June
1922
|
Jun-01-22/1 |
The British signatories to the Treaty (plus
Balfour) meet and draw up six questions for the Irish delegation aimed at
flushing out their position of ‘Crown and Empire’. The Irish say that they will answer next day
but Collins and Griffith hold a meeting with Lloyd George that evening in
which there is heated discussion on the constitution in which the Irish side
argued for the practice as well the law of Britain’s relationship with Canada
(this was in relation to Article 2 of the Treaty) but Lloyd George argued
that safeguards as to practice could not be included in the
constitution. They also argued again about Northern Ireland with Collins blaming the British government for the murder of Catholics as they paid for the Special Constabulary who had carried some of these murders. Collins called the British “Shylocks”. Afterwards, Lloyd George described Collins as
“just a wild animal – a mustang”. When Curtis compared negotiating with
Collins to writing on water, Lloyd George added “shallow and agitated water”. On June 2nd, Griffith writes to Llyod George say that amendments could be inserted in the constitution “to reconcile its terms with those of the Treaty”.
|
Curran J M (1980), pgs 209-211; Townshend (2014), pg 401; Ferriter (2021), pg 40 |
|
Jun-01-22/2 |
Churchill tells the British House of Commons
that the implementation of the Treaty would be held up if, after the Pact
election, an Irish government was formed that included members who had not
signed the declaration under Article 17 of the Treaty. Also, on this day, Churchill holds a meeting
with British military chiefs to draw up a plan for the full military
reconquest of Ireland. |
Kenny (2021), pg 71; McMahon (2008), pg 78 |
|
Jun-01-22/3 |
The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officially
comes into being with headquarters in Atlantic Building, Waring Street,
Belfast. 1,100 of the old RIC were
accepted into the RUC, 400 of whom were Catholics. Dawson Bates, Minister of Home Affairs in the
NI government and responsible for the RUC, instructs his permanent secretary
that “he did not want his most juvenile clerk or typist, if a Papist,
assigned for duty to his ministry.”
|
Abbott (2000), pg 268; Lawlor (2011), pg 294 |
|
Jun-01-22/4 |
A Catholic clerk, Francis McHugh (27), working
at the Shankill Labour Exchange is shot dead by loyalist gunmen. A Protestant baker, William Collum (45) was shot dead near East Bridge St in Belfast by a sniper operating from the Short Strand. Later, a Protestant lorry driver, James Kane, was fatally wounded as he sat in his lorry on the Falls Rd. Also, an 11-year-old Protestant newspaper boy, Albert McMordie, was shot by a sniper. About 9 o’clock in the evening, a gang called to the house of a doctor in Donegall Pass, when they found that the doctor was not at home they attacked his housekeeper, Susan McCormick, a Catholic, they poured petrol on her and set her on fire. McCormick survived. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 259 &264 & 265 & 267; Parkinson (2020), pgs 156-157 |
|
Jun-01-22/5 |
The Belfast Telegraph says that there is systematic persecution of Protestants in the west and south of Ireland and that “not since the Rebellion of 1641 have the minority been in greater danger”. The same article goes on to say that the Belfast administration would never be “cowed by the incendiary and murderer” and that there was “a widespread conspiracy to make life and government impossible and that it has to be crushed”. Parkinson says that “Rival organs condemned the actions of violent men in a ritualistic manner but illustrated selective amnesia over who was responsible and which acts should be featured in depth.”
