LEST WE FORGET (7)
THE FOLLOWING ARE ACTS OF AGGRESSION COMMITTED IN IRELAND BY THE POLICE AND MILITARY OF THE USURPING ENGLISH GOVERNMENT – AS REPORTED IN THE DAILY PRESS-
FOR THE WEEK ENDING,
September, 13th, 1919
During the foregoing six days English Military terrorism in Ireland reached its high water mark. The town of Fermoy was sacked by English Military, English troops appeared on the streets of Dublin and shot down four young men. The English representatives in Ireland decreed the suppression of the elected Government of the Irish people; the vast army of occupation was set loose upon the nation and forcibly entered the houses of over a thousand of its respected citizens.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th, 1919.
Sentences:- A remarkable instance of how English Law is administered in Ireland was given at Mullingar, when Mr. G. O’Reilly, District Councillor, and Mr. James Clavin, both in Kilbeggan, Co. Meath, were charged with taking part in a language festival which was dispersed by military and police. Evidence was given that Mr. O’Reilly was not near the meeting but one policeman swore that he was. The Magistrates then declared:- “The bench feels that the right people have not been charged but we cannot overlook Constable Doheny’s evidence and we will put defendants under bail to be of good behaviour”. Mr. O’Reilly refused to give bail as he had not even been near the meeting, whereupon the Magistrates promptly sentenced him to one month’s imprisonment. (Mr. O’Reilly is 70 years of age). Mr. Patrick Kiernan, Moneyduff, Co. Longford, tried by courtmartial for being in possession of seditious literature, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour. A second example of how English law is administered in Ireland was given at Carrick-on- Shannon, when Mr. Thomas Crofton (Senr.) a supporter of the English Government, was fined six-pence for being in possession of arms without a permit from the military authorities. On an exactly similar charge members of the Republican organisation have recently been tried by courtmartial and have been sentenced to TWO YEARS imprisonment with hard labour.
Armed Assaults:- English Soldiers armed with revolvers and in charge of a sergeant, held civilians on the Naas Road, Inchicore. They searched passers-by, including girls, and then ordering those whom they had searched to “run for it” they shot at them as they ran. Four young mennamed O’Connor, Gannon, Murphy and Keogh, were wounded. O’Connor aged 18 years, seriously; and many others had narrow escapes. The police when interviewed by newspaper Reporters described the incident as a “prank” and declared that no arrests had taken place nor were likely to. English soldiers raided a language festival at Fermoy, Co. Cork, and pelted the gathering (in which there were many women and children) with stones.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th, 1919.
Raids:- Armed police raided late at night, several houses in Dublin Street, Dundalk, and made an exhaustive search.
Arrests:- James Fanning, John Fanning, Maurice Condon, Michael Fitzgerald and John M. Swain, were arrested at Fermoy, Co. Cork, by armed police, on suspicion of having assisted in an arms raid. Mr. J. Martin, Portumna was, by armed police, held up while motoring, and having been searched was arrested.
Proclamations:- An Irish Language festival arranged to be held at Downpatrick, Co. Down, was proclaimed by order of the English military authorities, and large bodies of English troops occupied the town in order to suppress any effort to hold it. A Republican Meeting announced to be held at Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh, was similarly proclaimed. Troops also occupied this town to suppress the meeting.
Armed Assaults:- Large bodies of English troops acting under order from their officers who went among them in mufti, issued from their barracks and wrecked the town of Fermoy, smashing the principal shops and spreading their contents through the streets. The assault which continued for two hours was not interfered with either by the police or military authorities. Many of the townspeople, who were given no protection whatever, were seriously injured. At Moneygall, King’s County, police fired two volleys into a motor car on which were two ladies and two men, one of the men was dangerously wounded. The driver of the car declared that the police gave him no time to obey the warning to stop before the volleys were fired. The car had almost stopped when the second round of shots was fired.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th, 1919.
Raids:- Armed police raided three houses in Fermoy, Co. Cork. Military fully armed forcibly entered and command- eered the premises owned by the Shannon Boat Club Co., Limerick. Machine guns have been mounted in the windows controlling several public roads.
