Finding aid databases

Letter in Irish to Siobhan, Bhean an Phaoraigh [Jennie Wyse Power] from Sean O hUadhaigh, Solicitor, Dublin, 22 August 1940, relating to the disposal of the Sinn Fein funds and sending details of Mrs Ceannt's suggestion for use of the money.

s 12110A

Letter

Copy letter from [?Siobhan Bean an Phaoraigh] to `Dear Sean' [? 28 August 1940]. She thanks him for sending on Mrs Ceannt's suggestion for use of the Sinn Fein funds. She writes: `You are correct in assuming that the matter is a source of constant preoccupation to me. In years past I have considered it from every angle, with the assistance of the best legal advice obtainable and I have discussed it with the Taoiseach on more than one occasion'.

s 12110A

Letter

Copy minutes of meetings of the Standing Committee of Sinn Fein, 10 October 1921-24 March 1922. Amongst the members whose names appear as present at the meetings are Dr K Lynn, Mrs Sheehy Skeffington, Mrs Ceannt and Mrs Wyse Power.

Sinn Fein Funds, Disposal

politics

Copy report of the proceedings at the Sinn Fein Ard-Fheis, October 1923. Dr Kathleen Lynn took the chair. Miss MacSwiney's address in Irish and English is detailed and the election of members of the Standing Committee are listed.

s 12110B

Report

Note of an interview with Mrs Eamonn Ceannt, December 1942 [the other party involved is not mentioned]. The note states that Mrs Ceannt remembers being called to a meeting of the Standing Committee [of Sinn Fein] on 26 October 1922. Amongst those whom she remembers as present at the meeting were Dr Kathleen Lynn and Mrs J Wyse Power. Mrs Ceannt considered that this meeting constituted `the end of Sinn Fein'. `Cumann na Gaedheal then came into existence and there was no Republican body, and Sinn Fein never met. In January or February 1923, Mrs Ceannt got word that there was a meeting being held in a house in Herbert Place. This meeting was being sponsored by the neutral I.R.A., but no formal invitation had been sent to her, although she was present at the meeting. A suggestion was made at this time that a Republican political body should be formed. She thinks that Dr. Lynn and possibly Helena Molony were present. Joseph Connolly was in the chair and several meetings of this body took place, and a new Organisation came into being, and was actually christened "The Irish Republican Political Organisation". Mr. de Valera was at this time in hiding, and several notes were sent to him and replies received, and he insisted that the Organisation should be called "Sinn Fein" although most of the others concerned were against this. About May 1923, the Organisation opened premises in Suffolk Street, and it was decided that a Meeting should be held in the Mansion House. She believes that this was held early in April, 1923'.

s 12110B

Note

Copy letter to Dr Kathleen Lynn, no signature [from de Valera?] , 22 October 1922, relating to his request that the funds and property of the Organisation [Sinn Fein] be handed over to him as Trustee in accordance with the resolution of the Standing Committee on 17 January 1922. He cannot attend a meeting to be held the following Thursday. `The business of the meeting is not stated, but I would point out to you that any attempt to rescind the resolution of January last must be regarded as definitely partisan - an endeavour to do that which the January resolution was expressly passed to prevent, and out of order, with or without notice of motion'.

s 12110B

Letter

Copy letter to de Valera from K[athleen] Lynn, 30 October 1922. She will `try to carry out your instructions to the best of my power, but I should like to know how? You understand that at Thursday's meeting my ruling re Officer Board was questioned and the best we could do was to compromise (hateful word)'. She continues: `Personally I have always though [sic] Sinn Fein was unlucky, it held us together only to let us down at the critical moment. Now I think, it will be very difficult to resuscitate it, for any good Republicans won't touch it and the Free Staters are determined to kill it'.

s 12110B

Letter

Copy letter to Dr Kathleen Lynn [from de Valera], 31 October 1922. He writes concerning the power structures of Sinn Fein. For example, at `the last Ard Fheis it was agreed that the Standing Committee be again superseded by the Officer Board until the Elections were held, and by the Ard Comhairle after the Elections'. He discusses the funds of Sinn Fein and the objections to handing them over to him as Trustee.

s 12110B

Letter

Memorandum from the Department of the Taoiseach, 4 November 1946, relating to the disposal of certain funds of the Old Sinn Fein Organisation. A Board of five trustees are entitled to make payments out of the Fund to certain qualified persons, amongst whom, for example, are those members of Cumann na mBan who gave service between 1 March 1916 to 31 December 1921.

s 12110B

Memorandum

Notes on the history of the Sinn Fein Funds, Department of the Taoiseach, 20 February 1947. For example, on `the 8th November, 1938, the Taoiseach discussed with Mrs. Wyse Power the question of the disposal of the funds. … There is no record of what transpired at the discussion'. Attached to the notes is a chronological record of developments in the matter of the funds.

s 12110B

Notes