The End (1)

In June 1922 an incident took place that had a huge impact on the lives of Darrell and Millie Figgis. A knock came to the door of their flat on Kildare Street late one night. Millie answered it. Three men pushed past her and took hold of Darrell Figgis, telling him that they had instructions to mutilate him by cutting off his beard.

Darrell Figgis stood up to them, inquiring under whose orders they were acting. “one of the men who appeared to be the spokesman stated that they were acting under army orders, but refused to say from where they had been received.”  They did not want to carry out the orders and told Figgis they “did not like the job that had been committed to them.”

Figgis tried to fight back and Millie did her best to stop them too, but they were too strong a force and carried out their orders, leaving Figgis without his beard and Millie quite shaken.

When Darrell Figgis relayed the story to the press, he said that he had nothing  against the assailants, who had no choice but to carry out their orders or suffer the consequences if they did not.  He explicitly stated that

“The offense lay not with these boys, but with the men who had charged them, and finally with the leaders of those who opposed the Treaty unless they specifically repudiated this act and took measures to see that proper discipline was observed, and that other acts of a like sord did not occur in the future. Mrs Figgis is suffering severely from shock.”

The attack caused Millie much trauma and a contributing  that lead to her sad fate two years later. Darrell Figgis took up with another woman, Rita North. It is not clear whether it was before of after the night in November 1924 and put a gun to her head and ended her life. Ironically the gun was given to the Figgis’ by Michael Collins to protect themselves, sadly it was put the the opposite use.

Darrell Figgis was heartbroken. The out pour of sympathy helped rekindle his political career and his writing. His book ‘The Paintings of William Blake’, published 1925 was devoted to her memory and credited her for her contribution. It contained the following dedication in the form of a poem.

To Millie
With whom, twelve years ago,
It was planned
With whom, this year,
In constant fellowship
It has been completed,
This book of ours is offered
For her approval and her praise.

Sources

Death Of Darrell Figgis. The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Oct 28, 1925; pg. 16; Issue 44104

Thanks to Edward King, Achill

The chair in the Shelbourne Museum inscribed; Darrell Figgis

In 1922  the Provisional Government under Chairmanship of Michael Collins was formed. On January 30th a Committee set up to draft the Free State Constitution . Darrell Figgis, was eleced the Vice Chairman, and the acting Chairman was Michael Collins.

In May 1922, The Shelbourne played host to its most historic meeting – the drafting of the Irish Constitution. Bunreacht na hÉireann was drawn up in room 112, under the leadership of Michael Collins. This room is now The Constitution Room.

The Free State Constitution was ratified by the Irish Provisional Government December 5th 1922.

The Constitution Room is preserved pretty much as it was when the Constitution was drafted. The table pictured below is the original. It is used by head concierge and historian Denis T. C. O’Brien when he gives his historical talks on the third Sunday of every month.

Denis C. T. O’Brien, head concierge and historian at the Shelbourne

Darrell Figgis is well credited for the part he played in the creating the first Constitution of Ireland, in the Shelbourne Hotel. The Chair he sat on is on display in the museum as is a copy of the original draft. They have even paid tribute to Figgis by naming a suite after him on the third floor, the only dedication to him anywhere.

Sources

http://www.marriott.com/hotel-info/dubbr-the-shelbourne-dublin-a-renaissance-hotel/history/wqhhfdg/home-page

Thanks to

Denis C. T. O’Brien, Shelbourne Hotel

Edward King, Achill

Photos by courtesy of the Shelbourne Hotel

From 1918 until 1923 Darrell Figgis was seldom out of the political spotlight. The first Dail met in Janruary of 1919, and in June he was elected to the Ard Chomhairle of Sinn Fein, however the Dail was decalred illegal earlier on that year.

During the election campaign he narrowly escaped death by hanging by Captain Crawford, following arrest at Dail Court at Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.

1919 – 1921 – Irish War of Independence raged until the Truce  of July 11th 1921. During that period Darrell Figgis and his wife Millie went into hiding at their friend’s house in the Dublin Mountains close to the Hell Fire Club, a place that would feature in their lives again but under circumstances so tragic they could not possibly imagine at that time. In the early summer of 1920 they stayed in a cottage owned by the Fox family, as it was too dangerous for people with a profile to stay safely in the city. Most of the leader’s homes were under surveillance and searched as was the Figgis’.

In 1922 – Dail Eireann approves Treaty by 64 votes to 57. Arthur Griffith becomes President of Dail. The Provisional Government was under Chairmanship of Michael Collins and on January 30th a committee was set up to draft the Free State Constitution  with Darrell Figgis, Vice Chairman, and acting Chairman for Michael Collins.

Sources

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS1770%20Section%205.pdf#page=105

Thanks to

Edward King, Achill

Prison Boards of Ireland

When Darrell Figgis was released from prison in December 1916 his freedom was short lived. Two months into 1917 he along with other Sinn Fein activists were ordered under Defence of the Realm Act to leave Ireland and reside at Fairford, Gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire

It was more of an exile rather than imprisonment. Figgis and his fellow Sinn Fein  ‘detainees’ were allowed a certain amount of freedom and were at liberty to travel within the UK, even free to attend concerts in London. The only condition was they were not under any circumstance to return to Ireland.

That is exactly what they did. In the event of the north Longford Election of 1917 it was decided that some of them should return to Ireland for it. Darrell Figgis was one of three that did, managing to slip in and out of the country undetected.

In July of that year the order was rescinded and Figgis was free to return to Ireland. His political career was resumed and a month later in August 1917 he was addressing a Sinn Fein meeting in Castlebar, which Emily and Anita McMahon attended. By October Figgis was elected as joint secretary of Sinn Fein along with Austin Stack.

 Special thanks;

Edward King, Achill

Sources

http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0766.pdf#page=62-

Tuam Herald