was then imprisoned in the Curragh and, later, Mountjoy Jail in Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>Two men of his acquaintance, Thomas Patterson and Tom Harris, were also 'arrested' that same day, and imprisoned in the Curragh.</b><br></br>
<b>When he knew that Michael Smyth was in 'custody', the RIC 'County Inspector' for the Kildare area, a Mr Kerry Supple</b> <i>(whose house on the Sallins Road in Naas had been attacked by the IRA less that a year previously)</i><b> assembled a raiding party and bustled their way into the Kildare County Council building and went to the room where the meeting was taking place.</b><br></br>
<b>They looted the office until they found the Minute Book, documents book and any correspondence to and from Dáil Éireann and removed those items from the premises. That material would have been delived by those 'Irishmen' to their British paymasters in Dublin. </b>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
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<i><b>'On the morning of 21 November 1920, Dublin IRA shooting teams simultaneously struck 14 separate premises housing 22 suspected British agents. The scale of the audacious operation was unprecedented, as scores of IRA gunmen shot dead 15 men (12 of whom were pre-targeted), many while still in their beds in fashionable areas of South Dublin...'</b></i> <i>(From <a href="https://www.ucc.ie/en/theirishrevolution/collections/mapping-the-irish-revolution/the-war-esclates-november-1920/">here</a>.)</i><br></br>
<i>(14 British intelligence officers were assassinated and, seeking revenge, their comrades drove into Croke Park, in Dublin, that afternoon, and opened
fire on the crowd, killing 14 civilians and wounding 65. <a href="https://www.joyceproject.com/notes/050021freeman.htm">'The Freeman's Journal'</a> newspaper described the Croke Park massacre as '<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/india-s-amritsar-massacre-bore-the-made-in-ireland-mark-1.3856007">Amritzar</a> Repeated in Dublin'.)</i><br></br>
<b>The following day, the 22nd November - 103 years ago on this date - the British administration in Ireland announced that they were extending their existing 'curfew' (martial law) to now operate from 10pm to 5am</b> <i>(instead of 12 Midnight to 5am)</i><b>, and they ordered their troops to arrest and intern "all known officers" of the IRA.</b><br></br>
<b>Within a few days, more than 500 men had been 'arrested' and imprisoned by the British, but the republican campaign continued.</b><br></br>
<i>(Incidentally, when British PM David Lloyd George was informed on the 22nd that his agents had been killed in Dublin and told of the manner by which they died, he is said to have turned to <a href="https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Patrick_Moylett">Patrick Moylett</a> and callously commented</i> <i><b> "They got what they deserved. Beaten by <a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/counter-jumper">counter-jumpers..."</a></b></i><i>)</i><br></br>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
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<i><b>"When we had been in position for some time, there was no sign of any activity, but suddenly someone dashed past the end of Mill Lane, at the same time firing a shot. We rushed onto the Main Street at the junction with Mill Lane and opened fire on two Black and Tans who were running up the street towards their barracks. The enemy party escaped, but when we returned to Mill Lane, we found that Paddy McCarthy had been shot dead by the single shot..."</b></i> <b>- IRA Volunteer William Reardon.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 22nd November 1920, IRA Volunteers from the Millstreet Battalion and the column of the Cork No. 2 Brigade IRA attacked British forces who had been terrorising the population of Millstreet, County Cork.</b><br></br>
<b>IRA Captain Patrick McCarthy, Newmarket Battalion, Cork No. 2 Brigade, was killed while taking part in that attack on the RIC/Tans, at Upper Mill Lane in Millstreet.</b>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
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<b>Edward</b><i> (Edmund/Eddie)</i><b> Carmody was born in Moyvane, in County Kerry and, at a young age, he moved to Ballylongford, on the North Coast of that county, and got work work on a farm.</b><br></br>
<b>When of an age to do so, he joined the IRA</b> <i>(8th Battalion [Ballylongford], Kerry No. 1 Brigade)</i><b>, served his time and worked his way into the position of Quarter Master and then settled into the rank of Lieutenant.</b><br></br>