|
Parkinson (2004), pg 282 |
|
Jun-01-22/6 |
A Catholic, Bella McKeown (22) is shot in Belfast and dies three weeks later. Also, the body of another Catholic, Thomas Johnston (26) is found on Nelson St. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 261; McDermott (2001), pg 259 |
|
Jun-02-22/1 |
Balflour meets with Craig and Lord Londonderry
in London and told them that the British government would be greatly
handicapped in its dealings with the Provisional Government “if the south had
any ground for contending that the Belfast outrages were part of a movement
to persecute Catholics”. Craig blamed the violence on the IRA and
claimed “to have done his best to get Catholics to join the Specials”. Craig
agrees to a private inquiry into the Belfast killings – see
Jun-02-22/2. Phoenix says
that all sections of northern nationalism believed that the anti-Catholic
violence in Belfast were part of a plan by elements of the unionist
establishment which aimed at, what would be now called, the ‘ethnic
cleansing’ of Belfast. |
Phoenix (1994), pgs 226 & 230; Curran J M (1980), pg 196 |
|
Jun-02-22/2 |
British Cabinet meets and Lloyd George briefs
them on his meeting with Griffith and Collins the evening before. He
predicts trouble over the oath, the Privy Council and the position of the
anti-Treatyites in the coalition government. They agree that they will break
if the answers to their six questions are unsatisfactory from their point of
view. They make plans for military and economic sanctions against the
Free State in the event of breakdown. They also hear from Balfour that Craig has
agreed to a private enquiry into the Belfast killings as long as his
government initiated the proposal. Craig had persuaded the British not to set up
a judicial inquiry into the Belfast pogrom (as demanded by Collins) on the
grounds that it would “discourage the police, disconcert their plans and
encourage the criminals”. The man chosen to carry out the private enquiry is
Stephen Tallents – see Jun-21-22/3. The British cabinet minutes record (Fanning
says “piously”) that it was “the duty of the British government was to
observe the strictest impartiality as between all creeds and sections. No ground ought to be given for the charge
that whilst in the recent negotiations with the Southern Irish the British
Government had been prepared to take extreme measures, they took no care to
protect Catholics in the North”. [Comment: The British government had taken no care to protect the Catholics in the North. In fact, they were paying for the Specials who had, with impunity, carried out the killing of a number of innocent Catholics in NI.] (In the course of the discussions, Lloyd George said that the Irish were fed up with the Crown as the Crown represented repression - Crown forces, Crown prosecutor, etc. Chamberlain replied that the Irish were fortunate to have a Celt in the cabinet to put their case against England.) Later that day the Irish replies to the British cabinet’s six questions are sent – the Irish side gave considerable ground on amendments to the constitution. Lloyd George calls his cabinet together to consider them. They expressed general satisfaction with the Irish replies and, even though some points required clarification, they could see no grounds for a break. Griffith was going back to Dublin that evening but he indicated that he was willing to return on June 6th to discuss the replies and the constitution. The British agree to this proposal. See Jun-03-22/1. |
Curran J M (1980), pgs 211-213; Fanning (2013), pg 332 |
|
Jun-02-22/3 |
Threatening notices are posted in Kilrush, Co.
Clare warning Protestants to leave the town within twelve hours or face the
consequences. They are posted in the
Market Square and to the doors of the homes of various Protestants. The O/C of the (anti-Treaty) West Clare
Brigade of the IRA, Simon McInerney, issues a proclamation denouncing the
threats and says that his men would protect the Protestants of Kilrush. The threats against the Protestants are
also condemned by Catholic clergy. |
Power (2020), pgs 31 and 158-159 |
|
Jun-02-22/4 |
A Royal Navy vessel intercepts the SS Seattle Spirit which was on its way from America. 240,000 rounds of ammunition are discovered on board. The intelligence for this operation came from the British consul in New York, Gloster Armstrong, who had infiltrated the Clan na Gael in the States. |
McMahon (2008), pg 116 |
|
Jun-03-22/1 |
Provisional Government reviews the negotiations
