ROINN COSANTA. BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY, 1913-21. STATEMENT BY WITNESS DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 585 Witness Frank Robbins, 5 Fairview Terrace, Fairview, Dublin. Identity. Member of Irish Citizen Army 1913; Sergeant Irish Citizen Army, 1916. Subject. National events, 1913-1921, including the Easter Week Rising, 1916. Conditions, if any, Stipulated by Witness. Nil File No S.176 Form BSM2 STATEMENT BY FRANK ROBBINS. INDEX. Page 1. Formation of Citizen Army. 1 2. Hostility to James Connolly. 5 3. Capt. White appointed as organiser. 5 4. "Hunger March" to Mansion House. 6 5. Alleged attempt on life of Jim Larkin. 8 6. Mock attack on Dublin Castle. 9 7. Liberty Hall concerts. 11 8. Raid for arms on Sutton Drill Hall. 11 9. Procuring of equipment. 13 10. Drill competition at Tullow Co. Carlow. 14 11. "Fr. Matthew Park, Fairview. 15 12. "St. Endas, Rathfarnham. 15 13. Women's Section I.C.A. 18 14. Training and Exercises. 18 15. Procuring of arms Inchicore. 22 16. Attempt to expel Countess Markievicz from I.C.A. 22 17. Asquith meeting at Mansion House. 23 18. Parnell Anniversary October 1914. 25 19. I.C.A. mobilised and situation outlined by James Connolly. 27 20. Alleged hostility between I.C.A. and I.T. & G.W.U. 28 21. General mobilisation of I.C.A. following raid on I.T. & G.W.U. shop. 29 22. Making of munitions. 33 23. Raid on Stanley's Printing Works. 36 24. John Mitchell Centenary November 1915. 37 25. Robert Emmet Commemoration 1916. 37 26. Robert Monteith Deportation Order. 39 27. Hoisting of Flag at Liberty Hall Palm Sunday 1916. 40 28. O'Donovan Rossa's funeral. 41 -2- Page 29. Strike at Burns Laird Line. 42 30. Strike at firm of Michael Murphy & Co. 43 31. Connolly's disappearance Conversation with Michael Mallin. 45 32. Refutation of statement attributed to Sean O'Casey concerning hoisting of flag at Liberty Hall. 47 33. James Connolly informs I.C.A. personnel of Rising and outlines positions to be occupied by I.C.A. 47 34. Parade of I.C.A. on Easter Sunday. 50 35. The occupation of St. Stephen's Green area by I.C.A. on Easter Monday. 57 38. Taking over of the College of Surgeons. 61 37. Evacuation of St. Stephen's Green• Park. 65 38. Failure of plan to burn United Services Club and other buildings on north side of St. Stephen's Green. 71 39. The surrender of College of Surgeons Garrison. 79 40. Refutation of statement by Sean O'Casey that attempt to capture Castle was a failure. 86 41. The shelling of Liberty Hall. 88 42. Knutsford Prison. 92 43. Frongoch Internment Camp. 103 44. The Sankey Commission. 108 45. Arrival in New York. 113 46. Meeting with John Devoy and Liam Mellows. 115 47. Clann na Geel Convention 1916. 115 48. Proposed visit of Liam Mellows to Germany. 116 49. Meeting with James Larkin in New York. 118 50. Arrival of Dr. Patrick McCartan in New York with message addressed to President and Congress of U.S.A. 120 51. Attempt to recover document left on ship by Dr. McCartan. 121 52. Conversation with Liam Mellows regarding the Insurrection. 123 53. Jim Larkin's charge against Liam Mellows re secret moves in America. 128 54. Visits to Liam Mellows in Prison. 127 55. Nora Connolly's visit to America prior to the Rising and interview with German Ambassador. 128 56. John Devoy advises taking out 0±' American Citizenship Papers Deputation to Judge Coholan. 133 -3- Page 57. Capt. Monteith called to Conference with Clann na Gael Directorate. 136 58. Opposition at meeting organised by Mayor Mitchel to pledge support of Irish people for America's War Effort. 137 59. Efforts of Cumann na mBan in New York to raise money for arms. 138 60. Clann na Gael functions. l39 61. Proposal by "John Brennan" to start new Clann na Gael organisation. 141 62. Liam Mellows and Dr. McCartan seek employment as sea-faring men prior to proposed visit to Germany. 143 63. Alleged accusation by Liam Mellows against John Devoy. 145 64. Attempt by Liam Mellows to interfere with arrangements for meeting of "Friends of Irish Freedom". 147 65. Jim Larkin tells of his proposed visit to Russia. 147 66. Attempt to rescue Michael Collins from detectives at O'Connell Bdge. 152 67. Refusal to unload supplies for British Authorities. 154 68. Meetings with Michael Collins on return from America. 156 69. Citizen Army in post 1916 period. 157 APPENDICES. "Memories of Easter Week". "An old Landmark demolished" (finding of original I.C.A. roll books). STATEMENT BY FRANK ROBBINS Dublin. 