The cause, or the men, of the Emerald Isle..."
- the words of William Drennan (pictured), physician, poet, educationalist political radical and one of the founding fathers of the 'Society of United Irishmen', who was born on the 23rd May in 1754.
As well as his involvement with the 'United Irishmen', William Drennan will be forever associated with the descriptive term 'Emerald Isle' being used as a reference for Ireland, although he himself stated that that expression was first used in an anonymous 1795 song called 'Erin, to her own Tune'.
When he was 37 years of age, a group of socially-minded Protestants, Anglicans and Presbyterians held their first public meeting in Belfast and formed themselves as 'The Belfast Society of United Irishmen' (the organisation became a secret society three years later), electing Sam McTier as 'President', strengthing the link that William Drennan had forged with that revolutionary organisation - Sam McTier was married to Martha, who was a sister of William Drennan.
'..he was born on May 23, 1754, at the manse of the First Presbyterian Church, Rosemary Street, Belfast, where his father was minister. A doctor by profession, he became one of the pioneers of inoculation against smallpox. Drennan became one of the founder members of the United Irishmen, and upon moving to Dublin in 1789 was appointed its chairman...after he was tried and acquitted of sedition in 1794, he withdrew from the movement and emigrated to Scotland (but remained) committed to radical politics..he married Sarah Swanwick in 1800, and they had four sons and a daughter...' (from here.)
'When Erin first rose from the dark-swelling flood,
God blessed the green island, he saw it was good.
The Emerald of Europe, it sparkled and shone,
in the ring of this world, the most precious stone.
In her sun, in her soil, in her station thrice blest,
With her back towards Britain, her face to the West,
Erin stands proudly insular, on her steep shore,
And strikes her high harp 'mid the ocean's deep roar...'
On the 5th February, 1919, the Finance Committee of Kildare County Council held a meeting to discuss the fact that its road workers in the Newbridge, Kildare and Kilcullen areas had gone on strike in protest over the British Army having hired unskilled labourers to carry out repairs to roads that had been made impassable by the IRA.
The British obviously wouldn't have had full confidence in the 'quality' of repair work carried out by an organised body of workmen sent by an institution (the local Council) that they didn't fully trust (!) so, instead, they hired individual local labourers and monitored them, at the point of a gun, as they worked.
And, to rub salt into the wounds, they paid those labourers more than the Council repair crews were bring paid!
An agreement was reached in early March that trade-unionised Council workers would, in future, be tasked with such work and that their wages for that work would be increased.
However, the Council workers continued to agitate for a bigger win and, in August 1920, Council motions were passed instructing that only trade union labour be employed on the Council's direct labour schemes (such as road repairs) and Kildare County Council went one step further by passing a motion stating.. "...that we, the members of the Kildare County Council, in recognition of the good services rendered by trade union Labour, hereby call on all republican employers in County Kildare to employ none other than trade union labour..."
In effect, the British had opened a can of worms for themselves!
==========================
On the 5th February, 1919, newspapers carried reports of the previous days meeting in the British 'House of Commons' in Westminster, London.
The media noted that the elected Sinn Féin members did not attend (it was expected that they would boycott that foreign parliament) but that Ireland was represented (!) in that British political institution by 26 Unionist members and 7 'Irish Nationalist members of the House'.
A (proper!) British elected member, a Mr Horatio Bottomley (pictured), apparently disgusted that some representatives from Ireland would snub "the Mother of Parliamentary Democracy" ("Ya wha', Shar...?!") proposed 'to the House' that the absent Sinn Féin members be forced to attend by using the device of 'the call of the house' (last used in 1836).
But his boss, a Mr Bonar Law, replied to Mr Bottomley that he and the governing administration did not intend to take any action in the matter.
A wise move, surely, considering that they were still trying to deal with the earlier can of worms...
==========================
GAS LADS...
The massive finds of oil and gas on our western seaboard could ensure Ireland's financial security for generations.
Wealth approximating that of the Arab countries is within our grasp, but the Irish government seems content to sell off our birthright for a handful of votes and a few dollars.
In a special 'Magill' report, Sandra Mara investigates just what we are giving away, and why.