on the constitution that had taken place in London and supports Griffith’s
replies to the six questions posed by the British government. The Provisional Government also decides on
"a policy of peaceful obstruction should be adopted towards the Belfast
government … No troops from the twenty-six counties either those under
official control or attached to the Executive should be permitted to invade
the Six-County area". Quoting
Hopkinson, Kissane says that Collins peace policy towards NI in this period
was probably “a mere public front”. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 213; Phoenix (1994), pgs 232-233; McDermott (2001), pg 247; Kissane (2005), pg 82; McMahon (2008), pg 143 |
|
Jun-03-22/2 |
Thomas Gough, a Catholic, is stopped by
loyalists on Skegoniel Av in Belfast and asked his religion. He is
dragged into a side street and shot – he died two days later. Another
Catholic, John Black (50) was shot by a sniper as he stood at his front door
in New Dock St. Yet another Catholic, Bernard McCaffrey was shot and
died later in hospital. Around this date, a teenage Protestant, John Kane, is shot by the British Army during rioting in the Peters Hill area. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 258 & 261 & 264 |
|
Jun-03-22/4 |
Special Constable James Murray is shot dead by
the accidental discharge of a rifle while on duty at a bridge near Kinawley,
Co Fermanagh, (S/Con Murray has been
one of the Specials who had managed to get out alive from the Clones railway
station on February 11th – see
Feb-11-22/1.) |
Lawlor (2011), pgs 290-291 |
|
cJun-03-22/5 |
Three IRA men enter the home of Elizabeth Hyde
in Newtownhamilton, Co. Armagh. They blindfold, beat her and cut her
hair. She is told that their reason is
that her brother is a member of the USC. |
Lynch (2010), pg 201 |
|
Jun-03-22/6 |
Two ex-RIC men are shot in the legs in
Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. |
Abbott (2019), pg 278 |
|
Jun-04-22/1 |
Resident Magistrate James Woulfe Flanagan is shot by IRA men Eddie O’Hare and Edward Fullerton as he comes out of the Catholic cathedral in Newry. This sets off a spiral of sectarian killings in South Armagh with 10 people killed in the next few weeks (3 Catholics and 7 Protestants). |
Phoenix (1994), pg 231; McDermott (2001), pg 248; Lynch (2010), pg 208; Parkinson (2020), pg 208 |
|
Jun-04-22/2 |
A Catholic, Robert Hunt (50) is shot by police in Ross
St., Belfast and subsequently dies in hospital. Another Catholic,
William Rice (25) is shot by the British Army in Lime St. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 264 |
|
Jun-04-22/3 |
Churchill
Orders BA to Attack Pettigo Churchill had been monitoring, from London,
the situation on the Fermanagh/Donegal border. He decides to use British troops to attack
Irish positons in Pettigo (which is in Donegal). These BA troops proceed to shell pro-Treaty
positions in Pettigo, Co. Donegal. Three IRA volunteers – William Kearney and Bernard McCanny and
Patrick Flood - are killed. (McCluskey says that the three volunteers killed were Kearney, McCanny and the third was William Deasley. However, the three names given above are named on the commemorative statue in the centre of Pettigo. Ó Duibhir says that Deasley was killed in an accident some time afterwards in the workhouse in Donegal Town.) The British troops occupy parts of Pettigo
which is in Donegal. Collins contacts
Churchill demanding a joint inquiry into the British taking of some Free
State territory at Pettigo. See Jun-07-22/1 for the next stage. |
Curran J M (1980), pgs 197-19; McDermott (2001), pg 248; McCluskey (2014), pg 124; Ó Duibhir (2011), pgs 126-127; Fanning (2013), pg 329; Ferriter (2021), pg 39; McMahon (2008), pg 145 |
|
Jun-05-22/1 |
The Specials in Belfast carry out an attack on the Mater Hospital (the Catholic hospital) after, allegedly, the grounds of the hospital were used as a basis for attacks on Crown forces. The Specials fired on the Mater Hospital in a “terrible 40-minute fusillade”. The following morning many patients discharge themselves. |
Phoenix (1994), pg 230; Parkinson (2004), pg 269 |
|
Jun-05-22/2 |
Collins and de Valera issue a joint appeal for the electorate to support the Pact stating that “many of the dangers that threaten us can be met only by keeping intact the forces which constituted the national resistance in recent years”. |
Macardle (1999), pg 719; Curran J M (1980), pg 217 |
|
Jun-05-22/3 |
Ulster Special Constable Richard Black is
accidentally shot when investigating suspicious activity at Moleman, Co.
