DOCSLIB.ORG

BMH.WS0687.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
BMH.WS0687.Pdf ROINN COSANTA. BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY, 1913-21. STATEMENT BY WITNESS DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 687 (section 1) Witness Right Rev. Monsignor M. Curran, P.P., The Presbytery, Aughrim St., Dublin. Identity. Secretary to Archbishop Walsh, 1906-1919; Vice-Rector Irish college, Rome, 1920; Later Rector do. Subject. His recollections of Irish national affairs, 1912-1922. Conditions, if any, Stipulated by Witness. 1952 Extract from witness' letter of 17th June attached to statement: "It is my wish that the statement be accessible for public reference only after twenty years, it say I Jan. 1972. By mutual agreement may be accessible to special competent, sympathetic and responsible investigators that the Bureau with me". may agree upon S.1305 File No Form B.S.M.2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1. Why my Statement appears disjointed. 1 2. My opportunities, as Secretary to Archbishop Walsh, of frank discussion on public affairs. 1 3. The Archbishop's position in regard to the Labour Troubles of 1913. 1 4. The Labour Troubles' responsibility for the Rising was small. 5 5. The Larne Gun Running and the Curragh Mutiny. 7 6. Establishment of the Volunteers. 7 7. James Collins 7 8. The Archbishop had lost faith in the Irish Party. 8 9. The Archbishop's attitude towards the Volunteers. 9 10. Archbishop's indignation at Redmond's manoeuvres to control Volunteers. 10 11. Archbishop deplores Irish Party's recruiting campaign. 11 12. Archbishop refuses to sign Anti-German Declaration and to allow Church precincts to be used for recruiting. 12 13. why Archbishop refused to subscribe to Denis Gwynn's paper, 'New Ireland". 15. 14. The Coalition Government is formed. 16 15. Dr. O'Doherty is reprimanded for Recruiting Speech. 17 16 O'Donovan Rossa Funeral reveals the beginning of a new political era. 17 17. Mr. Quinn, Assistant Commissioner of D.M.P., discloses attitude of the Castle to O'Donovan Rossa Funeral. 19 18. Mansion House Meeting of 29th February, 1916, is attacked by Irish Party and Press. 22 19. The famous Castle Document. 22 20. Good Friday-James McNeill's visit. 27 -2- PAGE 21. Significant activities of Volunteers and 30 Citizen Army. 22. Mr. Quinn tells on Friday night of landing at Ardfert. 30 23. Volunteer Officer informs Priest of Rising on Holy Saturday. 32 24. Sean T. O'Kelly tells about Sunday's Manoeuvres. 33 25. Sensational rumours about Casement, etc. circulated in Dublin. 34 26. Easter Sunday-The Countermanding Order. 35 27. Easter Monday-Count Plunkett describes his Audience with the Pope. 37 28. We are informed by telephone that the Rising has begun. 39 29. I visit Seat T. O'Kelly at 25 Parnell Sq. 40 30. I visit the G.P.O. and am asked to procure a Priest. 31. Monday's rumours about the Rising. 48 32. James O'Connor interviews the Archbishop. 50 33. Easter Tuesday. 51 34. Wednesday, 26th April, 1916. 55 35. Minnie and Phyllis Ryan call on Archbishop. 56 36. Haddington Road Church is used by British Military. 59 60 37. Thursday, 27th April, 1916. 38. The Dummy sniper on Miss Quinn's Nursing Home. 61 39. Friday, 28th April, 1916. 63 40. Saturday, 29th April, 1916. 65 41. Sunday, 30th April, 1916. 69 42. Monday, 1st May, 1916. Arrest of Marquess McSweeney and Count Plunkett. 70 43. I hear of Arrest of Seat T. O'Kelly. Visit of Fr. Aloysius. Arrest of John McNeill. 71 44. Fr. Farrington is present at Funerals of 3rd May. 72 45. Sir John Maxwell asks Archbishop to deport certain Priests. I offer to give evidence at Courtmartial of Sean T. O'Kelly and John McNeill. 73 -3- PAGE 46. Proclamations and Military Orders. 74 47. Fr. Farrington describes state of dead bodies of Executed Leaders. 