On April 9th, 1919, Westminster notified it's people in Dublin Castle that, on the 10th April, they are to declare that Counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Roscommon and Tipperary are to be declared "as being in a state of disturbance" because of Irish Volunteer (IRA) activity, but they left Dublin unlabeled - a mistake on their part, surely...
..for it was also on the 9th April that year that the leadership of the Irish Volunteers got their rebel hands on files on the Volunteers kept by 'G Division' of the British 'police force' in Dublin, the DMP.
The Volunteer leadership organised its ASU's to visit the over-inquisitive 'G men' ('Special Branch') and Volunteer Frank Henderson (the Officer Commanding of the 2nd Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IV/IRA) and a number of his men did just that - the 'G men' were beaten up and told they would be shot dead on the next visit if there was a need for a next visit.
Before they were left unconscious, the Branch men were told that they would not be prevented from doing detective work against criminals but would be shot dead if they continued to investigate the rebel Movement.
And the tactic worked ; the rebels were mostly left alone, the criminals were persued.
One 'G man' detective, a Mr Denis O'Brien, resisted and, one evening on his way home, he was arrested in the Mountjoy area of Dublin by Volunteers and beaten up.
He was gagged, tied to railings and told if he didn't change his ways he would get worse treatment the next time, if there needed to be a next time. He backed off.
Another 'G man', a detective sergeant named Patrick Smith (52, pictured, known as 'The Dog'), who didn't back off, was shot dead by the Volunteers on the 9th April (1919) in Millmount Avenue in Drumcondra, Dublin, between 10.30pm and 11.30pm.
Mr Smith had just under 30 years 'service' in the pay of the Crown.
He was shot five times (by Volunteers Jim Slattery, Tom Ennis, Tom Keogh and Mick Kennedy) and died in the Mater Hospital in Dublin from his wounds on the 4th of September 1919.
And just as the Dublin lads were busy on the 9th April, so, too, were the lads in Donegal ; on that date, Irish Volunteers raided the British Army station at Ned’s Point in Inishowen, in County Donegal, and removed all the guns and ammunition.
Most of the British soldiers stationed at Ned's Point were at a local dance, but probably left before Amhrán na bhFiann (the National Anthem) was played...
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GAS LADS...
The massive finds of oil and gas on our western seaboard could ensure Ireland's financial security for generations.
Wealth approximating that of the Arab countries is within our grasp, but the Irish government seems content to sell off our birthright for a handful of votes and a few dollars.
In a special 'Magill' report, Sandra Mara investigates just what we are giving away, and why.
From 'Magill' magazine, March 2002.
There was also a clearly defined understanding that Ireland would benefit from the spin-off industries associated with any such find.
Following an international slowdown in oil exploration and production, in 1985 Labour's Dick Spring modified Justin Keating's well-thought-out 1975 agreement to allow for a sliding scale of royalties and State participation, while continuing to protect Ireland's interests.
In a move yet to be adequately explained, former Fianna Fail Minister Ray Burke met with the oil companies against the advice of one of the most senior advisors in his department.
He subsequently reversed the policies of both Justin Keating and Dick Spring by amending their agreements, abandoning Ireland's right to a 50 per cent stake in any commercially successful find.
In what could only be described as yet a further inexplicable move by any government or business concern, not alone did Ray Burke give away our right to a stake in our own natural resources, but he abolished royalties, while at the same time introducing a scheme which would allow massive write-offs for the oil companies...
(MORE LATER.)
In early March, 1920, the RIC Barracks in Leixlip, County Kildare, was abandoned by Crown Forces who felt, correctly, that they couldn't hold the building in the event of an attack by rebel forces.
The RIC member in charge of the area, a Mr Lane, was transferred to Maynooth (in County Kildare) and the other four RIC members were placed elsewhere in the county.
On the 9th April, the local Irish Volunteers/IRA finalised their plan to destroy the building and, on the 10th, they did just that.
Indeed, throughout the 32 Counties, in April 1920, more than 100 enemy barracks were either blown up or burned down (as were about 100 income tax offices) and, between April and May that year (1920), over 300 enemy barracks were destroyed.
