August
1921
|
Aug-01-21/1 |
Meeting of Irish Trades Union Congress held in
Dublin. Addressed by de Valera who thanks them for the loyal and unselfish
part played by Irish Labour throughout the struggle. |
Macardle (1999), pg 488 |
|
Aug-02-21/1 |
Macready writes to the Worthington-Evans (British Secretary of State for War) and CIGS Wilson looking to formalise the terms of the Truce rather than the rather informal ones that he agreed on July 8th and 9th. However, some of this formalising was aimed at getting better Truce terms for the British side. One of the conditions which Macready wanted to add was “No carrying of arms without a [British issued] permit”. Kautt notes that this was tantamount to calling for surrender. Kautt goes on to note that, because the Truce was a precondition for entering into negotiations “Adding conditions to these negotiations ex post facto is a demonstration of bad faith at the least”. The issue of the terms of the Truce (and
violations of these terms) were handed to a sub-committee on the first day of
negotiations – See Oct-11-21/1. (Macready was on this sub-committee.) |
Kautt
(2014), pgs 182-183 |
|
Aug-04-21/1 |
Michael Kenny is knocked down and killed by a
car driven by a member of the Auxiliary Division of the RIC, L. T. Skilbeck, at the Merrion Gates in Dublin. Skilbeck
is charged with manslaughter but acquitted. |
O’Halpin
and Ó Corráin (2020), pg
524 |
|
Aug-05-21/1 |
A Protestant, Charles Green (42), is fatally
wounded during a robbery at his business in College or Castle Court in
Belfast |
O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 526 & check Parkinson (2004), pg 147 |
|
Aug-05-21/1 |
A RIC man stops two men on Earlswood Rd in
Belfast – they are two IRA men on an intelligence gathering mission. One of the IRA men pulls a revolver and shoots
the RIC man in the leg. During the subsequent chase (or during an
altercation with the wife of another RIC man), one of the men (Francis Joseph
Crummey) shoots his accomplish (Freddie Fox -19), both are arrested and Fox
dies in hospital on August 15th. Crummey was the son of IRA’s 3rd Division’s
I/O Frank Crummey who was interned at the time. The two IRA men were
trying to identify RIC DI Harrison who was a suspected member of the RIC
‘murder gang’ led by DI Nixon. |
Parkinson (2004), pgs 146-147; McDermott (2001), pg 108; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 108; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 525 |
|
Aug-06-21/1 |
Dublin Castle issues statement that all TDs
would be released except Sean McKeon because he had been convicted of
murder. De Valera replies that McKeon is a heroic
Irishman and if McKeon is kept in detention then he
“cannot accept responsibility for proceeding further with the negotiations”.
McKeon is released. |
Macardle (1999), pg 494; Gallagher (1953), pg 312 |
|
Aug-06-21/2 |
The IRA had taken over policing of nationalist
areas in Belfast and, on this date, Eoin O’Duffy
wrote to RIC Commissioner in Belfast, J F Gelston,
saying the IRA patrols had been able to “frustrate any behaviour which might
lead to ‘serious disturbances’”. This legitimacy being bestowed on the IRA was
resented by the unionists especially as the Truce meant a delay in the
transfer of executive powers to the Northern Ireland government. |
McDermott (2001), pg 107 |
|
Aug-08-21/1 |
A member of the Auxiliary Division of the RIC,
Frederick Morrison, drowns after entering the water at the North Wall in
Dublin. This could have been an accident
or could have been suicide. |
O’Halpin
and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs
524-525 |
|
Aug-08-21/2 |
