Category Archives: Politics

May 1922

By May 1922 the tension between the pro and anti- Treaty sides was heating up to boiling point. The was a palpable sense, that those hostilities could erupt in to combat at any moment in the atmosphere. That did come to pass in Kilkenny City on May 2nd.

Kilkenny Moderator 06 May 1922

About 300 members of the IRA took the city centre, which included one of the cathedrals, the city hall and the Castle. In counteraction the The Free State Army on behest of The Provisional government took over the Barracks, Jail and the Bank of Ireland. The government sent in over 200 troops from Dublin to remove the irregulars by force if necessary. It was. Fighting broke out causing many to be injured and eighteen deaths. A ceasefire, followed by a truce was negotiated and the fighting drew to a halt.

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 06 May 1922

Kilkenny Castle; Weekly Freeman’s Journal 06 May 1922

Under the instruction of the provisional government 200 troops were dispatched by train to Kilkenny. It was not a peaceful operation as a shootout ensued with a total of 18 casualties. The following day civil war is just about prevented when the Anti-Treaty members of the Dail announce a truce.

At the other side of the country there after the IRA enter and rob a bank in Buncrana, Donegal. There was a shootout between them and the Free State Army, in which two members of the IRA and young female civilian are killed and numerous injured. Again troops are sent in from the Free State Army, but were ambushed at Newtowncunningham, and three are killed.

As May 1922 progressed there was a spate of bank raids by the IRA, around the country. In one such raid in Westport, the irregulars left a note stating that as the state refused to finance them, they were only taking the money to cover their expenses.

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 06 May 1922

As the violent flare ups around the country continued it was becoming increasingly clear that civil war could easily break out in an instant. A ‘pact’ was drawn up between Eamonn de Valera and Michael Collins, to establish the most peaceful way forward. The agreement resulted in the call for a general election, with view to forming a coalition party which would include both the pro and anti-Treatyites. The move allowed the public to have their say on the Treaty and the general politics of the new state. Polling day was set for June 16th. But as May drew to a close even Michael Collins had his doubts about a peaceful outcome. He told a reporter from the Chicago Tribune: “If this peace conference fails, then there will be no other, and we will have to take strong action to restore order in the country.”

Sources

Kilkenny Moderator 06 May 1922

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 06 May 1922

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 06 May 1922

Freeman’s Journal 19 May 1922

Weekly Irish Times 20 May 1922

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 20 May 1922

Today in Irish History, The Truce, 11 July 1921

Easter 1922

Six years after the Easter Rising a new organisation was formed to honour “Men of Easter Week”. Named the “1916 Club”, they held their first annual church parade. Before the procession that began at St. Mary of Angles on Church Street and continued to Glasnevin Cemetery, where some of the fallen of Easter Week were buried. At the time, the Republican Plot didn’t exist as such, as many of who are now buried there, were still alive at the time. None of the executed leaders of the Rising were buried their neither, their final resting place in Arbour Hill Cemetery.

In spite of the political tension between the pro and anti Treaty supporters, which could have erupted at any moment the commemorations continued. Large crowds lined the route from Church Street to the Parnell Monument, stopping all traffic on the route. When the parade reached O’Connell Bridge, they slowed down and the St. James Pipe Band began playing a lament, as the reached the GPO, still a burnt out hollow behind it’s facade at the time.

On the approach to Glasnevin Cemetery, the parade slowed down again to the solemn music of the “Dead March”. Again a crowd had formed to greet them at the cemetery gates. Inside wreaths were laid on the graves of the dead heroes of more recent times and of old in various locations throughout the cemetery. The Rosary was recited in Irish, which formed a Republican tradition, that still exists, regardless of the patriot’s religious faith.

The event concluded by the band playing “The Soldier’s song” and “Wrap the Green Flag Round Me.”

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 29 April 1922

Sources

Freeman’s Journal 25 April 1922 p 3

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 29 April 1922

Taking of the Four Courts

Weekly Irish Times 22 April 1922

On this day one hundred years ago, on Good Friday the Anti-Treaty IRA occupied the Four Courts. Led by Rory O’Connor, and about two hundred men took possession of the building. He issued a statement to make it clear that the action was no coup d’etat, that he required a building to house his men and no more.

Sources

Weekly Irish Times 22 April 1922

Freeman’s Journal 26 April 1922

#OTD in 1922 – Led by Rory O’Connor, forces against the Anglo-Irish Treaty seized the Four Courts in Dublin.

https://www.rte.ie/history/ira-convention/2022/0208/1278631-britain-and-the-irish-civil-war/

The Irish Constitution February 1922

From February to May 1922, The Shelbourne played host to its most historic meetings: the drafting of Ireland’s first Constitution. Under the chairmanship of Michael Collins, the committee met in room 112, to write the Constitution of the Irish Free State. This room is now The Constitution Suite, and contains the original table and chairs.

https://www.theshelbourne.com/history
Courtesy of the Shelbourne Hotel

In February 1922, when the Irish Free State was about a month old, the provisional government held a special meeting to set the Constitution.

Courtesy of Shelbourne Hotel

“The team: Mr. Michael Collins, Chairman; Mr. Darrell Figgis, Acting Chairman: Mr Hugh Kennedy, Mr. James Murnaghan, Mr James MacNeill, Professor Alfred O’Rahilly, Mr. Kevin O’Neill, Mr. John Byrne. Assistance is being given by persons who are acting in specialized capacities.”

Munster News 01 February 1922
Courtesy of The Shelbourne Hotel

The Constitution took about six months to complete was ratified by the Dail in October 1922. Darrell Figgis, vice-chairman, did the lions share of work on it as chief, Michael Collins was frequently absent from the committee, due to his other political commitments. Having spent so much time working on it, later that year he published a book entitled; The Irish constitution explained.

Sources

https://www.theshelbourne.com/history

Munster News 01 February 1922

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32612/32612-h/32612-h.htm

https://www.dib.ie/biography/figgis-darrell-a3078

Keys of the Castle

On this day one hundred years ago the British Government handed over the keys of Dublin Castle, to Michael Collins. https://www.dublincastle.ie/16-january-1922-remembering-the-handover-of-dublin-castle-to-michael-collins/

Collins issued the following press release: ‘The Members of the Provisional Government received the surrender of Dublin Castle at 1.45 pm today. It is now in the hands of the Irish nation’.

If Emily was in the crowd that day, it was only to have the pleasure of seeing a foreign power leave, and certainly not in support of the Irish Free State instead the Republic proclaimed on the steps of the GPO in 1916.

Sources

https://www.dublincastle.ie/16-january-1922-remembering-the-handover-of-dublin-castle-to-michael-collins/
(https://www.rte.ie/history/the-ban/2020/0401/1127789-cumann-na-mban-a-photo-essay/)

Freeman’s Journal 17 January 1922

Weekly Freeman’s Journal 21 January 1922

16 January 1922: Remembering the Handover of Dublin Castle to Michael Collins