February 1923

Feb-01

Lynch issues a proclamation saying that the anti-Treaty forces would resort to reprisals if there were further executions of prisoners.  (The pro-Treaty forces had executed 54 by this point.)

 

Feb-01

In a memo to Cosgrave, O’Higgins said that they should escalate their own reprisals for the anti-Treaty burning campaign “shoot those captured with arms on the spot … Destroy the anarchists and their sympathisers’ property in reprisals. Suspend the Coroners’ Court, suspend disloyal corrupt bodies like Dublin Corporation and give their members hard labour.  Do not hold general elections and keep prisoners in jail indefinitely.”  Writing in the margins after O’Higgins’ memo was sent to him, Mulcahy noted that his suggestions were “not practicable” and, with regard to the proposed destruction of the homes of anti-Treatyites, he noted “our people have more property for the destruction than the Irregulars”.

Dorney (2017), pg 230

Feb-01

Moore Hall, the ancestral home of Senator Colonel Maurice Moore, is burnt.

Hopkinson (1988), pg 195; Price (2012), pg 247

Feb-02

An unoccupied breakdown train is seized by anti-Treaty volunteers near Durrow station in Co. Waterford and sent speeding towards the broken Ballyvolie viaduct.

McCarthy (2015), pg 118

Feb-02

A section of Martin Medlar’s east Kilkenny anti-Treaty column attempts to ambush a pro-Treaty convoy at Shankill, near Paulstown, Co. Kilkenny. However, the convoy is larger than expected and the resulting fighting leads to the death of one anti-Treaty volunteer, Patrick Barcoe, and to the capture of five anti-Treaty men.

Walsh (2018), pg 225

Feb-02

Clermont House, near Blackrock, Co. Louth (owned by Colonel Charles Davis Guinness) is burned down.  Ballygassen House at Annagassen, Co. Louth (owned by John J Russell) is also destroyed.

Hall (2019), pg 118

Feb-03

Anti-Treaty volunteer, Michael McSweeney is shot dead at Shrone near Rathmore, Co. Kerry.

Doyle (2008), pgs 258-259

Feb-05

Writing to Joe McGarrity, de Valera ‘One big effort from our friends everywhere and I think we would finally smash the Free State’. He acknowledges that ‘Deasy incident’ was a setback but that he was certain ‘all will be right again’ in some time.

Hopkinson (1988), pgs 231 & 235; Curran J M (1980), pgs 270-271F

Feb-05

In an attack on sentries guarding Portobello Barracks, two anti-Treaty volunteers (Nicholas Murphy and George King) are killed.

Dorney (2017), pg 228

Feb-06

Tom Barry and Tom Crofts go to Dublin to meet Liam Lynch and strongly request a meeting of the anti-Treaty Army Executive but Lynch declines to call a meeting. 

O'Donoghue (1986), pg 294

Feb-06

An appeal from anti-Treaty prisoners in Limerick jail to the O/C of the 2nd Southern Division stated “A continuation of the present struggle is a waste of blood … and ought to stop now.”  Similar appeals were made from anti-Treaty prisoners in Cork and Clonmel jails.

 

Hopkinson (1988), pg 232; McCarthy (2015), pg 117; Horgan (2018), pgs 132-133

Feb-08

Major speech by Devlin in Belfast lamenting the delay in setting up the Boundary Commission and the paralysing effect this was having on nationalist politics in the North.  AOH subsequently sets up a ‘Provisional Council for Ulster’ under John J Nugent which organizes a series of public meetings in each of the six counties for the 10th May.  This is part of an ongoing campaign by Devlinites to unify northern nationalists especially in the light of Leech’s electoral division changes and the new education bill being introduced by Lord Londonderry.  Devlin still thought it was too early for nationalist representatives to take their seats in the Northern Ireland parliament until after the Boundary Commission. 

 

Phoenix (1994), pgs 276-277

Feb-08

Pro-Treaty Government offers another amnesty to anti-Treatyites who surrendered with their arms before the 18th February.  Also announces suspension of executions.

 

O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxiii; Curran J M (1980), pg 270

Feb-09

Pro-Treaty government issues Liam Deasy’s letter and a similar letter from anti-Treaty prisoners in Limerick.  Liam Lynch rejects amnesty offer, Deasy's call and the Limerick letter.  He claims that anti-Treaty forces are “in a stronger military position than at any period in its history … The war will go on until the independence of our country is recognized by our enemies, foreign and domestic.  … Victory is within our grasp if we stand unitedly and firmly”

 

O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxiii; Hopkinson (1988), pg 229;

Feb-09

Anti-Treaty raid a post office in Poleberry in Waterford City.  However, the pro-Treatyites had been forewarned and they were waiting for them inside the post-office.  Two anti-Treaty volunteers – Thomas Walsh (23) and Michael Moloney (18) – were killed and another, Nicholas O’Neill was wounded (but escaped). 