Arrests:- While walking along the public road at Eglish, King’s County, five men named Ryan, Stapleton, Carroll, Burke and Cooney, were surrounded by police, searched and arrested. They were released some hours afterwards, no explanation whatever being given of the outrage perpetrated against them Thomas Griffin, Ballynoe, Patrick Leahy, do., and John Mulvey, Rathcormac, were arrested on a charge of taking part in an arms raid. Mr. E. Dooley, Merchant, Tuam, Co. Galway, after being held for three weeks by the military and police, was released without any charge being brought against him or any explanation given.
Proclamations:- The English military authorities proclaimed a sports meeting arranged for Oatfield, Co. Clare, an d military and police, fully armed, appeared to enforce the proclamation. The sports were held secretly in the neighbouring hills.
Manufactured Results:- Military and police have been busy during the last few days reporting that mysterious shots have been fired at them by mysterious bodies of men, all armed with revolvers. Neither any soldier nor policeman has, needless to say, been wounded by these mysterious shots, but these reports are immediately followed by concentrations of troops in the districts, and the houses of peaceful farmers are then raided at all hours of the night. These incidents bear the stamp of the time honoured English device to show that it is really necessary to keep huge armies quartered upon the “lawless” Irish people.
Militarism:- Writing to the London Times of this date, Mr. W. Ormsby-Gore, a prominent supporter of the English Government in Ireland, states that so huge is the army now scattered over Ireland that ordinary commercial traffic on the Kingstown and Holyhead mail boats has become almost impossible, owing to the passage of troops, and their baggage and equipment.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11th, 1919.
Raids:- The house of John Duffy, Cloonskill, Westport, Co. Mayo, was forcibly entered at 3 a.m. by armed policemen. The inmates were turned out of bed and the house searched.
Arrests:- John Duffy, above mentioned, was arrested on a charge of “illegal drilling”. He is aged only eighteen years.
Proclamations:- The town of Fermoy and all districts within three miles radius of it have been proclaimed a military area in which severe martial law is now in force.All markets, fairs, meetings, processions and assemblies are declared suppressed. The proclamation adds that four persons will be deemed to constitute a meeting, and shall be dispersed by troops. All national organisations – the Sinn Fein organisation, the Cumann na mBan (Irish Women’s League) ; The Irish Volunteers, and the Gaelic League, have been suppressed by military proclamation in Cork City and County. (Note:- Cork City is the third largest city in Ireland; Cork County is the largest County. These National organisations are now suppressed in the Counties of Tipperary, Cork, and Clare, and in the City of Cork.)
A Proclamation has been published reviving the infamous Coercion Act of 1887, and putting it into force in the following vast areas, Dublin City, Limerick City, Cork City, Dublin County, Limerick County, Clare County, Cork County and the greater part of Tipperary County. By this Coercion Act a magistrate appointed by the English Government has power to hold a Star Chamber Inquiry into any question whatever, and to order the arrest of any person who he believes knows anything regarding that question. These witnesses are to be examined secretly, and if they refuse to answer any interrogation put to them, will be ordered to be imprisoned. Children are liable to be hauled before this magistrate, and, if over twelve years of age, cannot be accompanied by parents or friends. This Act has been described by Englishmen themselves as “naked terrorism”.
Armed Assaults:- Military in Fermoy were again permitted by the authorities to invade the town and continue the wholesale wreckage mentioned under date Tuesday, Sept., 9th. It has been stated by Dr. Magnier, Fermoy, that the wreckage of his Chemists’ Stores in that town military officers in mufti aided in as well as directed the sabotage, and that the troops assaulted an old nurse of his, and demolished his children’s nursery. Military, fully armed, held up at the rifle point every motor car passing through the town of Thurles, and having [words unclear] English military fired two volleys upon civilians at Observatory Lane, Rathmines, Dublin.
Militarism:- Mr. C. M. Masterman ex-Minister of the English Government writing to the press described the military regime under which Ireland now suffers as “The gigantic outrage of Ireland’s present Government”.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th, 1919.
