Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 23 June 2022

Journeys to a Free State: General Election Fall Out

On Friday 16 June 1922, the 1922 Irish general election took place. The result of the election in Cork City was announced shortly before midnight on Saturday 17 June 1922. Some thousands of people waited to the hear the end result outside Cork City Courthouse. The first step was reached at 7.30pm, when businessman Mr Robert Day, having secured 6,836 votes, the quota being 6,070, was declared elected. At intervals afterwards Alderman De Róiste and Alderman JJ Walsh, having received the quota, were also safe.

Later Mary MacSwiney TD, though four short of the quota, secured the fourth place. The defeated candidates, next in order, were – Alderman Beamish, Mr Frank Daly, and the shock defeat of Lord Mayor of Cork, TD and Cllr Donal Óg O’Callaghan.

Poll topper Robert Day said that he was in the happy position of having to propose a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer and also to his staff. Mary MacSwiney said on behalf of the Republican candidates she wished to express her sincere thanks for the way the election had been carried out. At this stage cheers were raised for Mary by members outside the door of the Court house and another group called for cheers for ”the senior member for Cork” i.e Donal Óg O’Callaghan  

In the days that followed, the 128 seats up for grabs in Dáil Éireann were filled. Out of a valid poll of 621,587 votes, the pro-Treaty faction of Sinn Féin won 239,195 votes and the anti-Treaty faction won 135,310 votes. The other parties and independents all supported the Treaty and secured a further 247,080 votes. The vote was seen as considerable in many ways but in essence the pro-Treaty parties had secured support from over 75% of the electorate.

On 21 June 1922 Éamon de Valera gave a formal statement on the election to the press such as the Cork Examiner: “These results seem indeed a triumph for the Imperial methods of pacification, outrage and murder and massacre, and then a threat with a concession – the policy of the kick and caress, with a kick in reserve. By the threat of immediate renewal of an infamous war our people harassed and weary, and fearful of chaos, have in a majority voted as England wanted, but their hearts and their aspirations are unchanged, and Ireland unfree will never be at rest or genuinely reconciled with England. England’s gain is for the moment only, and England’s difficulty will still be prayed for as Ireland’s opportunity”.

De Valera further articulated about patriotism and dying for Ireland; “The men and women who have been rejected by the electorate have gone down with their flag flying, untouched by prospect of place or power, true to their principles, true to every pledge and promise they gave, true to the dead who died for Ireland—with those hallowed names, theirs will forever be coupled in honourable mention, in one of the most glorious chapters in their nation’s story”.

As for the published Dáil Éireann Constitution, he said, it was still only a draft, and he felt confident Dáil would not pass it as it good. He claimed that as it stood it would exclude from the public services, and practically disfranchise every honest Republican. He noted: “It isa test code as comprehensive against Republicans as the last acts of the Clarendon-Shaftesbury code against Catholics and dissenters in the reign of Charles II. It is as Burke described the Irish Penal Code, a machine of wise and elaborate contrivance, a complete system well digested and well composed in all its parts, and particularly fitted to the end in view – the degradation of a people – directed not against the few but against the many. Dáil Éireann will not dishonour itself by passing it”.

Michael Collins remained quiet in the press up to after his election in his West Cork constituency. He did not formally respond to De Valera’s comments. However, the immediate aftermath of the general election result was that despite the pre-election coalition pact, the division between pro-treaty Sinn Fein members and anti-treaty members intensified.

On 28 June 1922, the Irish Civil War began, when the Irish Provisional Government’s troops began a shelling of the Anti-Treaty IRA’s ongoing take over of the Four Courts in Dublin. The Cork Examiner reported that there had been many casualties. Armoured cars, trench mortars, and machine guns were in action. Graphic accounts of the fighting were printed. The Provisional Government forces also seized the Fowler Hall. The building was besieged, and eventually set on fire. Telegraphic communication with Dublin continued, though irregularly, but the telephone service to the capital ceased A striking fact was that with the exception of the districts in which actual hostilities were taking place, business proceeded as usual.

At 6.30pm the Press Association stated that the Provisional Government had imposed a censorship on telegraphic messages. By 8pm breaches had been made in the river frontage of the Courts, and the Chancery Section and Library have been damaged by shells. During the evening there were a series of attacks on Provisional Government troops, who suffered six casualties in Oriel House, the headquarters of the attacked. Sniping operations extended throughout the city.

