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The I.R.B. from the treaty to 1924

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

John O’Beirne-Ranelagh
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Extract

During the Irish war for independence from 1916 to 1921, there were three important groups involved on the Irish side against Britain. These were Sinn Féin, the I.R.A. (Irish Republican Army) and the I.R.B. (Irish Republican Brotherhood).

Sinn Féin became in 1917 the political arm of the republicar movement for an independent Ireland. In the December 1918 general, election, Sinn Féin candidates won seventy-three of the 103 Irish constituencies and formed Dáil Eireann in January 1919. The dáil stood apart from the military side of the national struggle until March 1921, when it accepted responsibility for the activities of the I.R.A.

Type
Articles
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 20 , Issue 77 , March 1976 , pp. 26 - 39
Copyright
Copyright © Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 1976

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References

1 Déil Êireann proc, 1919–21, pp 264, 278–9.

2 After 1916 the I.R.A. is frequently referred to as the Irish Volunteers.

3 ‘The I.R.B, constitution as revised to date 1920’ (N.L.I., O’Donoghue papers, f. 72), clause 20a.

4 Seán MacEoin to J. O’Beirne-Ranelagh (hereafter cited as J. O’B.-R), 9 Nov. 1972 (statement in possession of J. O’B.-R.).

5 Le Garon, Henri (Beach, Thomas), Twenty-five years in the secret service: the recollections of a spy (London, 1892), p. 54 Google Scholar; MacDonald, John A., Troublous times in Canada: a history of the fenian raids of 1866 and 1870 (Toronto, 1910), pp.11–32 Google Scholar; N.L.I., O’Donoghue papers, f. 72.

6 ‘I.R.B, constitution as revised to 1920’, clauses 2, 5, 10a, 21b, 24a.

7 Seán McGarry, Michael Collins, Diarmuid Lynch, Diarmuid O’Hegarty, Michael Staines, Austin Stack, Eoin O’Duffy, Gearoid O’Sullivan and Larry Lardiner were all members of the executive and of the I.R.B, supreme council at various times during 1916–21.

8 Eoin O’Duffy, Gearoid O’Sullivan, Michael Collins and Diarmuid O’Hegarty were all members of the G.H.Q. staff in December 1921.

9 Mulcahy, Richard, ‘Commentary upon Piaras Beaslai’s Michael Collins and the making of a new Ireland ’ (U.C.D., Mulcahy papers, P7/D/I/67), i, pp 12, 22–3; n, p. 236.Google Scholar

10 The earliest date at which Collins could have been regularly elected or reelected president of the I.R.B, in 1921 was 15 October (N.L.I., O’Donoghue papers, f. 72).

11 Seán Ó Murthuile, ‘History of the Irish Republican Brotherhood ’ (U.C.D., Mulcahy papers; hereafter cited as Ó Murthuile), pp 166–7.

12 Ó Murthuile, pp 168–9.

13 O’Donoghue, Florence, No other law: the story of Liam Lynch and the Irish Republican Army, 1916–23 (Dublin, 1954), p. 190,Google Scholar but compare Ó Murthuile, pp 168–9.

14 O’Donoghue, , No other law, p. 190 Google Scholar; Ó Murthuile, pp 172–3; Lyons, F.S.L., Ireland since the famine (London, 1971), p. 438.Google Scholar

15 Ó Murthuile, pp 173–5.

16 O’Donoghue, , No other law, pp 231–3.Google Scholar

17 Cork county LR.Β. centre to south Munster LR.Β. divisional secretary, 7 Jan. 1922 (N.L.I., O’Donoghue papers, f. 72).

18 O’Donoghue, , No other law, pp 219, 334.Google Scholar

19 Mulcahy, Commentary, ii, pp 233–5; Ó Murthuile, p. 175.

20 O’Donoghue, , No other law, pp 190–1Google Scholar; Harry Boland to Sean McGarrity, 25 July 1922 (N.L.I., McGarrity papers); Macardle, Ir republic (London, 1937), p. 653; Ó Murthuile, p. 224.

21 Bura Staire Mileata, Chronology, 1919-21 (Dublin, Department of Defence, 1952), reveals that of thirteen actions in 1918 in Ireland, five occurred in what became the ist southern division’s area; in 1919, ten of forty-four; in 1920, 168 of 455; in 1921, 201 of 738.

