martial law
now browsing by tag
One Hundred Years Ago: February 1922
In February 1922 all the national and local newspapers were full of coverage of pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty stances being taken across the country by various politicians and groups. Today, we are going to focus on more local events or events that directly impacted on Glenmore residents just after the signing of the Treaty and before the Civil War commenced.
British Troops Withdrawn
The process of withdrawing British troops from the military barracks began in early February. On the 8th the Kilkenny military barracks were formally handed over to representatives of the Irish Provisional Government (Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 Feb. 1922, p. 5.) The Ferrybank barracks were evacuated by the R.I.C. nine months previously and on 10 February the Ferrybank Company of the Waterford City I.R.A. Battalion flew the Tri-colour from the building. Other local barracks taken over by the I.R.A recorded in the Munster Express included Dunmore, Portlaw and Tramore (Sat. 18 Feb. 1922, p. 5). In some areas, the local economy suffered with the withdrawal of the British troops. For example, in one week 400 men were thrown out of employment in the Curragh area (Munster Express, Sat. 25 Feb. 1922, p. 4).
The Glenmore Barracks could not be taken over because it was burned in April 1920 by the Glenmore Company of the I.R.A. as were several other local rural R.I.C. barracks during the War of Independence. The Glenmore Barracks was rebuilt in 1925. For more information concerning the burning of the barracks see our post of 11 April 1920. For more information concerning the re-building of the barracks see our post of 26 September 2021.
Crime
Although crime had been a feature during the War of Independence it continued and appeared to flourish as the Free State began planning for taking over the running of the country. The I.R.A. on the 30th of January 1922 proclaimed martial law in five parishes in the Dundrum area of South Tipperary “in consequence of a number of hold ups, robberies, and in one case murder, by armed desperadoes” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 3 Feb. 1922, p. 5). A similar martial law proclamation was issued in County Kilkenny on the 9th of February “…owing to grave disorders and serious injury to property, resulting in throwing a large number of men out of employment…regulations will be rigorously enforced…in the Parish of Glogh, Parish of Doonane and that portion of Castlecomer Parish lying to the north of the town of Castlecomer…signed George O’Dwyer, commandant, Kilkenny Brigade I.R.A.” (Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 Feb. 1922, p. 5).
The Co. Kilkenny proclamation appears to have been made following an attack on coal mines near Castlecomer. On 9 February 1922 a large body of men, estimated to be 80 or more, went to the Rock Bog and Vera Pits and caused £15,000 of damage to the mines and mining equipment. The Vera Pit immediately closed throwing 250 men out of employment. It was estimated that it would take five months to get the other mine back to its normal production (Kilkenny People, Sat. 11 Feb. 1922, p. 5).
However, in the policing vacuum it wasn’t just groups of men attacking various business, that caused unemployment. Sometimes it was direct action against businesses by the I.R.A., or members of the I.R.A., that caused businesses to threaten to close. The Munster Express published an article that the Going and Smith Mills of Cahir were to close their large mills after the 25th of February. Prior to the end of hostilities several motor cars, each worth £800, belonging to the owners of the mills were seized in lieu of levies by the I.R.A. Decrees of compensation were obtained by the owners against the British authorities. Subsequently another I.R.A. levy of £100 was made on the mills, but the owners, because of the previous seizures declined to pay. In response a load of materials sent out from the mills was seized in Cahir, but the representatives of the labourers of the Mill caused the materials to be returned to the Mill. On the 17th of February materials were again seized along with a motor lorry. The owners then gave notice of their intent to close the mills. Commandant Robinson sent a notice to the firm that there would be no more commandeering and the owners agreed to continue operating the mills (Munster Express, Sat. 25 Feb. 1922, p. 4).
Closer to Glenmore, lawlessness in New Ross became such an issue that the I.R.A. directed that the electric and gas lamps in New Ross were to remain on all night (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Feb. 1922, p. 7). In Waterford City, toward the end of February, a man named Conway, described as being of the “tramp class,” smashed a large plate glass window valued at £70 of the Phelan Brothers, drapery shop on George’s street. It was stated that there was no known reason for the damage. Conway was immediately apprehended by the staff and held until the I.R.A. arrived and placed him under arrest. He was brought before the local Sinn Fein magistrates and remanded in custody to the Ballybricken jail (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 24 Feb. 1922, p. 5).
