February 1923

Feb-01-23/1

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-01-23/2

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-01-23/3

Kevin Shiel writes to Cosgrave saying that the anti-Treaty campaign would pave the way for the coming of Bolshevism and had to be dealt with by “methods usually not adopted by civilised governments”.

 

Kissane (2005), pg 92

Feb-01-23/4

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

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

Feb-01-23/5

One hundred men from the anti-Treaty column based in the Arigna mountains descend on Ballinamore in Co. Leitrim.  They force the thirty five man Free State garrison to surrender by detonating a mine which makes the roof of their barracks collapse. 

 

McGarty (2020), pg 125

Feb-02-23/1

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-02-23/2

A section of Martin Medlar’s east Kilkenny anti-Treaty column attempts to ambush a Free State 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-02-23/3

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-02-23/4

Lynch writes to de Valera saying that there was a need to exchange minimum terms with the Provisional Government.  However, he does not agree with de Valera that Document No. 2 (see Jan-04-22/1) should be the basis for discussion.

However see Feb-08-23/1.

 

Kissane (2005), pg 111; McMahon (2008), pg 132

Feb-03-23/1

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

 

Doyle (2008), pgs 258-259

Feb-04-23/1

The Neutral IRA hold a convention in Dublin with 150 to 200 delegates in attendance.  A number of resolutions are passed including one which says that both civil war armies should be disbanded and another built up composed entirely of men who were in the pre-Truce IRA.  Another resolution expresses strong opposition to the executions. 

Following the convention, the Neutral IRA (in the name of its 20,000 members) sends a proposal to both sides in civil war that there should be a month’s long ceasefire.  This proposal receives support from a large number of local authorities.  See Feb-16-23/1 and Feb-19-23/1.

 

Kissane (2005), pg 139

Feb-05-23/1

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.

De Valera also writes to Lynch saying that he should release a statement saying that Deasy only released his statement after being given notice of his execution the following morning and that he had been stripped of all ranks.

 

Hopkinson (1988), pgs 231 & 235; Curran J M (1980), pgs 270-271; Kissane (2005), pg 112

Feb-05-23/2

Lynch writes to Deasy rejecting his appeal and says that he should have known that his men would fight to the death rather than accept such terms.

See Feb-09-23/1.

 

Kissane (2005), pg 112

Feb-05-23/3

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

 

Dorney (2017), pg 228

Feb-06-23/1

Tom Barry and Tom Crofts (who had replaced Deasy as O/C 1st Southern Division of anti-Treaty army) 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.

See Feb-10-23/2.

 

O'Donoghue (1986), pg 294; Kissane (2005), pg 111

Feb-06-23/2

In a major raid on the village of Ballyconnel, Co. Cavan by men from the anti-Treaty column based in the Arigna mountains, two civilians (Sean McGrath and William Ryan) are killed and another civilian (William Ownes) is seriously wounded. 

The Roscommon Herald reported that the “pillagers wrecked and looted at will, and generally behaved like an army of men run amok”.  In a follow-up operations to try to capture the anti-Treaty column, one Free State soldier, Private Andrew Callaghan, is killed.

 

McGarty (2020), pgs 125-126

Feb-06-23/3

In an appeal from anti-Treaty prisoners in Limerick jail to the O/C of the 2nd Southern Division, they state “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.

See Feb-09-23/1

 

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

Feb-06-23/4

Writing in his diary, James Hogan, general officer in charge of inspection at the GHQ of the Free State army, refers to national [primary] school teachers saying “70% of NT’s positively bad influence.  Half-educated peasants, full of small vices, mean-minded, lazy, lying, spiteful”.

 

Ferriter (2021), pg 99

Feb-06-23/4

At this point, Lynch was hoping that a shipment of artillery pieces (‘mountain cannons’) from Germany would turn the course of the war in his favour.  Writing to Sean Moylan on February 6th, he says “You will realise that even one piece of artillery now would [successfully end the war]. One such piece could be moved around among our strong forces and this would completely demoralise the enemy and end the war”. 

McMahon comments that this was a “ridiculous fantasy”.  Cronin comments that “Lynch holed up most of the time may well have lost touch with the reality of the military situation…. At any rate one artillery piece would not have demoralised the Free State forces, let alone end the war”.