The shelling continued until 5 July 1922. At that point at least fifteen individuals were killed on the Republican side, with an unknown number wounded and over 450 individuals taken prisoner. On the Provisional Government National Army side, at least 29 were killed and over 150 were wounded.

Caption:

1156a. Fire and explosions – the shelling of Four Courts Dublin, late June 1922 (source: National Library of Ireland, Dublin).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 16 June 2022

Journeys to a Free State: Collins Comes Back to Cork

In last week’s column I wrote about, the general election, which was called on 19 May 1922 by a resolution of Dáil Éireann by an order of the Irish Provisional Government. The treaty had split the Sinn Féin party. To diminish losses due to contesting other parties, Éamon de Valera and Michael Collins created a pact, which was approved on 20 May 1922. They decided that the pro-treaty and anti-treaty factions would fight the general election jointly and shape a coalition government afterwards. On Saturday 10 June 1922, Éamon de Valera arrived in Cork by train at 9.15pm for a series of election rallies across the county.

Four days later on 14 June 1922 Michael Collins arrived to rally support for his election cause. He arrived with Cork TD J J Walsh. The general public had not more than a couple of hours’ notice of the arrival of the distinguished visitors. The train was due to arrive at 9.15 pm, but long before that hour the station premises and yard were crowded with people while immediately outside there was a vast gathering.

Inside the station when the train was signalled there was a tussle for points of vantage. Several men climbed on to the railings of the subway. and perched themselves on windowsill and lamp post. As the train emerged from the tunnel rousing cheers were given and frequently repeated to the cry “Up the Treaty”, “Up Collins”. With difficulty the party made their way to the waiting motor cars.

Preceded by the Lee Pipers Hand and Fair Lane Fife and Drum, the cars slowly emerged to the highway. Along the broad stretch of the Lower Road there was a sea of people, and the “stands” made by the tunnel steps and the terraces of houses along to and including St Patrick’s Church, were densely packed. The streets along the route to Turner’s Hotel on Oliver Plunkett Street were packed with people.

Michael was technically on route to Skibbereen for a rally in his own constituency. However, in response to repeated calls for a speech, he appeared at a window of Turner’s Hotel and was received with rounds of cheers. He thanked the crowd for their welcome. He noted that it was his second time since February 1922 to address the Cork city public. He remarked of his personal perspective; “My position is fairly well known to you, and to everyone in Ireland. You here are facing an election on Friday, and I am not hampered now by being on a platform where there are Coalitionists. I can make a straight appeal to you citizens of Cork to vote for the candidates you think best of – to vote for candidates whom the electors of Cork will think will carry on best in the future the work that the citizens of Cork want carried on”.

Michael continued; “When I spoke in Dublin, I put it that the country was facing a very serious situation, and if that situation was to be met, as it should be met, the country must have the representatives that it needs. He concluded by noting to the public: “You understand fully what you have to do and I will depend on you to do it”.

There were also repeated demands for JJ Walsh to address the crowds from his window in Turner’s Hotel. Opening his short speech that it would be unfair of him “to his old friends, the citizens of Cork, those of them who marched with him for the last 10 or 12 years in an Irish Ireland movement”, if he failed on that occasion to thank them for their loyalty and their goodwill through trying times.

JJ Walsh responded to the cheers that Michael got by observing; “It was a fitting answer and offset to the unfortunate circumstances, which occurred in this neighbourhood a few months ago [during the War of Independence], and demonstrated fully the fact that the people of Cork correctly interpreted the Gaelic spirit which operated in and animated Michael Collins and men of his type in the immediate and distant past on behalf of the people”.

JJ Walsh also articulated that he was not going to say anything in connection with the pending election. That was a matter for the people in their discretion in casting their votes. He remarked; “It was simply a case of voting in whatever direction they thought best for the Irish nation. In that spirit and with that intention alone I voted for the Treaty six months ago. The discretion and intelligence necessary to direct that vote on my part are equally available with you, and it is entirely a matter for yourselves to do what you think is right in the circumstances.

 Concluding, JJ Walsh expressed the hope that Michael Collins and those associated with him – those who were returned on Friday and who the nation would return in its wise discretion would save this poor nation and bring it to the goal of destiny which you and I, and every sincere Irish man and woman has honed for in the past”. Once JJ ended his few words, the crowds dispersed shortly after from Oliver Plunkett Street.