A member of the RIC, Constable Thomas Ikin
from Essex, commits suicide in Hollywood RIC Barracks in Co. Wicklow. |
O’Halpin
and Ó Corráin (2020), pg
525 |
|
Aug-10-21/1 |
De
Valera Reply to Lloyd George De Valera replies to Lloyd George on the British July 20th proposals saying inter alia that “To the extent that it [the draft proposals] implies a recognition of Ireland’s separate nationhood and her right to self-determination, we appreciate it and accept it”, however “a claim [is] advanced by your Government to an interference in our affairs, and to a control which we cannot admit”. The issues raised in the British July 20th
proposals and in de Valera’s reply of August 10th were to become
the issues argued over in detail over the two months after the negotiations
started on October 11th. See Aug-12-21/1. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 67; Macardle (1999), pgs 489-492; Gallagher (1953), pg 311; Matthews (2004), pg 36; Boyce (1972), pg 142; Kissane (2005), pgs 54 & 58; Kenny (2021), pgs 60-62 |
|
Aug-10-21/2 |
With regards to the release of the two men who
were sentenced to death (see Jul-26-21/1), the Lord Privy Seal (Austen
Chamberlain) tells the British House of Commons that the “releases were not
due to any decision given by a civil court in Ireland; civil courts have no
power to over-rule the decisions of the military courts in the Martial Law
area in Ireland”. |
Kautt (2014), pg 211 |
|
Aug-10-21/3 |
After Brugha accused
Collins and Boland of the misuse of money in the purchase of arms in the United
States, the IRA Adjutant General writes to Fintan Murphy asking him to look
into it but says “you need not break your heart about this, as I know you
won’t”. |
Townshend (2014), pg 326 |
|
Aug-11-21/1 |
Writing to the British military attaché in
Paris, the CIGS of the British Army, Henry Wilson, makes the following
remarkable statement “the habit of interfering in other people’s business,
and making what is euphoniously called “peace” is like “buggery”: once you
take to it you cannot stop”. |
Jeffrey (2006), pg
234 |
|
Aug-12-21/1 |
A meeting of British Cabinet members and others
is held in London to consider de Valera’s reply of August 10th. It is
attended by Macready, Tudor and Fitzalan. They decide to keep the door open to
negotiations (but, according to Fitzalan, the
cabinet came ‘within an ace’ of taking de Valera’s letter as a refusal to
negotiate). See Aug-13-21/1. |
Fanning (2013), pf 268 |
|
Aug-12-21/2 |
At a Sinn Féin Standing Committee meeting,
Griffith says that with a third of the population in the six counties
“utterly opposed to partition and thoroughly organised, the [Belfast]
Parliament could not function”. |
McCluskey (2014), pg
103 |
|
Aug-12-21/3 |
Petty Officer William Russell of the British
Navy commits suicide in Haulbowline, Queenstown,
Co. Cork. |
O’Halpin
and Ó Corráin (2020), pg
525 |
|
Aug-13-21/1 |
Lloyd George replies to de Valera’s letter of August 10th saying inter alia no to Ireland outside Empire and no to foreign arbitration. He makes the highly dubious claims that his proposals of July 20th contained “no derogation from Ireland’s status as a Dominion, no desire for British ascendancy over Ireland and no impairment of Ireland’s national ideals”. He also says that the “The geographical
propinquity of Ireland to the British Isles [probably meant Britain?] is a
fundamental fact. The history of the
two islands for many centuries, however it is read, is sufficient proof that
their destinies are indissolubly linked”.
He goes on say that “Ireland should recognise the force of
geographical and historical facts”.