<b>On the 22nd November, 1920, as he was on his way to inspect an arms dump outside Ballylongford, he was surrounded by a gang of Black and Tan members who shot at him. He sustained several wounds but continued to try and escape from them by lying low. It was said that the trail of blood in his wake gave his whereabouts away, and the Tans dragged him onto a road where they proceeded to kick and punch him, slammed their rifle butts into his bloody body, stood him up against a wall and fired more shots into him.</b><br></br>
<b>He was then stabbed with bayonets and shot in the face several times.</b><br></br>
<b>His lifeless body was then thrown onto a cart and he was paraded through Ballylongford by the Tans and left outside a turf shed inside the barracks yard, from where his father collected his remains the following day.</b><br></br>
<i>Another martyr for old Ireland, another murder for the Crown...</i><br></br>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
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<i><b>'WAR IRELAND – GERMANY - ENGLAND.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>War is imminent between England and Germany. England's cowardly and degenerate population won't make soldiers. Not so the Germans. They are trained and ready.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>What will England do? She will recruit Irishmen to fight Germany for her. She will then, when finished with them, fling them back to the workhouses of Ireland reeking with foul filthy diseases."</b></i><br></br>
<b>- a leaflet distributed in 1913 by Irish republicans and which was handed out by IRB member Art O'Donnell</b> <i>(pictured)</i><b> in his village of Tullycrine, Kilrush, County Clare where, in 1890, he was born, one of fifteen children. </b><br></br>
<b>When <a href="https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/0316/1242556-ryan-family-tomcoole-wexford-war-of-independence-treaty-civil-war/">the IRB split</a> months later, Art remained true to his republican beliefs and assisted in re-organising the rebels in the townland of Kildysart, in County Clare, alongside
Sean McNamara, Martin Griffin and Frank McMahon, which they did, and those men armed themselves, trained and drilled, in preparation for <a href="http://ww1centenary.oucs.ox.ac.uk/war-as-revolution/august-1914-england%E2%80%99s-difficulty-ireland%E2%80%99s-opportunity/">'England's difficulty...'</a></b><br></br>
<b>He was the 'Officer Commanding' of the West Clare Brigade IRA when he 'arrested' by the British in Ennis, County Clare, on the 22nd November, 1920, and detained in Ennis Barracks, before being taken to Limerick Prison and, from there, he was moved to Cork Jail.</b><br></br>
<b>He 'rested' in Cork Jail for a while before being put on a boat, with other IRA POW's, and they were delivered to Ballykinlar Camp, just outside Belfast but, thanks to his efforts, the rebel army in his district still functioned, under the command of Jack Coghlan and Commandant Willie Shannon.</b><br></br>
<b>He was released under the terms of the December 1921 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOaQ3JVGfDM">'Treaty of Surrender'</a>.</b><br></br>
<i><a href="https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/library/Art_ODonnell.pdf">Art O'Donnell : the Quiet Idealist.</a></i>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
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<b><a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20377934.html">Éamonn Ó Modhráin</a></b> <i>(pictured, 'Prisoner A 3/56' in Mountjoy and 'Number 290' in Frongoch Internment Camp in Wales)</i><b> had a passing interest in Irish history but expanded that interest, in the early 1900's, on hearing representatives of the 'Irish National League' </b> <i>('Conradh na Gaeilge')</i><b> speaking in his area, Kildare.</b><br></br>
<b>He involved himself in their cultural activities and was soon after to be elected as a 'Branch Secretary' for the organisation, and worked his way up to eventually being elected as its 'Chairperson'.</b><br></br>
<b>He maintained his interest in Irish culture, sport and language and also developed an interest in, and support for, Irish republicanism and, in 1914,
he joined the Athgarvan Company of the Irish Volunteers, which brought him further into the 'Person of Interest'-category of British forces.</b><br></br>
<b>He was 'arrested' by the British on the 22nd November 1920, as were hundreds of other republicans, in the aftermath of <a href="https://www.theirishstory.com/2011/11/21/today-in-irish-history-bloody-sunday-november-21-1920/">'Bloody Sunday'</a>, was court-martialled and sentenced to sixteen months imprisonment in Mountjoy Jail, in Dublin, for "possession of seditious literature".</b><br></br>
<b>He was released under the terms of <a href="http://rsf-kildare.blogspot.com/2011/12/treaty-of-surrender-and-its-legacy.html">the 'Treaty of Surrender'</a> in December, 1921.</b>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