77 48. McBride's and Plunkett's Courtsmartial. 79 49. Major Price tries to get McNeill to connect Dillon and Devlin with the Rising. 8o 50. Archbishop is asked to seek Reprieve for Mallin. 82 51. Archbishop subscribes £100 to Relief Fund. 83 Protests against Executions. 84 52. 53. Archbishop signs Petition for Fair Trial for Alderman Tom Kelly. Many callers. arrive. 86 54. Inspector Love's Influence enlisted on behalf of Sean T. O'Kelly. 88 55. I talk with Massingham of the 'Nation' on the Irish situation. 90 56. Courtmartial of John McNeill-My Evidence. 91 57. Archbishop agrees to act as Chairman of Irish Distress Fund. 97 58. Irish Rebellion shows the Continent of Europe that Ireland is not merely a Province of England. Archbishop explains causes to the Members of the Inquiry Commission. 99 59. Dr. Dwyer's famous Letter to General Maxwell. Lloyd George's infamous Letter to Carson. 100 60. Archbishop appoints Deputy-Chairman of 101 National Aid Fund-Amalgamation of two Funds. 61. History of the Rising as narrated by Sean T. O'Kelly. 104 62. History of Partition. 107 63. Archbishop visits Mrs. Stopford Green in connection with Casement. 159 64 General Maxwell's Report on the Rising published. 160 65. Archbishop in a Letter to the Press warns the country against the Parliamentary Party. 160 66. Sir Francis Vane defends conduct of the Volunteers. 162 67. Archbishop interviews American Relief 162 Delegates. -4- PAGE 68. Irish Parliamentary Party not consulted 163 about introduction of Greenwich Time into Ireland. 69. 'Freeman's Journal' is on its last legs. 165 70. Sydney contributes £150 to Relief Fund. 165 71. Gavan Duffy shows correspondence about Cardinal Bourne's attitude to Casement's request for reconciliation to Catholic Church. 166 72. Political visit of French Bishops. 169 73. Bishops' discussion on Political Situation. 171. 74. First regular American contribution to National Aid Fund. 172 75. Archbishop refuses invitation to Lord Mayor's Banquet for Lord Lieutenant. 173 76. Fall of Asquith-Tories dominant in British Cabinet. 174 77. Irish National Volunteers forbidden to drill-Redmond's attitude. 174 78. Release of prisoners-Conditions in Frongoch. 175 79. Unionist Opinion of the Rebellion. They object to teaching of Irish History. 178 80. Count Plunkett proposed for Roscommon Seat at Griffith's Meeting of 14th January, 1917. 181 81. Expulsion of Count Plunkett from R.D.S. 182 82. Laurence O'Neill elected Lord Mayor. Archbishop refuses outgoing Lord Mayor's invitation to a Luncheon for Irish- Canadian Regiment. 182 83. German Government in a Note to U.S.A. Criticises England's treatment of Ireland and India. 184 84. Newspaper criticism of Treatment of Irish Prisoners in England. 184 85. Result of Roscommon Elections 185 86. Suspicious boat off Kerry Coast. Deportations of Republicans under D.O.R.A. 186 87. Griffith replies to Devlin's attack on Gaelic League and Sinn Fein. 188 88. Bonar Law refuses to publish Proceedings of Courts Martial of Easter Week men. 190 -5- Page 89. Manifesto of Irish Parliamentary Party shows change of attitude. 190 90. British military activity suggests fear of another rebellion. 192 91. Count Plunkett invites Archbishop to Conference. 193 92. "A.E'S" interview with General Smuts. Archbishop refuses permission for War Office collections at churches. l94 93. Lloyd George's hypocritical expression of anxiety for Irish settlement. Garvin's role as intermediary. 194 94. Bishop of Limerick's letter on treatment of Prisoners. 195. 95. Important Manifesto against Partition 196 96. Dr. O'Dwyer comments on Lloyd George's proposal for Convention to settle Irish question 199 97. Longford Election's fatal blow to Irish Party. Criticism by General Council of County Councils, 200 98. Irish Party's unscrupulous attempt to wreck Count Plunkett's Convention of 19th April 1917. 