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A n c Os I ac Edited by Major General Piaras Beaslai. Vol. 1., No. 1. EASTER, 1961 6d. passed away. They are also con cerned with the plight of many DO LUCHT NA OUR PROGRAMME of their comrades who, though survivors of the dangers of the N presenting to the old soldiers of the fight for freedom from 1916 past, have been unfortunate in GAEILGE till the Truce a Journal written and issued by some of themselves worldly matters and in old age' ]^IOR cheart go gcuirfi amach through an organisation of old I.R.A. men, we can find no more have to contendwith-poverty and irisleabhar darab ainm “An Iappropriate title for the publication than AN tOGLACH. This was the with disease or disability which tOglach” gan roinnt Ghaeilge name of the secret organ of the Irish Volunteers, founded in 1918, in most cases was brought about bheith ann. Go mor mor, nior by the hardships and sufferings cheart go gcuirfi amach irisleabhar which from then to the Truce guided, instructed and inspired the fighting of the war period. Anything do shean-tsaighdiuirl na hlSireann men throughout Ireland, and strengthened their morale through the which can be done to alleviate their gan Gaeilge ann, mar bhl dluth- darkest days of the War of Independence. lot, and induce the Government bhaint ag lucht na Gaeilge le of this country to do their duty Cogadh na Saoirse. Nior mhiste This new Oglach has a different language, of Irish games, dances, by the old soldiers of Ireland will a ra gur ar eigin a bheadh aon task which it will endeavour to music and customs were •recog receive the whole-hearted support troid ann chun saoirse d’fhail fulfil as faithfully as possible—to nised and advocated by all; and of old I.R.A. organisations. We muna mbeadh an obair a dhein interpret and express the ideals, preference * was given to Irish hope to deal in more detail with lucht an Gaeilge le breis is fiche aims and objects of the men and manufactured goods over imported various aspects of this question bliain agus an slol a chuireadar women, survivors of the struggle ones. Their political aim was in later issues. agus an spriod tir-ghrach a mhus- of 1916-21, who have been brought complete independence. The mem We hope to preserve and express gladar ins na daoine i gConnradh together again in organised bodies, bers Iff Oglaigh na hEireann to-day again the spirit that inspired the na Gaeilge, i Sinn Fein, i gCumann forgetting former temporary remain loyal to these ideals. All “Irish Volunteer” and “An Braitbreacht na Poblachta, ins na estrangements in the general in deplore the unnatural partitioning tOglach” from 1914 to the Truce Fianna agus fe dheire ins na terest. We hope to voice their of our country, and also the exces of 1921—the spirit which enabled outlook on big national issues, hOglaigh. without meddling with party poli tics. We hope, also, to record their Bhl breis is a leath de sna various activities, social gatherings daoine ar an gCoiste Sealadach do commemorations and the like. chuir Oglaigh na hlSireann ar bun News items of special interest to n-a nGaeilgeoirl. Seachtain na them will appear, and we invite Casca 1916 bhl Gaeilge ag ceathrar secretaries throughout the country den mhoirsheisear do chuir a to assist us in the task by sending n-ainmneacha le Fogra an Rialtais us summarised accounts of their Sealadaigh agus a fuair bas da activities. We hope also to pub bharr, agus bhl baint ag foramhor lish articles on matters of national na n-oifigeach agus na bhfear a importance or historic interest, bhl ag troid i mBaile Atha Cliath and contributions from persons an tseachtain sin le hobair na who took an active and notable Gaeilge. I n-aimsir na nDubh- part in the fight for freedom. Chronach bhl foramhor lucht In this undertaking we need, ceannais. Airm na hEireann and request, the support and co saithte i n-obair na Gaeilge i operation of all organised Old bhfad roimis sin. Ortha sud a I.R.A. units throughout the bhl an t-Aire Cosanta (Cathal country. The Association of the Brugha), an tArd-Cheannphort Old Dublin Brigade has agreed (Risteard* 0 Maolchatha) an to accept full responsibility for tArd-Chongantoir (Gear oid 0 the publication, but it has asked Suilliobhain) an ^ Stiurthoir for and received promises of Faisneise (Mlcheal 0 Coileain) support and co-operation from agus a lan eile de Stiurthoir! the National Federation, the Ard-Staf an Airm, i dtreo is nar Council of the Old Dublin Brigade, mhiste a ra gurbh iad lucht na and kindred bodies, such as the Gaeilge a bhl