By October of that year it was reported that some 600 barracks in all had been destroyed or damaged (since January 1919).
All very fine and dandy, we're sure, but we're wondering if Mr Lane had time to settle in to his new position before that, too, was burned out from under him...?!
..and we also wonder if Mr Lane realised how lucky he was, compared to two of his RIC colleagues - a Mr William Finn and a Mr Daniel McCarthy - who were shot dead on the 9th April that year in an IV/IRA ambush on a three-member RIC patrol at Lackamore Woods (between Rearcross and Newport) in County Tipperary. A third RIC member, a Mr Byrne, was wounded in that ambush.
In revenge attacks, the Crown Forces burned down eight creameries in the area (a total of 48 creameries were attacked by the British military, with varying level of destruction, during their campaign against Irish republican forces in this country).
Finally, IV/IRA Volunteer Patrick Morrissey (28, aka 'John Walsh'), Cork Number 1 Brigade, was shot during a raid on a house at Pilmore, near Youghal, in County Cork, on the 8th April, 1920.
The poor man died in the North Infirmary Hospital in Cork City from septicaemia and haemorrhage on the 9th April.
RIP Volunteer Patrick Morrissey.
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THE NUMBER'S UP...
How some famous gambling conspiracies came to light.
By Con Houlihan.
From 'Magill' Magazine Annual 2002.
The hurdler 'Gay Future' was owned by a Cork builder, Tony Murphy, and was trained in a small stable in Scotland by a gentleman farmer called Collins.
That of course was an element in the plot - sending over a runner from Ireland would attract attention.
'Gay Future' was backed in betting shops, doubled and trebled with two horses from the same stable, and he was such a cut above his rivals that any apprentice jockey could have steered him home.
The conspirators, however, weren't taking chances ; they employed an old friend of mine, Timmy Jones, then the last amateur in these islands and, surprisingly, the bookies at Cartmel didn't recognise him.
His presence didn't bring down 'Gay Future's' price, and all might have been well if a clerk in the head office in London of a big bookmaking firm hadn't a nose for sleight of mind...
(MORE LATER.)
IRA man Maurice Galvin (18), from Tallow, in County Waterford, a Volunteer in the West Waterford Brigade, was 'arrested' by the Crown Forces on the 1st January, 1921, and was being transported by the Crown Forces to Ballykinlar Internment Camp in Abercorn British Army Barracks in Ballykinlar, County Down, in April 1921, when the convoy he was in came to the attention of loyalists near Belfast Docks.
He was bundled into a prison boat on the Lagan River which was then attacked by the loyalists, using mostly 'Belfast Confetti' (ie steel rivets, in this case) and Volunteer Galvin sustained serious head injuries.
Those wounds left him weak and susceptible to illness and, between that weakness, the ill-treatment he received and foul drinking water, he died from "a bad chill and a kidney infection" in Ballykinlar Camp on the 9th April 1921, and was buried in Dangan Cemetery in the Parish of Killeagh/Inch in East Cork on Thursday, 14th April.
RIP Volunteer Maurice Galvin.
On the same date that Volunteer Galvin died, the Brigade Council of the IRA's 3rd Cork Brigade were assembled in a house belonging to a Mr Foley, in an area known as Mualnadruck, near Newcestown, in Cork.
At that meeting, Volunteer Liam Deasy was appointed Brigade O/C (in succession to Charlie Hurley) and Tadgh O'Sullivan (brother of Gearoid) was appointed QM to replace Dick Barrett who had been captured on March 22nd.
Volunteer Gibbs Ross was appointed Brigade Adjutant (he was previously Adjutant of the Schull Battalion) and, after those elections, the details of reprisals against the Crown Forces over its implementation of an execution policy in relation to IRA men captured under arms was discussed and plans made to answer same.
Elsewhere in Cork, on the same date as that meeting was being held (9th April 1921), an ex-British Army soldier, Denis Finbarr ('Din Din') Donovan (21) of 9 Gouldings Terrace, off Barrack Street in Cork, disappeared from his usual haunts.
His body was found three days later with a rosary in his hands at Ballygarvan, near Ballinhassig, about seven miles outside of Cork City ; he had been shot in the head and a label stating 'Spies And Informers Beware' was pinned to his chest.
