August 1921
|
Aug-01 |
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-05 |
A policeman 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
policeman in the leg. During the subsequent chase, one of the men
(Francis Joseph Crummey) shoots his accomplish (Freddie Fox -19), both are
arrested and Fox dies in hospital a week later. Crummey was the son of IRA
Divisional 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 Nixon. (O’Farrell says 15th August.)
On the same day, a
Protestant, Charles Green (42), is fatally wounded during a robbery at his
business in Castle Court. |
Parkinson (2004),
pgs 146-147; McDermott (2001), pg 108; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 108 |
|
Aug-06 |
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 |
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-10 |
De Valera replies
to Lloyd George on the British terms of the 20th July saying inter
alia that "solution must include...absolute separation ... Dominion
status was illusory ... Republican government prepared to negotiate treaty of
association with Commonwealth if this would secure a united Ireland...issues
such as trade, armaments etc. could be freely negotiated… the Irish people
must settle the question of partition themselves. Their representatives
could not admit Britain's right to partition Ireland, either in its own
interests or those of a political minority within Ireland. Sinn Féin agreed
that force would not solve the problem [of Northern Ireland] and was willing
to submit to it to foreign arbitration if North and South could not agree on
unity." Full text of letter given in Macardle. |
Curran J M (1980),
pg 67; Macardle (1999), pgs 489-492; Gallagher (1953), pg 311 |
|
Aug-10 |
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-12 |
A meeting of the
British Cabinet held in London to consider de Valera’s letter. It is
attended by Macready, Tudor and Fitzalan. |
|
|
Aug-12 |
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-13 |
Lloyd
George replies to de Valera’s letter of the 10th saying inter
alia that no Ireland outside Empire and no foreign arbitration.
Full text of letter given in Macardle. (In the propaganda war, the British
side gives impression that Ireland being offered “freedom” without mentioning
restrictions. Also, made clear in a number of papers 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 |
|
Aug-14 |
Lloyd George leaks
letter from Smuts (after Smuts had returned to Africa) to de Valera saying
Ireland should accept Dominion status offered. (Letter does not mention
restrictions on Dominion status contained in British offer of July
20-21. Tim Healy said “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.”) . |
Curran J M (1980),
pg 66; Gallagher (1953), pg 310 |
|
Aug-15 |
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 the Six Counties are independent from the rest of Ireland. |
Curran J M (1980),
pg 67; Macardle (1999), pg 494 |
|
Aug-15 |
A demobilised B
Special fires into a passing republican band killing John O’Neill of
Coalisland, Co. Tyrone. The IRA used O’Neill’s funeral as a demonstration of
strength (which unnerved unionists). |
McCluskey (2014), pg 107 |
|
Aug-16 |
2nd Dáil meets for
first time. All 180 deputies invited (130 Sinn Féin, 6 Nationalists and
40 Unionists) but the unionists stay away. De Valera says to achieve
unity prepared to make concessions such as association with British Empire. He says “I do not take it that [the
electorate’s] answer was for a form of Republican Government as such, because
we are not Republican doctrinaires”. But he continued that, it was obvious,
that “Irish independence could not be realised in any other way so suitably as
through a Republic”. Brugha told the
Dáil that he had taken an oath of allegiance to the Irish Republic and the
“fighting men … are prepared to stand by that Oath no matter what the
consequences might be”. |
Curran J M (1980),
pg 68; Gallagher (1953), pgs 314-316; Townshend
(2014), pg 333 |
|
Aug-18 |
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 |
|
Aug-21 |
L. Killian from
Crith, Co. Roscommon dies |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 110 |
|
Aug-21 |
Internee, James
Staines, escapes from Hare Camp on the Curragh by hiding in a lorry. |
Durney (2013), pg
172 |
|
Aug-22 |
Dáil meets in private
session - British terms rejected - de Valera clarifies his position on North,
he rejects use of force to coerce but supports idea of exclusion on a county
by county basis, if British recognise republic saying “For his part, if the
Republic were recognised he would be in favour of giving each county power to
vote itself out … If it so wished.” Several TDs disagree with him. De Valera
reads to Dáil reply for Lloyd George - "peace could only be
negotiated on the basis of the principle of government by the consent of the
governed". Macardle says 23rd as does Phoenix.