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<b>John Jack 'Rover' McCann was born in Loughshinny, a small village between Skerries and Rush, in County Dublin, in 1886.</b><br></br>
<b>He joined the Movement at 28 years of age and was 30 when he took part in <a href="https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2016/05/05/the-1916-series-the-battle-of-ashbourne/">'the Battle of Ashbourne'</a> in April 1916 and, following the Easter Rising, he was captured by British forces and taken to Swords, County Dublin, and from there to <a href="http://www.olddublintown.com/richmond-barracks.html">Richmond Barracks</a>, in Inchicore, Dublin, where his comrades were being held.</b><br></br>
<b>The republican POW's were then transported to <a href="https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/23209157.look-knutsford-prison-part-now-upmarket-restaurant/">Knutsford Jail</a> in the county of Cheshire, in the North West of England, and from there to Frongoch internment camp in Merionethshire, Wales. The 'Rover' and his comrades were released in December 1916 in a 'Christmas Amnesty', and he returned home, still cherishing his republican beliefs.</b>
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<b>In the early hours of the 22nd November, 1920, the Black and Tans called to his home, forced him into a nearby field and shot him dead.</b>
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<i><a href="https://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/8907/1/FW_john%20rover%20mccann.pdf">RIP.</a></i>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
<b>An RIC patrol was ambushed outside Ardara, in County Donegal, on the 22nd November 1920, resulting in the wounding of four RIC members, two of whom were seriously injured.</b>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 22nd November, 1920, British Army Brigadier General Frank Percy Crozier arrived in Galway on foot of complaints lodged against 'D Company Auxiliaries' and he sacked the drunken Commander of that particular militia</b> <i> (on the 30th, a Lieutenant FHW Guard, formerly of the 'Royal Scots Regiment' and a former officer of the 'Gold Coast Volunteer Corps', took over the position)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>While he was in Galway, he 'investigated' <a href="https://www.galwaydecadeofcommemoration.org/content/new-contributions/the-lonesome-death-of-fr-michael-griffin-galways-martyred-son">the murder of Father Griffin</a> but it was only in May 1921 - after he had resigned his post - that he admitted that his men, the Auxies, were in fact responsible for the death of the priest.</b><br></br>
<b>His vehicle was involved in a serious crash on the 23rd, as he was travelling back to Dublin, having sacked the militia Commander, inquired</b> <i>(!)</i><b> into the death of Father Griffin and inspecting 'G Company Auxiliaries' in Killaloe, in County Clare ; he ended up in the Curragh Hospital for about a month and was then transfered to a convalescent home in Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>FP Crozier was born in 1879 in Warwick Camp, a British Army base in Bermuda and, at 33 years of age, he 'went home to the Mainland' and joined <a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1913-06-18/debates/b8d3a2a6-77dd-4867-b391-ed359df94ac8/BritishLeagueForSupportOfUlster">'The British League for the Support of Ulster and the Union'</a> and was put in charge of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ulster-Volunteer-Force-Northern-Ireland-1966">the UVF</a>. He was an RIC member</b> <i> ('Service Number 72229')</i><b> and worked his way through the paramilitary/militia system to the command position in the 'Auxiliary Division RIC'. He was a 'Company Man', in other words.</b><br></br>
<b>He was aware of the lawlessness that permeated the 'Auxies'</b> <i> (and, indeed, the whole British military and political system in Ireland)</i><b> but, until it got so completely widespread, had weakly dismissed such debauchery as 'the workings of a malign influence, an inner crew, a shadowy group of officials, politicians and others..'</b><br></br>
<b>On one occasion, when his hand was forced and he had to summarily dismiss about two dozen serving men, a Lieutenant-General, a 'Sir' Henry Hugh Tudor</b> <i>('KCB', 'CMG' etc)</i><b> reinstated them 'pending a full inquiry' ; Mr Crozier let it be known that that was done out of fear that any of the dismissed men would talk to the press about their 'extracurricular' activities!</b><br></br>
<b>And the poor man was getting it tough at home, as well - in October, 1920, his wife called personally at the British War Office and stated that her husband had left her entirely destitute and that it would be necessary for her to go into the workhouse that night, and she wanted to know his whereabouts with a view to commencing civil proceedings...</b><br></br>
