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Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM)
Pat Purcell Papers By kind permission of Mr Michael Purcell |
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President de Valera has sent the following letter to:- To: Sir James Craig,
June 28th, 1921. A Chara -- The reply which I, as spokesman for the Irish Nation, shall make to Mr. Lloyd George will affect the lives and fortunes of the political minority in this island, no less than those of the majority. Before sending that reply, therefore, I would like to confer with you and to learn from you at first hand the views of a certain section of our people of whom you are representative. I am confident that you will not refuse this service to Ireland, and I shall await you at the Mansion House, Dublin, at 11 a.m. on Monday next in the hope that you will find it possible to attend. (signed), Eamonn de Valera ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ President's reply to Prime Minister, 1921. Nationalist and Leinster Times. 2nd July 1921. Mr De Valera's Reply. Dail Eireann, OFFICIAL. President De Valera to-day dispatched the following telegram to the British Prime Minister:- The Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George, 10 Downing Street, London. Sir- I have received your letter. I am in consultation with such of the principal representatives of our Nation as are available. We most earnestly desire to help in bringing about a lasting peace between the peoples of these two islands, but see no avenue by which it can be reached if you deny Ireland's essential unity and set aside the principle of national self-determination. Before replying more fully to your letter I am seeking a conference with certain representatives of the political minority in this country. (signed) Eamonn de Valera, Mansion House, Dublin. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The King's Speech. Following his 1921 "interview" Lord Northcliff (Alfred Harmsworth!) was ostracised by his peers, within twelve months he was confined by order to his home in London, he spoke to friends of people who were trying to kill him, he was declared insane, he died in August 1922, aged 57. The Truce, July, 1921. [Note added 2011, The Truce article takes up half a page of the Nationalist, I can only post a few extracts from the article but enough to give the reader an idea of how the local people read of this great event at the time.] Nationalist and Leinster Times. 16th July 1921. The Truce. Before, During And After The Announcement. (By F.J.G.) Friday last will rank as one of the most momentous days in the chequered history of this, our native land. On that day, July 8th - the day of the announcement of the truce between the British Army and the Army of the Irish Republic - the first real step was taken to end the centuries old war that had been waged between the two countries~~~ It was a hot sweltering day and the tropical sun beat down mercilessly on the thousands that had congregated outside the Mansion House in Dawson Street, Dublin ~~~~. The psychology of that crowd was indeed an interesting study. ~~~~ From an early hour they came in hundreds and in thousands. The members of that memorable conference invited by President De Valera were cordially received. The Leaders of the Nation, of course, were lovingly greeted, but the representatives of the Unionist minority were generously applauded. One of them - Earl Middleton - who smilingly acknowledged the crowd must have thought and wondered. ~~~ A few years ago Lord Midddleton had declaimed passionately and with gusto against the passing of a miserable and paltry Home Rule Bill for Ireland which his ilk regarded as a violation of their rights and privileges. And men cried bitter tears at the awful picture he painted as to the future of Ireland under an Irish Government.~~~~~ . The crowd recited the Rosary over and over as they waited for news to emerge from the Mansion House, a shrewd old man who had been waiting for hours and seemed to enjoy it, said, "I don't like this, they are taking too long. 'Tis a bad sign, they mustn't be able to agree". And those remarks give a pretty fair indication of the different feelings. Another sensation. General Macready again returns and again enters the Mansion House. The Rosary is again recited. ~~~~~~~. 'Twas past 7.30 p.m. when the General lef again, and this time he was accompanied by some of the Unionist members. We knew now that the Conference had ended. What was the result of it? Was it a truce? Or what? Or what? Where was De Valera? Or Griffith? The crowd was worked up to a terrible state of excitement. Men looked at one another with eyes that scarcely saw. There was that far-away look. Expectant, quivering, breathless, they waited, and waited, and waited. Voices scarcely raised above a whisper, asked timid questions, and the replies were terse, rapid, snappy. At last! At last! The Lord Mayor comes to the door of the Mansion House. The crowd cheers. It was not hearty. Rather was it hopeful, and after that last half hour it did one good to have a shout. If ever a man's face was studied, Lord Mayor O'Neill's was at that moment. Ten thousand eyes were riveted on it. But it told nothing. He raised his hand for silence, and the big pulsating, throbbing crowd surged in. The