Kieran’s June Tours:

Saturday 18 June 2022, The Workhouse and St Finbarr’s Hospital; meet at entrance to St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, 2pm (free, 2 hours). 

Caption:

1155a. Michael Collins in London, July 1921, by John Lavery (source: The Hugh Lane Gallery).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 9 June 2022

Journeys to a Free State: DeValera Comes Back to Cork

On 19 May 1922, a general election was called by a resolution of Dáil Éireann by an order of the Irish Provisional Government. The treaty had split the Sinn Féin party between 65 pro-treaty candidates, 57 anti-treaty and 1 nominally on both sides.

To diminish losses due to contesting other parties, Éamon de Valera and Michael Collins created a pact, which was approved on 20 May 1922. They decided that the pro-treaty and anti-treaty factions would fight the general election jointly and shape a coalition government afterwards. The sitting members would not be opposed by the other faction. This pact prevented voters giving their opinions on the treaty itself, especially in uncontested seats. 

 On Saturday 10 June 1922, Éamon de Valera arrived in Cork by train at 9.15pm for a series of election rallies across the county. The Cork Examiner records that he was accompanied by Messrs Austin Stack TD, Padraig O’Keeffe TD, Seán Hayes TD, and David Kent TD. The party was met at the platform by many prominent citizens, including the Lord Mayor Donal Óg O’Callaghan, and supportive members of Cork Corporation. Ten motor cars were in waiting, and the party having taken their seats a procession was formed headed up by three bands – the Lee Piper’s Band, the MacCurtain Memorial Piper’s Band, and a fife and drum band.

There were considerable numbers of the general public along MacCurtain Street, St Patrick’s Street, and the Grand Parade. The party were making Turner’s Hotel on Oliver Plunkett Street their headquarters during their visit to Cork. For more than an hour after their arrival at the hotel, a large crowd waited outside, possibly under the impression that one of the leaders might address a few remarks to them, but no speeches were delivered and before 10.30pm the crowd had melted away. A tricolour flag was floating from one of the windows of the hotel.

Following an extensive tour of the county, a successful meeting in support of DeValera’s election candidates was held on the Grand Parade on Sunday 11 June, Speeches were delivered from two platforms, no.1 was situated near the National Monument and no. 2 was located above the Berwick Fountain. Two local bands were in attendance.

At platform no.1 Lord Mayor O’Callaghan commented to the public that they were “absolutely free to vote for whom they pleased and as they pleased”. But in the light of their knowledge of the national position, and its dangers on all sides, he asked the people for their assistance. He noted, “It was they who were going to shoulder the responsibility of steering this country in the period, which was about to open. They asked them to return to the Dáil the same people who had worked up to now…it was necessary to entrust the country into the hands of those who had been the strength of the movement for the past few years…that was to have a solid working entity in the new parliament”.

On rising to the platform Éamon de Valera was received with cheers and said that he was there as President of the Sinn Féin organisation under the auspices of which the panel candidates were going forward in the general national interest. “Up to last December they had a common policy in Dáil Éireann on a mandate that they got from the people. Since December they differed on a question and on that question, they still differered, and were likely to go down to their graves differing on. They felt that it would not be in the best interests of the nation to try and get a decision on that question at the present time”.

Éamon deValera noted that there was agreement on many things. They agreed that their nation had a right to be as free, as any other nation on the earth, and that the people had a right and duty to struggle to secure that freedom, and that the nation should never rest until it achieved it.

Secondly, they agreed that they not only wanted a free Ireland, but a distinctively Irish nation, and not to have Ireland become a West Briton. He noted: “They agreed that an Irish Ireland could not be got unless they started upon a Gaelic foundation, and the fundamental foundation was to restore as the common spoken their own ancient national language”.

They also agreed that any legislation that affected different classes should be based upon justice, and that every Irish citizen who accepted the responsibility of Irish citizenship had a right to have his life and property. his interests, defended by the nation.

They found agreement as to international policy—they desired, while maintaining their own right to independence a policy of friendliness with all nations. He highlighted; “They did not want to wage a war of aggression on any country, but when attacked to defend themselves, and he hoped they would never see the day the Irish nation was not ready to defend itself when attacked”.