201 99. Alfie Byrne describes Party's state of mind. 205 100. Count Plunkett repudiates Lloyd George's proposed Conference. 206 101. "A.E's" 'Thoughts for a Convention', etc., receives support of Cardinal and Archbishop. 206 102. The Convention is held in Trinity College. 207 103. Sinn Fein Nation League and Gaelic League refuse to participate in Lloyd George Convention. 209 104. Release of political prisoners. 210 105. All-Ireland Meeting in Phoenix Park protests against Partition. 211 106. South Dublin and East Clare Elections. Significant Press comments. 213 107. Prohibition of military uniforms and hurleys. 216 108. Discontent with Irish Party. 216 109. Meeting of Committee of Irish National Volunteers express desire to negotiate with Irish Volunteers. Devlin's letter shows why arms paid for were not received. 217 -6- PAGE 110. Colonel Moore criticises Irish National Volunteer Committee. 218 111. Seizure by Government forces of Irish 'National Volunteers' Arms. 219 112. 'Nationality' publishes Joe Devlin's and F.D. Ackland's letters re arms for Irish National Volunteers. 220 113. Passports for Labour Conference refused to Irish Delegates. British Socialist Party's statement of War aims includes Ireland. 220 114. Kilkenny Election. 221 115. Arrest of prominent Volunteers. 221 116. T.P. O'Connor's American mission on behalf. of Irish Party. 222 117. Meetings proclaimed. 223 118. Death of Ashe. 224 119. Archbishop Keown protests to Sir Bryan Mahon re discrimination against Sinn Fein meetings. 225 120. Sinn Fein Convention of 25th October, 1917. 226 121. The 'Irish Independent' advises abandonment of Sinn Fein meeting at Newbridge. Ominous situation in Ireland. 230 122. The treatment of political prisoners. 234 123. Cardinal Logue comments on the "dream" of an Irish Republic. 235 124. Dr. Mannix organises pro-Irish demonstration and causes defeat of conscription in Australia. 237 125. Publication of President Wilson's fourteen points. 240 126. Crisis in Lloyd George's Convention. 240 127. Growing evidence of pro-Irish feeling in U.S.A. 242 128. Irish Labour Deputation wait on Litvinoff.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Moonlit Way
    The Moonlit Way by Robert William Chambers, 1865-1933 Published: 1919 D. Appleton & Company J J J J J I I I I I Table of Contents Dedication Prologue Claire-de-Lune. & Chapter I … A Shadow Dance. Chapter II … Sunrise. Chapter III … Sunset. Chapter IV … Dusk. Chapter V … In Dragon Court. Chapter VI … Dulcie. Chapter VII … Opportunity Knocks. Chapter VIII … Dulcie Answers. Chapter IX … Her Day. Chapter X … Her Evening. Chapter XI … Her Night. Chapter XII … The Last Mail. Chapter XIII … A Midnight Tête-à-Tête. Chapter XIV … Problems. Chapter XV … Blackmail. Chapter XVI … The Watcher. Chapter XVII … A Conference. Chapter XVIII … The Babbler. Chapter XIX … A Chance Encounter. Chapter XX … Grogan‘s. Chapter XXI … The White Blackbird. Chapter XXII … Foreland Farms. Chapter XXIII … A Lion in the Path. Chapter XXIV … A Silent House. Chapter XXV … Starlight. Chapter XXVI … ’Be-N Eirinn I! Chapter XXVII … The Moonlit Way. Chapter XXVIII … Green Jackets. Chapter XXIX … Asthore. * * * * * Illustrations Frontispiece: His strained gaze sought to fix itself on this face before him P Nihla put her feathered steed through its absurd paces VII „You little miracle!“ XXVII He came toward her stealthily Illustration: His strained gaze sought to fix itself on this face before him J J J J J I I I I I TO MY FRIEND FRANK HITCHCOCK Prologue Claire-de-Lune. There was a big moon over the Bosphorus; the limpid waters off Seraglio Point glimmered; the Golden Horn was like a sheet of beaten silver inset with topaz and ruby where lanterns on rusting Turkish warships dyed the tarnished argent of the flood.