John T. Ryan is sent to Germany in early March with $100,000 from Clan na Gael. He is followed by Sean Moylan.  They do manage to purchase some ammunition (but no artillery).  However, correspondence about their activities is discovered by the British Special Branch during their major swoop on anti-Treaty sympathisers and activists in Britain (see Mar-11-23/3).  This results in pressure on Ryan and Moylan in Germany and they eventually conclude that it would be impossible to ship material to Ireland without detection.  No artillery is ever sent. 

 

McMahon (2008), pgs 97 & 132-133; Cronin (1972), pg 135

Feb-07-23/1

In a report on the Ulster Protestant Association (UPA) for the NI Minster of Home Affairs, R. Dawson Bates, an RUC officer says that over the period since it came to official attention in the autumn of 1920 that it ran four branches (in Ballymaccarrett, York Street, Shankill and the Ormeau Road) and that “The whole aim and object of the club [is] simply the extermination of Catholics by any and every means”.  The RUC officer (DI R. R. Spears) estimated that the UPA had killed at least six Catholics between June and October 1922.

The UPA had grown out of the Belfast Protestant Association which had been involved in the expulsion of Catholics and ‘rotten Prods’ in July 1920.

Parkinson notes that “loyalists of one hue or another were probably responsible for well over half of the terror-related fatalities in the North” – in the region of 350 Catholics were killed by loyalists in the UPA and their associates.  Despite their deadly activities, Parkinson goes on to note that “the response of the [NI] authorities to the threat of loyalist terror seemed to many to be half-heated and belated in nature” and only got going “once the IRA’s campaign had petered out”. 

See Nov-05-22/2.  

 

Parkinson (2020), pgs 150-155

Feb-08-23/1

Writing to Lynch and the ministers in his anti-Treaty Council of State, de Valera says that there must be “a moral basis” (and democratic basis?) to their struggle.  This results in his Document No. 2 proposal – See Feb-17-23/2.

 

Kissane (2005), pg ?

Feb-08-23/2

In a major speech given by Joe Devlin in Belfast, he laments the delay in setting up the Boundary Commission and the paralysing effect this was having on nationalist politics in the North. 

The 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 on May 10th.  This is part of an ongoing campaign by Devlinites to unify northern nationalists especially in the light of Leech’s electoral division changes (See Jan-1923/3) 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. He preferred to wait until after the Boundary Commission. 

 

Phoenix (1994), pgs 276-277

Feb-08-23/3

The Free State Government offers another amnesty.  This one is signed by Mulcahy. It offers anti-Treatyites, who surrender with their arms before February 18th, a full amnesty.  It also announces the suspension of executions.

See also Feb-09-23/1.

 

O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxiii; Curran J M (1980), pg 270; Power (2020), pg 121

Feb-08-23/4

In one of its regular reports on revolutionary organisations in Britain, the British Special Branch says that “It is definitely known that Republican activities in this country are on the increase. The new ‘officer commanding’[Pa Murray – see cSep-02-22/6] sent here some time ago has been visiting Scotland and the North of England for the purpose of putting the Irish Republican Army back on something like its old footing”. 

 

McMahon 92008), pg 107

Feb-09-23/1

The Free State government issues Liam Deasy’s letter (see Jan-18-23/1) and a similar letter from anti-Treaty prisoners in Limerick (see Feb-06-23/3). 

On February 12th, Liam Lynch rejects amnesty offer (see Feb-08-23/3), 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”.

See also Feb-10-23/1. 

 

O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxiii; Hopkinson (1988), pg 229; Power (2020), pgs 121-122

Feb-09-23/2

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 he escaped). 

 

McCarthy (2015), pg 118

Feb-10-23/1

Lynch issues an order to all his officers saying that they were not to enter into negotiations but to accept, only in writing and without comment any suggested basis for peace.  Officers who violated this instruction were to be court-martialled.

 

Kissane (2005), pgs 111-112

Feb-10-23/2

Tom Barry and Tom Crofts (back in Cork – see Feb-06-23/1) hold a meeting of the 1st Southern Division Council in Cronin’s in Goughane Barra 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 tables a proposal from Archbishop Harty of Cashel (formulated with the help of Fr. Duggan and Neutral IRA) that pending a General Election; there should be an immediate cessation of hostilities; all anti-Treaty arms should be dumped and that after the election the arms should be handed over to the elected government.  They agree that these proposals should be put to the anti-Treaty army Executive. 

