Irish War of Independence

British newspaper articles in April 1921 reflect how industrial strife in the post-World War I period seized the attention of the authorities. As Britain loosened control of the war industries wages were cut. When the coal mine owners in March 1921 announced more wage cuts it led to a strike and fear that the transport and rail workers would join in a “Great Strike.” On what has been dubbed Black Friday, the National Transport Union and the National Union of Railwaymen refused to join the striking coal miners. Although there was initial relief that that the Great Strike was averted, individual transport unions and workers refused to carry the coal. Against this backdrop of industrial strife, “outrages” in Ireland were reported with more frequency. In Dublin alone, in April, over 65 attacks on Crown forces were reported. By the end of the month the newspapers were commenting on the growing lists of wounded and killed police, auxiliaries, soldiers, “rebels” and civilians across Ireland.

Glenmore Labour Dispute

Glenmore, in the midst of the industrial strife in England and the War of Independence in Ireland, had its own labour dispute. The dispute was between the farm labourers and the farmers of the Glenmore district. After negotiations between the Transport Workers’ Union and the employing farmers a settlement was reached. Ploughmen were to be paid £1 a week with board and lodgings and general hands 18s. per week with board and lodgings (Kilkenny People, Sat. 23 April 1921, p. 6).

Glenmore Man Arrested

It was reported in the New Ross Standard (Fri. 1 April 1921, p. 5) that Mr. James Hanrahan, of Glenmore was arrested the previous week, brought to New Ross and afterwards taken to Inistioge. In the same newspaper, a few columns to the right it was reported that he was released from custody on Monday. The Munster Express (Sat. 2 April 1921, p. 6) provides a few more details including that he was arrested by auxiliary forces (Black and Tans) and that he was well known in sporting circles, and was a former all-Ireland representative on the Kilkenny football team. What isn’t reported in either newspaper is the fact that the Crown had James Hanrahan, the intelligence officer for the Glenmore Company of the old IRA, in custody and released him. For the list of members of the Glenmore Company see, https://glenmore-history.com/the-glenmore-company-of-the-old-ira/ .

Son of Glenmore Man Killed in Action

Last fall when Danny Dowling was discussing the War of Independence, he identified three men with direct Glenmore connections who were killed in action during the war. The first of the trio was Peter Freyne, Kilcullen, Thomastown. Peter Freyne was born on the 28^th of May 1903, [Update: some records record that he was born on the 28th of April 1903] the son of John Freyne a native of Kilbride, Glenmore. In our next blog post we will provide more information regarding John Freyne and his two sons who fought in the War of Independence.

Very little information was published in April 1921 regarding the attack on the 11^th on the London and North Western Railway Hotel, North Wall, Dublin where the Black and Tans were quartered. Peter Freyne (1903-1921) who was a Sergeant in Company E. of the 2^nd Battalion of the Dublin Brigade was killed in the action. After his father, John Freyne, a widower, identified his body, he was brought to Thomastown for burial on the 14th of April (Munster Express, Sat. 16 April 1921, p. 4). Previous to the arrival of the train a crowd numbering several thousand knelt and recited the rosary. A large force of auxiliary police and the R.I.C. was present. The coffin was draped with the republican flag and covered with wreaths. The flag was seized by the Crown forces, who accompanied the funeral to the church, which they entered. On leaving the church the mourners were surrounded by the forces and searched. John Fleming, D.C., and John Gardiner were arrested the following morning (New Ross Standard, Fri. 22 April 1921, p. 6). In addition to the local clergy present Rev. Thomas Freyne, C.C. of Gathabawn and Rev. Patrick Freyne C.C. of Johnstown, uncles of the deceased (Kilkenny People, Sat. 23 April 1921, p. 6) and natives of Glenmore were present. There was subsequently much activity by Crown forces, and further arrests included: Michael Murphy, D.C., and Richard Doyle (New Ross Standard, Fri. 22 April 1921, p. 6).

Martial Law

In April there were fewer executions carried out by the Crown Authorities than in the previous month. In Cork, on the 28^th of April, Patrick Sullivan, Maurice Moore, Patrick Ronayne and Thomas Mulachy were shot for levying war against the King. (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 29 April 1921, p. 6). In Dublin, Thomas Traynor, the father of ten children, the youngest being five months old, was executed by hanging on the 25^th of April. Traynor was implicated in the shooting of Cadet Farrell in Dublin on the 15^th of March.

The martial law requiring a military permit for the day time use of bicycles in Kilkenny caused widespread arrests and the seizure of bicycles. An official of the National Transport Union was walking his bicycle after alighting from a train in Kilkenny City and he was detained and his bicycle seized. Workers cycling home from New Ross, where there were no restrictions on the use of bicycles, were detained and their bicycles seized. The cases against Patrick Lee, Richard Maddock, Mary Fitzgerald and Patrick Murphy, of Ballyknock, Tullogher, for cycling without permits in county Kilkenny came before the military court of Kilkenny. The cases were dismissed and the bicycles returned to their owners (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 April 1921, p. 5).