    [Show full text]
  • 141 the EASTER RISING and the FALL to FREEDOM Margaret Hawkins History Regards the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland As a Dismal
    THE EASTER RISING AND THE FALL TO FREEDOM of a distinct nationality.3 Unfortunately for Ireland, these three never seemed to coincide effectively. This mishap did not prevent the Easter Margaret Hawkins Rising from becoming the cataclysm that began the chain reaction. Michael Collins claimed that the Easter Rising awoke “the sleeping spirit of Ireland.”4 Richard B. Finnegan and Edward T. McCarron History regards the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland as a dismal argue that the Easter Rising became a symbol of Irish independence military failure, led by fanatic but condemned rebels resolute in their and a focal point for nationalist identity. They assert that 1916 was determination to achieve an independent, republican, Gaelic, united given a place of pride in Irish history, despite its “failure.”5 The fall to Ireland. However, the Easter Rising set into motion the means by freedom had begun. which Ireland would realize her freedom. Though the rebels did not The Easter Rising exhorted the first great push to an realize their aspirations, their actions set off a series of events that independent nation with its immediate effects. It had failed as a caused Ireland to unexpectedly stumble upon the path that would lead military venture, it had failed as a political gesture, and it had failed to them to freedom. This unanticipated fall onto the right path coincided arouse the support of Dubliners.6 The leaders of the Rising had with perfect timing. That year, the British Parliament had once again assumed that when the Rising began, the people of Dublin, angry at pushed Home Rule away from the Irish.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rise of Sinn Féin Document Pack
    Unit 6: The Rise of Sinn Féin and the First Dáil 1916-1919 Document Pack Contents Source 1. PHOTOGRAPH: Large crowds in Westland Row in Dublin on 18 p. 4 June 1917, awaiting prisoners released under the general amnesty [Source: National Library of Ireland, Ke 125] p. 5 Source 2. PHOTOGRAPH: ‘Éamon de Valera in Volunteer uniform address ing Sinn Féin supporters from the steps of Ennis Court House Co. Clare, 11 July 1917. [Photo: National Library of Ireland, Ke 131] p. 6 Source 3. PHOTOGRAPH: W.T. Cosgrave and Laurence Ginnell, M.P., in a motor car during election campaign in Kilkenny, surrounded by Sinn Féin supporters [Photo: National Library of Ireland, Ke 141] p.7 Source 4 DOCUMENT: 1917 Election poster in support for de Valera [Source: National Library of Ireland, EPH A319] Source 5 MAP: Ratio of inhabitants to each Sinn Féin club, December 1917 p. 8 . Source 6 DOCUMENT: Copy of the anti-conscription pledge, April 1918 p. 9 [Source: National Library of Ireland, EPH E103] Source 7 DOCUMENT: Poster publicising a Cumann na mBan anti- p.10 conscription aerideacht (gathering) on 23 June 1918 [Source: National Library of Ireland, EPH F23] Source 8 MAP: Maps showing the Growth in Membership of (a) Sinn Fein p. 11 and (b) The Irish Volunteers, June 1917-June 1918 p. 12 Source 9 MAP: ‘German plot’ arrests, 17 –18 May 1918 [Source: National Archives, UK, CO 904] Source 10 DOCUMENT: An election poster for Arthur Griffith, June 1918 p. 13 [Source: National Library of Ireland, EPH E28] Source 11 MAP: Returned candidates in Ireland in the general election, p.