See Feb-26-23/1.

 

O'Donoghue (1986), pg 294; Kissane (2005), pgs 111 & 114

Feb-10-23/3

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

Hall (2019), pg 118

Feb-10-23/4

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

Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 315; Power (2020), pgs 106 & 122-123

Feb-10-23/5

The solicitor for Daithi O’Donoghue (see Dec-1920/1) eventually gets to meet his client. O’Donoghue gives him written instructions that he “as a soldier of the Irish Republic … cannot recognise the purported jurisdiction of this court” and instructs him to “kindly take no further steps on my behalf”. 

When the judge is informed of O’Donoghue’s position, he is not pleased.  The case proceeds (slowly) against O’Mara, de Valera and O’Donoghue.  See Jul-24-24/1.  (See also Oct-20-23/1.)

 

O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pgs 173-174

Feb-10-23/5

Writing to de Valera, Mary MacSwiney says the anti-Treaty cause could only succeed if the duress they subjected the Irish public to exceeded the “immoral duress” that had forced them to accept the British Empire.

 

Kissane (2005), pg 85

Feb-11-23/1

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

O’Higgins showed his attackers an order from the GHQ of the anti-Treaty army stating that fathers of members of the Dáil were not responsible for what their sons did but this did not save him.

 

Doyle (2008), pg 260; Ferriter (2021), pg 95

Feb-11-23/2

Anti-Treaty O/C in Clare, Frank Barrett writes to Lynch saying “Until recent developments (Deasy and Limerick Goal) I had no doubt that we could have defeated the Free State Army, and compelled the Free State government to capitulate. My hope of ever doing this now are not at all bright. Anyhow to do so now will exhaust our last resource and England is always there. We cannot now join the Free State army in anything. What then is going to defeat England?”

 

Kissane (2005), pg 93

Feb-13-23/1

Liam Lynch leaves Dublin and heads south.

See Feb-26-23/1. 

 

O'Donoghue (1986), pg 294

Feb-13-23/2

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-13-23/3

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

 

Price (2012), pg 246

Feb-13-23/4

In the Irish Times, Cosgrave says the de Valera and his followers amounted to no more than 3,000 to 4,000 people and their cause had not a ghost of a chance of success.

 

Kissane (2005), pg 94

Feb-13-23/5

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-14-23/1

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 Jan-29-23/1); Horace Plunkett’s house in Foxrock, Co. Dublin; 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-16-23/1

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.

See Feb-19-23/1. 

 

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

Feb-16-23/2

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

 

Walsh (2018), pg 242

Feb-16-23/3

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

Feb-Mid-23/1

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-17-23/1

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.  He proposes that the British should allow a plebiscite between the Treaty and Document No. 2. 

This proposal does not go anywhere.  Kissane notes that “the rank and file of the IRA had never been interested in document no. 2”

This initiative annoys Lynch – see Feb-19-23/2 and Feb-28-23/1.

 

Hopkinson (1988), pg 233; Kissane (2005), pg 94

Feb-17-23/2

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, Free State Lieutenant Thomas Slattery from Ballymacelligott, Co Kerry also dies from wounds received in an ambush.

 

Doyle (2008), pgs 264-265

Feb-17-23/3

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

 

Hall (2019), pg 118

Feb-18-23/1

Dinny Lacey, O/C of anti-Treaty Tipperary No. 3 Brigade, is 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-18-23/2

A Free State 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-19-23/1

Writing to de Valera on the February 19th, Tom Derrig (Adj Gen of anti-Treaty army) says that accepting the Neutral IRA’s proposal for a ceasefire would be tantamount to surrendering the Republic.  Writing back on February 23rd, de Valera said that he particularly distrusted Florrie O’Donoghue’s leanings. 

See Feb-27-23/4.

 

Kissane (2005), pg 140

Feb-19-23/2

Writing to the anti-Treaty Army Executive, de Valera advised them to make Document No. 2 their objective and try to get the British government to state publicly that they were will to reopen negotiations as this would “kill” the Free State. 