McDermott also says 23rd and says that what de Valera said was one
of the reasons why Northern republicans sided with Collins. |
Curran J M (1980),
pg 68; Macardle (1999), pg 499; Phoenix (1994), pg 146; McDermott (2001), pg |
|
Aug-24 |
Letter from de
Valera sent to Lloyd George saying that Dáil had backed his conditions of
August 13th. Offers
to send representatives to negotiate. Full text of letter in Macardle. |
Macardle (1999),
pgs 500-501 |
|
Aug-25 |
RIC Constable
Thomas McDonnell drowns while bathing. |
Abbott (2019), pg 409 |
|
Aug-25 |
Derry Corporation passed a
motion (by 22 votes to 12) declaring non-recognition of the Belfast
parliament. |
Grant (2018), pg
126 |
|
Aug-26 |
Dáil
meets in public session. Government resigns - De Valera re-elected not as
President of the Dáil but as President of the Irish Republic (a title
belatedly formalised by the Dáil the day before). Motion proposed by
Sean McKeon and seconded by Richard Mulcahy. De Valera establishes
a new cabinet as follows: Arthur Griffith -
Foreign Affairs Michael Collins -
Finance Cathal Brugha -
Defence Austen Stack - Home
Affairs William Cosgrave -
Local Government Robert Barton -
Economic Affairs In addition, seven
minor ministries outside of cabinet: Desmond Fitzgerald
- Publicity (previously Propaganda) (Childers had undertaken this work since
February when FitzGerald in prison but latter took it over when released in
August.) JJ O'Kelly -
Education (formerly National Language) Count Plunkett -
Fine Arts Joseph McDonagh -
Belfast boycott Constance
Markievicz – Labour Ernest Blythe –
Trade and Commerce Art O’Connor -
Agriculture Sean Etchingham –
Fisheries Also Kevin
O’Higgins - Asst Minister of Local Govt [Eoin MacNeill?
Thomas Kelly? Joseph McGrath? Frances Fahy? Joseph McGuinness?
Staines? and Ginnell?] See MacEoin in The Kerryman
(1955) on why he proposed de Valera as President of the Republic. |
Curran J M (1980),
pgs 68-69; Macardle (1999), pgs 502-503; MacEoin
in The Kerryman (1955), pg 15; Townshend (2014), pg 324 & 333 |
|
Aug-26 |
British cabinet considers
de Valera letter - reply that its (July 20th) terms 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" (which is highly debatable
with regard their attitude to Ireland). However, they added the rather large qualification
(in suitably vague language) that “there is no principle, however clear,
which could be applied without regard to limitations imposed by physical and
historical facts". They 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 |
Curran J M (1980),
pg 69; Macardle (1999), pgs 504-508 |
|
Aug-27 |
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 Protestants
are killed by republican snipers – they are Thomas Rafter who is shot on
North Queen St. and Colin Fogg (42) who is shot in Lepper St. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 147; Phoenix (1994), pgs 146-147 |
|
Aug |
D. Clancy and a
Daniel from Kanturk, Co. Cork die. |
O’Farrell (1997),
pg 103 & 105 |
|
Aug-30 |
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 (68); William
Kennedy (36); William Smith (28); Annie Watson (5); Henry Robert Bowers (21)
and Samuel Ferguson (42). The remaining three were Catholics: John
Coogan (40); Thomas McMullan (34) and Charles Harvey (39). |
Parkinson
(2004), pg 147; Phoenix
(1994), pgs 146-147 |
|
Aug-30 |
De Valera replies
to Llyod George’s letter of the 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 and on that basis the Irish government
is willing to appoint plenipotentiaries for a peace conference. Full
text of letter in Macardle. |
Curran J M (1980),
pg 70; Macardle (1999), pgs 508-511 |
|
Aug-31 |
Further rioting in
Belfast in which 9 people lose their lives and at least 36 injured. Six
of those killed were Catholics: Alice Duff (60); William McKeown (18);
Richard Duffin (50); 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). 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 |
|
Aug-31 |
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. |
McDermott (2001), pg 111;
McCluskey (2014), pgs 107-108 |
|
Aug |
IRA Volunteer Patrick Bourke
dies from the effects of his imprisonment. |
Ó Ruairc (2009), pg
326 |