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...
==========================
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.
==========================
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.
==========================
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.
==========================
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.
==========================
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.
On the 1st May 1916, in Cork - 108 years ago on this date - rebel weapons were voluntarily surrendered to British-appointed and approved representatives and those who surrendered them were, in return, given 'passports' by the British Army to travel throughout Cork to persuade other Irish rebels to do the same -
'..Captain Dickie, General Officer Commanding (of the British military), invited the leaders of the Irish Volunteers in Cork on 28th April (1916) to meet him at the house of the Bishop of Cork, and that they refused ; that on the following morning he visited the Volunteer Hall himself, and held a conference with the Volunteer leaders which also proved abortive..
...a further conference was held on 30th April at the Lord Mayor's house, at which the Bishop, the Lord Mayor, the General Officer Commanding, and the two leaders of the Volunteers were present, at which it was agreed that the Volunteers should hand over their rifles either to the Bishop or to the Lord Mayor, and that the (British) military were not even to know the number of rifles handed in, the rifles to be returned to the Volunteers as soon as the Dublin disturbances were over...
..if the Irish Volunteers handed in their arms to the Bishop (Daniel Coholan) and the Lord Mayor (Thomas Butterfield) before midnight on April 30th and assisted the (British) authorities to maintain order, the (British) General Officer Commanding was prepared to ensure no prosecution for offences other than acts of overt rebellion or traitorous correspondence with the enemy (by which is meant the Irish Volunteers)....at their own request, leaders of the Cork City Volunteers were permitted, on the 29th April, to visit country districts to endeavour to prevent disturbances by country branches of their organisation...
...whether he is aware that, in conformity with that agreement, the rifles were on 1st May handed over to the Lord Mayor's custody, and passports were delivered to the Volunteer leaders to go through the county of Cork to advise the County Corps to abide by the agreement, with the result that no disturbance took place throughout the county ; but that, notwithstanding that agreement, the (British) military authorities on the following day arrested all the leaders, men and women, of the Cork City Volunteers, and lodged them in Cork gaol and, under threat of arresting the Lord Mayor, compelled him to surrender the rifles entrusted to him..' (From 'HANSARD, May 1916, DISTURBANCES IN IRELAND'.)
A beggary-type scenario ; shameful behind-the-scenes machinations, a criminal act, in our opinion that, during Easter Week in 1916, in Cork, an agreement was reached between representatives of the British occupation forces and the Cork leadership (as opposed to the rank-and-file Volunteers) of the Irish Volunteers "that the Volunteers should hand over their rifles", that the local Irish Volunteers should, in effect, become a British Army militia and "assist the (British) authorities (sic) to maintain order" and that Cork Volunteers be "permitted (!) to visit country districts to endeavour to prevent disturbances by country branches of their organisation..".
Absolutely disgusting and despicable behaviour by the Irish Volunteer leadership in Cork, in 1916.
Actions of that sort, whether during Easter Week in 1916 or at any other period in our history - to be even willing to discuss such issues with the British - are unforgivable, but no shame attaches to the 'rank-and-file', the hundreds of brave Irish men and women from Cork who truly and honestly took the battle to the British and, thankfully, continue to do so to this day.
Interesting reading material on the above can be found here, here, and here.
'Put not your trust in Princes' remains good advice ; even 'in-house', you have to watch what people do rather than what they say.
We have always done that at this blog and doing so has served us well, to the point that we are proud of the people that we work alongside with in our joint efforts to secure a proper peace in this country.
'SINN FÉIN REPLIES TO MR. HANNA...'
From 'The United Irishman' newspaper, April 1955.
You may say :
"That's silly. Others have done so before. Why can't you? It's only a piece of paper."
Sinn Féin's answer to that is that the Irish people have had such painful experiences of people who regard oaths as 'empty formulea' and solemn declarations as "just scraps of paper", that it's time more truth and honesty were shown in Irish politics.
In the Six County area, therefore, Sinn Féin is confined to the Westminster elections for which 12 candidates are elected and in which no declaration to sit is required. Issued by the Publicity Committee, Sinn Féin.
(END of 'Sinn Féin Replies To Mr Hanna' ; NEXT - 'Killarney Memorial Unveiled', from the same source.)
The newspaper 'An t-óglác' was, as it stated on its front page, 'The Official Organ of the Irish Volunteer', and was the internal organ of the Irish Republican Army, a journal distributed only to IRA members themselves.