However, de Valera also admitted to Tom Derrig (Adj Gen of the anti-Treaty army) that what he might be able to achieve in negotiations could be as low as zero.

See Feb-28-23/1.

 

Kissane (2005), pg 113

Feb-19-23/3

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 Bob Lambert respectively).

 

Hopkinson (1988), pg 245-246; Kissane (2005), pg 94

Feb-19-23/4

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

 

Macardle (1998), pgs 48-49

Feb-19-23/5

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-21-23/1

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 Mar-13-23/1). 

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-22-23/1

In a memo by Otto Niemeyer, the controller of finance in the UK’s Treasury, it is noted that Stanley Baldwin (Chancellor of the Exchequer) has agreed to Craig’s demand for £1.5m to fund the Specials in financial year 1923-1924. (See Nov-15-23/1 and, for background, see Dec-04-22/1.)

 

Matthews (2004), pg 106;

Feb-22-23/2

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-22-23/3

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-23-23/1

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 Dec-31-22/3.)

 

Grant (2018), pg 145

Feb-23-23/2

A Free State army 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-23-23/3

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-23-23/4

The Free State government informs the British government that from the April 1st, a customs barrier would be erected between the Free State and the UK.  The objectives would seem to be (1) generate income for the Irish government by taxing British-made goods and (2) demonstrate Irish independence.

 

Matthews (2004), pgs 118-119

Feb-24-23/1

A civilian prisoner, John Conway, is shot dead when trying to escape from the prison in Tralee Workshop, Co. Kerry.  See Apr-06-23/3 for outcome of inquest.

 

Doyle (2008), pg 267

Feb-26-23/1

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 to which Archbishop Harty’s proposals would be put – see Feb-10-23/2.  (Tom Crofts had replaced Deasy as O/C 1st Southern Division.)

 

O'Donoghue (1986), pg 296; Hopkinson (1988), pg 228 & 235-236; Kissane (2005), pg 111

Feb-27-23/1

Anti-Treatyite prisoner Thomas Gibson is executed in Portlaoise.

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

Feb-27-23/2

Two leaders of the anti-Treaty column based in the Arigna mountains, Seamus Cull and Paddy Tymon, are killed in an explosion on the Arigna mountains.  It is likely that they were hiding in a cave when an explosive was detonated at the mouth of the cave by Free State troops.

 

McGarty (2020), pgs 126-127

Feb-27-23/3

In Kerry, Michael Pierce and sixteen members of his anti-Treaty 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. They surrender to Colonel David Neligan. 

 

Doyle (2008), pg 263 & 266

Feb-27-23/4

In a meeting with two members of the Executive of the Neutral IRA (Donal O’Hannigan and M.J. Burke), to discuss their ceasefire proposal (see Feb-04-23/1), Cosgrave says that a truce would place his government at a tactical disadvantage as his opponents would gain if the peace talks failed or succeeded due to the fact that the government had gone back on its pledge not to negotiate.  He also said that the anti-Treaty leadership could control as most 90 per cent of its forces and that the remainder could do a lot of damage.  He concluded “I am not going to hesitate … if we have to exterminate ten thousand republicans, the three million of our people is bigger than this ten thousand”.

Rejected by both sides, the peace making efforts of the Neutral IRA got nowhere (as had a number of other peace initiatives). Early in March, the Neutral IRA issued a statement that their suggestion of a truce had not been accepted by either side and, by late March, the organisation had begun to wind down.

Ferriter comments “Neutrality, as seen by [Cosgrave] and O’Higgins, was moral cowardice.” – see Mar-13-23/4.

 

Ferriter (2021), pg 95; Kissane (2005), pgs 140-141

Feb-28-23/1

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’. For de Valera’s response, see Mar-07-23/4.

Kissane comments that “Lynch was oblivious to the need to justify their position in democratic terms”.

 

Hopkinson (1988), pg 234; Kissane (2005), pg 94

Feb-1923/1

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

 

Farry (2012), pg 106

Feb-1923/2

The HQ of the pro-Treaty’s CID is moved from Oriel House to 68 or 88 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 mainly of former British soldiers.)  The merged forces were put under Joe McGrath.

 

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

 

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