Amidst cheers Éamon de Valera declared that a national Government that should be able to get the support, of the whole people. He observed; “The two parties coming together would get a wider measure of support from the people of the country than any Government that could be chosen would get. The next eight or ten months would be critical months. They believed that if there was to be a united army it was only such a Coalition as agreed upon, could get it, and that also was a reason for their coining together and giving the people a chance to give them back authority once more”.

To be continued…

Kieran’s June Tours:

Saturday 11 June 2022, Cork and the River Lee, An Introduction to the Historical Development of Cork City; meet at the National Monument, Grand Parade, 2pm, in association with Cork Harbour Festival (free, 2 hours, no booking required for all tours).

Sunday 12 June 2022, Stories from Blackrock and Mahon, Historical Walking Tour; meet in the courtyard of outside Blackrock Castle, 2pm, in association with Cork Harbour Festival (free, 2 hours, finishes at old railway line walk).

Saturday 18 June 2022, The Workhouse and St Finbarr’s Hospital; meet at entrance to St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, 2pm (free, 2 hours). 

Caption:

1154a. Éamon de Valera in London, July 1921, by John Lavery (source: The Hugh Lane Gallery).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 2 June 2022

Journeys to a Free State: The Shaw Commission Arrives

The Compensation (Ireland) Commission for the Irish War of Independence arrived in Cork on 31 May 1922. The Commission was set up jointly by the Irish Provisional and British Governments in 1922. It would sit in Ireland under the presidency of, originally, Lord Shaw of Dunfermline, and later, Sir Alexander Wood-Renton. The Commission’s terms of reference were limited to the deliberation of claims in respect of damage or injury incurred between 21 January 1919 and 11 July 1921. Representatives of the the Provisional Government, some weeks before hand already has been to Cork to go through how the physical financing structure would work.

The three-person group known as the Shaw Commission comprised two representatives from the British Government and one from the Irish Provisional Government. Lord Shaw of Dumfermline (Chairman) who was a prominent Scottish Liberal Peer and Lawyer chaired the group. Mr C J Howell Thomas was Deputy Chief Valuer to Westminster’s Board of Inland Revenue. Mr James Dowdall was a representative of the Provisional Government and a prominent merchant from Cork city, and Mr Norman MacPherson was Secretary and Mr Michael Ryan was Assistant Secretary.

The sittings at Cork were opened in in the County Court. Mr Tim M Healy, and Mr J Byrne (instructed by Mr M Corrigan, solicitor) appeared for the Irish Provisional Government at the sitting of the Court.

Mr H Exham, solicitor on behalf of Ireland’s Southern Law Association, welcomed the Commission to Cork, and assured them of every assistance, from the Association. They wanted to know whether the Commission would sit in Cork to hear all the County Cork cases and whether a list would be drawn up on the order in which each case would be taken.

Lord Shaw thanked the Association for its welcome, and said he hoped that Mr Exham and his colleagues “would have the same worthy opinion of them at the close of their sittings as they had at the beginning”. He detailed that the claims from various parts of Ireland were very large in number. Many had already been initially deliberated on by a local Court Recorder, as in the Cork City context, but needed to be further critiqued. In particular, he noted the impact of the war on the the City and County of Cork owing to circumstances he wished not to get into during his chairmanship.

Continuing his introduction, Lord Shaw outlined that it was almost impossible at their point in time to form any opinion or forecast as to the particular order in which certain cases would be taken. He did wish though to give those people involved in the cases sufficient time for preparation.

Lord Shaw also wished to say that there was an inclination to make Cork acentre of their deliberations in the immediate south of the country. He was going to notify publicly all County Councils in the South of Ireland and local authorities that the Commission relied on their co-operation to send them all the claims, which had been lodged. The Commission had also delegated certain functions to a local investigator who would go to the localities and conduct the local investigation before the case came before the Commission.

The case of Messrs William Egan and Sons, 32 and 33 Patrick’s Street, was the first case taken. Mr James Rearden and Mr George Daly appeared for the business.

There were two claims – one in respect of the damage caused on the night of the 29 November 1920, when a bomb was thrown into the premises – and the second for the burning of the premises on the night of 11 December. The total claim for the former was £2,858 16s 6d, and the decree by the Recorder of Cork on foot of it was £2,413.

