A project supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Partition in Ireland: Partition of Ulster 1919 – 1922 EVENTS From sources at the time Exploring the Causeway connections with the seismic changes occurring across the island of Ireland 1919 - 1922 through local newspapers, diaries and museum collections. 1 As part of the PEACE IV Understanding Our Area Programme, research was conducted into local newspapers and other sources to reveal local connections relating to pivotal events shaping life throughout the island of Ireland between 1919 - 1922. This booklet provides a timeline of events across the Causeway area during this period, with information provided by that research, to accompany the travelling exhibition Partition in Ireland: Partition of Ulster. Partition For sources used please refer to page 20 & 21. For more information on the Peace IV Understanding Our Area Programme and our Decade of Centenaries work, please in Ireland: go to our website www.niarchive.org Partition The legacy of Peace IV should be that we, as a wider community feel comfortable of Ulster to explore, discuss and debate our past, present and future as well as being well enough informed to appreciate and to listen to each other’s stories. The impact of the Peace IV Understanding Our Area Programme has been that we have learned from each other and are more confident in appreciating other people’s heritage and identity without feeling that it any way impacts upon our own. More importantly as our society continues to diversify, we are acutely aware that shared history, heritage and stories are an important tool which we can use to include those people, groups or individuals who do not identify with the two ‘traditional tribal communities’ here. This exhibition which is part of Council’s programme for Decade of Centenaries, is a culmination of gathering local stories, accounts and testimonies relating to 1919 - 1922. We hope that in the same way the local voices help us understand our past, that the experiences of the Peace Programmes can be highlighted for future generations to witness in the next century. Peace IV Chairperson Councillor Orla Beattie ‘Signing of Peace in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles, June 28th, 1919’ by William Orpen. 5th in from the left in the middle row is President Woodrow Wilson (United States) then M Georges Clemenceau (France); Mr D Lloyd George and Mr A Bonar Law. © IWM (Art. IWM ART 2856) 1919 1919 KEY EVENTS KEY EVENTS 21 January 28 June 3 Irish War of Independence/Anglo Irish War starts. Versailles Treaty marks official end of WWI. 25 January Irish Volunteer Force reorganises with others to form Irish Republican Army. January 1919 18 January February 1919 20 March The Paris Peace Conference A local Branch of the Soldiers’ Early January opens to establish the terms of 3 February and Sailors’ Federation is Engineers, shipyard workers, gas the peace after World War One. Eamon de Valera escapes formed at Articlave. workers and electricity station Representatives from Britain, from Lincoln Jail. workers in Belfast strike for France, the United States and 23 March 44 hour working week. Italy dominate negotiations. 14 February Meetings are held in the grounds of In response to the Belfast strike, the Catholic Churches in Limavady, 21 January the army occupies the gasworks Magilligan and Ballykelly to protest Cart carrying gelignite for and electricity station in the against the treatment of Irish Recurrence of “Flu” Epidemic In Coleraine. There has been an alarming recurrence of the influenza a quarry is ambushed at City; by the following Thursday political prisoners (in Belfast Prison) epidemic in Coleraine within the past fortnight. Numerous Soloheadbeg, Co. Tipperary. the strike has collapsed. by the British Government. cases have been reported, and on Wednesday afternoon the pathetic spectacle of a mother and daughter being interred at Two Royal Irish Constabulary the same time as witnessed in Killowen Parish Churchyard. (RIC) policemen (both Catholics) March 1919 April 1919 ‘Signing of Peace in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles, Portrait of Andrew Bonar Law by James Guthrie. Courtesy Coleraine Chronicle January 18th, 1919. June 28th, 1919’ by William Orpen. 