Raids:- Armed military and police raided four houses in the town of Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. The raids took place in the middle of the night, and the occupants were turned out of their beds, while the armed forces made a complete search.
Arrests:- Four young men named Leonard, Quigly, Clancy and Dwyer were arrested in the early morning by military and police.
Sentence:- James Harkins was sent to prison for four months to await trial for having possession of a revolver.
Courtmartial:- Wm. O’Shaughnessy, Organist at the Cath- olic Church, Ennis, was courtmartialled on a charge of attempting to obtain arms. The decision has not yet been promulgated.
Militarism:- It is stated in the London Press that the English Government are appointing soldiers as members of the Royal Irish Constabulary. Lord French, English Viceroy in Ireland, declares to a Belfast audience that the English Government is about to take the most “drastic measures” against the Republican Party in Ireland.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th, 1919.
Lord French’s promise to the followers of Sir Edward
Carson is already being fulfilled as the following wholesale
acts of provocation show:-
Raids:- An innumerable number of raids occurred all over
Ireland, strong bodies of armed military and police forcibly
entering private houses and Republican Clubs, to the
number of many hundreds. The raids were obviously
arranged at the Headquarters of the English military in
Ireland, and began all over Ireland at the same hour, vast
numbers of English troops being engaged to carry them
out. Among the hundreds of houses raided were the
following:-
DUBLIN:- The Republican Headquarters, Harcourt
Street, where the clerks as well as the premises were
searched. After three hours occupation of these premises
the armed forces retired, carrying with them two members
of the Irish Parliament, and all propaganda they could
find. The private residences of the following members of
the Irish Parliament were similarly raided, Count Plunkett,
Alderman Kelly, Messrs. Michael Staines, Joseph
Magrath, William Cosgrave and Joseph MacGuinness.
BELFAST:- The Headquarters of the Gaelic League
and the Republican Clubs were raided as well as many
private houses and business premises.
CORK:- The local Republican Headquarters were
raided as were also four Sinn Fein Clubs. In these latter
the armed forces did wanton damage, wrecking parts of
the premises. Many private houses were raided including
that of Mr. Liam de Roiste, Member of the Irish Parliament
for Cork City.
CORK COUNTY:- Sinn Fein Clubs were broken into
and ransacked. The offices of the newspaper, “The
Southern Star” were raided as were many private houses
all over the County.
WATERFORD CITY:- All the Sinn Fein Clubs and
scores of private houses were entered and searched.
KILKENNY CITY:- All the Sinn Fein Clubs, the
Offices of the “Kilkenny People”, the private residence of
its editor, and the residences of Alderman James Nowlan,
and many other prominent citizens were raided.
DERRY CITY:- All the Sinn Fein Clubs and some fifty
private houses were forcibly entered and searched.
GALWAY CITY:- The Offices of the “Galway Express”
and the private residence of its editor were raided. The
Sinn Fein Clubs in the city were similarly entered and
searched. The Town Hall was also raided.
DUNDALK:- Sinn Fein Clubs and many houses
searched as in other districts. Among the private residences
entered were those of Mr. Peter Hughes Chairman of the
Urban Council and Mr. P. J. Daly, member of the same
body. Similar raids were made in the whole thirty-two
counties of Ireland, and as well as the cities and towns,
hardly a village but was visited and the privacy of its
people outraged. The house of almost every public
representative suspected of Republican tendencies was
entered.
Arrests:- During these raids the following arrests were
made:- Mr. Ernest Blythe, Member of the Irish Parliament
for Fermanagh (South); Mr. P. O’Keeffe, Member of the
Irish Parliament for West Cork (should be North Cork,
JL); Mr. S. Nicholl, Solicitor, Galway. Mr. P. Shiels,
Republican Official, Derry. There were also arrested four
men whose names have not transpired.
Proclamations:- A Proclamation has been published
suppressing Dail Eireann, the National Government of
the Irish people, elected at the General Election of
December 1918. It represents 78 of the 105 Constituencies
in Ireland. The proclamation suppressing it was signed by
Commander in Chief of the English Army of Occupation
in Ireland, and by Mr. MacPherson the English Cabinet
Minister.