During this period two “catch and release kidnappings” were reported. On the 31st of January two men, who were not disguised, entered the offices of Colfer and Sons, Solicitors, New Ross, and asked for Mr. Colfer. When he came out of his office, he was placed in a motor car and driven across the bridge and up through Co. Kilkenny. After crossing the bridge Mr. Colfer was blindfolded and he heard shots being fired. When the car stopped he was placed in an outhouse and kept there until about 1 o’clock the following morning He was given some tea, blindfolded, put back into the motor car and driven to the Mile Bush and released. He walked from the Mile Bush to Rosbercon and was at his office at ten that morning (New Ross Standard, Fri. 3 Feb. 1922, p. 4). The newspaper gave no indication why Solicitor Colfer was kidnapped.
In February the courts continued to operate alongside the newly formed I.R.A. courts. In February, three railways officials from Aylwardstown, Glenmore, on their way to the Rosbercon petty sessions court were kidnapped by three or four men and held until the petty session court was over. One of the men kidnapped was Michael Fleming, a signalman, who was the complainant against Glenmore native Thomas Morrissey for assault. It was alleged that on the 23rd of January Thomas Morrissey assaulted Michael Fleming at Aylwardstown. Another signalman and the stationmaster were summoned as witnesses and were also kidnapped. When the case was called before Col. R. Tyndall, it was noted that Denis Daly had left the summons with the wife of the defendant Thomas Morrissey. The defendant did not turn up either. The railway sent Solicitor James J. O’Connor to the proceedings who reported to the court that he was instructed by the railway company to appear on behalf of the prosecution. When queried why the complainant was not prosecuting Solicitor O’Connor stated that he was and asked for the case to be adjourned. Col. Tyndall adjourned the case for a fortnight (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 Feb. 1922, p. 4).
The New Ross Standard published the following editorial calling on citizens to help put down crime and restore social order.
“A National Duty—In every community the criminal is ever on the alert watching his opportunity to perpetrate crime. Pending the setting up of a regular police force in this country during the transition stage there are offences committed against persons and property, mainly against the latter, and all of a more or less serious character. Robberies and minor thefts are terribly prevalent. Under our own Government, therefore, which is functioning under very great difficulties, it is the obvious duty of our people—irrespective of political views—to help to put down crime. That is the first essential of good Government, and no good citizen will hesitate to co-operate with the existing authority to restore social order. These are not the days of foreign rule when assistance in this direction would be regarded as the action of a loyalist. Our temporary police force are displaying much activity, and it is a national duty to assist them in protecting our people from opportunist criminals who are becoming so numerous” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 17 Feb. 1922, p. 4).
Football, Fishing and a Runaway Deer in Glenmore
In February 2022 Glenmore played Cloneen for the senior Co. Kilkenny football final and won by a large margin. It was described by the New Ross Standard (20 Feb. 1922, p. 7) as a “splendidly contested match” which we will feature in a forthcoming blog post. For information on the 1920-1921 Glenmore football seasons see our previous post of 9 August 2021.
Although it was reported that the salmon fishing season had started off well by mid-February it was reported that it “…had become rather poor primarily because the weather was against fishing” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 17 Feb. 1922, p. 5).
Lastly, events described in a small article in the New Ross Standard may have rivalled the football title as a conversation topic when Glenmore people met each other. It was reported that a “runaway deer” caused excitement as it “careened through parts of the South Kilkenny districts.” Unfortunately, the article does not indicate where the deer escaped, but it did note “that near Glenmore it jumped a gate eight feet high, dashed through the village and headed towards Coolnashaw.” A dog then began to chase it and “it jumped clean over a donkey and cart with a woman in it. The cart was drawn across the road whilst the woman was speaking to a neighbour. The dog soon lost sight of the antlered monarch” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 17 Feb. 1922, p. 5).
The advertisement for Barry and Butler dressmaking Carrigcloney, Glenmore appeared in the New Ross Standard (Fri. 17 Feb. 1922, p. 8). More Glenmore related advertisements may be found in our post dated 19 December 2020.
The drawing of the deer is courtesy of the New York City Public Library digital collection. (The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1849). Common deer Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-4213-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99.)
