He was also involved politically with the Sinn Féin organisation in Armagh and was one of the leaders of the Fourth Northern Division of the IRA, which operated in in the borderlands of Armagh, South and West Down and North Louth.
He stayed with the Republican Movement following the split over the 'Treaty of Surrender' and succeeded Liam Lynch as Chief of Staff of the IRA on the 20th April 1923 - 99 years ago on this date (see 'Short Stories', below) - a position he held until the end of 1925, thus allowing him the authority to issue a 'cease fire and dump arms order', which he did in May 1923.
In the State election of August, 1923, he won a seat in County Louth as a Sinn Féin abstentionist candidate, a seat he held on to until the early 1970's, but not as an abstentionist or, indeed, not for Sinn Féin ; at an IRA Convention held in November 1925, Frank Aiken notified his audience that his political friend, de Valera, was not altogether opposed to the then existing republican political administration entering the Free State Leinster House 'parliament' but the IRA objected and withdrew its allegiance from de Valera and his people and re-pledged allegiance to its own Executive, the Army Council. And Aiken's own actions also led to his expulsion from the IRA.
In May, 1926, he assisted de Valera and others in founding the Fianna Fáil political party and so began his political 'career' in the employ of a State which he once fought against ; his new career '..placed him at the forefront of Irish and international Free State politics...' as, indeed, that same 'career move' did for those that went into that particular gutter before and after him. But not one of them could take our republican principles with them.
He died at 85 years of age in St Vincent's Hospital, in Dublin, from pneumonia, on the 18th May 1983.
'STIRRING BODENSTOWN COMMEMORATION...'
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, July, 1954.
Seán O'Neill, who presided, introduced Mr Michael McGinn of Phildelphia, who said he had come to represent Clan na Gael of America and to pledge their continued support to the Republican Movement. The Irish in America had by times become disheartened with events in Ireland but the deed of last weekend would give them great heart and renewed hope to continue their efforts to help the Movement at home.
Gearóid O'Broin of Dublin gave the oration and said - "We come to the grave of Wolfe Tone to honour him and pay tribute to his memory. Sometimes, perhaps, we come here with the feeling that the national spirit is not so strong in the country and that we are a long way from achieving Tone's objective but, somehow, this year, there appears to be a feeling abroad that we are nearer today than we have been for many years to our goal.
Wolfe Tone knew in his day that any half-hearted attempt to win our freedom was doomed to failure ; this is just as true today as it was in Tone's day. We must be prepared to give every hour of our time - every effort that is required must be made, in order to complete the job. It has been said that the people of other generations were a greater people than we are, and that we cannot make sacrifices. We cannot accept that..."
(MORE LATER.)
ON THIS DATE (20TH APRIL) 165 YEARS AGO : BIRTH OF A NATIONALIST 'HALF-DOOR' SURGEON.
Having sharpened his penknife on a nearby stone, the surgeon plunged it into the man's perineum producing a scream from the man, a gush of urine and gasps of astonishment from the watching crowd. Retiring to the local GP's house, the surgeon, Sir Thomas Myles (pictured), ate a hearty breakfast..." (From here.)
Thomas Myles was born in Limerick on the 20th April 1857 - 165 years ago on this date. He trained and was employed as a surgeon, and worked at Dr Steeven's Hospital in Dublin. He knew his trade well, and gained the confidence and support of his peers, to the extent that he was appointed as the President of the 'Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland'.
He had an interest in Irish politics, and was an Irish nationalist and a supporter of the 'Irish Volunteers' and their political objectives. He owned a yacht and used it to smuggle arms into Ireland to equip the 'Irish Volunteer' soldiers in the Easter Rising of 1916 ; a consignment of arms from Germany were smuggled aboard the yacht 'Chotah', which belonged to the man.
He is perhaps better known here in Ireland as the doctor who tried to save the lives of 'Lord' Frederick Cavendish (the then-newly appointed 'British Chief Secretary for Ireland') and Thomas Henry Burke (the 'British Permanent Undersecretary', the then-most senior British 'civil servant' in Ireland) who were killed in the Phoenix Park by 'The Irish National Invincibles' in May, 1882.
Whilst acknowledging that the man was not an out-and-out full supporter of the Irish republican cause, it can be seen that his heart, head and conscience were troubled enough, on more than one occasion, for him to risk his life in furthering the objectives of the Movement.