Armed Assaults:- During the wholesale onslaught on the
Republican movement above mentioned the military and
police savagely attacked crowds of Republican sympathisers
in Dublin, in Derry, and in other cities. As well
in more than a score of instances men were overpowered
in the public streets by armed English troop and police,
and forcibly searched.
Courtmartial:- Mr. Andrew Healy, 173 Inchicore Road,
Dublin, was tried by English Courtmartial at Ship Street
Barracks, Dublin, on a charge of being in possession of a
revolver. The decision has not yet been announced.
Later reports:- Later reports make it clear that more than
a thousand houses were forcibly entered and searched in
the above raids on the Republican organisation. Not a
county in Ireland escaped from this molestation. That
large bodies of troops could thus be used in every corner
of Ireland at the one hour is the best admission yet made
of the enormous strength of the English Army of
Occupation.
The following are Acts of Aggression committed in Ireland by the Police and Military of the Usurping English Government – as reported in the Daily Press, for the week ending September 20th. 1919.
During these six days the sentences passed in Ireland for political offences totalled 2 years and 2 months
Monday September, 15th 1919.
Raids:- A second quota of widespread raids are reported from many parts of Ireland including forcible entry made by military and police into the houses of the following members of the Irish Parliament:- David Kent, Castlelyons, Co. Cork; Frank Fahy, Loughrea, Co. Mayo; Dr. Ryan, Wexford; Sean Etchingham, Courtown, Co. Wicklow; William Sears, Claremorris, Co. Mayo; Raids not previously mentioned in these lists took place in the following districts, in each of which forcible entry was made into many private houses:- Killarney, Midleton, Thurles, Castletownbere, Cashel, Roscrea, Kilmallock, Charleville, Foynes, Carron, Corrigeenroe, Drumdoe, Kilteevan, Rosmuck, Kiltimagh, Coonacool, Tuam, Ballina, Navan, Granard, Athboy, Kells, Balliver, Summerhill, Kilmore, Prosperous, (Co. Kildare), Castlepollard, Edenderry, New Ross, Bagnalstown, Phillipstown. Aughrim, Rathdrum, Lanesborough, Arney, Clones, Castleblayney, Crevagh, Cookstown, Gortin, Garahen, Stewartstown, Limavady, Dungiven Park, Feeney, Lurgan, Crossmaglen, Kinawley, Derrylin, Fermanagh, Ballyshannon, Burtonport, Clonmany, Letterkenny. A modest estimate of the total number of houses raided in these districts would be 500. The actual number is probably much greater.
Arrests:- Patrick Hand, Charles and Michael McArdle, Brian McConnell, Patrick Christy and Robert Irwin were arrested at Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, on a charge of unlawful assembly. A young man whose name has not transpired was arrested by military and police at Clifton, Connemara. Frank Mooney was arrested at Tullamore, King’s County, for an unknown political charge. James Higgins was arrested at Trim, Co. Meath by military and police on a charge of possessing a revolver.
Sentences:- W. Moagher was sentenced at Tipperary town to six months imprisonment for attempting to obtain arms. W. Hackett and P. Whelehan on a similar charge were sentenced to six months and four months respectively. John Duffy, Cloonskill, Co. Mayo, was sentenced to two months imprisonment for “drilling other boys”. Duffy is aged 18 years.
Courtmartial:- J. Mullane, Blarney Street, Cork, was tried by courtmartial at Cork Barracks on a charge of possessing a revolver.
Proclamation:- A language festival at St. Peter’s Place, Dublin was proclaimed and suppressed by the English military authorities.
Armed Assaults:- Rev. Father Tracey, Catholic Priest was held up at his residence Summerhill College, Sligo by military and police who stated they had orders to search him. He refused to allow himself to be searched whereupon he was knocked down and held on the ground while his pockets were rifled and his private correspondence read. When the people of Irishtown, Clonmel, gathered to welcome home Mr. J. Mulcahy Lyons, P.L.G. who had served a sentence of 12 months hard labour for reading publicly a protest against suppression of free speech in Ireland, the meeting was broken up by the police who attacked the people with batons and rifle butts. Many were injured.