<b>No doubt caught between a rock and a hard place, he resigned from the 'British Defence Forces' in 1921, and resigned from this Earth on the 31st August 1937.</b><br></br>
<b>Here's hoping he eventually got some peace...!</b>
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<b>On the 22nd November, 1920, sixteen-year-old Michael O'Reilly was crossing Capel Street, in Dublin City Centre, when he was shot dead.</b><br></br>
<b>It transpired that a British soldier, a Private Hampton, of the Wiltshire Regiment, had 'negligently discharged' his weapon, killing the youth in the process...</b>
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<b>1920 :</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 22nd November, 1920, RIC members were travelling in a <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/imagetaker1/44551574715">Crossley Tender truck</a> through Dromoland, in the county of Clare, when the vehicle was involved in an accident.</b><br></br>
<b>The RIC driver, Edward Roper (25), from Hampshire, in England, who also wore the Black and Tan uniform when not attired as an RIC member, died, after his vehicle smashed into the gate leading into Dromoland Castle, and two of his comrades - Michael Fleming (31), from County Laois, also a Tan, and an ex-Sergeant Major in the British Army 'Irish Guards Regiment' and their comrade Patrick Driscoll (31), from Ballydehob, in Cork, who had joined the RIC nine years previously - died with him.</b><br></br>
<b>We have no idea how badly damaged the truck was.</b>
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<b>1921 :</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 22nd November, 1921, responsibility for 'security, law and order and the administration of justice'</b> <i>(!)</i><b> was transferred from Westminster to its spawn administration in Ireland, the Stormont regime in Belfast.</b><br></br>
<b>A few weeks before that, a new pro-British paramilitary group – <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Imperial_Guards">the 'Ulster Imperial Guards'</a> – had been formed, which was made up mainly of ex-British Army soldiers and ex-UVF gang members, and <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/parliament-and-the-first-world-war/parliamentarians-and-staff-in-the-war/written-portraits-of-parliamentarians-during-the-first-world-war/james-craig-1871-1940/">James Craig</a> used their presence to pressure <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisro/1933/127/pdfs/nisro_19330127_en.pdf">Dawson Bates</a> into giving <a href="https://www.siopaleabhar.com/en/product/arming-the-protestants-the-formation-of-the-ulster-special-constabulary-1920-27-secondhand/">the 'Ulster Special Constabulary'</a> more powers to crack down on Irish people.</b><br></br>
<b>Which he did.</b>
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<b>118ú ARD FHEIS 2023.</b><br></br>
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<b>We'll be extra busy on the last weekend in November 2023, as we have an 'appointment' in Dublin City Centre with our political comrades.</b><br></br>
<b>The 118th Ard Fheis of the Republican Movement is being held in a Dublin venue and myself and the two lads have each acquired a 'Visitors Pass' for the day, and we'll be doing some work for same in the days before the event, and in the days after it.</b><br></br>
<b>There are 53 motions to be discussed, ranging in topic from 'Political Policy', 'Prisoners' and 'Elections' to 'Organisation and Activities' and 'Publicity and Culture' and more, so it's gonna be a busy five or six days for us, but we're looking forward to meeting our comrades and colleagues, from home and abroad!</b><br></br>
<b>We won't be here on Wednesday 29th November 2023, but we will be back with our usual offerings on the following Wednesday, 6th December 2023. And I'll still be on <a href="https://twitter.com/1169AndCounting">'X'</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ceclia.lynch">Facebook</a>, 'cause yer not gettin' rid of me that easy...!</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading ; we'll be back on Wednesday, 6th December 2023.</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-67739316699472959832023-11-19T20:43:00.000+00:002023-11-19T20:43:14.147+00:0018 FOR THE 22ND ON 1169...!<b>18 FOR THE 22ND ON 1169...!</b>
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<b>Well haven't we been busy bees!</b><br></br>
<b>We've put together 18 articles, covering the years 1919 to 2002, for the blog, for Wednesday, 22nd November 2023!</b><br></br>