22 N.L.I., O’Donoghue papers, f. 72.

23 All except J. J O’Connel! and Seamus O’Donovan were members°f the I.R.B, in 1921.

24 I.R.B, constitution as revised to 1920, clauses 20, 22.

25 Hobson, Bulmer, Ireland yesterday and tomorrow (Tralee, 1968), PP 103–7.Google Scholar

26 Florence O’Donoghue to Rev. F. X. Martin, 28 Mar. 1964 (N.L.I., O’Donoghue papers, f. 72).

27 ‘I.R.B, supreme council, general orders to county centres ’, Apr. 1921 (N.L.I., O’Donoghue papers, f. 72).

28 O’Donoghue, , No other law, pp 231–46, 282–8.Google Scholar

29 Ó Murthuile, pp 177–8.

30 Joseph O’Doherty to J. O’B.-R., 22 Mar. 1974 (statement in possession of J. O’B.-R.).

31 O’Donoghue, , No other law, pp 219–21, 334–5Google Scholar; Macardle, , Jr republic, pp 1001–2.Google Scholar

32 O’Donoghue, , No other law, pp 219, 334.Google Scholar

33 Macardle, Ir republic, pp 1001–2, O’Donoghue, No other law, P.334; the strength of the pro-treaty divisions was approximately 34,800 compared to anti-treaty divisions’s strength of approximately 77,850.

34 See above, n. 20.

35 U CD., Mulcahy papers, P7/D/I/13.

36 O’Donoghue, , No other law, pp 232–46.Google Scholar

37 Richard Mulcahy, Statement to committee of inquiry into army mutiny, 29 Apr. 1924 (U.C.D., Mulcahy papers, P7/G/I/10); Seán Ó Murthuile, Statement to committee of inquiry into army mutiny, 29 Apr. 1924 (U.C.D., Mulcahy papers, P7/C/I/13); Richard Mulcahy to Peadar MacMahon, 15 May 1963, transcript of tape-recorded conversation (U.G.D., Mulcahy papers).

38 Army committee of inquiry, Transcript of evidence of Lt-Gen Seán Ó Murthuile, 16 May 1924 (U.G.D., Mulcahy papers, P7/C/I/33), p. a3.

39 Ó Murthuile, pp 229–43.

40 Dáil Éireann deb., vii, 3124.

41 I.R.B. Constitution, 1923, clause 13b.

42 Liam Lynch to Liam Deasy, 7 Nov 1922 (N.T., O’Donoghue papers, f. 72).

43 Liam Deasy to Florence O’Donoghue, 30 Nov 1922; Florence O’Donoghue to Liam Deasy, 2 Dec. 1922, Florence O’Donoghue to Liam Deasy, 29 Dec. 1922 (N.L.T., O’Donoghue papers, f. 72).

44 Liam Lynch to Liam Deasy, 4 Jan. 1923 (N.L.I., O’Donoghue papers, f 72).

45 Ó Murthuile, pp 220–3.

46 Mulcahy, Statement, Army committee of inquiry, Transcript of evidence of General Sean MacMahon, 16 May 1924 (U.C.D., Mulcahv papers, P7/G/I/33.

47 U.C.D., Mulcahy papers, P7/B/II/284.

48 Pamphlet with a foreword, by Tobin, Liam, The truth about the army crisis (Dublin, 1924),Google Scholar Bell, J. Bowyer, The secret army: a history of the LR.Α., 1916–70 (London, 1970), pp 46–7Google Scholar; de Vere White, Terence, o’Higgins, pp 157–8, 161Google Scholar

49 Michael Brennan to Richard Mulcahy, 15 May 1923 (U.G.D., Mulcahy papers, P7/C/I/42).

50 Lyons, F S.L., Ireland since the famine, pp 483–5.Google Scholar

51 Department of general staff, ‘Staff duties : appointments and discharges ’, memorandum no. 12, Feb. 1924.

52 Peadar MacMahon to Richard Mulcahy, 19 Aug. 1963, transcript of tape-recorded conversation (U.C.D., Mulcahy papers).

53 Conlon papers in possession of J. O’B.-R.

54 N.L.I., O’Donoghue papers, f. 72.