He had a comfortable lifestyle in 'polite' society but, unlike those today who enjoy such a lifestyle (or the majority of them, at least..), he also had a sense of justice and an ability – and a 'need' – to act on same when the injustices around him seemed to be gathering pace. His heart, in the main, was in the right place and Irish republicans can appreciate people like that.
'Sir' Thomas Myles died, at 80 years of age, on the 14th July, 1937, at one of his old workplaces, the Richmond Hospital, and is buried in Deans Grange cemetery, Dublin.
...AND TALKING ABOUT 'SURGEONS WITH A GOOD HEART (!)' [ON THE DATE THAT'S IN IT...] -
He studied at the 'Royal College of Surgeons' in Dublin and was the elected Chairperson of the 'Anatomy and Physiology' department of that institution and mixed, socially, in 'the right circles'. But, again like Thomas Myles, the many injustices that surrounded him didn't sit right with him and, having joined 'The United Irishmen', he threw himself wholeheartedly into an uprising that was being planned for 1798.
He played his part and became a wanted man, but managed to escape to Paris. His social conscience remained intact and he maintained his social agitation... ; more here.
THE NOT SO IRISH NEWS...
Her analysis shows how the paper reflects the political attitudes of the Stormont Castle Catholics (who dominate the SDLP*) and the conservative values of the Catholic Hierarchy, especially Bishop Cahal Daly.
(From 'Iris' magazine, October 1987.)
('1169' comment - *...and who now fill the ranks of other Stoop-like political parties in Stormont and Leinster House.)
'Politics' for those 'eminent people' is 'parliamentarianism', the realm of parliamentary politicians in whom we should place our trust. But which 'eminent people' are these? None but those parliamentarians ever in pursuit of a parliament - the SDLP of course*. The two SDLP MP's, John Hume and Seamus Mallon, "..have shown what can be achieved through confronting the British government face to face, through exploiting the channel of the Anglo-Irish machinery..",according to 'The Irish News'.
Appealing for a vote for Joe Hendron in the June election, we are assured he would be "..a persuasive advocate at the vortex of power.." (June 11th) ; "..participation in the democratic process is both essential and rewarding.." (May 19th).
Rewarding indeed for those who are prepared to trade the very real aspirations - not only of those who are committed republicans, but the overwhelming majority of the Irish people - for a society in which each citizen can play their rightful part and live with dignity, for the tawdry** spectacle of a Six-County 'parliament'... (MORE LATER.)
(*'1169' comment - that's rich, coming from a political party which operates within both of the parliaments [Leinster House and Stormont] which were established in this country by Westminster! // **Most definitely not financially "tawdry" for any of them!)
(MORE LATER.)
'TAKE YOUR CHOICE...'
An IRA spokesman had this to say in reply to the FSA propaganda piece in 'The Irish Times' :
Óglaigh na hÉireann calls the young men of Ireland to arms ; an IRA veteran talking to a young recruit - "Things are looking better, thank God. I've grown old in the Republican Movement and you, I hope, will grow old in the Irish Republic. The lads of today are nothing different to what they were when I was one myself. They're still good stuff!
It's sometimes hard going after the day's work is done and you'll often steal hours from the night, but the thought that perhaps you may be picked for the next operation that will make it well worth all the hard going.
In the Irish Republican Army there is no pay and little leisure, and considering that very often their liberty and often their lives are at stake these soldiers are a singularly good humoured lot, for they share something wonderful - a clarity of vision and singleness of purpose born out of a great love for Ireland.
And they will man the Bearna Baoghal!"
(END of 'Take Your Choice' ; NEXT - 'Convert!', from the same source.)
ON THIS DATE (20TH APRIL) IN...
...1915 :
In early 1915, the 'IRB' leadership requested that he should make his way to Germany to assist Roger Casement, who was recruiting fighters for an 'Irish Brigade' which was to be active in time for an intended Rising in Ireland, in early 1916.
On St Patrick's Day in 1915, Joseph Plunkett left Ireland, having memorised his instructions for Roger Casement and, on the 9th April, he reached the city of Berne, a municipality in the district of Wesermarsch, in Lower Saxony, and secured an appointment in the German Embassy there. The officials listened to what he had to say and they contacted Berlin, inquiring as to what they should do with Plunkett, in light of the 'rebel recruitment' information he had given them ;
'Joseph Mary Plunkett from Dublin, identified through British passport of March 16, member of the Committee of Irish Volunteers there, is authorised by that committee to convey important, only oral instructions, to Sir Roger Casement, whom he assumes to be in Berlin, has asked for passage papers to Berlin. Request if necessary, address for Casement.'