(De Valera gives his response to these arguments to the Dáil - see
Aug-17-21/2.) Full text of letter given in Macardle. De Valera replies to Llyod George on August 24th - See Aug-24-21/1 - but Llyod George’s proposals are debated in the Dáil beforehand – see Aug-22-21/1. (In the propaganda war, the British side gives
impression that Ireland was being offered “freedom” without mentioning the
restrictions. Also, they make clear in a number of newspapers that
refusal to accept this “freedom” would be military coercion in Ireland.) |
Curran J M (1980), pg 67; Macardle (1999), pgs 493-494; Gallagher (1953), pgs 310-311; Boyce (1972), pg 142; Kissane (2005), pg 53 |
|
Aug-14-21/1 |
Lloyd George leaks letter from Smuts to de
Valera (See Aug-05-21/2) after Smuts had returned to Africa. This letter says that Ireland should accept
the Dominion status being offered. Llyod George later admitted that the decision to leak was “because of the importance of ranging on the side of our proposals all sane opinion, not merely in this country and in Ireland, but throughout the whole world”. Letter does not mention restrictions on Dominion status contained in British offer of July 20th. Tim Healy says “To publish the letters in advance of the text of the Cabinet offer and thereby give the world a false and unwarranted idea of its generosity, was sheer mischief.” He also called it “sharp practice”. See also Aug-15-21/1. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 66; Gallagher (1953), pg 310; Boyce (1972), pg 144 |
|
Aug-14-21/2 |
Private M. Moody of the BA’s Royal Welch
Fusiliers is accidently shot dead in the New Barracks in Limerick City. |
O’Halpin
and Ó Corráin (2020), pg
525 |
|
Aug-15-21/1 |
Correspondence between Lloyd George and de
Valera published (by Lloyd George) to favourable reception in Britain. Letter from James Craig to Llyod George also
published in which he says that he would not meet with de Valera until he
admits that Northern Ireland is independent from the rest of Ireland. Most of the British press say that the terms
offered by Llyod George to de Valera were very favourable. Writing to his wife, Austen Chamberlain says (on August 16th) “All the Press, except the Morning Post, is favourable to our Irish proposals and agreed that we have gone to the utmost limit of concession”. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 67; Macardle (1999), pg 494; Boyce (1972), pgs 149-150 |
|
Aug-15-21/2 |
A member of the Ulster Special Constabulary,
William Marshall, fires into a passing nationalist fife band killing John or
Joseph O’Neill of Annaghboe, Coalisland, Co.
Tyrone. The IRA uses O’Neill’s funeral as a
demonstration of strength (which unnerved unionists). |
McCluskey (2014), pg 107; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 525-526 |
|
Aug-16-21/1 |
Second
Dáil meets for First Time All 180 deputies invited (130 Sinn Féin, 6
Nationalists and 40 Unionists) but the unionists and nationalists stay
away. All TDs who were in prison were released. All present take an
Oath of Allegiance to the Republic by acclamation. Dáil was to meet on 16th, 17th, 18th, 22nd, 23rd, 25th, 26th and 27th. First
Session of Second Dáil – Day One - August 16th Most of this first day is taken up with de
Valera updating the Dáil on the negotiations with the British Proceedings of the first day of the first session of the Second Dáil can be found at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-16/ For the second day of the First Session of Second Dáil – see Aug-17-21/2. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 68; Gallagher (1953), pgs 314-316; Townshend (2014), pg 333; Pakenham (1967), pg 77 |
|
Aug-16-21/2 |
The Irish
Bulletin points out that the offer made to de Valera by Llyod George was
not dominion status and that there were six binding obligations upon Ireland
which were incompatible with dominion status.
See Aug-25 to 26-21/1. |
Boyce (1972), pg 150 |
|
Aug-16-21/3 |
A codeword is issued to the BA in Ireland to
prepare of an imminent resumption of hostilities. |
McMahon (2008), pg
63 |
|
Aug-17-21/1 |
British cabinet sets up a committee to oversee
negotiations with Irish delegation. It contains Llyod George, Chamberlain,
Birkenhead, Churchill, Greenwood, Fisher, Shortt,
Lord Lee of Fareham and Worthington-Evans. They were to effectively hammer
out in advance the boundaries of the British negotiating position. (Fanning notes that the committee contained
six of the seven members who were to be the British delegation in the
subsequent negotiations.) This committee also considered draconian
measures in the event of negotiations breaking down. They asked the War
Office to examine the feasibility of breaking up southern Ireland “into sections
by means of blockhouses and barbed wire”.