Londonderry. |
Abbott (2019), pg 403 |
|
Jun-06-22/1 |
Ulster Special Constable Thomas Sheridan is shot by a sniper at a vehicle checkpoint at Annaghroe, Caledon, Co. Armagh. |
Abbott (2000), pg 296; Lawlor (2011), pg 291 |
|
Jun-06-22/2 |
Nominations for the election on June 16th
close. There were 128 seats and 27 constituencies.
There were 124 panel candidates with 34 of the panel candidates running
unopposed (17 from each side). There are 47 non-panel
candidates (18 Labour, 12 Farmers and 17 Independents) plus 4 more
independents from Trinity College. All non-panel candidates are
pro-Treaty. A number of these non-panel candidates (including Darrel Figgis) are intimidated by anti-Treatyites. |
Macardle (1999), pg 719; Curran J M (1980), pg 220 |
|
Jun-06-22/3 |
The Irish Independent states that in Belfast “whole-scale evictions continue and whole districts are being cleared of Catholics”. |
Parksinson (2020), pg 49 |
|
Jun-06-22/4 |
Griffith, Kevin O’Higgins and Hugh Kennedy go to London bringing with them their re-draft of the Constitution of the Free State. Griffith meets Churchill and they agree that Kennedy and Hewart will again try to redraft the constitution to each side’s agreement. See Jun-09-22/3. |
Macardle (1999), pg 719; Curran J M (1980), pg 213 |
|
Jun-06-22/5 |
Patrick O’Malley (45), a Catholic, is shot
dead on his way home in Stratheden St in Belfast. Later, another
Catholic, John McMenermy, is shot in Cupar St. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 258 |
|
Jun-06-22/6 |
The BA in Ireland sends instructions to
intelligence officers stating that “with the possibility in the near future
of renewed hostilities with the I.R.A., as a whole, the G.O.C. would like
further steps taken to ensure that an effective Military intelligence
organisation” was “in operation”. A number of senior intelligence officers are
appointed while others were appointed at the BA’s brigade and battalion
level. Note: It is unclear from McMahon if these
appointments were throughout Ireland or only in NI but what is clear is that
the BA in Ireland were preparing to go back to war. |
McMahon (2008), pg 147 |
|
After running clashes, British troops enter the village of Belleek on the Donegal-Fermanagh border. The British use artillery and seven pro-Treaty soldiers are killed, six wounded and four taken prisoner. (In his detailed account, Ó Duibhir does not mention any fatalities on the Irish side.) The British take over Belleek Fort which is on the Donegal side of the border. An Ulster Special Constable (S/Con Thomas Dobson) is shot while driving a Crossley tender for the British Army. (Abbott says on June 4th.) The British troops remain in this area (some of which is in southern territory including the village of Pettigo) until January 9th 1923. There are differing accounts of the casualties
in this conflict. (Curran has a quite strange account of the Belleek/Pettigo
episode written mainly from British cabinet documents.) |
Abbott (2000), pg 296; Hopkinson (1988), pg 86; Macardle (1999), pg 730; Curran J M (1980), pgs 197-199; Phoenix (1994), pgs 230-231; McDermott (2001), pg 241; Lawlor (2011), pgs 285-290; Ozseker (2019), pgs 169-173; Ferriter (2021), pgs 39-40 |
|
|
Jun-07-22/2 |
Last meeting of the Belfast Catholic Recruiting Committee set up under the Craig-Collins pact – this ends any attempt to enlist nationalists to the northern police. |
Phoenix (1994), pgs 231-232; McDermott (2001), pg 250-251 |
|
Jun-07-22/3 |
The Provisional Government takes over
Marlborough Hall in Glasnevin, Dublin and houses 500 northern refugees in it |
Dorney (2017), pg 54 |
|
Jun-07-22/4 |
As part of the ongoing farm labourer strike in
Waterford (see May-22-22/7), strikers occupy the estate belonging to Sir John
Keane and declare a soviet which includes milking his prize herd and distributing
the proceeds. However, the soviet does
not last long when the local IRA says that it opposes actions against private
property. See Aug-05-22/6. |
McCarthy (2015), pg 103 |
|
Jun-07-22/5 |
Tom Jones records in his diary that Churchill
said to him that it was important to him that he “retain the confidence of
the Ulster people”. Matthews notes that Churchill’s statement and
like those he made to Craig and his wife – see Mar-09-22/1 - “cast a shadow over Churchill’s own later
claims that he was impartial in his dealings with the two Irish governments”. |
Matthews (2004), pg 78 |
|
Jun-08-22/1 |
The McCann home in Cloughmills, near
Martinstown, Co. Antrim is raided by members of the USC. John McCann and his uncle Archie McCann are
taken from their home for questioning.