If anyone has any further information or corrections please send them to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
100 Years Ago: March 1921
In 1921 Woodrow Wilson was the President of the United States. The Prime Minister of Britain was David Lloyd George and Pope Benedict XV was head of the Catholic Church. In Ireland in March 1921 the War of Independence continued, with the activities of both sides impacting on more and more of the population.
Court Martial Executions
During March 1921 under Martial Law what newspapers could print to keep the public informed was censored. Thus, there are differences reflected in the various local newspapers concerning events. The New Ross Standard apparently sought to alert readers to the fact that it was operating under military censorship and placed a prominent notice that read, “Passed by Censor, As Wexford is included in the Martial Law area, all reports in this issue have been censored by the military authorities” (Fri. 4 March 1921, p. 8). Notwithstanding censorship the newspapers are full of reports of men being taken from their homes, or places of employment, by armed men and never seen again. In some instances, bodies were recovered and sometimes notes were found, on or near the bodies, labelling the deceased a traitor and attributing the death to a particular side in the conflict.
On the 28th of February six men were executed in Cork Barracks between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. The Kilkenny Moderator, did not list the names of the men but noted that they were executed in batches of two at intervals of fifteen minutes. Outside the barracks large crowds gathered. Replying to a question in the House of Commons, Sir H. Greenwood stated that five of the men were executed for waging war against the King and the sixth was executed for having in his possession a revolver and a pamphlet entitled “Night Fighting.” The men were all legally represented at the court martial, but no further details were provided regarding the trials. It was reported that the relatives of the men were refused permission to remove the remains for burial. Canon O’Sullivan ministered to the men before their executions and so far as the Church was concerned, they received Christian burials as the Burial Service was read in full. (Sat. 5 March 1921, p. 6). When further executions were announced a resolution was adopted by the Cork Corporation protesting against the proposed executions “as absolutely unjust, and against the law of civilised warfare.” (New Ross Standard, Fri 25 March 1921, p. 8).
On Monday the 14th of March 1921 six men were also executed in Dublin after court marital. However, instead of being shot these six men were hanged like common criminals in Mountjoy Prison. Details concerning the six executed men were provided in the New Ross Standard. Thomas J. Bryan, was 23 years old, an electrical engineer and had only been married 3 months. Patrick Doyle, was also 23 years of age and was a carpenter by trade. He was a married father of three children. His eldest child was 3 ½ years of age and his younger children were twins born two weeks before his execution. One of the twins died the Saturday before. The remaining four men were 19 years of age. Francis Flood was an engineering student at Dublin University College. Bernard Ryan was the only son of an aged and widowed mother. He held a position as a Government official which he left for a clerkship in a Dublin firm. Patrick Moran was a grocer’s assistant, in the Main St. of Blackrock. He was President of the Grocers’ Assistant Association in Dublin. Thomas Whelan moved to Dublin at the age of 16 from Connemara, Co. Galway, to work for the M.G. W. Railway. It was reported that his aged mother travelled to Dublin to comfort him during his trial. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 18 March 1921, p. 4). Today, we know that some of the personal information concerning the executed men is wrong the above information was taken from the contemporary newspapers accounts that were operating under military censorship.
Thomas Whelan and Patrick Moran were convicted by court martial for the murder of British officers on Sunday, November 21st, and the remaining four were found guilty of complicity in an attack on Crown forces at Drumcondra (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 19 March 1921, p. 4) and thus committed treason by waging war against the King. Similar to the previous executions in Cork the condemned men were executed in pairs. “Whelan and Moran were the first to approach the scaffold, and at six o’clock the bolt was drawn. An hour later Doyle and Ryan were launched into eternity, and at eight o’clock Flood and Bryan paid the supreme penalty.” (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 19 March 1921, p. 4).
On execution day, long before dawn, people began to gather outside the gates of Mountjoy. It was reported that nearly 1,000 people knelt at the gates reciting the Rosary, “which was given out at intervals by a lady attached to Cumann na MBan.” Many carried lighted candles, by the time the last pair were led to the scaffold it was reported that 40,000 people had gathered. People also gathered in churches and workers downed tools the morning of the executions. The Cumann na Mban arrived “in force” bearing banners with inscriptions. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 18 March 1921, p. 4). “Contrary to the usual prison observances, the passing away of the condemned men was not announced by the tolling of the prison bell, nor was any black flag hoisted. At half-past eight the prison gates swung partly open, and an official nailed up the typewritten announcement intimating that the sentences of death had been duly executed. Immediately behind the gates could be observed an armoured car.” (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 19 March 1921, p. 4). Mrs. Whelan, in her striking Connemara garb, occupied a chair beside the gate, asked that the notice of the executions be taken down and given to her so she could kiss her son’s name. The official silently complied with her request. The crowd then began to recite the Rosary in Irish. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 18 March 1921, p. 4).