Llyod George tells Macready that “entirely new methods” would have to
be used “such as devastating and denuding tracks of country, removing all
inhabitants”. |
Fanning (2013), pg 268; Jeffrey (2006), pg 273 |
|
Aug-17-21/2 |
First
Session of Second Dáil – Day Two - August 17th Dáil reconvenes and starts with a continuation
of de Valera statement on the negotiations with the British. Also reports are presented from a number of Ministers. Proceedings of the second day of the first session of the Second Dáil can be found at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-17 For the third day of the First Session of
Second Dáil – see Aug-18-21/3. |
O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pg
169 |
|
Aug-18-21/1 |
In his diary, CIGS Wilson says that
Worthington-Evans, Secretary of State for War in the British cabinet, told
him that, if de Valera does not accept dominion home rule
then parliament would be recalled and a call for recruits of “up to 80,000 to
100,000 would be made”. |
Jeffrey (2006), pg 273 |
|
Aug-18-21/2 |
The Northern Whig reports Joe McDonagh (MacDonough) who is Director of Belfast Boycott as saying that “except in Antrim and Down, it is impossible for a Belfast merchant to sell as much as a bootlace in any other part of Ireland”. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 74; Parkinson (2020), pg 125 |
|
Aug-18-21/3 |
First
Session of Second Dáil – Day Three -August 18th This day is taken up with debates on the
reports from a number of Ministers Proceedings of the third day of the first session of the Second Dáil can be found at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-18 For the fourth day of the First Session of
Second Dáil – see Aug-22-21/1 |
|
|
Aug-19-21/1 |
BA soldier, George Beech, accidently drowns in
Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick. |
O’Halpin
and Ó Corráin (2020), pg
556 |
|
Aug-21-21/1 |
Internee, James Staines, escapes from Hare
Camp on the Curragh by hiding in a lorry. |
Durney
(2013), pg 172 |
|
Aug-22-21/1 |
First
Session of Second Dáil – Day Four - August 22nd The Dáil meets in private session. The British
terms of July 20th are discussed.
De Valera makes a further statement and answers questions from
TDs. Disagreements, which would become
more pronounced later, surfaced but in a largely inarticulated
form. De Valera undertakes to read the
draft reply to Llyod George to the Dáil. Proceedings of the fourth day of the first session of the Second Dáil can be found at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-22 For the fifth day of the First Session of
Second Dáil – see Aug-23-21/1 |
Curran J M (1980), pg 68; Macardle (1999), pg 499; Phoenix (1994), pg 146; McDermott (2001), pg ; Kissane (2005), pg 50; Kenny (2021), pgs 61-62; Regan (2013), pgs 60-61; Kenny (2021), pgs 61-62; Bowman (1982), pg 55; Phoenix (1994), pg 146 |
|
Aug-22-21/3 |
Strickland writes to Macready saying “The
so-called “Truce” is in reality not a truce at all. Apart from the actual murder of Crown Forces,
the rebels have not complied with any of the terms of agreement.” |
Sheehan (2017), pg 160 |
|
Aug-23-21/1 |
First Session of Second Dáil – Day 5 - August 23rd This day is mostly taken up
with de Valera’s draft reply to Llyod George’s proposals of July 20th
and a debate on it. There are also
debates on the reports of a number of Ministers and Departments. Proceedings of the fifth day of the first session of the Second Dáil can be found at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-23 For the sixth day of the
First Session of Second Dáil – see Aug-25-21/1 |
Kenny (2021), pgs
123-124; O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pgs 164 &
168 |
|
Aug-24-21/1 |
Letter from de Valera sent to Lloyd George saying that Dáil had not backed his conditions of August 13th – See Aug-13-21/1. He offers to send representatives to negotiate without preconditions other than “consent of the governed” was accepted as a basis for peace. Full text of letter given in More Detail in Aug-23-21/1. See Aug-26-21/2. |
Macardle (1999), pgs 500-501; Kissane (2005), pg 53 |
|
Aug-25-21/1 |
First
Session of Second Dáil – Day 6 – August 25th This day was taken up primarily with the
financial estimates for the different departments. Proceedings of the sixth day of the first session of the Second Dáil can be found at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-25 For the seventh day of the First Session of
Second Dáil – see Aug-26-21/1 |
|
|
Aug-25 to 26-21/1 |
On these two days, the Irish Bulletin continues to attack Llyod George’s proposals of July 20th. It describes the terms as “something that no nation could accept without dishonour”. The publication of Smuts letter is especially attacked because it implies that Ireland was being offered a full version of dominion status whereas the proposals made on July 20th implies the military subjection of Ireland and were therefore incompatible with an independent voice in foreign affairs. |
Boyce (1972), pg 150 |
|
Aug-25-21/2 |