McCarthy (2015), pg 118

Feb-10

Tom Barry and Tom Crofts (back in Cork) hold a meeting of the 1st Southern Division Council and write to Lynch again calling for a meeting of the anti-Treaty IRA Executive - in this they are backed by Humphrey Murphy and Sean MacSwiney.  Barry tabled a proposal from Archbishop Harty of Cashel (formulated with the help of Fr. Duggan and Neutral IRA) that pending a General Election all anti-Treaty arms should be dumped and that after the election the arms should be handed over to the government.

 

O'Donoghue (1986), pg 294

Feb-10

Annaghskeagh House near Mountpleasant, Co. Louth (owned by A. N. Sheridan) is burnt down.

Hall (2019), pg 118

Feb-10

Anti-Treaty volunteers accidently shoot dead Albert O’Brien from Kilfenora, Co. Clare near Lemanagh Castle. 

Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 315

Feb-11

Armed men enter the home of Thomas O’Higgins (father of Minister Kevin O’Higgins) at Woodlands, Stradbally, Co. Laois and kill him in front of his wife and daughter.

Doyle (2008), pg 260

Feb-12

Ballyconnel, Co. Leitrim is raided in daytime by an anti-Treaty column from the nearby Arigna mountains.

 

 

Feb-13

Liam Lynch leaves Dublin and heads south.

 

O'Donoghue (1986), pg 294

Feb-13

Two anti-Treaty volunteers from Tralee (Michael Sinnot and James O’Connor) are killed in their dug-out in Mrs Lyons’ shed at Carrahane Strand (between Tralee Bay and Ballyheigue) in Co. Kerry.

Macardle (1998), pgs 14-15; Doyle (2008), pg 264

Feb-13

A pro-Treaty volunteer called McGuinn from Curry, Co. Sligo is killed by pro-Treaty forces

Price (2012), pg 246

Feb-13

The London Times states “a large portion of the [pro-Treaty army] … sympathises with the Republican cause; that its movements have over and over again been betrayed before they could be carried out” 

 

Hopkinson (1988), pg 243

Feb-14

The home of Senator Sir Bryan Mahon, Mullaboden House in Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare (valued at £60,000) is burnt by the 2nd Dublin anti-Treaty Brigade. (Hopkinson says 14th, Dorney says 16th and Durney says 23rd.)

The 2nd Dublin anti-Treaty Brigade also reports to have burnt Lord Mayo’s Palmerstown House in Co. Kildare (see 29th January); Horace Plunkett’s house in Foxrock; Kippure Lodge in Co. Wicklow and three ‘informers’ houses in Co. Wicklow.

Hopkinson (1988), pg 195;  Dorney (2017), pg 227; Durney (2011), pg 137 &143-145

Feb-16

Neutral IRA (made of pre-Truce members of the IRA who took neither side in the Civil War) ask for a month’s truce to allow exchange of peace proposals.  It is rejected by both sides.

 

Curran J M (1980), pg 271; Macardle (1999), pg 835

Feb-16

A Lancia car with pro-Treaty soldiers on board speed through an ambush at Knocklofty near Clonmel, Co Tipperary.  They stop a short distance away and are ordered to dismount.  When one soldier, James O’Keeffe, is jumping from the car, his rifle accidently discharges.  He survives for some time but dies on the 4th May.

Walsh (2018), pg 242

Feb-16

Provisional Government threatens to ban import of the Daily Mail unless the editor gives guarantees that it will not carry anti-Treaty army statements and allow itself to be “used as a medium of Irregular propaganda”.

Dorney (2017), pg 148

Mid-Feb

Large sweep by pro-Treaty army of the Arigna mountains in Co. Leitrim produces few results.  (It is reported that Ned Bolfin, leader of the anti-Treaty column in the area, got married in Leitrim village while the sweep was on.)

 

Hopkinson (1988), pg 243

Feb-17

In a letter to the press, de Valera resurrects Document No. 2 as a basis for compromise between the two sides in the Civil War but gets no takers.

 

Hopkinson (1988), pg 233

Feb-17

The Freeman’s Journal reports on the death of a pro-Treaty soldier, Private Thomas Moran from Kimmage, Dublin in St Brecan’s Hospital.  He had been shot in an ambush in Kerry.

A few days later, pro-Treaty Lieutenant Thomas Slattery from Ballymacelligott, Co Kerry also dies from wounds received in an ambush.

Doyle (2008), pgs 264-265

Feb-17

Cavanmore House, owned by Patrick O’Rourke and Senator Bernard O’Rourke, is burnt to the ground.

Hall (2019), pg 118

Feb-18

Dinny Lacey, Commandant of anti-Treaty Tipperary No. 3 Brigade killed at Cloghera, Glen of Aherlow, Co Tipperary.

O'Donoghue (1986), pg 297; Hopkinson (1988), pg 244; Macardle (1999), pg 837; Walsh (2018), pg 225

Feb-18

A pro-Treaty patrol, under Lieutenant Conroy, in the Ballyferriter area of Co. Kerry exchanges fire with two anti-Treaty volunteers.  One of the latter is wounded and the other, Thomas O’Sullivan, is shot dead.

Doyle (2008), pg 265

Feb-19

A number of people from Co. Wexford complain to Mulcahy that ‘In the rural districts, Anti-Government forces are in effective control’.  They also complained about the inefficiency of the pro-Treaty army.  Two anti-Treaty columns operated in the New Ross and Wexford town areas (under Thomas O’Sullivan and Lambert respectively).