In New Ross, early in the month a military Proclamation was posted warning the public that anyone passing the police barrack between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., new time, would be fired upon if they failed to halt and put up their hands immediately when required by the sentry (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 8).

On the Sunday following the burial of Peter Freyne the auxiliaries surrounded the chapel in Hugginstown while Mass was being conducted. As the faithful left the church all the men and boys were lined up outside the wall on the street and searched. The search included removing their caps and examining the lining of coats. Some young men wearing Sinn Féin ties were compelled to remove their ties. The names of all men and boys were recorded. J. Aylward, R. Barron, D. Butler, and W. Lynch were detained for some time, but later Aylward and Barron were liberated. Butler and Lynch were conveyed away in the lorries. The forces also visited Hugginstown on the previous Tuesday evening several shots were discharged. “They had an exciting chase after two young men for nearly a mile, but failed to capture them. The Auxiliaries conducted themselves very well whilst Mass was being celebrated” (Munster Express, Sat. 23 April 1921, p. 6).

James Hoban, a farmer’s son, from Glendonnell, Mullinavat was shot through both legs on the 19th in broad daylight while transacting business at the pig fair in the village. He was shot by Crown forces with a single shot fired from a machine gun. The shot apparently came from an armoured car that had just arrived at the barracks. James Hoban died later that night of shock in the County and City Infirmary, Waterford (Munster Express, Sat. 23 April 1921, p. 6). James was born in 1897 and was the son of James Hoban and Ellen Hoban née Walsh.

Local I.R.A. Activities

As reported in March most of the local activities were designed to slow the movement of Crown forces and to keep Crown forces deployed outside of the major population centres. One I.R.A. activity that increased significantly was the seizure of mail. This was undertaken to stop communications to and between Crown officials and to intimidate civilians from reporting or informing on local men or activities.

In Waterford an army field kitchen vehicle was unloaded from one of the Clyde Shipping steamers. That night it was removed and dumped into the river Suir. It was salvaged a few days later and sent to its destination in County Wexford (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 April 1921, p. 4). What route the army field kitchen vehicle took to County Wexford is not known, but it could not have been transported to County Wexford via the Waterford-New Ross road. As previously reported in our March blog two bridges on the Waterford to New Ross Road, in the townland of Ballyverneen, Glenmore, near Forristal’s Mill, were damaged in March. “The bridge on the New Ross-Waterford road, at the foot of Glenmore was blown up on Friday night [the 8^th of April]. Previously the arch of the bridge had been destroyed a few weeks ago” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 April 1921, p. 4).

In terms of raids on mail it was alleged that early in the month John Harrison, a farmer, of Drumreilly, Co. Leitrim, wrote a letter to the authorities. When his letter was discovered during a mail raid he was executed by the I.R.A., and a note was left with his body labelling him an informer. The Belfast News-Letter (Mon. 2 May 1921, p. 5) reported that the “official details concerning the murder …of Mr. John Harrison of Drumreailly, County Leitrim, show that he was not only shot, but so chopped about with an axe that even the doctor who examined the remains fainted at the sight.” We were unable to find this “official detail” reflected in any other contemporary Irish newspaper.

In Wexford town on the 1^st of April raiders consisting of five armed and masked men entered the post office at 7:20 a.m. and held up the staff who were sorting the mail. Initially it was reported that the staff thought it was an April Fool’s prank, “but on presenting of arms the seriousness of the situation became apparent. The R.I.C. correspondence was demanded, and having secured it the party left” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 8).

On the 4^th of April the mail car between Waterford and Dunmore East was raided (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 8).  On the 5^th of April a parcel from London arrived at the Waterford G.P.O. When the bags were being emptied for sorting two revolvers dropped out. The weapons were wrapped in paper, but no address could be deciphered (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 5). That evening the “up mail train” from Waterford and New Ross was boarded by mask men who seized three of four mail bags. (New Ross Standard, Fri, 8 April 1921, p. 8). The Waterford G.P.O. was raided by masked gunmen on the 15^th of April and the mail was returned to the Post Office, marked “Censored by I.R.A.” (Munster Express, Sat. 23 April 1921, p. 6). On Sunday the 24^th of April the Thomastown postman, Thomas Dack, was held up a short distance from the railway station by a party of masked men. Dack had just collected the morning mail from the 7:30 train from Kilkenny. He was blindfolded and his hands and feet were tied. The mail bags were taken. Dack extricated himself and reported the occurrence at the post office. About noon three of the mail bags were found untampered near the viaduct bridge, about 500 yards from the railway station. The remaining bags were not found (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 April 1921, p. 5).