excitement was almost an agony. And this evening he could sincerely tell them that this was the proudest and the happiest moment of his life. My God! What a scene! The scene that followed the Lord Mayor's statement baffles description. That is no mere play of words. I fail hopelessly to describe it. The actions of one man who was near me epitomise the whole thing. He was a staid, shrewd- looking business man, but his flaming eyes told the tale of lost control. He had a stick in one hand and his hat in the other. Both raised aloft. Down they came quite suddenly. That hat was placed on top of the stick and up they went again with a terrible shout. A crescendo of cheers greeted the appearance of Mr Duggan. Reading from a paper in his hand he began thus amidst a profound silence:- "President De Valera --------------------" He got no further. A tornado of cheers of many minutes' duration followed. That crowd went mad. there is no other word for it. Any other word that I could use would be too tame. When the cheers had subsided the statement was read. The historic document has been read and re-read so often now that it would be superfluous for me to repeat it in these few lines. A truce had been suggested and agreed to by both sides. There was a wonderful scene of enthusiasm. But the crowd had not had enough. De Valera, the hero of the people, had not yet left the Mansion House and they were going to see him once again. Nearly another hour's wait was passed and then a shout went up -- " The President! The President! " To the accompaniment of a Niagara roar, President De Valera appeared amongst the people who love him and whom he loves. It was a thrilling and a fitting climax. What can I say? Nothing. Can I describe the scene that followed? No. Emphatically no. That crowd lost itself in the fervour of its enthusiasm, and no man was accountable for his actions. A way was made with difficulty to the waiting motor. Volunteers jumped on to the sides of the car and amidst a cheering, running, panting crowd it sped into the distance. And the crowd slowly, quietly and silently melted away. History, Glorious History, Had Been Made. July 1921. F.J.G. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Amen. [Note added 2011. Sinn Fein courts were sitting at this time that is why there is only one case before Lord Justice O' Connor, to further confuse the justice system people were not turning up to serve on a jury. This was the last time the Grand Jury assembled for the Crown Court in Carlow.] Nationalist and Leinster Times. 16th July 1921. Carlow Summer Assizes. One Criminal Case Adjourned For Want Of A Jury. The Carlow Summer Assizes were held at the Courthouse, Carlow, on Wednesday, before Lord Justice O'Connor. Mr J. D. MacCarthy, Clerk of the Crown and Peace, was in attendance. The Grand Jury. The following were sworn on the Grand Jury :- Henry Bruen, John Alexander, Brigadier-General Robert Browne-Clayton, Col. F. Beecham Lecky, J.O. Adair, William Duckett-Stuart, John Kehoe, John Barton, Charles A. Butler, A.H.Cooper, H.C.Rochfort, William Fitzmaurice, William J. Haughton, Michael Foley, Patrick Kinsella, James Rafter. Judges Address. His Lordship - Mr Bruen and Gentlemen of the Grand Jury, there is only one case to go before you. It is a case of cattle stealing on a large scale. It seems a simple case according to the depositions, and I have no observation to make upon it. When the Clerk of the Crown Court and Peace concluded calling the list of Petty Jurors he informed his Lordship that there were only seven jurors present. His Lordship said that as a result of the shortage of the jury the case would be adjourned to the Winter Assizes. A Prayer For Peace. Mr Bruen handed His Lordship the following resolution, proposed by Brigadier-General Browne-Clayton, seconded by Mr Michael Foley, and adopted- "The members of the Grand Jury of the County of Carlow desire to put on record their earnest hope that a lasting settlement may be attained as a result of the proposed conference. They earnestly pray to Almighty God that peace and prosperity may be restored to our country" His Lordship - We all say "Amen" to that resolution. The Press will take a note of it, and the Clerk will take a note of it in the Crown Book. His Lordship said he was obliged to the jurors who attended, particularly the ladies, and he would now discharge them till the next assizes. Several jurors were fined 40 shillings each for non-attendance. Apr-03 1921 An RIC man (Constable James Duffy) and a civilian (Henry James) are attacked at the Mall, two miles from Carlow resulting in the death of the RIC man and the wounding of the civilian. Abbott (2000), pg 219 Apr-09 1921 Ambush by recently-formed flying column of the Carlow Brigade of the IRA results in the capture of its O/C. Hopkinson (2002), pg 145 Apr-09 Ambush by recently-formed flying column of the Carlow Brigade of the IRA results in the capture of its O/C. Hopkinson (2002), pg 145 Apr-18 1921 IRA man Michael Fay killed in action at Ballymurphy, near Borris, Co. Carlow. Also J. Farrell from Ballymurphy, Borris dies. O’Farrell (1997), pg 33 & 107 = Chronology of Irish History 1919 - 1923 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The above is a true and accurate transcript of the original document.
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