It was based on the journal of the original 'Irish Volunteers', but its title was later retained by both the IRA and the Free State Army for rival periodicals during the 1920's.
The newspaper was much sought after by enemies of the IRA, as it provided valuable insights into the influences, evolution, and goals of the organisation's military strategy, and doubled as an instructional journal for combat. The content was provided by the IRA GHQ Staff, who organised for it to be printed secretly in Dublin and dispatched to every IRA Unit in the country.
On the 1st May, 1920, it warned against '...an enemy newspaper, published in Ireland (which) has recently, in several leading articles, lamented the triumphs of "the ever-advancing Republican forces" in Ireland.
Reference is made to certain parts of the country where the guerilla warfare is being waged with exceptional vigour and to the large number of districts in those parts where the Irish Republican forces are virtually in complete control (but) in some areas things are in a decidedly unsatisfactory condition.
We wish to point out that those places where guerrilla warfare against the enemy has been waged with great activity and effectiveness represent only a small portion of the country. In some other parts there has been marked inactivity.
The present is not a time for halting to report progress nor for indulging in self-gratulation, but for pushing forward our campaign with energy and efficiency. The initiative has passed into our hands and we must keep it.
We have gained ground ; we must consolidate our advantages, but our motto must be always 'Forward'...!'
It described the 'Black and Tans' as '...physically and morally degenerate Englishmen with no understanding of Ireland...when the IRA comes to deal with these men it will make short work of them...'
Westminster recognised that 'An t-óglác' was an important addition in the fight against them and, in 1919, they declared that anyone caught in possession of it would be sentenced to six months hard labour in one of their prisons, but that didn't stop its publication nor dent its circulation!
==========================
The 1st May is the traditional date in Ireland when 'Eleven-Month Leases' (the 'Conacre System') come up for renewal.
And, on the lead-up to the 1st May in 1920, the grievances that existed between the (mostly foreign) 'landlords' and their 'tenants' were given voice to, although that voice, while still present, had only been a scattered whisper in the years leading up to that date.
The re-raised voice was particularly loud in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, but its echo was heard, too, in the other twenty-nine counties, as land husbandry and agricultural issues were the bread-and-butter mainstays of the day, more so than they are in the 21st Century.
In a protest against how the 'landlords' treated them, the 'tenant' smallholder farmers organised 'cattle drives', the removal of dividing walls between the land they worked on and their neighbours land, and street demonstrations, all of which was made easier due to the fact that the RIC were mostly afraid to show themselves, as they knew the IRA were in 'the long grass', waiting for them...!
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On the 1st May, 1920, a joint letter to the British Cabinet from their 'Secretary of State for War and Air', Mr Winston Churchill, Field Marshal 'Sir' Henry Hughes Wilson and Mr Hugh Trenchard, the 'Chief of the Air Staff', concern was expressed about how much continued British (mis)rule in Mesopotamia (where Iraq is now) was costing the British Exchequer.
In that joint letter, Mr Wilson complained about the financial price involved, and Mr Trenchard suggested that the 'Royal Air Force' be given the task of governing Mesopotamia and doing so out of their allocated budget which, of course, would still have to be funded from the British Exchequer, but would mean that the politicians would be 'one step removed' from culpability.
We didn't know the man (obviously!), but Mr Trenchard sounds like he was trying hard to be the best boy in the class...!
==========================
SO, FAREWELL THEN, CELTIC TIGER....
It had to happen, sooner or later.
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.
By Denis O'Hearn.
From 'Magill' Annual 2002.
TNC's may receive as much as nine out of every ten pounds of corporate profits in the southern Irish economy.
This dualism is even present in software, which the business press calls the big success story of indigenous Irish industry. By the year 2000, Ireland was the second largest exporter of software behind the US (having surpassed Israel and India).
And half of the employment in software was in Irish-owned firms.
This is quite a considerable achievement, yet the industry is dominated by TNC's in every other respect ; with just half of software employees, transnationals account for about 90 per cent of Irish software sales, exports and revenues...
(MORE LATER.)
On the 1st May, 1921 (six weeks before the 'Truce' of the 11th July), two West Tipperary IRA Volunteers, Seán Duffy (27), from Monaghan, Officer Commanding 4th (Tipperary Town) Battalion, 3rd Tipperary Brigade, and Paddy Moloney (21), Adjutant, 4th Battalion, were staying in a 'safe house' at Gortdrum in Tipperary, not realising that Crown Forces, acting on "reliable information that two prominent rebels were in a certain house" were on the way to 'arrest' them.