Archie McCann is shot dead but, although seriously injured, John
McCann survives. John McCann
identified one of his attackers are Thomas McDowell, a sergeant in the B Specials,
who lived just three miles away. Sgt
McDowell was arrested. When he was
remanded in custody, a fife and drum band accompanied him as he was taken
under escort to the railway station on his way to jail. |
Lawlor (2011), pgs 284-285 |
|
Jun-08-22/2 |
A convention of 250 officers from brigades, battalions and companies of the 1st Northern Division IRA along with divisional staff takes place in Ballybofey, Co. Donegal. Approximately 90% declared themselves pro-Treaty.
|
Ó Duibhir (2011), pg 91 |
|
Jun-08-22/3 |
The
Sixth Session of the Second Dáil – Day One – June 8th 1922 A number of mostly procedural issues are dealt
with. The proceedings of Day Eleven of the Fifth Session of the Second Dáil are available here: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1922-06-08/ The Second Dáil is adjourned and the third
Dáil is due to meet again on June 30th after the election on June
16th. See Jun-30-22/1. |
Kissane (2005), pg 130 |
|
Jun-09-22/1 |
Collins and de Valera speak from the platform at an election meeting in the Mansion House in Dublin in support of the Pact. |
Macardle (1999), pg 721 |
|
Jun-09-22/2 |
The British Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Richard Horne, outlines to the British cabinet the extent to which the
British Exchequer was propping up the NI government. He said that this support had “already gone
far beyond what was contemplated in the [1920] Act and was becoming
increasingly to defend in the House of Commons”. (It was also against the spirit, and the
probably the wording, of the Treaty – See Jones to Llyod George on March 17th
– see Mar-17-22/3.) See Jul-19-22/2. |
Matthews (2004), pg 74 |
|
Jun-09-22/3 |
Kennedy and Hewart agree their first re-draft
of the Free State constitution (job given to them on June 6th – see
Jun-06-22/4). In these negotiations, the Irish make most of the concessions. However, one significant article they got the British to leave in was the article which asserted the sovereignty of the people. See Jun-10-22/2. |
Curran J M (1980), pgs 213-215 |
|
cJun-10-22/1 |
Sean O'Hegarty, Tom Hales and Florence
O’Donoghue resign from the anti-Treaty IRA Executive ("on the issue of
an attempt to forcibly prevent the holding of a general election") and
are replaced by Tom Derrig, Tom Barry and Pax Whelan. See Jul-03-22/2. |
O’Donoghue (1986), pg 244 |
|
Jun-10-22/2 |
Griffith, O’Higgins and Kennedy meet with
Lloyd George, Churchill and Hewart to
consider Hewart’s and Kennedy second re-draft of the Free State constitution
and the Irish make further concessions to the British on the constitution.