Mr Donovan had given information to the RIC about recent IRA operations in the area and was arrested by Irish republican forces, questioned, found guilty and executed by IRA Volunteers Dick Murphy and Cornelius McCarthy.
On the date that Mr Donovan was taken in for questioning by the IRA, a Mr Albert Smith (34), an RIC member ('Service Number 71895'), was having his own issues, about 270km (166 miles) north of where Mr Donovan was.
Mr Smith was in a tailor's shop in Lanesborough, County Longford, when - according to the (first) 'Military Court of Inquiry'- he was "accidentally shot dead".
However, a second 'Military Court of Inquiry' concluded that his death was due to homicide, and that he was shot and killed while returning to his barracks from leave.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy...?
On the same date (9th April 1921) that Mr Smith was being measured-up for a wooden overcoat, Archbishop Walsh (72) of Dublin died (and over 200,000 people were to line the streets of Dublin for his funeral on the 14th of that month) and, about 300km (180 miles) away, in the townland of Liscahane, County Kerry, a group of young boys were playing on the town bridge.
They spotted three British Army vehicles transporting Auxiliaries ('H Company'), under the command of a Major John MacKinnon (aka 'The Bogeyman', who was born in India in 1892), driving towards them and knew enough to keep their distance from them - they ran.
The Auxies opened fire on them, hitting two - Daniel O'Driscoll (16) and John O'Sullivan (15).
Daniel, a member of Na Fianna Éireann, was hit in the stomach and locals took him to a Dr Lawlor in the town of Ardfert but he couldn't be saved ; young John was hit three times, but survived to tell the tale.
The leadership of the 2nd Battalion of Kerry No.1 Brigade IRA tasked marksman Volunteer James Cornelius Healy with the job of executing 'The Bogeyman' and sent three other Volunteers as his back-up team - Johnny Riordan, Tommy Barrett and Jack Mason (and it's believed that Volunteers Denis Donoghue, Paddy Kelly, Patrick O'Connor and John O'Riordan also played a part in the operation).
That IRA ASU were made aware that Major MacKinnon and some of his officers would be playing a round of golf on the 15th April on a golf course in Tralee and, armed with a snipers rifle, shotguns and revolvers, they took up positions at the 3rd Green.
When 'The Bogeyman' arrived at the staked-out 3rd, Volunteer Healy, concealed in a tree some distance away, took careful aim and fired one shot, which hit the Major in the head and, before he could fall, a second sniper bullet also struck him in the head.
His golfing buddies dumped their gear and legged it, and at least three of the Volunteers approached the Major and unloaded their shotguns into him.
'The Bogeyman' wouldn't be killing any more children...
Finally, also in Kerry, on the same date that the Major gave his last 'shoot the children'-order (9th April 1921), an ex-British Army soldier, a Mr Thomas Lyons, was drunkingly making his way home from a pub during the British-imposed 'curfew hours' when he bumped into a Crown Force street patrol.
He was loud, as were they, a shouting match developed into a scuffle and Mr Lyons quickly discovered that you don't bring drunken bravado with you to a gunfight ; his ex-comrades shot him in the abdomen and he died from the wound a few hours later.
RIP Daniel O'Driscoll.
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POLITICAL LIFESTYLES IN IRELAND...
From 'Magill' Magazine, January 2003.
Around this time last year, Ireland's most famous psychic, Una Power, gave 'Wigmore' a thrilling preview of what to expect over the coming 12 months.
This peek into the future included a journey across water and a meeting with a fair-haired woman and, believe it or not - and I accept that some suspension of disbelief is required - those predictions came true.
So it is with a heavy heart that I record M/s Powers chilling forecast for 2003 - that President Bush's chief source of opposition will come not from John Kerry, Joe Lieberman or any of the other Democrats revving-up for a kamikaze attack on the White House, but instead from that well-known political colossus, Bruce Springsteen...
(MORE LATER.)
Some of the attendees at the second IRA Convention, 9th April 1922 (at which Joe McKelvey was elected to the IRA’s Executive).