<b>Included in the articles will be a letter which an Irish hunger-striker wrote to his family in the early 1920's, a British operative in Dublin who took the quickest way to his job but never arrived, what a British military raiding party were looking for when they looted the offices of a County Council building, the response of a British Prime Minister on being told of the executions of his team in Dublin, how an inspection of an arms dump went tragically wrong for an IRA man in 1920 and more than a dozen other stories from Irish history. </b><br></br>
<b>We'll be with ya on Wednesday, 22nd November 2023 - hope you'll be with us then!</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading.</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">1169 And Counting : An award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics - from today and yesterday : all 32 Counties !</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3865032.post-74434075444342481972023-11-15T11:31:00.000+00:002023-11-15T11:31:10.864+00:00IRELAND 1922 : "NOTHING TO DO WITH ME, GUV'NOR..."!<b>IRELAND, 1920 : THEY HAD 'TICKETS TO RIDE...'</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 15th November 1920 - 103 years ago on this date - A British soldier in Ireland, a Lieutenant William Spalding Watts, who was attached to the '33rd Company Royal Engineers', was enjoying a train journey from Cork to <a href="https://bereisland.heritagecork.org/topics/bere-island-internment-camp-2">Bere Island</a>, in West Cork, an internment camp for Irish Republican POW's, which was built that year by the British.</b><br></br>
<b>Lieutenant Watts was travelling in the '1st Class' carriage and some of his comrades were in '3rd Class', as they were of the opinion that it would be safer for them to mingle with the public rather than to travel as a group in '1st Class'.</b><br></br>
<b>All of them wore their British Army uniforms and all were relaxed as the train pulled in to Waterfall Railway Station, about six miles outside Cork City, to pick up more passengers.</b><br></br>
<b>Lieutenant Watts, Lieutenant RR Goode, Captain Reedy, Captain Stewart Chambers and Captain Montague Green were sitting in their respective carriages oblivious to the fact that armed Volunteers from the 2nd Battalion, Cork No. 1 Brigade IRA, had boarded the train, and were making their way through the carriages.</b><br></br>
<b>Three of the Volunteers entered the '3rd Class' carriage and walked slowly through it, looking at each passenger as they went ; one of the IRA men, now with gun in hand, stopped at British Army Captain Chambers and said to his two comrades</b><i><b> "That is one of them.."</b></i><b> and, pointing at Captain Green, said</b> <i><b> "..and that is the other."</b></i><br></br>
<b>The two British Army soldiers were were then marched out of the train at gunpoint and were joined outside by Lieutenant Watts, who had been removed from his '1st Class' comfort by other Volunteers</b> <i>(...it was rumoured later that the IRA were looking for a British Army man named George Edward Green, who was involved in the torture of Tom Hales [".. his mouth was severely damaged and his hands crippled.."], not Montague Green. Incidentally, Tom Hales survived only to later join a Leinster House party)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Lieutenant Goode and Captain Reedy were left where they were.</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc6CQjgEPVHXMrP_J3CBUF7JqiakiwePFdhxybli_-iO5TEcvHjk3Q0V4SDGd7UJKLA-QqdSrhiWPqczFeJSFpgg_gHAyFDH5j_uenqDH5LqA-iA5JMSVFw0ModAFFWn5flFY4xtLlnljpufFNWyDrMX68xJ9EpQVRqqxXi4ot7btgKRr8UTteA/s1200/IRA%20ATTACK%20RAILWAYS..jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc6CQjgEPVHXMrP_J3CBUF7JqiakiwePFdhxybli_-iO5TEcvHjk3Q0V4SDGd7UJKLA-QqdSrhiWPqczFeJSFpgg_gHAyFDH5j_uenqDH5LqA-iA5JMSVFw0ModAFFWn5flFY4xtLlnljpufFNWyDrMX68xJ9EpQVRqqxXi4ot7btgKRr8UTteA/s200/IRA%20ATTACK%20RAILWAYS..jpg"/></a></div><br></br><b>Captain Stewart Chambers was responsible for <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/51151512">the 'arrest' of Father O'Donnell</a></b><i> (Chaplin to the Australian Forces)</i><b> in October 1919 for 'seditious language' and the IRA wanted a word with him about that, and British Army Captains Chambers and Green had the previous week been witnesses to the shooting of two RIC members at Ballybrack, in Cork and, it seems, the IRA wanted to know what exactly they had seen.</b><br></br>
<b>Within days of their absence, posters and leaflets were displayed in areas of Cork and Kerry, signed as being from <a href="https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/spies-informers-and-the-anti-sinn-fein-society-the-intelligence-war-in-cork-city-1919-1921/">'The Anti-Sinn Féin Society'</a>, demanding the release of the three British Army operatives within two days or else</b> <i><b>"...individuals and houses would be blown to the Devil. No mercy shown...(and) leading members of the IRA will be suitably dealt with. Ignore this at your peril. Vengeance may be slow, but it’s sure...not a tooth for a tooth, but 50 to 1.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>The posters and leaflets named thirteen villages in Cork and Kerry and listed certain houses in those villages that would be blown up and stated that the occupants of same would be killed, claiming that the 'Society' would not stop until "222 men were dead".</b><br></br>