A young lad, Larry Connors, was 'keeping sketch' (a lookout) for them and he seen the enemy gunmen approaching the house ; he raised the alarm and the two Volunteers made a run for it, after firing a few shots at the British soldiers.
They were both shot dead.
'Black and Tans were approaching. The two men attempted to flee but the house was surrounded. They attempted to shoot their way out but only made it 200 yards from the house. Their bodies were brought to Tipperary where a military inquest was held...' - more here.
RIP to the two brave Volunteers.
==========================
"On May Eve a trench was being opened about a mile from the village of Liscarroll, and some of the IRA parties on their way home after completing the work were intercepted by a (British) military patrol which killed a young lad, only about 14 years of age..."
- statement from Patrick O'Brien, Vice Officer Commanding of the Charleville Battalion, IRA.
Joseph Coughlan, 14 years of age, an active member of Na Fianna Éireann, was acting as a guide for the IRA on the evening of the 30th April, 1921, as they set out to make one of the roads into the village of Liscarroll, County Cork, impassable, by digging a trench across it.
The group were working on a road at Sunfort Hill, which was only about 200 yards from where young Joseph lived with his grandparents, John and Mary Dennehy.
A British Army patrol, consisting of soldiers from the 'East Lancashire Regiment', came across the scene after the job was done and the group were making their way out of the area and called on them to surrender, but they scattered in all directions ; the British soldiers opened fire, killing the 14-years-young boy in the process - he died on the 1st May, 1921.
RIP Fian Joseph Coughlan.
==========================
On the 1st May, 1921, the small village of Dún Eochaille ('Donohill'), in County Tipperary, was the location for a meeting between the IRA leadership to establish a Headquarters for the 2nd Southern Division IRA, which they set-up near the village.
Ernie O'Malley, Con Moloney and Dan Breen were among those present and, between them, they would have discussed the Division's five brigades, which had command over Limerick, Tipperary, and Kilkenny.
The IRA itself had recently been reorganised (in April 1921) along the lines of a 'regular' army ; military divisions were created based on region, with IRA Commanders being given responsibility for specific geographical areas but, in practice, this had little effect on the localised nature of the guerrilla warfare campaign.
In terms of weapons, IRA units possessed an abundance of pistols and shotguns, but relatively few rifles and only a handful of machine-guns. It was recorded (in late 1921) that the IRA as a whole held just 3,295 rifles, of which 1,385 or 42% belonged to the First Southern and Second Southern divisions located in Munster.
These two divisions accounted for most of the IRA's strongest brigades, which had led the development of the guerrilla warfare tactic but, that which the organisation lacked in firepower, it more than made up for in determination!
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On the 1st May, 1921, two RIC members - George Cutherberston (21, from Scotland ; he had four months 'service' with the RIC) and Walter Shaw (20, from Yorkshire, in England ; he had three months 'service' with the RIC) - went for a lunchtime stroll from Arva Barracks, in County Cavan.
Their bodies were later discovered in the townland of Fihoragh, on the Cavan-Longford border ; they had been ambushed by six IRA Volunteers from the ASU of the North Longford Brigade, IRA (pictured).
==========================
On the 1st May, 1921, IRA Volunteer Lieutenant Henry Clancy (23 years of age, 'C' Company, Limerick City Battalion, Mid Limerick Brigade), from 4 Garvey's Range, in Limerick, was with his comrades preparing for an ambush on a Black and Tan gang at Ballysimon, in Limerick.
An RIC patrol happened upon the scene and a gunfight ensued, during which Volunteer Clancy was shot dead and one of his comrades, Thomas Keane, was captured.
Volunteer Keane was executed by the British on the 4th June 1921.
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"On 1st May, 1921, the three combined Columns were in the neighbourhood of Knockadea, Tully and Shraharla.
We got word that the Galbally patrol had gone to Kildorrery ; the column was mobilising.
Commandant Liam Hayes, who had now recovered from his injury, led his section across Shraharla Bridge. When about on the centre of the bridge
they were surprised and attacked by enemy personnel who arrived in four or five lorries.
Some of them (the IRA Volunteers) got into John Ronan's farmyard and were trapped.
Four were killed, and Volunteer Casey from Ballybricken, all from the Mid-Limerick Brigade, was taken prisoner. He was court-martialled
and executed on the following day.
His execution was the subject of questions in the British House of Commons...
...men of Mid-Limerick Column killed at Shraherly 1st May 1921 ; Captain Paddy Stair, James Horan, Tim Hennessy.