    [Show full text]
  • Colonel Dan Bryan and the Evolution of Irish Military Intelligence, 1919 -1945
    U.ö. 6 National University of Ireland Maynooth Colonel Dan Bryan and the evolution of Irish Military Intelligence, 1919 -1945. By Darragh Biddlecombe B.A. THESIS FOR THE DEGREE OF M.A. DEPARTMENT OF MODERN HISTORY NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND MAYNOOTH HEAD OF DEPARTMENT: PROFESSOR R.V. COMERFORD SUPERVISOR OF RESEARCH: DR. DENISE DUNNE JULY 1999 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements. ii Abbreviations. iii Introduction. iv-xii Chapter 1. The birth of Irish Military Intelligence 1917-21. 1-28 Chapter 2. The Civil War, a catalyst for Intelligence Development 29 - 56 Chapter 3. The Intelligence Department and the Army Mutiny. 57- 91 Chapter 4. The 1920’s and the scramble for intelligence dominance. 92-119 Chapters. War and Friendly Neutrality. 120-155 Chapter 6. Bryan’s leadership and an intelligence renaissance 156-189 Conclusion 190-196 Appendices: 197-199 Bibliography 200-203 i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are a number of people whom I wish to thank who generously gave up their time to aid me in my efforts to write this thesis. None more so than Dr. Denise Dunne, without whose supervision, guidance and corrections of drafts this thesis would not have been possible. Similarly I would also like to acknowledge the assistance I received from the UCD Archives and in particular from Seamus Hefferty for his patience in answering my queries. The help and instruction from Victor Lang and particularly Peter Young concerning all facets of the Military Archives and their first hand knowledge of Dan Bryan was also vitally important to my study. I am deeply grateful to Bartley Bryan and his family who gave up their time on a minutes notice to answer my questions.
    [Show full text]
  • 6 X 10.5 Long Title.P65
    Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-67267-2 - The Resurrection of Ireland: The Sinn Fein Party, 1916-1923 Michael Laffan Index More information Index abstention, from Dáil, 416, 436, 438, 441, 458, arbitration courts, 170, 310–17 464 ard-chomhairle (Sinn Féin governing body), abstention, from Westminster, policy of, 146, 173–4, 231, 343–4, 395 18–19, 74, 87, 416, 438, 458 in 1919: 175–6, 287, 307 discussion of, 205, 207 in party structure, 172 implemented by Parliamentary Party, 1918, question of summoning, 1922, 419, 420 135 and social conflict, 1919, 254, 258 Labour and, 158 and treaty, 363, 365, 367, 371 Plunkett’s adoption of, 85, 88 ard-fheis (Sinn Féin party convention), 172, unease at, 250 175 abstention policy, abandonment of by Sinn 1919: 175, 195–6, 285, 305, 307, 308, 324 Féin, 1998, 460–1 1921: 175, 203, 344–5 abstract images, 215, 217, 252, 455, 463 disappearance of, 1919–21, 287 Adams, Gerry, 457, 458 in party structure, 171–2, 173–4 agrarian unrest, 78, 188, 273, 301, 310, 314–15 ard-fheis, February/May 1922, 175, 239, 370–4, republican courts and, 315–16, 317 378, 418 All-For-Ireland League, 63, 122, 125, 164, adjourned, 373 188 Collins’s speech at, 372 and West Cork by-election, 73–5 de Valera’s speech at, 371–2 Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), 59, 123, elections for, 365–6, 367, 369 183, 206 opposition to secret ballot at, 370 Andrews, C. S., reconvened, 389 on abstract images, 217 republican majority at, 370–1 IRA dictatorship, acquiescence in, 375 women and, 204, 370 politicians, contempt for, 280 army convention,
    [Show full text]