<b>However, all three British Army Officers were shot dead. Their bodies were never recovered.</b><br></br>
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<b>'RADIO ÉIREANN.'</b><br></br>
<i><b>From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.</b></i><br></br>
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<b>If ever blood is spilt among Irishmen* which, God forbid, there will be many whom history will judge harshly for their sin of omission, and among their number will be the men* </b><i>(*sic)</i><b> of Radio Éireann, the men* who could have enlightened but didn't, who could have spoken but elected for silence.</b><br></br>
<b>These, by a false toleration of error, have betrayed truth and, by an unvirtuous prudence, have suffered the continuance of ideological barriers. It is incredible, but it is also true.</b><br></br>
<b>Perhaps it is not yet too late to make amends ; all that is required is that at a certain fixed time, every day of the year, present political facts be related to their historical causes.</b><br></br>
<b>This should be done in an accurate and impartial manner, the aim being to educate both Orange and Green to know their past mistakes and the effects of these. The facts of history will show, also, that the chief architect of partition has never lived in Ireland.</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(END of 'Radio Éireann' ; NEXT - 'American Notes', from the same source.)</b></font>
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<b>IRELAND ON THE COUCH...</b><br></br>
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<i><b>A Psychiatrist Writes.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>'Magill' commissioned <a href="https://www.blackrockhealth.com/consultants/prof-patricia-casey">Professor Patricia Casey</a> to compile an assessment of Irish society at what may emerge as the end of a period of unprecedented growth and change.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>This is her report.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>From 'Magill Magazine' Annual, 2002.</b></i>
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<b>A few years ago, such reliance on therapists and pills would have been regarded by Irish people as among the worst kind of excesses typifying American society ; now we have abandoned any sense that it is mormal to feel negative emotions and that there are no simple, rapid solutions to the emotional vagaries of human existence.</b><br></br>
<b>It is in our voting pattern that we can most clearly see the fragmentation of our society - according to data produced by Professor Richard Sinnott of the Department of Politics at UCD, there has been a huge decline in turnout over the past nine years, especially among the under-25's ; from 47% in the 1992 Maastricht referendum to 21% in the recent Nice referendum, a decline that persisted even when circumstantial factors were taken into accoont.</b><br></br>
<b>Voter turnout increased with increasing age, but even in the Nice referendum only 52% of those in the 50-64 age group voted.</b><br></br>
<b>The lack of involvement of young people especially in the political process is worrying, since it suggests either a smugness that they have all their material wants and need nothing more, or alternatively that their lack of interest stems from a sense of helplessness in shaping their future.</b><br></br>
<b>Such disconnectedness, if proven to be the cause, is a breeding ground for dissent and anarchy...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font>
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<b>BEIR BUA...</b><br></br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s1438/Beir%20Bua!.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1044" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsPv1FpMWrO1H5Yr5g8XrkCoTygSs9aba1NdYuPPIRoNa78p_gYwrbxwv9Yr_RYhUpKilK_Qf9alT7bTt6aaxRswSH0_xKDFWESUJIYeXujkCC8dAFdgvouveWUwBJ-MqGOa_xZTJL7HOW3vA5R0XkTCw65E5cjEELjv4ntxaScWo1bO-Fot2Dg/s200/Beir%20Bua!.jpg"/></a></div> <b>The Thread of the Irish Republican Movement from The United Irishmen through to today.</b><br></br>
<b>Republicanism in history and today.</b><br></br>
<b>Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.</b><br></br>
<b>August 1998.</b><br></br>
<i>('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)</i>