In respect of the December burning the claim totalled £58,544 13s 9d, made up as follows – fittings and plants, £21,670 11s 9d; stock-in-trade, £22,578 11s 9d; furniture and plant in workshops, £6.576 2s , and resulting loss and cost of temporary premises, £1,608 8s 3d. The Recorder on foot of this claim gave a decree for £51,367 with costs and expenses.

Evidence substantiating the claims was given by Mr R M Egan, managing director at the firm. He emphasised that the business was most anxious to start rebuilding immediately once their claim was decided. They did intend to extend their business and had acquired premises adjoining; he noted “We believe in the future of Cork and it is a matter of indifference to us how the money is made payable, whether on architect’s certificates, or direct personally, or through the Government. Personally, he would prefer that the payments be made through the Government”.

Mr Healy, on rising to put some questions to the witness relative to the Company’s balance sheet and to insurance, said: “We are here not to oppose any claim; we are not opponents of the applicants; we are critics and no more. Mr B O’Flynn (architect), estimated the cost of rebuilding at £12,904 15s. 3d., and of replacing the fittings £5,846.

Mr. John Hayes, manager of the ecclesiastical department of Messrs. Egan, gave evidence as to the quantity of goods in stock in his department at the time of the time and similar testimony was given with reference to the jewellery department and shop by the manager of these, Mr James O’Connell.

After legal arguments on the question as to whether the goods looted came within the scope of the Malicious Injuries Act, the Court adjourned until 11.15am the following day on 1 June, when the decision of the Commission was announced. The total awarded was £34,606 plus £14,000 to be expended in connection with the re-erection of the buildings. This was less than the original recorder’s assessment.

Mr Egan on receiving the news wished to intervene to express his disappointment. He noted: “I have no feelings of anger or heart, and nothing but thanks for the courteous way you have carried out the in inquiry, but I must say this court appears to me in its decision as nothing but a mockery, a delusion, and a snare”. Lord Shaw noted that he was sympathetic but highlighted: “I think you would he very well-advised Mr Egan, not to make that statement”. The statement stood though. However, Egan’s was not the only damaged premises who saw their original recorder’s claim reduced. A large majority of reductions occurred right across the Shaw Commission’s work in the ensuing months.

Kieran’s June Tours:

Saturday 11 June 2022, Cork and the River Lee, An Introduction to the Historical Development of Cork City; meet at the National Monument, Grand Parade, 2pm, in association with Cork Harbour Festival (free, 2 hours, no booking required for all tours).

Sunday 12 June 2022, Stories from Blackrock and Mahon, Historical Walking Tour; meet in the courtyard of outside Blackrock Castle, 2pm, in association with Cork Harbour Festival (free, 2 hours, finishes at old railway line walk).

Saturday 18 June 2022, The Workhouse and St Finbarr’s Hospital; meet at entrance to St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, 2pm (free, 2 hours). 

Caption:

1153a. James C Dowdall, Irish Provisional Government Representative on the Shaw Commission 1922 (source: Dowdall Family).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 19 May 2022

Journeys to a Free State: The Evacuation of Victoria Barracks

The last detachments of military, in the occupation of Cork’s Victoria Barracks, filed out on 18 May 1922 at 7pm. Subsequently they embarked on the SS Classic from Custom House Quay. The formalities of the handing over were entirely unceremonious. At about 5pm Captain Hugh MacNeil IRA, came to the barracks, accompanied by another officer representing the Irish Provisional Government. He was met by Captain J G Maghahy, Divisional Officer, Royal Engineers, who escorted him through the buildings.

The Cork Examiner records that there were some 400 menofthe Hampshire, North Staffordshire, and York regiments formed up in the barrack square awaiting orders to proceed out of the space. They were fully equipped, with packs on their backs, and carrying rifles. Each company was under the command of an officer. Their wait for orders was prolonged, and over two hours passed before they got the command to fall in and to move away from their ‘at ease’ position. It is detailed that some of the men had pets with them – “dogs of varied descriptions”. One soldier was so attached to his dog that when the command of ‘march’ was given, he took the dog up inhis arms, and marched.

There in the square of the barracks, surrounded by huge stretches of buildings, rested all that was left of a garrison that frequently numbered thousands. Built between 1801 and 1806 and occupying 37 acres, the Georgian square became the largest military parade ground in Europe. The buildings included sleeping-quarters, stables, a church and a prison for the Cork-based British Army garrison. It was designed to house two infantry regiments, a cavalry, as well as headquarters staff of a military district. It was described in the early part of the nineteenth century as “conveniently” adapted to accommodate 156 officers and 1,994 men and stabling for 232 horses.