Although the relatives requested the bodies of the executed men all requests were refused. The men were buried on the grounds of Mountjoy and their graves remained unmarked until the 1930’s. However, it was not until this century that these men became recognised and dubbed part of the Forgotten 10. During the War of Independence ten Republicans were hanged in Mountjoy prison. Kevin Barry was the first Republican executed after the leaders of the Easter Rising. On the 1st of November 2000, the 80th anniversary of Kevin Barry’s execution the remains of all ten men were exhumed and buried with a full State Funeral in Glasnevin cemetery.
Waterford Court Martial Cases
Closer to Glenmore, in Kilkenny City it was reported at the end of February that a large group of armed men terrorised the city after midnight, detaining people, discharging firearms, breaking windows, stealing money and chocolates. “The R.I.C. took into custody five of their new police motor mechanics in connection with the occurrences and that they have been handed over to the military authorities to be tried by court martial. The occurrences aroused great consternation in the localities in which they took place, and great indignation is rightly felt amongst the citizens at such an unprecedented disturbance of the peace of the city.” (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 5 March 1921, p. 4). The court martial was held in Waterford City and two R.I.C. officers testified against the five mechanics regarding statements they made when they returned late to the barracks, long after their passes expired. The mechanics alleged that they had been detained by Sinn Feiners. (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 26 March 1921, p. 4). Eventually, the R.I.C. mechanics were acquitted. (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 2 Apr. 1921, p. 5).
In a separate Waterford Court Martial trial John McBride, of Knockmoylan, Co. Kilkenny was tried for failing to report to Crown authorities a possible attack on the Mullinavat Barracks. On the 17th of January the Mullinavat Barracks came under attack. A party of police and military coming from Kilkenny to assist the besieged police found a barricade of stones at the railway crossing at Knockmoylan. It was reported that one of the stones weighed four or five cwt (448 to 560 pounds). The defendant as the railway linesman lived right across the line from where the barricade was placed. It was alleged that “it was a reasonable assumption that the prisoner, living so close to the barricade must have known of it.” It was also alleged that the barricade was part of the plan to attack the Mullinavat barracks. The defendant stated he went to bed the night before and locked the gates. He did not leave his house until the 7:40 train passed and he then saw the stones. He could not move them without assistance and was waiting for his ganger to arrive. The police arrived and arrested him. The crossing was located four or five miles from Mullinavat. The defendant stated he had no political affiliation, and he was found not guilty (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 5 March 1921, p. 4).
Trenching Roads and Damaging Bridges
As the weaker armed Republicans continued to fight Crown forces, roads and bridges were blocked or rendered impassable in order to stage ambushes or to keep Crown reinforcements from arriving. For example, in early March 1921 roads were blocked in eleven places in the Bagenalstown district by trees and other obstructions. (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 5 March 1921, p. 4). In the Diocese of Ossory, in which Glenmore is located, several roads were reported trenched in several locations. Local workmen were commandeered by the R.I.C. and Black and Tans and compelled to fill the trenches. (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 19 March 1921, p. 3). All roads leading to New Ross were also trenched. Sometimes there was enough room for a small cart to pass, but wagons and motor vehicles could not. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 11 March 1921, p. 5). The conditions of the roads became so bad that the Kilkenny County Council, as well as the Waterford County Council, placed notices in newspapers advising people to use the roads at their own risk.
Sometimes the obstructions worked and sometimes they did not. “There is reason to believe,” a report from Dublin Castle adds, “that an attack on Bagenalstown barracks was frustrated by the timely arrival of reinforcements.” (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 5 March 1921, p. 4). On the other hand, Brigadier General H.R. Cumming, D.S.O. Colonel Commandant of the Kerry Brigade, another officer and two soldiers were killed at an ambush in County Cork although they were protected by three motor tenders and an armoured car. The newspaper reported that between five and six hundred Republicans took part in the ambush, using machine guns, rifles, revolvers, shotguns and bombs. (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 12 March 1921).