  • ROINN COSANTA. BUREAU of MILITARY HISTORY, 1913-21. STATEMENT by WITNESS DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 666 Witness William Hales, Knocknacur
    ROINN COSANTA. BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY, 1913-21. STATEMENT BY WITNESS DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 666 Witness William Hales, Knocknacurra, Bandon, Co. Cork. Identity. Member of Bandon Company, Bandon Battalion, Irish Volunteers, 1918. Member of I.R.A. Cork. Subject. The German Plot, May 1918. Conditions, if any, Stipulated by Witness. Nil File No S.1539 FormB.S.M.2 THE GERMAN PLOT. KNOCKNACURRA 18TH MAY, 1918. (From) BALLINADEE, THE 3RD CORK BRIGADE: THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE: W.M. HALES. CHAPTER II. On the morning of Saturday, 18th May, 1918, a cloud of gloom hung over the Irish Capital. Dreadful reports reached from the City, and were slowly coming in from the Provinces: 'That the strong arms of the National Movement for the complete Independence of Ireland: Sinn Féin; were being taken: the citizens realised, not in ones or twos, but in dozens, in fifties had any strong man, or men, defied or eluded the iron grip of foreign domination'. On the bare walls of Dublin the citizens first saw the Proclamation of the new Viceroy, Lord French: 'PROCLAMATION'. 'Whereas it has come to our Knowledge that certain subjects of His Majesty, the King, domiciled in Ireland, have conspired to enter into, and have entered into, treasonable communication with the German enemy'. "And whereas such treachery is a menace to the fair fame of Ireland, and its glorious military record, a record which is a source of intense pride to a country whose sons have always distinguished themselves, and fought with such heroic valour in the past, in the same way as thousands of them are now fighting in the War'.
    [Show full text]
  • An Island Divided: Eamon De Valera, Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith, Cathal Brugha and the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty
    An Island Divided: Eamon de Valera, Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith, Cathal Brugha and the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty By James Webber 1 An Island Divided: Eamon de Valera, Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith, Cathal Brugha and the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty Student: James Webber (s1143271) Email: [email protected] Supervisor: Dr. Joost Augusteijn Second-reader: Dr. Henk Kern Date: December 2012 2 Contents Introduction 5 1. Synopsis and aim of the research 5 2. Overall historiography 5 3. Existing material relating to de Valera and Collins 6 4. Existing material relating to Griffith and Brugha 7 5. Sources 8 6. Methods of analysis 8 Part I: De Valera, Collins, Brugha and Griffith in the period from April 1916 to July 1921 10 7. Eamon de Valera 11 8. Michael Collins 16 9. Cathal Brugha 19 10. Arthur Griffith 23 11. Observations 24 Part II: The Treaty Negotiations in London 27 12. De Valera in the period July – October 1921 27 13. Events during the negotiations 33 14. Collins’ and Griffith’s role in the negotiations 38 15. Observations 39 3 Part III: The Treaty Debates 41 16. Questions regarding the conduct of the plenipotentiaries 41 17. Document No. 2 43 18. The issue of partition 47 19. Observations 53 Part IV: Public Opinion towards the Treaty 56 20. Public opinion in the period April 1916 – July 1921 56 21. The attitudes of the public and the press towards the Treaty 58 22. Observations 67 Conclusions 69 23. The position of Eamon de Valera 70 24. The position of Michael Collins 71 25.