In addition to the increase in mail seizures, the Mullinavat R.I.C. Barracks was again attacked on Tuesday the 13^th of April commencing at 12:30 a.m. The Official Report recites that the attack commenced with a considerable number of armed men armed with rifles and revolvers throwing explosives at the barracks. Police responded with rifles and revolver fire and grenades. “A section of the garrison which is numerically small, threw up Verey lights and signals for assistance.” All wires, telephone and telegraph, connecting Mullinavat with surrounding towns and villages were cut. Three large holes were made at the rear of the building from bombs. There were no reported injuries or deaths on either side although the Official Report believed that there were some losses among the “assailants.” The attack ended at about 2:30 a.m. when the attackers withdrew (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 April 1921). The Waterford News & Star (Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 7) provided a few more details. “A thatched cottage opposite the barracks took fire during the melee, and was burned down. As a preliminary to the attack, the wires were cut (including some in the city of Waterford), and the bridge at Lough Cullen, near Mullinavat, was blown up…The roads converging on Mullinavat were, it is said, otherwise blockaded.”

Battle for Hearts, Minds and Intimidation

Both sides in the conflict put up posters and both sides tore down posters.  The month commenced with a number of Belfast boycott posters being put up in New Ross and promptly taken own by the military (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 April 1921, p. 5). The following week the New Ross military posted posters stating, “Home Rule is alright. But don’t build it on ruins. Stop the murder of policemen and soldiers.” Overnight the posters were cut down (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 8). In Waterford it was reported that several prominent persons received type-written notices, signed “Anti-Murder.” The message read, “Sir or Madam—we have credible information that you employ or harbour assassins, the gentlemen who shoot in the back, fire from behind fences. If any of these commit any of their usual crimes in this city or vicinity, you or your house and business WILL GO UP.” The notices were mailed in Waterford city, and printed on paper bearing a “certain watermark” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 5).

Newspaper Censorship

Most local newspapers were already under military censorship, but Mr. E. T. Keane, Editor of the Kilkenny People received notice that because he had reported on a meeting of the Board of Guardians, where a letter from Dáil Eireann was read, the newspaper was placed under military censorship (New Ross Standard, Fri. 15 April 1921, p. 4). Although no further details are provided it is believed that the letter was a demand for taxes raised from licenses etc. to be sent to Dáil Eireann rather than to Crown Officials. Mr. D. O’Carroll, J.P. resigned as clerk of the Law Guardian Board and Castlecomer Union stating he could not serve two masters (New Ross Standard, Fri. 8 April 1921, p. 8).

On the first of April four masked and armed men, in the middle of the night gained access to the residence of Michael Rockett (c. 1876-1966) of Slieverue. The men demanded in the name of the Irish Republic, the money that had been collected from neighbours for dog licences. When they were informed that the money had already been sent the men sternly demanded that the sum sent be paid to them or they would raid the house. After receiving €11 the men left (Munster Express, Sat. 9 April 1921, p. 5).

Notwithstanding the military censorship often interesting articles and advertisements are found in the censored newspapers. For example, the New Ross Standard (Fri. 15 April 1921, p. 4) published a column of old Irish which prior to the censorship was not generally translated. The following translation of the Irish joke that passed censorship is as follows:

TRANSLATION, THE ORPHAN– An Irishman was going to market one day, and when he was nearing the town, he heard the bell tolling. The first man he met was an Englishman. He did not know why the bell was tolling, and he asked the Englishman the reason. “Oh,” said the Englishman, “did you not hear that the devil is dead?” ” I did not,” said he. “Come here,” and with that he put his hand in his pocket and handed him a penny. “Why are you giving me the penny?” said the Englishman. “That is a custom our people have when the father dies we give alms to the orphans.”

Lastly, the following unusual advertisement appeared in the New Ross Standard on the first of April 1921. Was it an April Fool’s prank or a coded message to get past the military censorship?

Desperate Tragedy at Old Ross, Co. Wexford—During steam rolling operations outside the premises of L. T. Doyle, Universal Provider and Anti-Kodologist, Old Ross and Palace East. “High Prices ” were deliberately pushed under the wheels and crushed to atoms. After cremation the remains were despatched by aerial post to “The Torrid Zone ” from whence there is no return. Everything is now selling in above stores at bedrock prices, and there was no cessation of business during the mourning period, nor no whiskey at “The Wake.” The War Baby. High Prices Killed in Action at Old Ross, Co. Wexford, March 1921. No prayers, by request. (k475:5-4)

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

The featured photo above is from the Irish column that appeared in the New Ross Stanard on 15 April 1921, p. 4. The English translation is above.

There is no known photo of the destroyed bridges on the old main Waterford to New Ross road. Below is a photo taken in 2020 of the bridge on the old main Waterford to New Ross road nearest to where Forristal’s mill stood in Graiguenakill. Danny Dowling noted that it was once a humped back bridge that allowed small vessels to carry grain up the pill to the mill.

[Clarification the publican that was raided in Slieverue in early April 1921 was Michael Rockett not Michael Stapleton who died later in April 1921. Apologies for the error.]