On Monday night the 7th of March, the Republicans attacked the Dunmore East Police Barracks. At 9:45 p.m. the bridge at Waterford was opened to allow a ship to pass. A large number of armed men appeared and refused to allow the bridge to be closed. Other men damaged the electrical machinery which operated the bridge. At 3:30 a.m. a large group of military arrived by one of the late trains and took charge of the bridge. They had to lower the bridge to cross the river into Waterford City from the train station. The bridge was lowered by a hand apparatus. The obstacles on the roads leading to Dunmore East and the damaged bridge prevented the speedy relief of the police barracks. The sounds of the attack could be heard for miles and it lasted for hours. (Kilkenny People, 12 March 1921, p. 9) On the 9th the military visited the Waterford City bridge and after entering the engine room the bridge could not be opened without “acquainting the military.” The newspaper presumed that this action was a sequel to the raid on the bridge on the 7th. (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 11 March 1921, p. 17).
At about the same time a large force of military arrived in Waterford and conducted another raid on the City Hall. As a tribute to the memory of the Mayor and Ex-Mayor of Limerick a tricolour flag was flying at half-mast. Both men were murdered on the 9th of March in their homes in Limerick in the middle of the night by Black and Tans. After the military removed the flag from the Waterford City Hall city officials were told that they would be court martialled if it happened again. “As the military drove off the flag was waved by one of the soldiers.” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 11 March 1921, p. 17). (For a concise account of the Limerick murders see, https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland/index.php/articles/limerick-in-shock-after-mayor-and-former-mayor-murdered ).
The local newspapers provide that a number of bridges and roads around and in Glenmore were damaged in mid-March 1921. Two bridges on the Waterford to New Ross road were damaged near Forristal’s Mill (Graiguenakill/Ballyverneen, Glenmore), as well as the Arrigle bridge in Bishop’s Mountain. (Munster Express, Sat. 2 April 1921, p. 6). On the 27th the Luffany bridge was blown up. The Luffany bridge spanned a small stream, about a mile beyond the creamery at Slieverue on the Waterford to New Ross road. The newspaper queried the blocking of the highway as “the district is of a very bleak description,” and the Slieverue creamery was the only building of any size or importance in the area. The Slieverue police barracks had been vacant for a long time. The nature of the explosive used in the destruction of the bridge was not known. However, it was expressed that the traffic along the road was considerable. (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 2 April 1921, p. 5). In addition to the destruction of the Luffany bridge, a big trench was dug on this busy road about a mile from Slieverue, and farmers with carts found it difficult to travel to and from Waterford. Trenches also were dug on the road between Harristown and Mullinavat, and on the road at Clonassy. The Military commandeered farmers’ horses in the locality to repair the damage done to bridges and roads. (Munster Express, Sat. 2 April 1921, p. 6).
Attempted Jail Break & Soldiers Caputured
The last week of March an attempt to “rescue” prisoners from the Waterford jail occurred. Mrs. O’Brien of King’s Terrace, whose back garden abutted the rear prison wall, reported that several armed men appeared at her home. They detained her in one room of her house while they went into her back garden. Soon after the men left the police appeared and searched her garden where they discovered a ladder. Although authorities would not conform it the newspaper reported that it was believed that prisoners attempted to overpower a guard to escape. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 25 March 1921, p. 4)
Perhaps the most astounding report for the month was the capture of soldiers from the Rosslaire Express by Republican forces at Kilmacthomas, County Waterford. The express train from Cork to Rosslare was stopped by 300 armed men at Kilmacthomas junction. Fifteen soldiers stationed in County Cork were found on the train. The soldiers were on leave and not armed. Three of the soldiers were allowed to stay on the Express. One soldier was going to visit his dying mother and two others were going to visit sick relatives. The remainder were herded into the village led by a fiddler playing lively tunes. It was reported that a council of war was held by Sinn Féiners and it was decided to billet the soldiers in the Village Post Office. Some of the soldiers’ bags and overcoats were taken. The next day the military arrived from Waterford, and escorted the captured soldiers back to Waterford. A detachment of 100 military were placed in charge of the Village and were quartered in the Workhouse. The article concludes by reporting that the express train was delayed about half an hour. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 11 March 1921, p. 5).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured photo above depicts a group of protestors in 1920 outside Mountjoy Prison. (The Graphic, Sat. 17 April 1920, p. 11).