On 18 May 1922, at the top of the square the Union Jack flew from the standard. Scattered around it were the oval corrugated caged-in-huts, where IRA members were housed preparatory to being interned at one or other of the British internment camps throughout the country in 1921. To the east of this side of the barrack lay the military prison, so poignantly remembered by many men and women in the south as the Detention Barrack. In the early part of 1921, this place was the scene of the executions. The buildings in this particular section also included two fine residences, the houses of the Governor and the Chief Warder, as well as a terrace ofhouses that comprised the warders’ quarters.

On these prison grounds was also well remembered the courtmartial of Thomas Kent in 1916. He was sentenced to be shot and was buried where he fell. In 2015 his remains were exhumed and buried in the Kent family plot at Castlelyons.

The Cork Examiner details that shortly after the command to move out had been called a soldier carrying a handsaw, and accompanied by an officer, came towards the flagstaff on the square. The soldier was about to cut down the staff when Captain MacNeil approached the officer and protested, asking, “Is this necessary?”. The officer replied that it was necessary, and that the staff was coming down, adding “That flag was lowered for many a true soldier, and it is never going to fly a rebel flag”. The soldier then went on with the cutting of the mast, and just as he had finished the Union Jack was lowered, taken off, and placed at the back of an armoured car, which accompanied the departing troops. The mast then fell and remained on the ground. Another exhibition of ill feeling was the smashing of several windows in the officers’ mess.

The main body of the general public congregated outside the main gate of the barracks and awaited the departure of the troops. It was just 7pm when the gate swung open and the officers led the companies of soldiers out. The reception outside was mixed and the Irish Republican Police was present to prevent anything untoward or any exhibition of feelings between people holding very opposite views. For example, preparatory to the departure the unfurling of the tricolour flag by one woman caused some resentment to another and there was a short scuffle. The police intervened straight away.

The Cork Examiner further relates that there was a second entrance to the barracks from Rathmore Road, and through this at 6pm had come the advance party of the Irish troops. They remained just inside this gate until the British military left, and until Captain Maghahy handed over the lock and key of the front gate to Captain MacNeill.

The advance guard of the Irish soldier came around to the guard room, where they took up their position. The main body of the troops during this time had left Union Quay, and were marching, headed up by the Pipers Band, to the barracks. They numbered about 200, and fully armed, including being in the possession of a machine gun. A large crowd accompanied them en route, and when they reached the gate of the Barracks. They entered into possession amidst enthusiastic cheers. Captain MacNeil then handed over the key to Commandant Seán Murray of Cork No 1 Brigade, IRA. 

The evacuation of Victoria Barracks meant that all British military had now left the southern capital.

Kieran’s Upcoming Tours:

Sunday 22 May 2022, Views from a Park – Tramore Valley Park, in association with the KinShip Project; meet at Halfmoon Lane gate, 2pm (free, 90 mins, no booking required).

Saturday 28 May 2022, The Friar’s Walk; Discover Red Abbey to the Greenmount area; Meet at Red Abbey tower, off Douglas Street, 2pm (free, 2 hours, no booking required).

Caption:

1151a. The British army, in Victoria (now Collins) Barracks Cork, taking down the Union Jack flag for the last time, 18 May 1922 (source: Kilmainham Gaol Museum).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 12 May 2022

Journeys to a Free State: A New Connolly Hall

On 14 May 1922, the Cork branch of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union observed the anniversary of the execution of James Connolly, and later that day began a new chapter in their work in their new premises at the former Soldiers’ Home on King’s Terrace, Lower Glanmire Road. This was to become their future headquarters for almost 54 years.

The first Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union cards were issued in Cork in 1909 and indeed the Cork branch of the union was the first established outside of Dublin. It was set up by the dockers of Cork’s port. Within a matter of months, a serious industrial battle ensued, for in June 1909 a strike of over 100 members took place.

Despite the scarcity of industry and of employment in Cork in those years the union made very definite progress. In particular, the union had its own premises on Oliver Plunkett Street. In 1920 a more substantial premises was occupied by the union on Camden Quay. In August 1920, Crown troops made an assault while the Irish Trade Union Congress was meeting there. Four months later during the Burning of Cork on 11/12 December 1920, the Black and Tans targeted the union’s hall raiding it, smashed it up and destroying it by fire. It was then necessary for the union to move back to its old building in Oliver Plunkett Street. In early 1922 the Cork Soldiers Home on King’s Terrace came on the market and the union secured possession.