    [Show full text]
  • A Short History of the Rise of Sinn Féin
    Unit 6: The Rise of Sinn Fein and the first Dáil A Short History Resources for Secondary Schools UNIT 6: THE RISE OF SINN FÉIN AND THE FIRST DAIL From the beginning, the 1916 Rising was referred Following a period in South Africa, Griffith returned to by the media and the authorities as ‘the Sinn Féin to Dublin in 1899 to take up the editorship of the Rebellion’. While some individual members of the new radical nationalist newspaper, the United Irish- Sinn Féin party took part, neither the organisation man. Writing under the pen name Cuguan, he fre- nor Griffith himself was involved in the Rising. This quently challenged the complacency of the Irish mistaken association catapulted the Sinn Féin party Parliamentary Party and used the newspaper to ex- from relative obscurity to center stage in the pursuit press what he called the ‘urgent need’ to deAngli- of Irish independence. cise Ireland. In September 1900 Arthur Griffith and William Rooney established Cumann na nGaed- ARTHUR GRIFFITH (1871-1922) AND THE heal - an umbrella body designed to co-ordinate ORIGINS OF SINN FÉIN the activities of the various groups committed to counteracting the continuing anglicisation of the country. In the early years of the twentieth century Journalist and politician, Arthur Griffith was born Arthur Griffith envisioned a separate Irish state that into a working-class Dublin family on 31 March would retain a tenuous link with Britain through 1871. He attended the Christian Brothers’ schools in a dual monarchy based on the Austro–Hungarian the north inner city, but left before he was thirteen model.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rise of Sinn Féin and the First Dáil Part 2
    Unit 6: The Rise of Sinn Féin and the First Dáil Part 2 Senior Cycle Worksheets Contents Lesson 5 Exhibiting 1917 Background: Irish Convention and Thomas Ashe 3 Docs I - L: The Death, Funeral and Inquest of Thomas Ashe 4 Comprehension Questions, Docs I, J, K, and L 8 Planning an Exhibition Task 4 9 Exhibition Design Template 10 Lesson 6 Conventions and Conscription Background: Sinn Fein and Volunteers Conventions 11 Documents M-Q: 1917 Conventions and Conscription Crisis 12 Comprehension Questions, Docs M, N, O, P, Q 17 Lesson 7 A Political Revolution: The 1918 General Election Background: German Plot and 1918 General Election 19 Documents R-X: Electioneering material and Maps 20 Comprehension Questions, Docs R,S,T,U,V,W and X 25 Writing an electioneering Speech Task 5 26 Additional Documents 27 Resources for Secondary Schools THE IRISH CONVENTION 1917-1918 Volunteers. Rearrested in August 1917 for making seditious speeches, Ashe was charged under the In July 1917 Lloyd George convened the Irish Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) and imprisoned in Convention in an attempt to to introduce Home Rule Mountjoy jail. He joined a hunger strike by republican on the basis of agreement between nationalists and prisoners seeking ‘political status’ and was mortally unionists. The Prime Minister’s priority that summer injured during forcible feeding in September 1917. was to find a solution to the Irish question in order to satisfy public opinion in America - Britain’s ally against Ashe’s death caused national uproar and sparked Germany since April -and focus entirely on the war protests and demonstrations across the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Witness Robert Brennan, 42 Lower Dodder Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin
    ROINN COSANTA. BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY, 1913-21. STATEMENT BY WITNESS DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 779 (Section1) Witness Robert Brennan, 42 Lower Dodder Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin. Identity. Acting Comd't. Wexford Brigade, Irish Vol's. 1916; 0/C. Sinn Fein Press Bureau, 1918-1921; Under Sec. Foreign Affairs, Dail Eireann, 1921-'22; Irish Minister at Washington, 1938-1947. Subject. Text of his book with some "Allegiance" additional notes. Conditions, if any, Stipulated by Witness. Nil. File No. S.537 Form B.S.M.2 STATEMENT OF MR. ROBERT BRENNAN 42 Lower Dodder Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin. Shortly after I arrived to take up the position of Director of Publicity for Sinn Féin - at least, that was not my title; my title was Officer in Charge of the Sinn Féin Press Bureau - in March, 1918, odd journalists began to call, all of whom wanted to interview Mr. de Valera. I remember an American who had a long interview with de Valera and I was amused to observe the methods used by the American reporters as contrasted with any of the others. This man was more interested in the personality of the man rather than in the politics of the day, such as, offering him a cigarette and getting a refusal - "You don't smoke?" "No". Of course, that was a point to be noted. "You don't drink?" "No". And so on, in order to get a picture of the personal tastes, background and outline of the man's character. Very few of the British journalists came to headquarters at that time but we had men from Portugal, Spain, Japan, France and Italy as well as from America.