RIC Constable Thomas McDonnell drowns while
bathing. |
Abbott (2019), pg 409 |
|
Aug-25-21/3 |
In a report to the British government on Revolutionary
Organisations, Basil Thomson says that Sinn Féin has no intention of
compromising and will resume guerrilla warfare when conditions are more suitable
to them. But he also hedges his bets by saying that was “impossible
to forecast” which way the Sinn Féin leadership would go. See Oct-29-21/2. |
McMahon (2008), pgs
59-60 |
|
Aug-25-21/4 |
Derry City Corporation passed a motion (by 22 votes to 12)
declaring non-recognition of the Belfast parliament. |
Grant (2018), pg 126 |
|
Aug-26-21/1 |
First
Session of Second Dáil – Day 7 - August 26th Dáil meets in public session. The government resigns and a new cabinet
is appointment. Collins, as Minister of Finance, gives the
Dáil an update on the progress of the various loans. A number of other issues are also dealt
with. Proceedings of the seventh day of the first session of the Second Dáil can be found at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-26 For the eighth day of the First Session of
Second Dáil – see Aug-27-21/1 |
Curran J M (1980), pgs 68-69; Macardle (1999), pgs 502-503; MacEoin in The Kerryman (1955), pg 15; Townshend (2014), pg 324 & 333; Pakenham (1967), pg 80; O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pgs 176 & 197 & 234 |
|
Aug-26-21/2 |
British cabinet considers de Valera letter of August 24th – see Aug-24-21/1. Llyod George replies on this date saying that the British terms of July 20th are consistent with the principle that “peace could only be negotiated on the basis of the principle of government by the consent of the governed". Whether the British terms of July 20th are consistent with this principle is highly debatable. As Pakenham has said “once the British had accepted (which they did in this letter of August 26th) the principle of government by consent, they were… doomed. Other lines of argument had been open to them, but it is hard to take seriously any interpretation of this particular principle which did not leave Ireland free. It is hardly surprising therefore that the British statement of their case strikes us to-day as shot through with underlying humbug.” However, Llyod George did add a major
qualification (in suitably vague language) as follows that “there is no
principle, however clear, which could be applied without regard to
limitations imposed by physical and historical facts". He ended by asking if "to explore if
British requirements could be reconciled with Irish aspirations, a conference
could be held". Full text of letter in Macardle. Kissane and Pakenham say that Llyod George writes in this letter to de Valera that in rejecting allegiance to the Crown and loyalty to the Commonwealth, he was advancing claims made none of the great Irish leaders such as Grattan, O’Connell, Davis, Parnell, or Redmond. (This raises the question had Llyod George never heard of Tone, Fitzgerald, Emmet, Mitchell, Stephens, Devoy, Pearce, Connolly, Clarke, etc.?) Around this time, the Irish Bulletin satirises the British position as threatening war if Ireland declined as a “free Dominion to join voluntarily a free association of free nations”. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 69; Macardle (1999), pgs 504-508; Pakenham (1967), pg 78 |
|
Aug-26-21/3 |
Workers in the bakery and mill in Bruree, Co. Limerick declare a soviet under the banner “Bruree Workers Soviet Mills – We make Bread not Profits”. Countess Markievicz intervened on behalf of the owners and the soviet ended on September 3rd. In one of his regular
reports on revolutionary organisation for the British government, Basil
Thomson described the Bruree soviet as an “example
of the effect of Communist propaganda from Moscow”. |
O’Callaghan (2018), pg 126; McMahon (2008), pgs 122-123 |
|
Aug-27-21/1 |
A home in Nelson St. in Belfast is bombed by a
loyalist mob. In the next couple of days, during extensive
sniping in North Belfast, two more people are killed. They are Thomas Rafter
(18) who is shot on North Queen St. and Colin Fogg (42) who is shot in Lepper
St. (Parkinson says that Rafter was a Protestant. He does not say which religion Fogg belonged to but says that he fatally wounded by a nationalist sniper. O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say that Rafter was a Catholic and that Fogg was a Protestant. They say both died on August 29th.) |
Parkinson (2004), pg 147; Phoenix (1994), pgs 146-147; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 526 |
|
Aug-27-21/2 |
First
Session of Second Dáil – Day 8 - August 27th This is a short meeting. Main item discussed in the appointment of
plenipotentiaries. Proceedings of the eighth day of the first session of the Second Dáil can be found at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1921-08-27/ This was the final day of the First Session of
Second Dáil. |
|
|
Aug-28-21/1 |
Corporal William Jacobs of the BA’s Manchester
Regiment is accidently killed in Belturbet in Co.