Militarism:- The British Trades Congress held at Glasgow declared in a resolution carried unanimously:- “This Congress views with alarm the situation in Ireland where every demand by the people for freedom is met bymilitary rule”. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P. at the Congress stated:- “Ireland is to-day internally an armed camp”. Mr. Robert Smillie, another prominent English Labour Leader, declared “Ireland is kept down by the Government bayonets and British Soldiery”.
The London “Daily Mail” of this date stated:- “A month ago we had 60,000 troops in Ireland to carry out the holding down policy. More have gone there since”.
Tuesday, September 16th 1919
Raids:- Military and police in strong force raided the “Antwerp Club”, Enniscorthy. Armed Military raided the Catholic Hall, Aughagallon, Co. Antrim, overcoming the resistance of the local priests. The following houses were forcibly entered and searched:- Dr. T. F. Higgins’ private residence, Stradbally, Queen’s Co., the residence of Mr. M. Colgan and Mr. B. J. Goff, Solicitor, Elphin, Co. Roscommon. Military and police raided several houses at Ballinacarriga, Co. Cork. Ten house were raided at Nenagh, Co. Tipperary at 6 o’clock a.m. by military and police.
Arrests:- Mr. John Telvin, Carnacross, Kells, Co. Meath was arrested by military and police.
Proclamations:- A language festival arranged to be held at Ballinacarriga, Co. Cork, was proclaimed by the English Military. At Kinsale, Co. Cork, a similar festival was proclaimed. In both localities large bodies of troops were sent to enforce the proclamation. One of the festivals was held secretly in the neighbouring hills.
Armed Assaults:- At Omagh, Mr. George Murnaghan, Solicitor, was taken by armed police from the court in which he was conducting cases, and was then overpowered and searched.
Courtmartial:- Mr. Daniel Mackle, Redhills, Co. Cavan was courtmartialled at Belfast Barracks on a charge of “illegal assembly”.
Wednesday, September 17th 1919
Raids:- Further raids are reported as having taken place last week-end, including forcible entry by military and police into the houses of Mr. Arthur Griffith, Minister of Home Affairs, in the National Ministry, and of Mr. Desmond Fitzgerald, Director of Republican Propaganda, and one of the Dublin members of the National Parliament. At Mr. Fitzgerald’s residence the armed forces cross examined his son aged 7 years as to his father’s whereabouts. Last week’s raids also included many houses at Aughnacliff and Ballinamuck, Co. Longford; at Gurteen and Kildysart, Co. Clare; at Bridgetown and Carrick- on-Bannow, Co. Wexford; at Newport, Co. Kildare and at Portadown, Co. Down. On Monday this week, large bodies of military and police set out in full equipment accompanied by aeroplanes and raided over 100 houses along the banks of the Shannon and in the town of Nenagh.
Arrests:- John J. Hogan and Peter Callaghan both of Bally- more, Co. Cork, were arrested on a charge of aiding in a raid for arms. Mr. Liam Pedler, Brookville Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin was arrested by armed police.
Sentences:- B. MacNally and C. Macardle were sentenced at Castleblayney to one month’s imprisonment each on a charge of “unlawful assembly”.
Armed Assaults:- The police and military surprised a language festival which was being held secretly at Ballinspittle, Co. Cork and attacked the crowd with batons and
subsequently fired upon them. Many were injured.
Proclamations:- Language festivals at Bantry, Lisgoold
and Kilcrohane, Co. Cork, were proclaimed and suppressed
by English military and police.
Militarism:- The “Manchester Guardian” the chief organ of
the English Liberals states in its issue of this date:- “In a
section of the (Anglo) Irish Press there is still a meaningless
cry for martial law pure and simple. As it is Ireland has
been under-martial law ever since the Easter Rebellion in
1916”.
