Finding aid databases

Report of a successful police action in connection with an armed assault on a policeman on 20 September 1930, issued by the Department of Justice, 7 November 1930. The police came to the conclusion that the assault was the work of a new Company of Irregulars. The report names the men arrested and states that in the case of Alfred Lawless he came from a respectable family and was the only Irregular amongst them. `Whilst Lawless was before the District Court Mrs. Maud Gonne McBride and Miss Sheila Humphries, believing that the Lawlesses were all Irregulars, approached Mrs. Lawless and a young lady who is supposed to be engaged to Alfred Lawless. Mrs. Maud Gonne McBride and Sheila Humphries were severely snubbed, Mrs. Maud Gonne being told that her son, Sean, was sheltering behind young foolish men like Alfred Lawless. The whole episode is bound to have an averse effect on the morale of the Irregulars'.

s 5864A

Report

Typed extract from `The Nation', 4 April 1931, being a letter to the editor by David M Robinson enquiring as to what becomes of the money raised by the sale of Easter Lilies. An editorial response quotes Cumann na mBan: `The men of Easter Week laid down a very definite road for the Irish people to travel towards freedom and if the Irish people hope to reach that goal they can only do so by adopting the ways and means decided on by these gallant and unselfish men. All those who support the Lily campaign can rest assured that the money raised is devoted to no other purpose then the propagation of these ideals and the securing of the necessary materials for their realisation'.

s 5864A

David M Robinson

The Nation

Pamphlets which, according to a note from the Department of the President, 3 October 1931, were distributed at the Cumann na mBan stall at the Royal Dublin Society during Horse Show week, 1931. These are: Saor Eire (Organisation of Workers and Working Farmers), Constitution and Rules adopted by the First National Congress, held in Dublin, 26 and 27 September 1931; `A Few Places of Historical Interest In and Near Dublin', Cumann na mBan, August 1931, this details sites of importance in the freedom struggle, including areas where the Irish Republican Army came into conflict with Free State forces; `To Foreigners Visiting Our Country', Cumann na mBan, August 1931, this argues, amongst other matters, that the Irish Free State and the Northern Government are not lawful, `they have no moral or even legal sanction; they are not the voice of a free people, nor of the whole Nation and therefore are not binding on the Irish people'.

s 5864A

Pamphlets

`Summary of Outrages and Activities by Members of Irregular Organisation [sic] since 1/1/1931. This goes down to 15 September 1931. This lists arms finds, the campaign to intimidate jurors, illegal drilling, political assassination, malicious damage to ESB lines, a campaign orchestrated by Cumann na mBan to boycott the selling of English sweets, threatening letters. For example, at 9.00 pm on 18 June 1931 `a meeting of Irregulars and Cumann na mBan was held outside Mountjoy prison to demand "political treatment for Republican prisoners." Processionists became hostile and police were assaulted. Frank Ryan, prominent Irregular, and three members of Organisation arrested'.

s 5864A

Summary

Typed extract from the `Irish Independent', 28 September 1931, entitled `The Aims of Saor Eire. Draft Constitution'. `Mr Sean McBride, who presided at a congress of Saor Eire in Dublin, proposing the adoption of the draft constitution said he hoped it was going to be one that would unite the economic and social question, with the national question. He also hoped it would make for an organisation that would fight to overthrow Imperialism and Capitalism in Ireland, and lead to the establishment of a Republican Ireland, which would be controlled by the working-class people'. Amongst the resolutions adopted was one sending `fraternal greetings to the U.S.S.R.' Amongst those elected as a National Executive were May Laverty (Belfast), Helena Molony, Sheila Dowling and Sheila Humphries (Dublin).

s 5864A

Extract

politics; republicanism; communism

Typed extract from Professor James Hogan's `Can Ireland become Communist?', an account of the development of Saor Eire. `Through Saor Eire the I.R.A. - Communist leadership proposed to unite the small farmers, farm hands and industrial workers in a revolutionary movement for the establishment of a workers' Communist Republic'. The extract lists the National Executive of Saor Eire and states `Of the 17 members of the Saor Eire executive mentioned all but three were members of the IRA or its auxiliary organisation, Cumann na mBan. Five of the seventeen had been to Russia and two of these had attended courses in Workers' Colleges there'.

s 5864A

Extract

Report sent by Eoin O Duffy, Commissioner of the Garda Siochana to the Secretary, Department of Justice, 27 July 1931, relating to illegal drilling, incidents of which have been obtained from the Garda Siochana in the different counties. The report on illegal drilling in Kilkenny, for example, discusses an oration at Kilbride Cemetery by John O Mahoney, ex TD. `He advised everyone to join the Volunteers, Sinn Fein and Cumann na mBan and also advised drilling'.

s 5864B

Report

Report by the Department of Justice `on the present position (August 1931) as regards the activities of unlawful and dangerous Associations in the Saorstat with a summary of similar activities in recent years'. This discusses the IRA and its various auxiliary organisations. `There are a number of Associations of females such as the "Cumann na mBan" and the "Women Prisoners' Defence League" which specialise in printing and posting leaflets and posters enlarging on the alleged cruel treatment of "political" prisoners and exhorting jurors to acquit persons charged with "political" offences… `The report discusses the intimidation of jurors, the murder of police officers. Appendix II of the report contains typed copies of Cumann na mBan leaflets and Ghosts leaflets and other propaganda documents, for example, a letter from Cumann na mBan to each member of the jury panel, 15 October 1926, arguing against the conviction of those arrested in connection with raids on the premises of money lenders.

s 5864B

Report

Memorandum sent to the Most Rev. Edward J Byrne, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland by Liam T MacCosgair [Liam Cosgrave], 17 September 1931, on the subject of `the rapid growth in this country of subversive teachings and activities. A situation without parallel as a threat to the foundations of authority has arisen…' The report discusses the agencies and organisations which provide this threat to authority, for example, Cumann na mBan. The report discusses the intimidation of jurors carried out by members of Cumann na mBan and the IRA.

s 5864B

Memorandum

Typed copy pamphlet issued by Comhairle na Poblacht, May 1929, `Patriot Priest Imprisoned'. The statement states that in Tirchonaill nine men and women are in jail because they repudiate the right of England to claim land annuities. In particular the statement relates to Father Fahy who rescued stock claimed by the Land Commission.

s 5864B

Pamphlet