100 Years Ago: February 1921
In February 1921, the War of Independence continued. By February martial law–that in early January had been extended from Cork to Waterford, Kilkenny and Wexford–began to result in more arrests and over crowding in the Waterford jail. The local newspapers were filled with reports of men and several women in Waterford and New Ross being arrested for having seditious material in their possession. In most instances the persons arrested refused to acknowledge the court marital courts. One of the more unusual arrests took place in early February. Mr. John Murphy, U.D.C., New Ross was arrested for failing to attach to the back of his front door the names of the persons of his household as required by martial law. It was reported that, “[t]he military, before arresting Mr. Murphy, referred him to the requirements of the proclamation, many copies of which had been posted up on his window a week previous.” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Feb. 1921, p. 5).
As the Crown forces went out on patrol it was reported that for protection against attack the patrols often had prisoners in their vehicles. One of the human shields was Cathal J. Kickham the nephew of fenian Charles Kickham (1826-1886) of Tipperary. Cathal J. Kickham was residing at Bushey Park, London and among an undisclosed number of Irishmen arrested in London. “He has been transferred to the Irish Bastille—Mountjoy—and since his arrest he has been taken around Dublin City as a hostage for the protection of patrols.” (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 4 Feb. 1921, p. 4).
It wasn’t just the Crown patrols that continued to be under attack. The police barracks at Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny were again attacked during the night of the 16th-17th of January 1921. The police and Crown forces in the barracks reported that rifle fire was directed on the barracks from the loft of a building “immediately opposite.” The loft belonged to James Ryan, of Mullinavat. Colonel Cameron, commander of the 16th Infantry Brigade, Military Governor, ordered the destruction of the loft on the grounds that James Ryan “was bound to have known of the rebel attacks and that he gave no information to the police or military authorities.” A notice of the destruction was served on James Ryan, telling him of the order, the reasons for the destruction and providing him with one hour’s notice to “clear out” any valuables, foodstuffs, corn or hay, but not furniture. The loft was destroyed on the 28th of January, but it was not officially communicated to the newspapers by the military authorities until February. (Kilkenny People, Sat. 12 Feb. 1921).
At the same time the military authorities were officially communicating with the newspapers concerning the retributive destruction of private property in Mullinavat, Crown forces on the 10th of February went to “various districts around Mullinavat” and arrested the following 11 men: Wm. Raftis, Ballyluskey; Wm. Aylward, Knockmoylan; Patrick McDonald, Ballinlea; Edward Walsh, Glendel; Michael Hoban, do; Ml. Phelan, Clonassey; James Phelan, do.; Rd. Kennealy, Ballynooney; John Cashin, do.; Jas. Malone, Redacres; and Thos, Duggan, Clonassey. The men were brought to Mullinavat police barracks, where they were interrogated at length. The following listed 5 men were detained, and the other 6 men were released—Rd. Kennealy, Wm. Raftis, Patk. McDonald, Ed Walsh, and John Cashin. The detained 5 men were removed later to Woodstock. (Munster Express, Sat. 12 Feb. 1921, p. 5) A week later Richard Kenneally, Ballynooney, was released. (Munster Express, Sat. 1921, p. 5)
As we have previously reported the empty barracks in Glenmore were burned on Easter Saturday night in 1920 by local Company C of the I.R.A. (See, https://glenmore-history.com/the-glenmore-barracks/ ). In February 1921 there were no reports in local newspapers of raids or arrests in Glenmore, however, it was reported that “[a] postman carrying a bag of mail between the village of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, and Aylwardstown railway station was held up by masked and armed men who seized the bag.” (Munster Express, Sat. l2 Feb. 1921, p. 5) It is believed that this action was performed by local I.R.A. members to discover and disrupt any reports to Crown authorities concerning local I.R.A. men or their activities.
As the jails became filled with men and women who were arrested for breaching the martial law. Under the imposed martial law there was a curfew, attendance at funerals was limited, it was an offence to have nationalist material, and as highlighted above it was an offence not to post a list of household members. Articles began to be published concerning the difficulty of visiting the prisoners in the Waterford City jail at Ballybricken.