ag stiuradh na 1916-21 Club. It is trusted that troda agus be an sgeal ceadna e a similar response will be met with i na lan aiteann sail - tuaith— from the veterans in all parts of mar shompla i gCorcaigh mar a Ireland, partitioned and unparti rabh Tomas MacCurtain agus tioned. Traolach MacSuibhne i gceannas. To interpret and express the Da bhrl sin, b’olc an mhaise outlook of the old soldiers of dhuinn gan cothrom na Feinne ^ Oglach na hEireann should not thabhairt don Ghaeilge san iris be difficult for one of themselves, leabhar so. Beidh failte firoimh for it is really simple and obvious. aoi^ phlosa Gaeilge a chuirfar It is evident to all that patriotism, cliugaftnn a01s cuirfimld mion- devotion to the cause of Irish aistl Gaeilge^i gclo i ngach uimhir. freedom, was the ruling motive of sive emigration of our young a despised and slandered minority Ta suil againn go dtaitneoidh son those who shed their blood or people. They are prepared to in % country denationalised le na lan dar leitheoirl. risked their lives in the struggle support any movement for the anglicised and demoralised by with England and remained in the betterment of Ireland which puts British and pro-British propa H- country ever since, to leaven the the interests of our country first. ganda, t(5 hold their own and by general body with their ideals, A task in which the veterans tjieir courage and perseverance It regains for our readers and and something at least of their of the fight for freedom are establish themselves and be ac contributors to make this journal old enthusiasm. Their allegiance specially concerned is the com cepted by all as the Army of what they want it to be—an has always been to Ireland and memoration of the great episodes Ireland and attract the best organ completely representative everything Irish, and no foreign in that fight, and the dead heroes, elements among the young of of their outlook and common influence from whatever side it their fellow-soldiers who died for the country. In pursuance of this interests, a forum in which they comes will be allowed to deflect Ireland, and to keep the memory object we hope to publish from can express their views on matters or weaken that allegiance. of their deeds and sacrifices fresh time to time interesting and of concern to us all. We ask The movement of which Oglaigh and green. They cherish also the instructive extracts from those their support and co-operation, na hEireann was a product was memory of other comrades, no old publications, which will bring and we are sure it will be as known as the “Irish Ireland Move less brave and patriotic, who back inspiring memories to our ungrudgingly given as in the old ment”. The claims of the Irish survived the fight and have since old soldiers. days. 2 An cOj Iac Easter, 1961 into the public house. Minerals, a man in civilian clothes who, as far as I could see were ordered. we learned afterwards, was Detec When I had finished mine Mick tive Officer Hailey. He was firing ATTACK ON LORD called me aside and told me to from a revolver as the car came get my bicycle, cycle towards the clear of the corner. We opened station and see if there were any fire with revolvers and grenades. signs of the train coming or if It speeded past us onwards FRENCH there were any military or police towards the Ashtown Gate of at the station. the park. ATE in 1919 the General Headquarters Staff of the Army of the As I was cycling towards the The second car was stopped Irish Republic decided to make an attempt to shoot Lord French, station I had only gone about right opposite our men behind the the British “Lord Lieutenant” in Ireland, as head and symbol of fifty yards when I heard the sound hedge. This car was a closed one LEngland’s forces and institutions in Ireland and her claim to hold andof cars coming behind me. A Khaki-green colour. The third control our country, a claim repudiated by the elected Parliament motor horn sounded. I pulled car was a box type Ford with (Dail Eireann) and Government of Ireland. into the side, when four cars of canvas top which flew by with To carry out this work fell to the lot of the Department of Intelligence, a military type passed me. I a continuous fire on it. which had been recently re-organised and strengthened in number by wheeled, cycled back as hard as The fourth car along was an the new Director, Michael Collins. Information as to Lord French’s I could and made my report to open sunbeam type car, and in movements was difficult to obtain, but several ambushes were laid for Mick MacDonnell.