From 'Magill' magazine, March 2002.
In a bizarre and inexplicable decision, the government of the day also agreed to abolish royalties and all other production-related levies, without any commitment from the oil companies to offset these unique benefits by guaranteeing a single Irish job, or indeed any agreement to use Irish goods or services.
Any business deal which could benefit one party only would appear to be foolhardy.
In a deal of this magnitude, and with such long-term consequences for the country, it is incredible ; that it was done in the name of each and every Irish citizen, by an elected government, demands explanation.
The oil companies secured a deal with the Irish government which will only benefit the oil companies.
That they have done so is no reflection on them ; they, after all, are in business to make money - big money - and this deal will ensure that they do...
(MORE LATER.)
On the evening of the 20th November, 1920, a ne'er-do-well alcoholic known as 'Shankers' (John/James) Ryan (pictured), who sometimes lived at Number 16 Railway Street, Dublin, with his wife, recognised two IRA Volunteers, Dick McKee and Peadar Clancy, and knew the Crown Forces were looking for them.
'Shankers' associated with members of his old employers, the British Army, and was friendly with the 'constabulary' in Dublin, the 'Dublin Metropolitan Police' and, to prove useful to them, was known to pass on to both groups any information he thought might 'earn' him the price of a few pints.
He followed the two Volunteers as they made their way to a safe house they were staying in - Number 36 Gloucester Street in Dublin City Centre (owned by a Mr Seán Fitzpatrick) - and, after they went inside, 'Shankers' made his way to Dublin Castle and told his Crown Force colleagues that he knew where the two Volunteers were staying that night.
An armed group of British Army soldiers followed 'Shankers' to the safe house and 'arrested' Volunteers Dick McKee and Peadar Clancy, and took them back to Dublin Castle for 'interrogation' before placing them in cells.
Early next morning (Sunday 21st November 1920) what became known as 'Bloody Sunday' took place in Dublin (British spies executed by the IRA) and, later that day, Volunteers Dick McKee and Peadar Clancy were beaten to death by their captors or, as the British put it, "were shot dead attempting to escape...".
The IRA investigated the deaths of their two Volunteers and the name John/James 'Shankers' Ryan emerged as the person responsible for touting on them.
An IRA Intelligence Officer, Volunteer Patrick Kennedy, was tasked by the Volunteer leadership to ascertain Mr Ryan's movements and habits, most of which were found to centre around his drinking habits and his sister, a M/s Becky Cooper, a well known 'Lady of the Night' in the red-light 'Nighttown' (aka 'The Kips') area of Dublin known as 'the Monto'.
The tout Ryan started his days of nothingness with as much drink as he could afford in Hynes Pub at the corner of Old Glouchester Place and Corporation Street in Dublin City Centre and, at about 10.30am on the morning of the 5th February, 1921, as he was seated on his usual bar stool, at least five IRA Volunteers (William Stapleton, Eddie Byrne, Tom Keogh, Bernard C. Byrne and Paddy Kennedy) entered the bar.
Volunteers William Stapleton and Eddie Byrne went over to him and asked if he was 'Shankers' Ryan, he looked at the two men and replied that he was, and asked them why, what about it...?
They told him to get off the stool, which he did, and they searched him for guns or documents, but he had neither on him. With that they shot him dead.
The IRA Unit left the pub in two groups - two Volunteers up front, with the rest of the men walking about 15 feet behind them.
They walked towards the Gloucester Diamond district and veered off onto North Great Charles Street (near Mountjoy Square), where they returned their weapons to an IRA arms dump and went their separate ways.
Job done.
(British military records refer to 'British Intelligence officer Lance Corporal MPC/MFP John Ryan' in referencing this shooting.)
==========================
"The so-called Ulster difficulty is purely artificial as far as Ireland itself is concerned.
It is an accident arising out of the British connection and will disappear with it.
If it arose from a genuine desire of the people of the North East for autonomy, the solution proposed would be the obvious one.
But it is not due to such a desire – it has arisen purely as a product of British Party manoeuvring..."
- Eamon de Valera (pictured), speaking to journalists on the 5th February, 1921, about his recent American tour.
The "British connection" hasn't disappeared just yet - Westminster continues to claim jurisdictional control over six Irish counties, and enforces that claim with a political and military presence - so de Valera, despite all his faults, is right about that.
'Brits Out, North and South...'
==========================
During the 1916 Rising in Ireland, the Thornton family, from Drogheda, County Louth (pictured) - Frank, Nora, Hugh, and Paddy - played its part, and done so bravely.
Prionsias Ó Droighneáin (Patrick Thornton, aka 'Frank Drennan') was only 16 years of age when he stood then, with others, to oppose the British military and political presence in Ireland, and he was wounded twice in the fight.
Prionsias and his sister, Nora, and their brother, Hugh, had travelled from Liverpool to Dublin in order to participate in the battle.
As a result of his injuries, he contracted TB and was left in a physically weakened state but, having survived the Rising, he returned to Drogheda, where he got a job as the manager of a cinema ('The Boyne Cinema', the owner of which was a Mr Joe Stanley, himself an Irish republican), although his interest in, and support for, Irish republicanism, never wavered.
In late January/early February in 1921, Prionsias was 'arrested' by the Black and Tans (forcibly removed from the cinema) and 'interrogated' by them about republican activity in the area - the rough treatment and the TB was too much for him, and he died on the 5th February, 1921.
RIP Volunteer Prionsias Ó Droighneáin.
==========================
On the 5th February, 1921, a farmer, a Mr Dan Moloney (69), had just left his house at Lislevane, Barryroe, in County Cork, and was crossing a field just north of Lislevane Village, in the parish of Barryroe, to get to where his farmworkers were doing a job for him, to let them know that his wife, Mary, had a dinner in the farmhouse waiting for them.
A shot rang out from a British Army lorry carrying soldiers from the Essex Regiment that was driving past on a near-by road and Mr Moloney fell down, dead, having been shot through the head.
The Death Certificate stated -
'Fracture of the skull, shock and haemorrhage.
Bullet wound from military in execution of their duty.*
Information received from military. Inquiry held eight of February 1921...'
(* "In execution of their duty...information received from military.." : that explains that, then.)
Mr Moloney, who was not an IRA Volunteer himself, had four sons (ranging in ages between 22 and 28), three of whom were imprisoned at the time for IRA activity and the fourth son, Michael, was on active service with the rebels.
He was also the uncle-in-law of the four Crowley brothers from Kilbrittain - Patrick, Cornelius, Denis, and Michael - who were IRA Volunteers, but he himself was not an IRA man, and that was known by the British.
Mr Moloney is buried in Timoleague Abbey Cemetery in West Cork.
RIP.
==========================
On the 5th February, 1921, at least 12 IRA Volunteers from 'E Company, 4th Battalion' (pictured), Dublin Brigade of the IRA, with Captain Andrew Walsh in command, attacked a lorry carrying British soldiers on the Lower Rathmines Road, in Dublin, which was on its way to Portobello Barracks on the Lower Rathmines Road.
There were no fatalities on either side, it was stated, but a Volunteer, Miles Ford, was wounded.
==========================
ON THIS DATE (5TH FEBRUARY) 103 YEARS AGO : REBEL WOMEN SAY 'NO!'.
"As things developed in 1922, we could see that the Free State was toeing the line for Britain. Nearly all the girls stayed republican, but the men seemed to waver...we offer no apology to the rulers North or South of this partitioned land in asserting our rights as freeborn Irish women to repudiate that Treaty and the Imperial Parliament of partitioned Ulster.
We fight for an Ireland where the exploitation of Irish workers by imported or native capitalists will be ruthlessly exterminated. (We will) put an end for all time to that state of chaos and social dis-order which is holding our people in unnatural bondage..." - Eithne Coyle, Cumann na mBan President.
On the 5th of April 1914, in Wynn's Hotel in Abbey Street, Dublin, the inaugural meeting of the newly-established 'Cumann na mBan' organisation took place, with Kathleen Lane-O'Kelley in the Chair.
Its constitution made no secret of the fact that it was not opposed to the use of force to remove the British military and political presence from Ireland and the organisation also declared that its primary aim was to "advance the cause of Irish liberty (and) teach its members first aid, drill, signalling and rifle practice in order to aid the men of Ireland."