“Any day one passes by Ballybricken prison one is treated to the spectacle of a queue of persons—men and women—lined up outside the jail gates, wearily waiting for admission to visit some loved one, or friends incarcerated within for some political offence—imaginary or real. If one perchance repasses the same way an hour or two (perhaps three hours) later, one frequently sees the same anxious faces still waiting there. Perhaps if one called around again the afternoon when the final bar is put up to mark the close of visits for that day, one will see many of those same people turning away dejectedly to seek the comfort of a few kind words from friends elsewhere in the city, for they have been unable to see their relatives that day, and must wait overnight in order to seek a successful entrance to the sombre citadel of punishment on the following day. Many of these people come from twenty to sixty miles to visit their friends; they are not all blessed with a superabundance of the world’s goods; and the cost of needlessly waiting over in the city for a night is sometimes more than their limited finances will allow. Several of these people have made complaints about this. The visiting hours are from 10 a.m. to 12:30, and from 2 p.m. to 3:30. One person only (sometimes two) is allowed in at a time, the average length of each interview being a quarter of an hour. With such limited facilities for visits and interview, they say, many have to wait a day or two before they gain admission.”
It was reported that in Cork and Galway up to four or five prisoners were allowed to visit an equivalent number of friends. The newspaper suggested that reform was needed at Ballybricken. (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 11 Feb. 1921, p. 3). Before the end of February it was reported that prisoners were being removed from Waterford jail. The tried and convicted prisoners were moved to Mountjoy Prison, and the untried prisoners to Kilworth Detention Camp, Co. Cork under heavy military escorts. (Munster Express, Sat. 26 Feb. 1921, p. 2).
Not all of the articles in the February 1921 local newspapers concerned the War of Independence. For example, brief notices appeared announcing the death of Mrs. Charles Parnell at the age of 75. Her funeral was conducted from the residence in England of her son, Captain O’Shea. (Waterford News & Star, Fri. 11 Feb. 1921, p. 5). One interesting article highlighted the change in the status of Irish women and the bias of the obvious male reporter who wrote the article. “On Tuesday a number of Waterford ladies were served with notices to attend as jurors, common and grand, at the forthcoming Assizes … Many of the ladies, without knowledge of this feature of the franchise being extended to their sex, were taken by surprise. Those of the fine opposite sex gifted with judicial capacity—no personalities—of imparting certain lectures will now have the unique experience of trying their fellow mortals and earth born companions—apologies to Burns’ ode on the mouse—in public court.” (Waterford News & Star, Fri 25 Feb. 1921, p. 5).
Also, it was reported that the tide of Irish emigration was again rising. “The office of the American Consul in O’Connell street, Dublin and its vicinity, [were crowded with] [a] large number of intending emigrants applying for passports to America… Nearly all the applicants were young people of both sexes from about twenty to thirty years of age…The emigrants were for the most part neatly attired, and appeared to be of an intelligent and respectable class of the population. The majority left for Liverpool where they will embark for the voyage across the Atlantic.
Mr. Jerh. Howard, an Irishman resident for twenty years in Omaha, Nebraska, … said he was more than surprised…to see the huge crowds of men and women waiting to get their passport vised for America. ‘It is a shame,’ he said, ‘for those people to be allowed to go across to swell the already overstocked labour market. We have four million demobilised soldiers over there waiting for jobs, and what chance had these greenhorns when they land unless they work for practically nothing, and get half-starved in the bargain.’ Mr. Howard opined that the young people emigrating were doing what the English Government wanted which was to flee Ireland and flood the labour markets abroad.” (Munster Express, Sat. 26 Feb. 1921, p. 2).
Although the Belfast Boycott commenced in mid-1920 it was ramping up in February 1921. The Belfast Boycott came about after 5,000 loyalist workers in the Belfast shipyards refused in July 1920 to work with perceived Sinn Féin supporters due to the attacks on R.I.C. officers. It is estimated that almost 7,000 employees were terminated from their posts. In response, the Belfast Boycott was instituted to protest against the treatment of the terminated workers and the proposed partition of Ireland. In February 1921 all local newspapers carried the following advertisement promoting the boycott. Just a month later the boycott would be extended to Great Britain and both boycotts continued after the truce was declared later in the year.
The featured photo was published in the Freeman newspaper in 1922 and depicts the Black & Tans in Droheda.
The drawing depicting 1920’s clothing is from the New York City Library, Digital Collection, Image ID 823771, available at https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-202b-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh