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.