It was the first female military force in Ireland.
In 1918, Westminster threatened to conscript Irishmen into its armed forces and the then four-year-old Cumann na mBan organisation campaigned to such an extent against that conscription that its ranks swelled and it found itself ideally placed to assist the then Sinn Féin organisation in its election campaign in December that same year.
At this time, Cumann na mBan had approximately 600 active branches in the country, with the majority of its members aged from their late teens to their mid-30's, and all were active on the republican side during the War of Independence that followed, in which an estimated 10,000 women played an active part.
In October 1921, the Cumann na mBan leadership recorded that it had at least 12,000 active members in its then 800 branches.
However, when the 'Treaty of Surrender' was signed in December 1921 (resulting in partition and the creation of two bastard States) the republican forces, including Cumann na mBan, effectively split into three groups - supporters of the Treaty, those who opposed it and those who withdrew in a neutral stance.
A group of Treaty-supporting activists left Cumann na mBan and formed themselves into a new group, 'Cumann na Saoirse' and, five years later, when the Fianna Fail party was founded, more Cumann na mBan members left the organisation to join Eamon de Valera in his new party.
Also, in the mid-1930's, yet another group from within Cumann na mBan left to form 'Mna na Poblachta' but the Cumann na mBan organisation itself stayed true to its republican principles in 1970 and again in 1986, when opportunists again left the then Republican Movement to seek their political (and financial) fortunes in constitutional political assemblies.
The women of Cumann na mBan were involved in the planning and execution of the 1916 Rising, providing support through intelligence gathering, fundraising, and providing safe houses for members of the Rising.
They also worked as couriers, carrying messages and weapons between rebel strongholds and providing medical aid to wounded fighters.
The 5th of February (1922) marks the 103rd anniversary of a Cumann Na mBan convention which was held in The Mansion House in Dublin ; the organisation was meeting to decide if it would support the 'Treaty of Surrender' or not.
Almost 500 delegates were present and, of those, 63 voted in favour of supporting that Treaty and 416 voted against.
Cumann na mBan had overwhelmingly rejected it and, less than one year later (ie in January 1923), the Leinster House administration declared that Cumann na mBan was "an illegal organisation".
In the course of our on-going struggle for full independence, Cumann Na mBan have had over 400 members imprisoned, many in Kilmainhan Jail, in Dublin, where conditions were so bad that two Hunger Strikes were undertaken.
On a personal note, I remember my mother, and her mother, chatting between themselves about the organisation, talking about the activities of, among others, Jeannie Hynes*, Annie Hogan from County Clare, Josephine McGowan, Lily Bennett, Agnes MacNeill, Daisy O'Daly*, Kathleen Moore*, Bridget Murtagh and Nora O'Daly*. ( * Four sisters.)
The exploits, the derring-do's, the 'skin-of-the-teeth' near captures, the time when Kathleen was in an IRA arms factory and...
..but that's for another day.
Maybe...!
==========================
On the 5th February (and into the 6th), 1922, political representatives from Westminster and the Leinster House institution in Dublin met in London "to discuss procedural matters" in relation to the Treaty of Surrender.
Both groups were in agreement that Westminster's 'Irish Free State Agreement Bill' would legalise the Treaty and transfer authority to the Dublin institution.
The next step would be for Dublin "to authorise an election to a Provisional Parliament which would enact a constitution..." which Westminster would confirm, following which the 'Ulster (sic) Month' Clause would come into play.
A Mr Michael Collins stated that the Treaty (of Surrender) was signed on the basis that the (Occupied) Six Counties would have a month to decide if it wanted to join the Free State "or remain (sic) as part of the United Kingdom (sic)".
The very reason that those Six Counties were forcibly plucked from the nine-county Province of Ulster was because of the gerrymandered 'majority' in favour of 'the United Kingdom' that that area comprised!
A safe bet for the Brits, obviously...
==========================
THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE...
Emigration from Ireland to the United States continued throughout the 1990's, although the reasons were no longer so bluntly economic.