5, Fairview Terrace. Fairview. On many occasions I have been asked when and how I became a member of the Irish Citizen Army. This is the story, and it is my earnest hope that it will be of value to our country's historical background and an inspiration to all who may read it. Whether or not, I would ask that it be remembered as one young man's contribution, in dark and strenuous days, to the fight for the reconquest of Ireland for the Irish people. I first joined the Irish Transport and General Workers Union in about June 1911 when fifteen years of age, and through my constant interest in the work of the Union, even at this early age, I made many contacts with very fine people amongst the Dublin working class. Amongst the interesting and exciting periods of my early life was that of the big lock-out of 1913, which began in Horse Show Week during the month of August. During this time there were regular meetings held almost daily in Beresford Place and at Liberty Hall. Amongst the many speakers who addressed the meetings one man attracted me most, and that man was James Connolly. His quiet way, his convincing arguments, and the coolness of the man generally, impressed me much more than did any of the other speakers. One night during October I attended a meeting in Beresford Place and heard James Connolly say that, as a result of the brutalities of the R.I.C. and the D.M.P. under the direction of Dublin Castle, it was now intended to organise and discipline a Force to protect workers' meetings and to prevent the brutalities of armed -2- thugs occurring in the future. This was the first open declaration I heard regarding the formation of the Irish Citizen Army. It was my intention to become a member of that Army, and I waited with interest for the first step to be taken. Sometime later Mr. James Larkin made an announcement on the same theme, but made the stipulations that the men who would be accepted as members would have to be of a physical stature of at least six feet and would have to pass medical and other tests; no boys, only fully grown men were wanted. I listened with consternation to this announcement because I knew that on account of my youth and my physical stature I was prohibited from becoming a member of the organisation towards which all the intensity of youthful idealism was driving me. The organisation of the Irish Volunteers took place a short while afterwards. In that body I saw many young men of less physical fitness than myself. The temptation was for me to join such organisation, but, because of my Labour outlook, I felt such would not altogether meet my viewpoint. This battle went on in my mind for many months up to the day of the Howth gun-running and the subsequent shootings at Bachelor's Walk on Sunday July 19l4, when I finally made up my mind that I would make a serious endeavour to be accepted into membership of the Irish Citizen Army. In the event of failure I would take my place in the ranks of the Irish Volunteers. A day or two after the shootings at Bachelor's Walk I presented myself at the rooms of the Irish Citizen Army in Liberty Hall, and very timidly asked would they accept me as a member of that Army. To my great joy, the three men who were seated around the table Messrs. Braithwaite, Seamus MacGowan and Sean O'Casey told me that it was young -3- men like myself they were seeking. In the course of the conversation which ensued I made it known that were it not because of Mr. Larkin's description of the men he required, my membership would have commenced on the first day of the organisation of the Irish Citizen Army. From that day onwards I entered into the work of training and arms drill with all the zeal of a young man. Along with others I busied myself in perfecting a large rifle range in Croydon Park, which was then leased to the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union. This rifle range, when completed, attracted a good many of the Irish Volunteers from the Father Mathew Park and other areas, and on Saturday afternoons and Sundays when not otherwise engaged Irish Citizen Army men and Irish Volunteers made good use of this rifle range for the purpose of perfecting their marksmanship. A miniature rifle range was also constructed in a large room in Liberty Hall and was used extensively during the winter nights by those who could afford the charge of three shots per one penny, and believe it or not this small sum was too much of a financial strain for many of our members to endure.