Initially the premises for the old Cork Soldier’s Home was donated and was opened as the first soldiers’ home in Ireland on 10 June 1877. The aim was to take young soldiers away from public houses and provide them a different space for entertainment and self-improvement. The concept was initially developed by evangelical Christian and philanthropist Elise Sandes. Research by historian Bryan MacMahon denotes in his research that by 1913 there were 31 such soldiers’ homes attached to army barracks, 22 in Ireland and the rest in India. With the establishment of the Irish Free State most of the homes were closed down. Only three remained open in the Irish Free State after 1921.

On 14 May 1922, the Soldier’s Home was formally taken over by the Cork Branch of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union. The Cork Examiner describes that there was a large congregation at the Connolly Memorial Mass, which was celebrated in St Francis Church at 9am. Later in the day the members assembled at their old headquarters, and headed by their fife and drum band marched in processional order through the streets of the city. A well-ordered body of organised workers, preceded by the band of the union, proceeded through the city and attracted considerable public interest. The procession went through St Patrick’s Street, Grand Parade, South Mall, and across Brian Boru Bridge to the Soldier’s Home.

At 2pm Alderman William O’Brien, Dublin branch, General Treasurer, opened the door, and declared the new premises opened in the name of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union. A short public meeting was held and addressed from the window of the newly occupied premises. William noted that he considered it a great honour to be associated with the ceremony. “This is a red-letter day in the annals of Cork and the history of the working classes. Two great events have taken place today, the anniversary celebration of the martyrdom of Connolly and the taking over of a hall, which lately was the post of the British garrison. My colleagues and I are proud to be there on behalf of the executive of the Union to show how we appreciate what has been done by the Trades Union in Cork, and how they have stood steadfast to the Union and to the working class organisation, notwithstanding all the difficulties they were up against”.

William continued to outline that a few short years previously the organisation was down but Phoenix-like, it had risen from its ashes, and the workers were never better organised than today. He noted: “we have built up the organisation, and every employer recognises it as a force that cannot be fought successfully or defeated. I am sure they recognise its great value and refuse to be drawn aside by anything that might occur to weaken it”.

On 18 May 1922, the first meeting held in the new Connolly Hall took place, which was a meeting of the branch committee. It was presided over by Michael Hill and attended by 38 delegates from the different sections. Michael was an insurance agent, a member of the National Executive Council of the union, and played a vital part in the affairs of the union in Cork in those difficult days. His theme that night, in the first union speech made in Connolly Hall, was the dire need for working class education so that the trade unionists could achieve a rationalised movement as the first essential step towards industrial democracy.

The 1930s were a decade of industrial revival and the Cork branch increased its membership overall by 120 per cent in the first eight years. In Cork, this entailed the introduction of two branches headed respectively by Dominic O’Sullivan and Jim Hickey. The post-war years were also ones of steady expansion, with no less than seven branches servicing Cork City and County being created which catered for a wide variety of occupations and industries.

Not surprisingly, therefore, a decision was taken to construct a new centre for the Union in the city. The foundation stone of a more spacious Connolly Hall on Lapp’s Quay was laid on 15 June 1974. 

Kieran’s May 2022 Tours:

Saturday 14 May 2022, The Northern Ridge – St Patrick’s Hill to MacCurtain Street; meet on the Green at Audley Place, top of St Patrick’s Hill, 2pm (free, 2 hours, no booking required).

Sunday 22 May 2022, Views from a Park – Tramore Valley Park, in association with the KinShip Project; meet at Halfmoon Lane gate, 2pm (free, 90 mins, no booking required).

Saturday 28 May 2022, The Friar’s Walk; Discover Red Abbey to the Greenmount area; Meet at Red Abbey tower, off Douglas Street, 2pm (free, 2 hours, no booking required).

Caption:

1150a. Old Connolly Hall, King’s Terrace, Lower Glanmire Road, present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy).

Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 5 May 2022

Journeys to a Free State: A New Reconstruction Committee is Formed

The meeting between the Irish Provisional Government representative Diarmuid Fawsitt and the Cork Reconstruction Committee of Corporation of Cork had been long awaited. For over fifteen months since the Burning of Cork on 11-12 December 1920 there was a great desire to have the rebuilding proceeded with as rapidly as possible and for the lack of compensation forthcoming resolved.

As part of the Anglo-Irish agreement the principle of compensation was acknowledged for those who had suffered loss or injury of the kind governed by the enactments relating to Criminal Injuries. These included those sustained during action taken by the military operating under martial law between 21 January 1919 and 11 July 1921. Consequently, the Compensation (Ireland) Commission was established jointly by Westminster and Irish Provisional Governments respectively in early 1922. 

On 2 May 1922 Diarmuid Fawsitt of the Ministry of Economy met with a recently formed Cork Reconstruction Committee, which replaced an inhouse members committee. The new committee would have local councillors but more specifically representatives of owners of buildings, a representative of the Provisional Government in the form of Cork’s Alderman Liam de Roiste TD. Dublin based Thomas Cullen was the government’s supervising architect whilst Mr Patrick Harnett McCarthy was the government’s representative engineer.

The Cork Examiner outlines the statement at the meeting by Diarmuid Fawsitt. He was glad to tell those present that one of the Provisional Government’s earliest efforts was to come to an understanding with the British government to set up a compensation commission. All the arrangements with the British government had been advanced. Its personnel would be announced in the days to follow.

Diarmuid noted of the re-opening of all cases and re-examining previous compensation awards; “They were all aware of the destruction wrought in that country by the armed forces of the British government, and they were also aware of the prejudiced manner in which the then representatives of justice approached the cases. In a number of cases, amounts altogether too large were awarded, while in others they were quite inadequate. The Compensation Commission would have to investigate all cases that were undefended, and machinery was also being set up whereby claims could be reopened with a view to revision. The cases that would stand or those in which defences were put up by local authorities”.

Diarmuid outlined that considering the magnitude of the task, the work of the commission would take some time. In view of the circumstances the Provisional Government thought it better to make arrangements so that decree holders could get the necessary financial assistance to start rebuilding immediately. Otherwise, the work of rebuilding could be delayed further, and decree holders may hesitate to start building it all.

The Provisional Government had prepared a scheme for general reconstruction work throughout the country. Decree holders would be facilitated to obtain government loans, and to enable them to build, particularly where trade and industry concerns were central. All claims for government loans in advance could be made to the secretary of the Office of Public Works. Diarmuid noted: “every claim would receive a sympathetic consideration and all the circumstances would be taken into recognition and the financial assistance requisite in the circumstances would be forthcoming but the government”.

As regards the Cork City situation, Diarmuid detailed it was felt by the Provisional Government that it demanded a special effort on their part to help reconstruction in the city. He was glad to say that it was largely because of the city’s civic spirit that the government intervened. He wished to give credit to the Corporation of Cork and the owners of destroyed properties for having set up the initial reconstruction committee, which had been functioning there for some time. The work of that committee was preparatory to the work of the committee they were setting up.

In the new scheme it would be provided that advances would be made by the government up to three-fifths of the actual decrees obtained in courts. In otherwords, if a claimant held a decree for £5000, the Provisional Government was prepared to advance, as the building, was being constructed the sum of £3000. It was provided that the sum of £10,000 be made available immediately to the Reconstruction Committee through the Corporation’s finance officer.

The Reconstruction Committee would then consider what they would require each month. And so on until one of two things occurred – either the actual decrees were made good to the decree holders by the compensation commission are the buildings were completed when there would be no longer a necessity or obligation on the provision government or to provide the loans.

All claimants would have to satisfy the community that they were actual decree holders. Applications for payments would have to come before the City’s Treasurer or finance officer and would subsequently have to come before the architect and engineer of the Provisional Government for certification. Then the City Treasurer, on the authority of the committee, acting on the certificate of the city solicitor an engineer, would make an advance to meet the actual expense of building.

The engineer and architect of the provisional government would have their services at the disposal of the committee when required. Diarmuid concluded by noting “they would like to see the new Cork excel the old Cork, and they look forward to the day when Cork and the Port of Cork would enjoy greater prosperity than they ever did in the past”.

Caption:

1149a. Ruins of Roches Stores department store, St Patrick’s Street, 12 December 1920 (source: Hogan Photography, National Library of Ireland).