 

Hopkinson (1988), pg 245-246

Feb-19

The anti-Treaty O/C of the local battalion, Thomas O’Sullivan, is shot dead fleeing pro-Treaty forces near Ballineanig on the Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry.

Macardle (1998), pgs 48-49

Feb-19

The mansion of Sir John Keane is burnt in Co. Waterford.  He had been appointed to the Senate.  The same night the houses of Caroline Fairholme and Arthur Hunt are burnt.

McCarthy (2015), pg 118

Feb-21

Anti-Treaty forces attempt the wide-spread burning of offices and other buildings in Dublin but, for the most part, they are unsuccessful.  However, offices are burnt in Nassau St.; Upper Gardiner St.; and Lower O’Connell St.  Of the 75 men engaged in these activities, six are captured – including James O’Rourke (see March 13th).  In one attack on an income tax office, civil servant Peter Carney is fatally injured when the office in which he works is set on fire.

 

Hopkinson (1988), pg 246; Dorney (2017), pg 222

Feb-22

A member of the pro-Treaty Citizens Defence Force (CDF), Nicholas Williams, is found shot dead on Hollybank Road, Drumcondra, Dublin. 

Dorney (2017), pg 240

Feb-22

The home of Poer O’Shea at Gardenmorris, Co. Waterford is burnt by anti-Treaty forces.  So is the home of Hamilton Cuffe, 5th Earl of Desart at Desart Court, Cuffesgrange, 10 kms south of Kilkenny City.  The reason for the anti-Treatyites burning Desart Court is that Hamilton Cuffe’s sister-in-law, Ellen Cuffe had agreed to be one of the Senators in the Free State Senate.

McCarthy (2015), pg 118; Walsh (2018), pgs 226-227

Feb-23

226 Derry city men, recruited for the pro-Treaty army, cross the border into Donegal.  The RUC commissioner notes that most of those who joined were out of work. (See 31st December 1922)

Grant (2018), pg 145

Feb-23

A pro-Treaty patrol is ambushed near Westport, Co. Mayo.  One of pro-Treaty soldiers is killed and five wounded.  One of the wounded (Lieutenant McQuaid, subsequently dies of his wounds.  (McQuaid is brother of John Charles McQuaid, the future Archbishop of Dublin.) 

Price (2012), pg 248

Feb-23

All the officers of the 1st Battalion of the anti-Treaty Dublin Brigade are arrested in an early morning raid on 14 Royce Terrace in Phibsborough.  (They were Robinson, Thornton, Brown, Blacknelly and Byrne.)

Dorney (2017), pgs 243 & 315

Feb-24

A civilian prisoner, John Conway, is shot dead when trying to escape from the prison in Tralee Workshop, Co. Kerry.  See 6th April for outcome of inquest.

Doyle (2008), pg 267

Feb-26

The anti-Treaty 1st Southern Division Council reconvenes at James Moynihan's Gortnascorta, Coolea with Liam Lynch attending.  Of the 18 officers at the meeting, only two held out any prospect of military victory with most being very pessimistic.   The Director of Operations stated “If we intensify our war it will mean losing some of our best men who will be executed”.   Lynch agrees that the position in the south is bad but claims that things are better in other parts of the country.  Most disagree with this – Lynch agrees to the holding of an Executive meeting.  (Tom Crofts replaces Deasy as O/C 1st Southern Division.)

O'Donoghue (1986), pg 296; Hopkinson (1988), pg 228 & 235-236

Feb-27

Anti-Treatyite Thomas Gibson executed in Portlaoise.

O’Farrell (1997), pg 224; Macardle (1999), pg 985

Feb-27

In Kerry, Michael Pierce and sixteen members of his column surrender to Brig General Paddy O’Daly and hand in their arms.  They are allowed to return home after signing a pledge not to take up arms again against the government.

The following day, Tom O’Driscoll and his Kilmoyley column of thirteen men also surrender to Colonel David Neligan. 

Doyle (2008), pg 263 & 266

Feb-28

Lynch berates de Valera ‘Your publicity as to sponsoring Document No. 2 has had a very bad effect on the army and should have been avoided’

Hopkinson (1988), pg 234

Feb

In February/March, two anti-Treaty volunteers killed in Sligo.  Harry Brehony in Coolaney and Paul Geoghegan in Beltra.  Also, in this period in Sligo, the pro-Treaty army burnt down the houses of two anti-Treaty activists and the anti-Treaty side burnt down six houses whose owners have sons in the pro-Treaty army.

Farry (2012), pg 106

Feb

The CID was moved from Oriel House to 68 Merrion Square.  Its 75 officers were merged with the Protective Corps (which had been set up in November 1922 to guard the houses of ministers) and with the 101 full-time (and 50 part-time) officers of the Citizens’ Defence Force.  (This was comprised of former British soldiers.)  The merged forces were put under Joe McGrath. (Dorney says 88 Merrion Square.)

 

Hopkinson (1988), pg 225; Dorney (2017), pg 238

 

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