Playwright from Knockadangan, Co. Clare. She won a university scholarship and was awarded a BA (in Irish, French and English) and an MA in Irish in UCD. While there she was a member of Cumann na mBan and Conradh na Gaeilge. She was jailed at one point for selling republican flags on Grafton Street. She … Read more
The numbers taking part in protests during the national day of mourning were unprecedented. In Waterford 20,000 took part in the ‘biggest demonstration for almost 60 years’, while in Castlebar 5,000 people joined in the ‘greatest show of unity in the county town since the days of the Land League’. There were estimates of 10,000 … Read more
In July 1920 the IRA shot dead Lt Colonel Brice Ferguson Smyth, who had earlier made an infamous speech in Listowel, where he said that the police were perfectly justified in shooting people who did not immediately put their hands up when challenged and that, if mistakes were made, policemen should not face court proceedings. … Read more
Devlin’s use of the AOH to enforce party discipline reached its zenith at the ‘baton’ convention of 9 February 1909, called to consider, or to enforce the acceptance of, Birrell’s land bill. The main victim was William O’Brien, ironically the founder of the UIL, opponent of the land bill and supporter of a more conciliatory … Read more
Across a broad spectrum, from affronted ecclesiastic to paranoid loyalist, a considerable ‘rap-sheet’ mounted up against the AOH. The Ribbonmen (as they were also known) stood charged with sectarianism, violent suppression of political opponents, undue influence on the IPP machine and an ultimately separatist outlook. Nevertheless, behind this criticism lay the near-universal opinion that the … Read more