Thursday, September 18th 1919
Raids:- The premises of Messrs. Ambrose, Kennedy Taylor,
Britton and P. Carroll, Main Street, Letterkenny, were
raided by military and police and searched. In other parts
of Co. Donegal similar raids took place including a raid on
the houses of Mr. P. J. Ward, Member of Parliament for
South Donegal; Mr. J. Harkey; Mr. Barry, Creamery
Manager; Mr O’Byrne, Auctioneer and Mr. J. Ward,
merchant. In Co. Tipperary military raids took place on
the houses of Mrs. E. MacGrath, Denis Dunlee and
Patrick de Burca. The houses of Mr. – . Dwyer,
Templetouhy and Mr. M. Lannigan, Lisdaleen were
entered by military and police and searched. At Carrigaholt,
Co. Clare, military and police raided the O’Curry Irish
College, Miss Behan’s Hotel and the residence of Messrs
M. Higgins and James Jackson.
Sentences:- James O’Leary was sentenced at Douglas, Co.
Cork to three months imprisonment for “unlawful
assembly” and Jerh. Hinchion to one month on the same
charge. At Dublin a lad of 17 years named Gahan was
sentenced to 2 months imprisonment for being in
possession of a revolver.
Friday, September 19th 1919
Raids:- The house of Mr. Thomas Culligan, Co. Tipperary,
was raided by military and police. The house of Miss
Catherine Mahon, Carrig, Co. Tipperary, was forcibly
entered and searched by armed military and police. The
residence of Mr. T. Carless, Coonmora, Reacross in the
same county was similarly raided. In Co. Sligo the houses
of many prominent republicans were raided and searched,
including the residence of Mr. A. McCabe member of the
Irish Parliament.
Arrests:- Charles Kilden, Wellington Street, Derry, was
arrested and charged with assault for endeavouring to
prevent armed police from forcing their way into his
house. The police severely mauled Mr. Kilden in
overcoming his resistance.
Suppressions:- The three principal newspapers in the
South of Ireland “The Cork Examiner”, “Cork Evening
Echo”, and “The Cork Weekly Examiner”, were suppressed
by the English military for publishing the prospectus of
the Self-Determination Loan floated by the elected
Government of Ireland. These suppressions bring the
total of newspapers closed down by the military since
1916 to 36.
Murder:- The English Military authorities in Ireland have
issued a statement, stating that Francis Murphy of Glan,
Co. Clare, (whom a jury picked by English Government
officials found to have been murdered by English military)
was not so murdered. They state that they made “searching
investigations” into the case. But they have held no public
inquiry of any kind whatsoever, and their own statement
is the sole proof that any such inquiry has been held.
Deportations:- Mr. W. Pedler whose arrest is mentioned
under date Wednesday 17th September in these lists has
been deported by the English authorities in Ireland. Mr.
Pedler was prominent in the Republican movement in
Ireland.
Saturday, September 20th 1919
Raids:- Police and military fully armed raided the local
Hall at Tabanagh, Balla, and the property of the Hall was
wantonly damaged during the subsequent search. The
local Sinn Fein halls were raided at Loughall, Anaghmore
and Maghera, Co. Armagh. At Portadown; the Queen’s
Hotel was raided and also the residence of Mr. R.
McConville. At Moneygall, Co. Tipperary, the houses of
Mrs. N.B. Collison and Messrs John and P. Kennedy
were forcibly entered and searched by military and police.
Some ten houses of well known Republicans were raided
and searched at Churchtown, Buttevant, Co. Cork. At
Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, the houses of Messrs. J.
Chamberlain, T. Tierney and D. McCartin were similarly
raided and searched. The house of Mr. Hugh Magee,
Dromore, and Mr. Hugh O’Duffy, Gortalork, Co. Donegal,
were entered and searched by military and police. Some
ten newsagents shops at Youghal, Co. Cork were raided
by military and police carrying away part of the stock
from each shop.
Courtmartial:- Mr James Kelly, Derry was courtmartialled
in that city on a charge of being in possession of two
revolvers.