Roger Casement was notified about the presence of Joseph Plunkett and, on the 13th April, he contacted Count Georg von Wedel and asked that Plunkett be afforded the required permissions etc to ease his passage, stating that Joseph Plunkett was "the most likely person they (the republican leadership in Ireland) would choose for a messenger as being an invalid he could go to Switzerland from Dublin without exciting suspicion..." and, on the 14th April, the authorities in Berlin agreed to assist in the endeavour.
On the 20th April 1915 - 107 years ago on this date - having travelled through France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland, Joseph Plunkett fulfilled his task (helped by a US passport in the name of 'Joe Peters'!) and stayed there for about 8 weeks, working with Roger Casement. (More detailed account here.)
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...1919 :
On Sunday, the 20th of April, 1919, the Fermoy Battalion of the IRA, under the command of Michael Fitzgerald (Officer Commanding of the Fermoy Battalion) and Con Leddy (Officer Commanding of the Araglin Company) raided the barracks, which was located in the centre of the village (in the townland of Gortnaskehy) - they had picked their time well, as all the enemy forces, bar one, were out at Mass ; the sole occupant was arrested and confined to one room while the IRA searched the premises. Six rifles, a Webley revolver and a considerable amount of ammunition were liberated from the enemy forces.
Incidentally, the Araglin area (Cork, Waterford and Tipperary) could rely on about 100 active republican members, from both the IRA and Cumann na mBan, while the RIC (throughout Ireland) consisted of about 10,000 members, operating from some 1,300 barracks.
On the 4th April, 1920, the RIC were forced to abandon their barracks in Araglin and the IRA burned it to the ground (as they did with about 30 other such buildings in the Cork area).
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...1920 :
- the finding of the coroner's inquest, in Cork, which concluded the above verdict, on the 20th April, 1920, in relation to the death of Tomas MacCurtain (pictured).
The name of another British assassin, RIC member Stephen Henry Chance (aka 'Charlie Chance'), should have been added to the above list ; this thug had served in the British Royal Navy and as a Sergeant with the 5th Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment of the British Army in 'World War One' before he decided to 'put manners on the Irish', and was known and feared for his sadistic behaviour.
On the 15th March, 1920, Tomas MacCurtain, the Irish republican Lord Mayor of Cork, who was elected to that position on the 31st January 1920, was shot dead by a gang of masked English men who wore civilian clothes and spoke with English accents. They were members of the RIC and were new recruits to that English police force in Ireland, and were called the 'Black and Tans' by the Irish because of their 'uniform'. They were much admired by a group of armed misfits that had gathered around 'Constable' Chance - the 'Charlie Chance Murder Gang', as they were known in the Cork area.
RIC member Chance went out 'on duty' in Cork in a small armoured car which he called 'the fiend' and wore two revolvers strapped to each leg - he was a psychopat and was said to have passed information on Tomas MacCurtain to the assassins and was rewarded by his superiors shortly after they murdered Tomas MacCurtain by being promoted to Sergeant, and put in command of at least 13 other British operatives in Shandon Street RIC Barracks, near the North Gate Bridge, in Cork.
The IRA made numerous attempts to kill or kidnap him but he survived and/or escaped all such attempts and retired back to England after his reign of terror in Cork was over. He lived a long life in Devon, in south-western England, where he died (on his actual birthday) at the age of 90. He had an easier passing than he deserved.
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...1920 :
In 1836, the 'Dublin Metropolitan Police' ('DMP'), and the 'Irish Constabulary' (later re-branded as the 'Royal Irish Constabulary'), were established in this country by the British. These two organisations replaced the 'County Constabulary'. The 'Royal Irish Constabulary' were ('officially'!) disbanded in 1922 and a 'Civic Guard' (later re-branded as the 'Garda Síochána na hÉireann') was established. In 1925, the Dublin Metropolitan Police merged with the 'Garda Síochána na hÉireann'.
A 26-year-old member of the 'Dublin Metropolitan Police' (DMP), Laurence Dalton, who had been a member of that grouping since he was 20 years of age, had proved his worth to the Crown in 'B Division' and his request to move to 'G Division' had been granted - his job now included 'spotting' IRA members and harassing and 'arresting' them, which he apparently did in a hearty and keen manner.