Cavan. |
O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 526 |
|
Aug-30-21/1 |
In disturbances in Belfast, nine people are
killed – mostly in the New Lodge Rd., North Queen St. and York St.
areas. Six are Protestants: Stephen Cash (56 or 68);
William Kennedy (26 or 36); William Smith or Smyth (28); Annie Watson (5);
Henry Robert Bowers (21) and Samuel Ferguson (42 or 56). The remaining
three were Catholics: John Coogan (40); Thomas McMullan (34) and Charles
Harvey (39). (O’Halpin and Ó Corráin say that Ferguson was shot on August 31st in a riot on York St.) |
Parkinson (2004), pg 147; Phoenix (1994), pgs 146-147; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pgs 526-527 |
|
Aug-30-21/2 |
De Valera replies to Llyod George’s letter of August 26th saying that the two essential conditions of the situation were Ireland's declaration of independence and Britain's refusal to accept it. Only acceptance of the principle of government by consent of the governed would form a basis for negotiations and on that basis the Irish government is willing to appoint plenipotentiaries for a peace conference “untrammelled by any conditions save the facts themselves”. Full text of letter in Macardle. See Sep-07-21/1. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 70; Macardle (1999), pgs 508-511; Boyce (1972), pg 151 |
|
Aug-31-21/1 |
Further rioting in Belfast in which nine
people lose their lives and at least 36 injured. Six of those killed were Catholics: Alice Duff (54 or 60); William McKeown (18); Richard Duffin (50 or 52); Francis James Bradley (26); James McFadden (16) and Thomas Finnegan (53). (McDermott says that Bradley was shot by a group of Specials led by DI Nixon.) The remaining three were Protestants: Leopold Leonard (55); William Johnston (5) and Thomas Lee (70 or 71). McDermott claims that the IRA had performed
well in its defence of nationalist areas and its support rose in those
areas. (However, this happened in a period when the Specials were
technically demobilised in Belfast.) In August, McDermott says 23 people were
killed in Belfast, 12 Protestants and 11 Catholics. Parkinson details
12 Protestants and 10 Catholics.
|
Parkinson (2004), pg 148; Phoenix (1994), pgs 146-147 & 156; McDermott (2001), pg 111 & 116; O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg |
|
Aug-31-21/2 |
At a meeting of the Northern Ireland cabinet,
Dawson Bates, Minister of Home Affairs, demands the mobilisation of the
Specials and the introduction of internment. A. W. Cope and General Tudor come from Dublin
and talk to both sides in Belfast. Cope authorised the sending of more
troops into Belfast but refused mobilisation of the Specials or introduction
of internment. After the refusal, Craig gives unofficial
sanction to the reorganisation of the UVF (i.e. he
does this while keeping it secret from Dublin Castle and the British
Government.) He gives this job to Fred
Crawford. Craig was then able to use
the remobilisation of the UVF in his entreaties to the British Government for
the transfer of security powers to the Northern Ireland Government. See Sep-15-21/1. |
McDermott (2001), pg 111; McCluskey (2014), pgs 107-108 |
|
Aug-1920/1 |
IRA Volunteer Patrick Bourke dies from the effects of his
imprisonment. |
Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 326 |