Wanton Provocation:- The West Kent regiment of English
troops marched through the city of Galway, which is
overwhelmingly Republican carrying two Republican
flags which they then publicly burned.
Proclamations:- Proclamations have been issued by the
English Military authorities extending full martial law to
the whole of County Tipperary and to the Portumna rural
district of Co. Galway. These districts are now declared
“special military areas” and in them no meetings, assemblies,
fairs or markets will be allowed. As both districts are
large agricultural areas their proclamation means the
complete cessation of all business and consequent
widespread suffering and loss to the inhabitants.
Irish Bulletin
A full reprint of newspaper of Dáil Éireann giving war reports. Published so far:
€36, £30 paperback, per volume (€55, £45 hardback) |
Do you really this is helpful to publish this? Why drag all this hate up when we are living in more peaceful times?
We are encouraged by all and sundry for years now to remember the centenary of the events from 1914 – 1922. Why exclude these events? Why ‘drag up’ WWI in which about 50,000 Irishmen were killed and for what? And at least 10 million others were killed in that war in which there was a lot more hate generated that in our War of Independence. The events recorded here gave us our independence and that is surely worth commemorating and they show the way it had to be done when normal electoral methods were ignored. We will preserve peace and independence only by acknowledging how we got them. We did not choose the way it was achieved.
I agree – some people like to only remember a very one-sided view of history. I really don’t think there is a need to publish the old reports as if they are happening now — if people want to find out the information there are plenty of more rounded reports available.
We have just been welcoming our multi cultural make up and yet here you are – near inciting hatred of the English. sounds like someone is trying to stir up trouble.
These reports are from the daily newspaper of the elected government of the day and they were never challenged for accuracy. They are all true and you cannot get more ’rounded reports’ than the truth. I can’t see how the truth can incite hatred and interfere with multiculturalism or stir up trouble. It surely helps understanding and that is good for everyone. I think the English are well able to recognise the facts of what they did here 100 years ago and have come to terms with it. It will not upset them. They are made of sterner stuff.
I think its crucially important to have as much information on that time as possible. Some commentator asked is it necessary to ‘drag up all this hate again’. Well, its not hate -its fact!(would that person prefer if the British reports were also not ‘dragged up’?)
Have everything out there.
We’re certainly mature enough after almost 100 yrs to objectively assess what happened.
So much has been written about the war of Independence in Ireland by various authors including the great Duhallow historian Jack Lane but the fact remains that self government is not of much use to you if you are poor and doing it tough in life as many are, Ireland’s greatest export has always been it’s people and self Government has not been of much use to Ireland, in Ireland like every other Country in the World there is no equality for all, there are no guarantees that women and children can live without fear of attack or abuse these are basic human rights and they cannot be guaranteed to any citizen, fat lot of good to you self Government if you are homeless and hungry as many are in Countries around the World, Ireland needs a Government like many other Countries do that will Govern for all of it’s people, they really had only one decent politician Dr
Noel Browne but his Mother and child bill which was such a wonderful idea was the beginning of the end for him, one could waffle on for days about this but why bother.
Stories Based On Fear
As a boy i heard stories by then aged men
Of heroes of the ambushes at Headford and Tooreengarriffe Glen
The rebels of Duhallow and Sliabh Luachra who took on the might of the invading foe
Going back in time to a century ago
Many of the young rebels did not live to die old
They died for Irish freedom as we are told
And today they are remembered in song story and rhyme
By the nationalists, patriots and war historians of the present time
Was Ireland less free then that it is is today
And having said this what constitutes freedom anyway?
One most important freedom is freedom from fear
That no Government to its people can offer this seems obviously clear
For freedom from British rule for Ireland a minority stood to financially gain
The poverty of the majority post British rule does seem hard to explain
Doesn’t matter who your Government is if you are financially down
There are many poor people in every Irish village, city and town
Freedom for a woman at night after dark
To walk without fear of attack in a park
Since a basic freedom this should happen to be
One must ask the question is any Country free
Stories of war are stories based on fear
So many of them as a boy i did hear
That life is our greatest gift is not a lie
Live until life’s reaper decides your turn to die.