On the 20th April, 1920, 'Detective Constable' Dalton was up to his usual business in the Mountjoy Street area of Dublin city centre when he was challenged by three IRA 'Squad' members, Mick McDonnell, Tom Keogh and Jim Slattery. His colleagues found him unconscious on the street, with an abdominal wound and three wounds to his right leg, and they transported him to the near-by Mater Hospital where emergency surgery was carried out on him. He died there at 3.30pm that day without regaining consciousness. ======================================
...1921 :
On the 20th April, 1921, a 28-year-old man in Belfast, Charles Nicholson, who worked as a riverter in a machine shop, was 'arrested' by a British Army 'Curfew Patrol' and taken away in a caged lorry.
A British Army incident report (which contradicted itself) declared that "..at about 23.30 he fell from the vehicle on Albertbridge Road and it drove over him.."
He left a widow and three children.
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...1921 :
William Mordon (60), an ex-British Army man living in Dungannon, in County Tyrone, was taken from his house on the evening of Wednesday, 20th April 1921 ; his body was found the next day, in marshland - he had been shot through the heart. No individual or organisation claimed responsibility.
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...1921 :
Jeremiah George Quill, from County Clare, joined the RIC ('Service Number 67239') on the 16th April, 1913, was stationed in Kerry first, and was then moved to his own county, Clare.
In February, 1916, he left that branch of the British services and joined the British Navy and, on the 21st October that year he got married without "official sanction" and was eventually 'demobilised' on the 9th February, 1919. On the 10th February, 1919, he rejoined the RIC but resigned in October that year.
On the 20th April, 1921, he was visiting his aunt's house in Kilgarvan, in County Kerry when, at about 2am that morning, a number of armed men took him from the house and drove off with him towards the Ballyvourney area. He was never seen or heard from again.
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...1922 :
On the 13th/14th April, 1922, the IRA seized the Four Courts in Dublin as its new headquarters and issued an ultimatum to the Free Staters in Leinster House demanding an end to 'Provisional Government administration' in the State and sought the suspension of any election 'while the threat of war with England exists'.
Tensions increased and, on the 20th April, what was later described as "intense firing for two hours" by the IRA began at midnight on the Free State troops that were guarding State offices in Merrion Square, with the Bank of Ireland on College Green, the Telephone Exchange building and City Hall also coming under attack. The IRA garrison in the Four Courts denied all knowledge of those attacks, in which at least three people were wounded.
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...1923 :
A Mr. R.A. Haccius, a member of the 'International Committee of the Red Cross' (which has a certain reputation), visited Tintown Internment Camp in the Curragh and Newbridge Prison, County Kildare, Gormanstown Prison in County Meath and Mountjoy Jail in Dublin, on the 20th April, 1923.
His mission was to investigate claims of the maltreatment and poor conditions suffered by republican prisoners at the hands of the Staters but his reports were favourable to the Leinster House administration. No surprise there.
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...1923 :
On the 20th April, 1923, the IRA Executive met in Poulacapple, in County Tipperary, to discuss the campaign against the Staters. Those present included Frank Aiken, Liam Pilkington (replacing Liam Lynch, who had been shot dead by Leinster House operatives on the 10th April 1923), Sean Hyde, Sean Dowling, Bill Quirke, Tom Barry, Tom Ruane (replacing Michael Kilroy, a respected Irish republican at the time), Tom Sullivan (replacing Sean Lehane), Sean McSwiney, Tom Crofts, P J Ruttledge and Sean O'Meara.
Frank Aiken was elected Chief-of-Staff and an Army Council consisting of himself, Liam Pilkington and Tom Barry was appointed. The new Chief-of-Staff proposed that peace should be made with the Leinster House administration on the basis that "the sovereignty of the Irish Nation and the integrity of its territory is inalienable" and this was passed by 9 votes to 2.
It was soon after to be proved, again, that the Staters still didn't care for Irish 'sovereignty or integrity'.
And they still don't.
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Thanks for the visit, and for reading.
Sharon and the team.
We attended three Easter events over the Easter weekend, and we posted a few pics of same on our 'Facebook' and 'Twitter' pages. Despite the atrocious weather on Easter Monday in Dublin, we enjoyed the company we were in and the soup and sandwiches (!) afterwards in a pub in Inchicore, Dublin. GRMA, RSF/SFP!