Volunteer Casey was taken prisoner and executed in Cork the next morning..."
- Donnchadh O h-Annagain (pictured, Donnchadh O' Hannigan), Brigadier East Limerick Brigade, and Officer Commanding East Limerick Flying Column.
The combined IRA Columns included the ASU of the East Limerick Brigade and some men from the Mid-Limerick ASU ; they encountered a large contingent of Crown Forces at Shraharla (4 miles northeast of Kildorrery) on the Cork-Limerick border.
A gunfight began and, as the IRA Volunteers retreated, two of their number from the Mid-Limerick ASU - Patrick Starr and James Horan - were killed.
Two other IRA Volunteers, Patrick Casey and Tim Hennessy, were captured ; Volunteer Casey was executed at 6.30am the next day in the Military Detention Barracks in Cork after being 'tried by court martial' and found 'guilty', just over 24 hours after his capture.
Volunteer Hennessy (who was wounded in the gunfight) died from his wounds on the 17th May (1921).
Also, the British Crown Forces captured a substantial number of IRA weapons.
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Early in 1918, a young Kerry man, from the town of Kenmare, Denis Tuohy (pictured), joined the RIC.
Later that same year, Westminster forced conscription on Ireland, meaning that young Irishmen were compelled to join the British Army or face a jail sentence. Mr Tuohy objected to that policy, and resigned from the RIC in protest.
His objection extended to more than just refusing to work with the British - he wanted to work against them, and joined the IRA.
He was placed as one of Terence MacSwiney's bodyguards, and also served the Cause as the Intelligence Officer for Crossroads Company, 3rd Battalion, No 2 Kerry Brigade IRA.
On the 1st May, 1921, at about 4am, Volunteer Tuohy was 'arrested' at his home by Crown Forces and taken to Kenmare Workhouse Military Barracks "for questioning" : he was killed there on there same date, while "attempting to escape".
Details later came to light that driven to desperation he seized a hand grenade and flung it among his torturers, giving them more 'reason' to continue torturing him. His father visited the barracks at about 11am and saw his son through a window, battered and bloodstained and strapped to a chair.
When his father spoke he lifted his head and nodded to show he recognised him. Realising however that his son was dying, his father went straight to find the Parish Priest to administer the last Rites of the Church, but the British officer in charge refused permission, as well as refusing any medical aid for the IRA Volunteer.
At 6pm that day - 1st May 1921 - a volley of shots was heard and the British stated that they had executed Volunteer Tuohy, but it was later ascertained that he had died earlier in the day as a result of the brutal treatment he had received and the shooting was only used to cover up a British crime.
His British captors had denied him medical treatment and religious rites and his body showed signs of torture - his torso was badly marked and all his finger nails had been extracted.
But they couldn't extract his Republicanism.
RIP Volunteer Denis Tuohy.
==========================
CROWN FORCE DEATHS ON 1ST MAY 1921 :
On the 30th April, 1921, RIC member Henry R. Cowie, 35 years of age ('Service Number 79339'), was with two of his colleagues (Boyle and McCullie) in Newbliss Barracks, in County Monaghan, when a Webley revolver was fired accidentally. Mr Cowie died from his wound the next day, 1st May 1921.
On the 1st May, 1921, two RIC members, William Albert Smith (27, a wood-turner by trade, who had joined the RIC in late 1920) and John F. Webb (20) left their barracks in Castlemartyr, County Cork, to go and join two of their colleagues who had left earlier, to go fishing in a near-by demesne area.
Apparently, they couldn't find their buddies so the two of them decided to 'set up shop' themselves, and try and catch a few fish.
As they were casting rods, they were disturbed by about a dozen IRA Volunteers, who surrounded them. The Volunteers shot both men - Mr Smith died at the scene, and Mr Webb died from his wounds the following day.
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A British Army dispatch rider and signalman with the 'Royal Corps Of Signals', Herbert Reginald Wenn (19, 'Service Number 2309611'), from Norwich, in England, died in the Military Hospital in the Curragh, County Kildare, on the 1st May 1921.
He was said to have been "fooling around with a gun" at the time.
==========================
On the 1st May, 1921, at about 11.30am, two Black and Tan members left their barracks at Arvagh, in County Cavan, to go for a walk.
Gunfire was heard in the locality at around 1pm and their bodies were found a short distance away on the Longford side of the border.
==========================
BEIR BUA...
The Thread of the Irish Republican Movement from The United Irishmen through to today.
Republicanism in history and today.