    [Show full text]
  • Irish Nationalism and Identity in the First World War
    Archived thesis/research paper/faculty publication from the University of North Carolina at Asheville’s NC DOCKS Institutional Repository: http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/unca/ University of North Carolina at Asheville “Who is Ireland’s Enemy?” Irish Nationalism and Identity in the First World War A Senior Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the Department of History in Candidacy for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in History Submitted by: Garrett M Griffin April 12, 2018 Abstract The Irish Revolutionary Period (1911-1927) includes the period of the First World War, one of, if not the most monumental event of the twentieth century. One of the major catalysts of the period, the Easter Rising, occurred in 1916, in the midst of war. Despite this, study of this time period often overlooks the First World War and the influence it had on Irish nationalism of the time period. The Irish republican movement entered the war led by the Irish Parliamentary Party, and advocating for Home Rule. By the end of the war, dissatisfaction with the status quo and the current position of the Irish republican movement and culminated in the landslide victory for the radical Sinn Fein party in the 1918 elections. A combination of the discrimination Irish soldiers on the front received, British cruelty in dealing with the aftermath of the Easter Rising and the failure of the Irish Parliamentary Party to effectively deal with the political crises of the Easter Rising and the Conscription Crisis were the primary causes of this shift. 1 “Who is Ireland’s enemy?... Not Germany nor Austria, Not Russia, France nor Spain That robbed and reaved this land of ours, And forged her heavy chains; But England of the wily words – A crafty, treacherous foe – 'Twas England scourged our Motherland, 'Twas England laid her low!”1 On Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, around 400 armed members of the Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army waited patiently outside the General Post Office on O’Connell Street near the center of Dublin.
    [Show full text]
  • J. J. O'connell's Memoir of the Irish Volunteers, 1914-17
    J. J. O’CONNELL’S MEMOIR OF THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS, 1914-17 Presented by DAITHÍ Ó CORRÁIN School of History and Geography, Dublin City University 1 INTRODUCTION1 No one had a longer high-ranking association with the Irish Volunteers and successor Irish armed forces than Jeremiah Joseph O’Connell, better known as ‘J. J.’ or ‘Ginger’ O’Connell on account of his red hair and moustache. Yet, beyond fleeting references, little has been written about him.2 The best known episode of his thirty-year career was his unlucky kidnapping on 27 June 1922 by the anti-Treaty IRA in retaliation for the arrest of Leo Henderson. Following the assassination on 22 June 1922 of Sir Henry Wilson – the retired British field marshal, Unionist MP for North Down and security adviser to the Northern Ireland government – the provisional government came under intense pressure from the British cabinet to take action against the anti-Treaty garrison which had been in occupation of the Four Courts since mid-April. The capture of Lieutenant-General O’Connell, then GHQ assistant chief of staff and director of training, provided a convenient casus belli. And so at midnight on 27 June the Four Courts was surrounded by National army troops under Brigadier Paddy O’Daly, who demanded the release of O’Connell and the evacuation of the complex. This was rebuffed and at 04:15 the bombardment of the Four Courts commenced: the Irish civil war had begun.3 Both Michael Collins, who gave up the chairmanship of the provisional government to become commander-in-chief of the National (Free State) army, and Richard Mulcahy, minister for defence and chief of staff, believed that it would have been difficult to gain sufficient support within the army for the attack had it not been for the kidnapping of the popular O’Connell.4 Moved to the centre of the Four Courts for his safety, O’Connell was offered reading material by Ernie O’Malley, who was later appointed assistant chief of staff of the anti-treaty IRA and a member of its army council.
    [Show full text]