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<i><b>"One of the ancient indestructible things of the world...an idea which is older than any empire and will outlast every empire.."</b></i> <b> - Padraig Pearse was right.</b><br></br>
<b>Irish republicanism has outlasted the British Empire, thanks to determined people like Pearse. Ireland was Britain's first colonial possession to challenge its power this century and, since then, Britain has constantly retreated.</b><br></br>
<b>Britain is now only a shadow of the power it was in Pearse's time, still trying desperately to cling onto its first, and one of its last, colonies - Ireland.</b><br></br>
<b>In our time it has succeeded in strengthening and updating its grip on Ireland, in the form of a new Stormont Assembly in Ireland, but its overall power since Pearse's time has weakened, while republicanism - "one of the ancient indestructible things of the world" - has remained, pursuing Britain "like a sleuth-hound ; we lie in wait for her and come upon her like a thief in the night. And some day we will overwhelm her with the wrath of God".</b><br></br>
<b>Pearse followed in the tradition of Tone, Emmet and the Fenians. He accepted no compromise and knew that you could not claim to be heirs to Tone and the Fenians while disregarding their programme...</b>
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<font face="Arial"color="green"><b>(MORE LATER.)</b></font><br></br>
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<b>ON THIS DATE...</b><br></br>
<b>1922 :</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 15th November 1922 - 101 years ago on this date - twenty-five IRA prisoners entered a tunnel they had dug inside Kilkenny Jail and escaped from the confines imposed on them by the Free Staters.</b><br></br>
<b>When the prison authorities discovered that the jailbreak had happenened they interviewed the remaining POW's who, to a man, knew nothing about it</b> <i>(!)</i><b> and their 'privileges' were withdrawn as a result ie no cigarettes or other 'luxuries' were allowed in.</b><br></br>
<b>The newspapers heard about the escape so a press briefing was organised, at which the guv'nor reluctantly acknowledged that IRA prisoners had escaped but claimed that none of the missing prisoners were important IRA men!</b><br></br>
<b>None of the prisoners were recaptured.</b><br></br>
<i>(One of those who escaped, Jim Hayes, was shot dead by Free Staters three days after the escape [18th] near Silverfort, Fethard, in County Tipperary.)</i><br>
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<b>1922 :</b><br></br>
<b>On the 15th November, 1922, a 'legal writ', issued by a Free State court, was served on a Republican POW - a <a href="https://www.photopol.com/martello/daithi.html">Mr Daithi O'Donnchadha</a> </b> <i> (David O'Donoghue...who, a few short years later, joined the Staters)</i><b>.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr. O'Donnchadha had been sacked from his position in the Civil Service four years earlier because he refused to swear allegiance to the then new Free State regime which was attempting to organise itself and had, instead, placed his accountancy skills at the disposal of the fledgling Dáil Éireann</b> <i>(the 32-County institution)</i><b>.</b>
<b>He was employed as the 'Secretary to the Dáil Loan' Department and, as such, he had 'insider knowledge' as to how to access the funds in those accounts, and the Staters wanted that information and the cash.</b><br></br>
<b>The Free State 'writ' sought to compel him to transfer those details</b> <i>(and the money!)</i><b> to the new 'trustees' who had been 'appointed'</b> <i>(!)</i><b> by the Staters.</b><br></br>
<b>In around the end of that month</b> <i>(November 1922)</i><b> a second 'writ' was served on a Mr Stephen O'Mara, another Republican POW - he, too, was being held captive in prison by the Staters as he was also a 'Loan Trustee' and, like Mr O'Donnchadha, had refused to aid the new State regime.</b><br></br>
<b>Mr Éamon de Valera was also a 'Loan Trustee' but, as he was then 'on the run', the Staters were unable to actually serve him with one of their 'legal writs' so they made it 'legal' to serve him with a 'writ', by placing an ad claiming that that ad was deemed to be 'notice of being served', in newspapers on the 4th December 1922!</b><br></br>
<b>Speaking later of his time as a finance-man-on-the-run, Mr O'Donnchadha recalled one occasion when he was nearly caught by Free State operatives -</b><br></br>
