Category Archives: Places

Arthur Griffith

Some time after the outbreak of the Civil War at the end of June 1922, Arthur Griffith began to feel unwell. He had been working more or less non stop since negotiating the Treaty which was ratified the previous January. As its terms were not widely accepted, he spent the time since defending it. After the general election of June 16th, in which he was elected for Cavan, Griffith attended forty-one of the forty-two provisional government meetings which took place in the week between 23 June and 30 July.

His strong and vigorous constitution was debilitated by the heavy burden of official responsibilities and great anxieties consequent on the tragic happenings of the last six weeks and only under the persuasion of his own relatives and personal friends died he consent to go into the Private Nursing Home, 96 Lower Lesson Street, where the past fortnight he had been under treatment, leaving it only for brief itrevals to go to his office in Merrion Street.

Freeman’s Journal 14 August 1922

After contracting influenza along with tonsillitis, he remaining working, and even began to show signs of improving. But on the morning of 12th August he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died. He was only 51.

After he entered the nursing home he was attended to by Dr. St John Gogarty, who released a medical statement after his passing

Funeral

A pall of melancholy seemed to hang over the whole town. The funeral and the empty grave were the thoughts on all minds.

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 19 August 1922

Sources

Freeman’s Journal 14 August 1922

https://www.dib.ie/biography/griffith-arthur-joseph-a3644 Contributed by Michael Laffan

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 19 August 1922

August 1922

The war wages on

View of the railway station at Achill Sound

One of the features of the Civil war was the disruption to the transport system, such as the destruction of the road and railways. The railways in particular were targeted by the irregulars, as they were easier to destroy than the roads. They were vandalised too. The disruption to the transport and communication systems was a tactic of guerilla warfare.

Looting was common too. Some pillaging was opportunistic, but sadly most was not. Due to the disruption in the transport as well as the supply system, people in rural areas were deprived of the basics. In some instances they went hungry, and looted the shops and abandoned lorries and carts for supplies. Luxury goods were not left behind in the ‘raids’, as newspaper reports of the time conveted:

The tracks between the larger urban centres were generally repaired quickly but the outposts including Achill were left in a state of wreck for longer periods of time.

Sources

Freeman’s Journal 11 August 1922

Dublin Daily Express 20 June 1914

Dublin in Ruins

As the fighting in Dublin became more intense in July 1922 the city centre became a burned out ruin again, as it did like in the wake of the Easter Rising. One man, who fought on the side of Partrick Pearse, during the Rising told reporters; “I do not know what you think…bit I think that the action of the men responsible for this ruin has been a crime against the nation. It has no parallel with Easter Week.” He was not the only one dismayed with the destruction, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Lord Mayor and Douglas Hyde all made a tour of O’Connell Street when the fighting died down.

Many people also came out to view the ruins, some from the safer location of the platform erected around Nelson’s pillar for the funerals of the fallen. A big crowd turned out to line O’Connell Street for the military funerals, which made their way to Glasnevin Cemetery. “The dirge of pipers’ band announced their approach, and as the gun-carriage and five hearses moved past, the head were uncovered and the people stood in silent tribute to the heroic dead.”

Sources

15 July 1922 – Freeman’s Journal – Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

15 July 1922 – Freeman’s Journal – Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

Battle for the Four Courts

“It was a dull morning. A slight mist overhung the river and when the first observers reached O’Connell Bridge the familiar green dome of the attacked building was obscured. But from the south side of the river the sudden flash of the gun could be seen and down the wide alley of the Liffey come the crash of shell and bomb and the sustained rattle of the smaller arms.”

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 01 July 1922
Weekly Freeman’s Journal 01 July 1922

On June 28th 1922, the Irish Civil War began. The National Army attacked the anti-Treaty troops who had occupied the Four Courts under Rory O’Connor since April. An intense battle between the two sides ensued. From the outset the National Army, had better weapons, albeit supplied by the British Army had the advantage over the anti-Treaty side. But the IRA held their own, for two days, until a massive explosion, ripped through the building, razing it to the ground, left them no choice but to surrender. In spite of the destruction there were relatively few causalities.

The cause of the explosion is contested in the historiography, though the GHQ Irish Army issued a poster the following day: “Public Records Office destroyed with all its historic documents through fire caused by Irregulars’ explosion of mine.”

https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/in-depth/the-walls-came-tumbling-down

The bombardment of the Four Courts signaled to the IRA divisions throughout the country to mobilise and prepare to take on the Free State Army.

“This action caused IRA units around the country to take sides and most, especially in the south, sided with the anti-Treaty faction, now headed by Liam Lynch. Eamon de Valera initially rejoined the IRA as an ordinary volunteer…”https://www.theirishstory.com/2012/07/02/the-irish-civil-war-a-brief-overview/#.YqtVaB17nVo

Sources

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 01 July 1922

https://www.historyireland.com/the-battle-of-the-four-courts-28-30-june-1922/ By Michael Fewer

https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/in-depth/the-walls-came-tumbling-down

Siege of Dublin

“JJ (Ginger) O’Connell, former engineering student at UCD and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Free State Army, is captured by forces under the command of fellow UCD graduate Rory O’Connor and held at the Four Courts garrison. “

https://centenaries.ucd.ie/1912-1923-timeline/#year-11

When Michael Collins issued his final ultimatum to the Four Courts garrison to leave the building, it not observed. The IRA unit under Rory O’Connor continued to hold out, knowing that an attack was imminent. The very next morning, June 28th the Free State Army launched their attack, commencing the first phase of the Civil War.

Sources

1912 – 1923 Timeline

Dublin Evening Telegraph 28 June 1922

1912 – 1923 Timeline