5th in from Courtesy of National Galleries Scotland. Presented by W.G. Gardiner guarding the gelignite are and Sir Frederick C. Gardiner 1930. Royal Irish the left in the middle row is President Woodrow 8 January Constabulary shot dead. This act is regarded 18 March 1 April Wilson (United States) then M Georges Clemenceau Reports of ‘alarming’ recurrence badge. as launching the Irish War of Polling for the North Derry by- Eamon de Valera is elected President. (France); Mr D Lloyd George and Mr A Bonar Law. 29 June Courtesy of Coleraine © IWM (Art. IWM ART 2856). of flu in Coleraine. Killowen is Museum. Independence/Anglo-Irish War. election, won by Mr Hugh Barrie, A Shane O’Neill Day considered the worst affected. has taken place during what is June 1919 28 June commemoration meeting, due to 21 January reported to be a severe bout of The Versailles Peace Treaty take place in Cushendun, had been The First Dáil Éireann opens in influenza. In the same month 1 June between Germany and the Allies is proclaimed by the Authorities the Mansion House, Dublin. A National Schools in Belfast would De Valera leaves Ireland for a tour of signed at the Palace of Versailles, on the 27th. Police are drafted Declaration of Independence is be closed and calls for people the United States to gain recognition near Paris. Chief architects of the in to the village to prevent the issued, reiterating the original 1916 in Derry to be compelled to for Irish Independence and to gather Treaty are British Prime Minister guest speaker, Mrs Sheehy- Proclamation of an Irish Republic. wear masks as a ‘flu’ prevention American support and funding for David Lloyd George, French Prime Skeffington, from delivering her measure. Dr Boylan in Ballycastle the Irish cause. He is to remain in Minister Georges Clemençeau speech; she manages to elude 25 January America until December 23, 1920. Limavady Welcome Home for returned soldiers records that he called for another and American President Woodrow the authorities and appears in organised by Catherine Anne Swetenham Trench MBE. Belfast strikers, including gas and doctor to help, as the epidemic Wilson. The signing of the Treaty the Diamond, Ballycastle where Courtesy of Limavady Museum. electricity workers, smash windows was not abating and that along consolidates the ending of World she addresses a large gathering. c.16 January of shops that are continuing one side of Glenshesk War One. Bonar Law, whose father Receptions held for local ex-Prisoners to use gas and electricity. valley ‘almost every lived in Portrush, is in attendance. of War including at Limavady (Mrs The strike action results in family was laid up’. Trench) and Ballymoney (Mrs Armour). trams ceasing to run, picture Events organised in other towns follow. houses closing and many linen workers laid off. Buckle, Irish Volunteers ammunition belt. Courtesy of S. Mac Niocaill. 1919 1920 1919 Peace Medal KEY EVENTS January 5 Distribution began in March 1919. Recruitment for ‘Black and Tans’ begins. School children received their medals on Friday 18 July and on ‘Peace Day’ Saturday 19 July. Courtesy Private Collection. July 1919 small-holdings and allotments December 1919 January 1920 Ministry of Health has issued a c.20 March to war veterans. warning that measures should Scavengers employed by Coleraine Sinn Féin, Irish Volunteers, Cumann c.6 December 2 January be taken to avoid the risk of Urban District Council go on strike na mBan and the Gaelic League are 20 August Coleraine carters go on strike First enrolments of the ‘Black and infection; advice includes healthy for a wage increase of 10s. per declared illegal in Co. Tipperary. This Dáil Éireann passes a Motion that demanding a wage increase, Tans’ to reinforce the RIC. Recruits habits, good ventilation, avoiding week. prohibition later extends to other areas. Irish Volunteers and Dáil Officials affecting businesses and the include English ex-soldiers. fatigue, excess alcohol, crowds and must swear an Oath of Allegiance to unloading of cargoes at the port. unnecessary travel. A vaccine is 31 March 19 July the Irish Republic and to the Dáil. reported available. The Second Reading of The Designated as ‘Peace Day’ in Britain to 19 December Government of Ireland Bill (also c.20 August celebrate the signing of the Versailles An attempt is made to assassinate February 1920 known as the Fourth Home Rule A Post of the Comrades of the Treaty. As well as large-scale victory Viscount French, Lord Lieutenant Bill) in the House of Commons. It Great War is formed at a meeting parades, smaller towns and villages of Ireland, by the IRA at Ashtown 12 February passes by 348 votes to 94. of demobilised sailors and soldiers have organised their own festivities. Gate, Phoenix Park, Dublin. One The epidemic is reported across in the Town Hall, Coleraine. Celebrations are held in Portrush, of the ambush party, Martin America, Poland and Japan as April 1920 Portstewart, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Savage, is shot dead. Black and Tans. well as parts of Paris and some Summer Courtesy IWM Q113489. Limavady, Dungiven and Macosquin. English ports. The public are 17 April The number of attacks by Irish Belfast is to hold its Peace Celebrations 23 December 15 January advised to take precautions and At the inquest into the death of Republican Army (IRA) on RIC later, on August 8-9, 1919. The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act Local elections are held for there are recommendations that Tomás MacCurtain, a jury returns a barracks in various parts of the is passed into law: A person shall not Councils in Ireland; proportional local authorities should appoint verdict of wilful murder deemed to country continues to increase.