Anti-Treaty IRA Reaction to Attack on Four Courts
Introduction
from the Chronology
Liam Lynch, who was in the Clarence Hotel (on the other side of
the River Liffey) when the attack on Four Courts started, meets with the
available senior officers of the anti-Treaty Executive forces and they decide
to defend the Republic in arms.
More Detail
They issue a proclamation to “Fellow Citizens of the Irish
Republic” stating that “our rightful cause is being treacherously assailed by
recreant Irishmen” and appeals “to all citizens … to rally to the support of
the Republic and recognise that the resistance now being offered is but a
continuance of the struggle that was suspended by the truce with the
British”. This proclamation is signed by all members of the Executive of
the anti-Treaty IRA including the four who are in the Four Courts (including
Liam Mellows, Rory O’Connor, Joe McKelvey, Ernie O’Malley, Seamus Robinson and
Sean Moylan). The split within the
anti-Treaty forces is decidedly over.
Lynch makes his way to Kingsbridge (Heuston) Station where he is
detained, along with Liam Deasy and Sean Culhane by pro-Treaty troops under
Liam Tobin. He is interviewed by Eoin O’Duffy in Wellington (Griffith)
Barracks but is let continue on his journey south. Controversy later
arose as to whether Lynch gave assurances as to his neutrality before being
released as O’Duffy claimed. Macardle says that he refused to commit
himself. Traveling with him was Seamus Robinson who had now being made
O/C of the 2nd Southern Division of the anti-Treaty forces.
According to Macardle the following were the signatories of the
proclamation: Liam Lynch; Frank Barrett; Liam Deasy; Tom Hales; Joseph
McKelvey; Liam Mellows; Rory O'Connor; Peadar O'Donnell; Ernie O'Malley; Seamus
Robinson; Joe O'Connor; Sean Moylan; PJ Ruttledge; Michael Kilroy; Tom Derrig,
Tom Barry and Pax Whelan. (Macardle again makes Thomas Kilroy a member of
the Executive rather than Tom Maguire.) McKelvey, O’Connor, Mellows and
O’Malley were in the Four Courts.