"With regard to the recent burnings of houses of Protestants in the Kildare district, a statement has been issued on behalf of the local IRA pointing out that they had nothing to do with these outrages, and stating that if the perpetrators are apprehended, they will be punished in such a manner as to prevent such cowardly outrages taking place in future.
Protestants in the area are informed that should they require any protection whatever for person or property they will be afforded it on making application..."
- statement issued by the IRA Executive in the Mansion House, Dublin, on the 9th April, 1922, during the reconvened IRA Convention.
Those present proposed, discussed, voted on and adopted a Republican Constitution for the organisation and also voted - narrowly - against setting up a military-type dictatorship in the country.
Volunteer Liam Lynch was appointed as the IRA Chief of Staff, and a seven-man Army Council was elected.
Others in attendance included Sean Lehane, Tom Daly, Florrie O'Donoghue, Liam Deasy, Sean Moylan, John Joe Rice, Humphrey Murphy, Denis Daly, Jimmy O'Mahony, George Power, Michael Murphy, Eugene O'Neill, Sean McSwiney, Dr Pat O'Sullivan, Jim Murphy, Moss Donegan, Gerry Hannifin, Jeremiah Riordan, Michael Crowley, Dan Shinnick, Con Leddy, Con O'Leary, Tom Hales, Jack O'Neill, Sean McCarthy, Dick Barrett, Andy Cooney, Tom Ward, John Lordan, Gibbs Ross, Tadgh Brosnan, Dan Mulvihill, Denis McNeilius, Con Casey, Pax Whelan, Tommy McEllistrim and Michael Harrington.
While the Convention was being held, a Mr William Blennerhasset (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 masked men including a man called John Murphy who claimed that his relatives were evicted from the farm prior to 1880.
However, on the 10th April, the local IRA Battalion Officer Commanding, a Volunteer Allman, reinstated Blennerhasset and his family on the farm.
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THE BUSINESS OF THE FREE STATE :
On the 9th April, 1923, a meeting was held between Nationalist politicians and the business community in the Occupied Six Counties to discuss political and societal issues in the changed environment, during which the indifference of the Free State administration to their plight was raised, and it was agreed to seek a meeting with the top political Free Stater, a Mr William Thomas Cosgrave, the 'President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State', to air their concerns.
On the same date as the 'greasy till' was being discussed, Mr Cosgrave's army was raiding the Moloney family home in Cloontismara, Inagh, in County Clare, searching for two brothers, IRA Volunteers Martin and Thomas Moloney.
The two IRA men were found and 'arrested' by the Staters and one of them, Martin, was shot by one of the FS soldiers and died the following day from his wound :
"My son went away about forty or fifty yards.
I saw him standing at Michael Clune’s yard with his hands up, and a few seconds afterwards I saw him fall after a shot had been fired. I went towards him when I saw him fall, and I found him lying on his back, and he told me he was shot.
I saw two soldiers in the yard. I knew one of them, Stephen Foody, but not the other.
My son said : "That man (FSA Private) Collins shot me..."
The man named by him as Collins said "I did not shoot him. It was (FSA Private) Foody shot him..."
Foody said "I fired no shot at him."
My son said again "It was Collins shot me."
Nothing more was said, and three or four of us carried my son home and put him to bed, and after a while undressed him. We then sent for the priest and doctor, and he was attended by Fr Grace, from Inagh, and Dr Hillery of Miltown Malbay. He was removed by an ambulance to Ennistymon hospital..."
- the words of Mr Mortimer Moloney, Martin's father.
Volunteer Martin Moloney died of his wound the next day and was later buried in Inagh Cemetery.
RIP Volunteer Martin Moloney.
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Yis may gear yerselves up for the temporary absence of this blog for 3 or 4 weeks soon, as meself and the Girl Gang are heading off to the Canary Islands in May, as one of the Gang owns a villa there.
The two lads that work on the blog with me will be taking a break, too (in dirty aul Dublin!) and sure we know fine well that everyone is gonna miss us, especially the Gang's husbands, childer and grandchilder etc.
But their aim'll get better...!
Thanks for reading - much appreciated!
Sharon and the team.