<i><b>"On the 11th November, 1919, as I was leaving 76 Harcourt Street, to go to the Sinn Féin Bank, I observed that there was a raid on the Sinn Féin Headquarters at No. 6.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>I returned immediately with the news, and a warning that it might be advisable to be prepared in case No. 76 were raided. Mícheál Ó Coileáin was on the premises and I sent up word to him. After stowing away some money and accounts in the secret cache, I went into the street and mingled with the crowd outside No.6.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>When the raid was over I followed the lorries down St. Stephen's Green South, until they were out of sight. Whilst the crowd was dispersing I went into University Church and stayed there a few minutes. Then, deciding to avoid No. 6, I was going back to 76 when I met Brian Ua hUigiun and Fionán Ó Loinsigh at the corner of the Green on their way to meet some other T.Ds.</b></i><br></br>
<i><b>We were just about to enter 76 when some military lorries came speeding towards us and pulled up there, so we passed on, saved by a matter of seconds. Leaving my two friends near Hatch Street, I came back on the other side of the street and joined the crowd which had gathered to look on at the raid..."</b></i>
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<b>This corrupt, gombeen State remains 'loyal to the half-crown'!</b>
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<b>1923 :</b><br></br>
<b>On the 15th November 1923 - 100 years ago on this date - Westminster held a 'Partition Meeting/Boundary Commission' discussion between themselves in London.</b><br></br>
<b>The attendance would have included their 'top people' in regards to 'Irish affairs' and it's safe to assume that Lionel Curtis, James Masterton-Smith, John Anderson, Mark Sturgis, Tomas Jones, G G Whiskard, Norman Loughnane and Stephen Tallents would have been present, as those people had all, in one way or another, 'directed Irish affairs' for Westminster over at least the previous three or four years.</b><br></br>
<b>A recommendation for 'progess'</b> <i>(consisting of about thirty pages!)</i><b> was the outcome of their one-way chit-chat and it advised Westminster to change <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1925-11-19/13/">'Article 12'</a>, stating that economic and geographic conditions should not now 'be read as a qualification to the wishes of the inhabitants'.</b><br></br>
<b>That meeting also advised Westminster that</b> <i><b> "...it is difficult to see an award</b></i> <i>(ie 'granting' extra land to Leinster House)</i><i><b> which would not precipitate war between the North and South.."</b></i><b>, and suggested employing</b> <i><b>"..the <a href="https://www.irishnews.com/news/2016/04/18/news/anger-after-b-specials-handed-victims-funding-489410/">large force of Specials</a> equipped and armed by the British taxpayer (to) resist the findings of the Boundary Commission..."</b></i><br></br>
<b>Also included in their report was advice in regards to the actual composition of the Commission - that Westminster should have the final say on the Chairperson of that entity and that this should be done with a covernote stating that, in doing so, the British were proving just how serious they were in dealing with the issue - and, once the new appointment had been made, the new Chairperson would have to be allowed</b> <i><b>"...time to study the whole subject until he had fully grasped the issues at stake.."</b></i><br></br>
<b>An obvious delaying tactic and, considering that the 'Boundary Commission' was allowed to run until late 1925, it is obvious that its members from the Free State preferred the delaying tactic rather than having to report back home that the British had not only 'pulled a quick one' but weren't going to concede an inch of Irish territory.</b><br></br>
<b>The final</b> <i>(1925)</i><b> report of that Commission was not made public until January 1968 ; it was suppressed</b> <i> (for 43 years)</i><b> to aid the Stormont and Leinster House administrations to 'settle themselves' into their 'seats of power'.</b><br></br>
<b>And that whole saga remains to this day an open wound ; one of many caused by Westminster in Ireland.</b>
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<b>1973 :</b><br></br>
<b>IRA CAPTAIN MICHAEL McVERRY.</b><br></br>
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<b>On the 15th November, 1973, IRA Captain Michael McVerry was killed during an attack on the 'Royal Ulster Constabulary'</b><i> (RUC)</i><b> barracks in Keady, County Armagh.</b><br></br>
<b>He was shot dead by British soldiers after placing a 100 lb bomb against the gable wall of the barracks during the IRA attack.</b><br></br>
<b>1st December 1949 – 15th November 1973.</b><br></br>
<b>RIP.</b>
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<i><b>Thanks for the visit, and for reading!</b></i>
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<i><b>Sharon and the team.</b></i>
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