Now, in the wake of September 11th, the US authorities have been granted increased powers to investigate legal status, and Irish illegal emigrants are more vulnerable than ever before.
By Mairead Carey.
From 'Magill Annual', 2002.
Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin wants the Irish Government (sic) to campaign for an amnesty for Irish illegals in the US, but there is no chance of that happening, according to Bruce Morrison -
"The trend is going to be anti-immigration for a while because the people who flew those planes (on 9/11) were not Americans. It's not rational, it's emotional.
A lot of anti-immigrant feeling is coming out of the woodwork, which until a few months ago was impotent. But it will turn around again."
Fr Tom Flynn was walking off the altar after saying nine o'clock mass when he was told that two planes had crashed into the World Trade Centre.
When first contacted by 'Magill Magazine', he was officiating at the funeral of a New York fire fighter, Seán Tallon, whose parents were from Ireland...
(MORE LATER.)
ON THIS DATE (5TH FEBRUARY) 104 YEARS AGO : DEATH OF KATHERINE WOOD.
Katharine Wood (pictured, perhaps better known as Kitty O'Shea/Katharine Parnell) died on the 5th February 1921 - 104 years ago on this date - at 75 years of age, at 39 Eastham Road, in Littlehampton, in Sussex, England, and is buried there.
That fine Lady was born on the 30th January, 1846, in Braintree, Essex, in England, and we wrote a few paragraphs about her last week (here) and don't want to repeat ourselves now.
'She is far from the land where her young hero sleeps,
And lovers are round her, sighing ;
But coldly she turns from their gaze, and weeps,
For her heart in his grave is lying.
She sings the wild song of her dear native plains,
Every note which he loved awaking ;
Ah! little they think, who delight in her strains,
How the heart of the Minstrel is breaking.
He had lived for his love, for his country he died,
They were all that to life had entwined him ;
Nor soon shall the tears of his country be dried,
Nor long will his Love stay behind him.
Oh! make her a grave where the sunbeams rest,
When they promise a glorious morrow ;
They'll shine o'er her sleep, like a smile from the West,
From her own loved island of sorrow...'
(From here.)
RIP to that fine Lady, Katharine Wood.
During the 1916 Rising, three brothers - Volunteers George, Patrick and John King - made their way to Dublin to play their part in the campaign.
Volunteer George King (aka 'Nicholas Murphy') shouldered a rifle for Ireland in 'The Imperial Hotel' and in the GPO, and was deported out of Ireland to a prison in England after the Rising.
When he was released, he returned to Ireland and resumed his republican activities and stayed with the Movement after 'Truce and Treaty'.
In December, 1922, the Dame Street, Dublin, office of the Chief State Solicitor, a Mr Michael A. Corrigan, was attacked by the IRA and set on fire and, in January 1923, his house on Leinster Road in Rathmines, Dublin, was blown apart (pictured, above) by an IRA bomb.
And Volunteer King was active again, on the 5th February 1923, with his comrades, as they attacked Free State soldiers who were on guard duty at Portobello Barracks in Dublin ; a fire-fight took place, and he was wounded.
Volunteer George King died from his wounds in the Meath Hospital, Dublin, on the 6th February 1923.
RIP Volunteer King.
==========================
POLITICAL LIFESTYLES IN IRELAND...
His lavish lifestyle was funded by wealthy admirers.
Time after time, his debts were taken care of by friendly businessmen.
In exchange for giving people access to government leaders, he cheerfully lined his own pockets.
From 'Magill' Magazine, January 2003.
But then that's the problem with honours ; once they've been awarded, you can't change your mind and snatch them back later*.
This consideration alone should make the idea of setting up an Irish honours system a complete non-starter.
And yet, for the last few years, there has been a low-key campaign to do just that, led by none other than Bertie Ahern himself.
Supposedly a true-green Irish republican, the (State) Taoiseach is said to be disappointed that the idea hasn't gained more support from his government colleagues.
In fairness, you can see why the idea of honouring certain people has its attractions ; Ireland is full of unsung heroes...
( * ...or can they..?!)
(MORE LATER.)
That's it for now, and thanks for dropping in - appreciated!
Sharon and the team.