Published by the James Connolly/Tommy O'Neill Cumann, Republican Sinn Féin, The Liberties, Dublin.
August 1998.
('1169' comment - 'Beir Bua' translates as 'Grasp Victory' in the English language.)
ROBERT EMMET AND THE IRELAND OF TODAY...
"I would ask you to consider now how the call I have spoken of was made to the spirit of a woman, and how, equally, it was responded to.
Wherever Emmet is commemorated let Anne Devlin not be forgotten.
Bryan Devlin had a dairy farm in Butterfield Lane ; his fields are still green there. Five Sons of his fought in ‘98. Anne was his daughter, and she went to keep house for Emmet when he moved into Butterfield House.
You know how she kept vigil there on the night of the rising. When all was lost and Emmet came out in his hurried retreat through Rathfarnham to the mountains, her greeting was — according to tradition, it was spoken in Irish, and Emmet must have replied in Irish — "Musha, bad welcome to you! Is Ireland lost by you, cowards that you are, to lead the people to destruction and then to leave them?"
"Don't blame me, Anne ; the fault is not mine..." said Emmet. And she was sorry for the pain her words had inflicted, spoken in the pain of her own disappointment..."
(MORE LATER.)
THE BEGINNING OF ALL OUR WOES...
'That night they tarried by the shore as they were,
but the king on the morrow marched directly to Wexford,
accompanied by all -
of a verity, to assault the town...'
On the 1st May 1169 - 855 years ago on this date - the deposed King of Leinster, Diarmait Mac Murchada (Dermot MacMurrough) landed at Bannow Bay in County Wexford (on the south coast of Ireland), with the Blessing of the English political hierarchy (whom he had requested assistance from) and with a group of mercenary Norman soldiers to reclaim his throne, resulting in large parts of Ireland coming under Norman control.
In 1126, Mac Murchada had succeeded to the throne of his father, Enna, in a manner which was disputed and challenged by his rivals ; determined to hold on to his position, he killed or otherwise disabled the challengers, who fought back.
In 1166, he lost - he was forced out of Ireland, and the English 'King', Henry II, helped him by putting him in contact with several Anglo-Norman 'Lords' in South Wales and, in 1169, an army had been assembled and they landed, as stated above, in Wexford ; this is only a 'bare bones' synopsis of events which still affect this country today, as six of our counties remain in bondage.
And, after 855 years, Irish republicans are continuing to campaign against the 'King Henry's' and the 'Lords' who are attempting to hold on to their ill-gotten gains ; more info on this episode in our history can be read here.
'1169 And Counting', if you like...!
"(I will) give to all citizens in this area, irrespective of creed or class, every protection within my power.."
- Tom Hales (pictured, a republican-gamekeeper-turned-Free State-poacher), on the 1st May, 1922, Officer Commanding of the 3rd Cork Brigade IRA, offering assurance to all citizens in his brigade area that he and his men will not favour one over the other in regards to religious or political differences.
Mr Hales took a seat in Leinster House as a Fianna Fáil member for the Cork West constituency at the 1933 State election and stayed within the Fianna Fáil fold until June, 1936, when he resigned, stating that he could no longer support their policy of interning IRA members.
He later contested other Leinster House elections as an independent, and died on the 29th April 1966, aged 74.
==========================
The month of May in 1922 witnessed another fund-raising operation by the IRA (...they weren't State funded!) and, indeed, between the 1st January and the 22nd July that year, a total of £167,000 was 'raised' from banks and post offices, a tidy sum today but, literally, a small fortune in those days!
For instance, during that seven-month time period, £18,000 was taken in Ennis, £20,910 in Tipperary, £18,285 in Clonmel and £10,000 in Ballina, County Mayo.
On the 1st May 1922 alone the sum of £50,000 was taken and, as was standard procedure, the IRA Volunteers involved in the raids left receipts for the amounts taken, as there was every intention to pay it back when the campaign was over.
The author Dorothy Macardle wrote - "The Republican army without funds felt justified in taking money from banks and post offices to arm and provision the republicans and the IRA Executive took full responsibility for the raids.." or, as Seán Moylan (a republican-gamekeeper-turned-Free State-poacher) put it : "Sure it’s only a venial sin to rob a bank..."
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On the 1st May, 1922, a document was signed between the IRA and the political and military branches of the Free State calling for "army unity" and agreeing to a proposal accepting that the majority of Irish people support the 'Treaty of Surrender' and that an election should be held to form a political administration that would have the confidence of all citizens.
Five representatives of the Free State (political and military) were present - Seán Boylan, Michael Collins, Richard Mulcahy, Eoin O'Duffy and Gearoid O'Sullivan, and the republicans were represented by Dan Breen (QM, Tipperary No. 3 Brigade) , Tom Hales (O/C Cork No. 3 Brigade); Humphrey Murphy (O/C Kerry No. 1 Brigade); Florrie O'Donoghue (Adj, 1st Southern Division) and Sean O'Hegarty (O/C Cork No. 1 Brigade).
It was a bad deal for the republican side but, lucky enough, it was a deal done without authorisation ; a bad deal because it morally legitimised the 'Treaty of Surrender' and gave it an authority it didn't deserve in that it presented it as being taken for granted by the republicans that they, too, considered that that 'Treaty', and the manner in which the Staters considered it 'an Ace card', was the only way to consider it.
The deal was done without the authorisation of the IRA Executive, the 'ruling body' of the Movement who, on hearing about what had been accepted by their five comrades, promptly denounced it.
('1169' Comment - out of those five republican representatives, two left republicanism and joined Fianna Fáil [Dan Breen and Tom Hales],
two more left republicanism and formed the 'Neutral IRA' [Florrie O'Donoghue - NIRA first, then he joined the Free State Army - and Seán O'Hegarty] leaving the last man standing tall - Humphrey Murphy, who soldiered on with the IRA.)
==========================
On the 1st May, 1922, another meeting between the IRA and the Staters was also held, this one in Drumboe Castle, in County Donegal.
Joe Sweeney and Tom Glennon (O/C and V/C of the Free State Army 1st Northern Division) met with Seán Lehane and Charlie Daly (O/C and V/C IRA 1st Northern Division) for what turned out to be a three-and-a-half-hour meeting.
The Staters insisted that the IRA should 'evacuate the county', to which the IRA Volunteers replied that they wouldn't be doing that as they intended to continue attacking the 'Specials' in Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry and elsewhere, and would base their forces in Donegal and other counties.
Mr Sweeney drew the discussion to an end when he eventually realised that the IRA were not for turning and, on leaving the meeting, he looked at the two IRA men and declared - "It looks as though we're going to have to regard one another as enemies from now on."
And so it was.
And is.
==========================
Writing in 'The London Times' newspaper on the 1st May, 1922, Frederick Edwin Smith, the '1st Earl of Birkenhead, GCSI, PC, DL' (ETC!, pictured), the former British 'Lord Chancellor', strongly opined that 'Sir' James Craig, the'1st Viscount Craigavon/Prime Minister of Northern Ireland' (sic) should appoint a representative to the Boundary Commission on the basis that the Treaty article governing the boundary issue (Article 12) only implied "a re-adjustment of boundaries" and Stormont loyalists had nothing to fear from appointing a representative, under those 'terms and conditions'.
'Sir' James was incandescent with rage when he heard what Mr Smith had written, as Jimmy's intention was to let the whole issue slide, 'out of sight, out of mind/if it's not broken (!!) don't fix it' - in other words, 'we're quite happy with the six counties we are occupying, and I know we told you that we'd have a proper look at adjusting partition, but that was really just a 'bonus point' we gave you to help in selling the Treaty (of Surrender) to your own people...'
And Westminster kept the sham deal on the road until November 1925, when it issued its final report which, incidentally, was never officially publicly published because of what were stated to be "disagreements about its recommendations" : no 'alterations' were made to the British-imposed 'border'.
A copy of that report was 'leaked' to the British press, more-or-less telling the Free Staters to feck off, which triggered the resignation of the Free State representative on the 'Commission', Mr Eoin MacNeill - he 'countermanded a Commission' he himself once favoured, if you like...!
==========================
This joke (?!) was published in 'The Weekly Irish Times' on the 1st May 1919 ;
Prisoner : "There goes my hat ; shall I run after it?"
Policeman : "Phwat? Run away and never come back again? You stand here and I'll run after your hat..."
Whatever about my hat, I'll get my coat...
Thanks for the visit, and for reading!
Sharon and the team.
(We won't be here next Wednesday, 8th May 2024, as we have a family occasion on the 6th and, truthfully, we know we're not gonna be recovered from it until the 9th, at least - well, you try and party with between fifty and sixty guests without it impacting your routines!
But we'll be back on Wednesday, 15th May 2024 with, among other pieces, the last day on this Earth of an Irish rebel who is still remembered and honoured to this day...)