See Jun-12-22/2. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 215 |
|
Jun-10-22/3 |
A Catholic, Thomas Mullaney (38) is shot by a BA patrol in the North Queen St area of Belfast. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 264 |
|
Jun-11-22/1 |
Special Constable Thomas Hume is accidentally
shot dead when on duty in the Magherafelt Workhouse in Co. Londonderry. |
Abbott (2019), pg 407 |
|
Jun-11-22/2 |
Writing to Tim Harrington, Henry Wilson
(former CIGS and now a Unionist MP in Westminster) says “All my energies
public and private are devoted to getting rid of the that pack of Cowards the
present Cabinet”. Quoting Maurice Cowling, Fanning says that
Wilson was “a well-informed critic of Llyod George, an irreconcilable enemy
of Sinn Féin and a formidable accession of strength to the Die Hards”. |
Jeffrey (2006), pg 279; Fanning (2013), pg 321 |
|
Jun-12-22/1 |
In a letter on the army unity talks, Mulcahy says that his side “had gone in this matter as far as it is possible for us to go” and that “responsibility for dealing further with the situation must now be left to the new Coalition Government which is being formed”. Curran gives a synopsis of the army unity talks up to this point. See Jun-14-22/4. |
Macardle (1999), pg 733; Curran J M (1980), pg 223; Kissane (2005), pg 72 |
|
Jun-12-22/2 |
Provisional Government meets and approves the
revised draft of constitution with only minor amendments. See Jun-14-22/3. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 215 |
|
Jun-12-22/3 |
Collins goes to London and speaks with Churchill on June 13th. He returns to Ireland that night. |
Macardle (1999), pg 721 |
|
Jun-12-22/4 |
Simon McInerney, O/C West Clare Brigade of the anti-Treaty IRA, publishes a letter in the Clare Champion justifying the confiscation of the “property, effects and stock” of Mr F W Gore Hickman of Kilmore House, Knock saying that it was carried out as a “reprisal for the extermination of the Roman Catholic population of Ulster”. Gore Hickman was not involved in the
“extermination of the Roman Catholic population of Ulster”. |
Power (2020), pg 161 |
|
Jun-12-22/5 |
In what may have been a botched IRA robbery,
Edward Devine – managing director of Hughes Bakery in west Belfast – was
fatally wounded. An elderly man, Patrick Ward, was shot by a loyalist sniper in Great Patrick St and died nearly two weeks later. Around this date, a Catholic, William Smyth (50) is shot in North Queen St. in the middle of the afternoon. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 259 & 261 |
|
Jun-12-22/6 |
Churchill along with Griffith, O’Higgins and Kennedy meet with representatives of southern unionists. Collins joins these talks on June 13th and agreement is reached on measures such as enlarging the Senate to increase minority representation but the southern unionists remain dissatisfied. (A letter is published in the papers on June 16th expressing this dissatisfaction.) |
Curran J M (1980), pgs 215-216 |
|
Jun-12-22/7 |
The Irish Independent blames the recent arson attacks in Belfast on “armed forces of the Belfast Government”. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 272 |
|
Jun-12-22/8 |
The Carroll home near Ballycommon, Nenagh, Co.
Tipperary is burnt down by the IRA and Patrick Carroll is shot dead. See Feb-14-21/2. |
O’Halpin and Ó Corráin (2020), pg 299 |
|
Jun-13-22/1 |
Craig and Londonderry arrive in London with
the negative response from the NI cabinet to the British government’s request
for an enquiry in the NI disturbances – see Jun-16-22/1. |
Phoenix (1994), pg 233 |
|
Jun-13-22/2 |
There is an arson attack on a brewery in
Belfast. There is also an arson attack on a handkerchief factory in
Mountpottinger in the east of Belfast and there was a sniper attack on fire
brigade officers attempting to put out a fire in a business in Gt Patrick
St. There were further arson attacks on the
following two days. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 272; Parkinson (2020), pg 200 |
|
Jun-13-22/3 |
Two Catholic farmers from Co. Armagh, Pat
Creegan from High Street, Bessbrook (or Derrymore) and Thomas Crawley, from
Greyhillen, Whitecross are taken from Bessbrook and shot dead. Their bodies are left on the Lislea road
near Newry. Neither men are in the
IRA. It is not known if they were killed by members
of the RIC, Special Constabulary or the UVF.
(These killings are said to be one of the reasons for the Altnaveigh
killings – see Jun-17-22/2.) |
Lawlor (2011), pg 298; Hall (2019), pg 97; Lynch (2010), pg 195 |
|
Jun-13-22/4 |
Writing to Churchill, Midleton says Ireland is
different from England because “the people are exceedingly ignorant” and were
inexperienced when it came to political organisation. He went on “the Irish are morally cowards …
the powers of the senate will be the only defence against extravagances”. |
Ferriter (2021), pg 36 |
|
Jun-14-22/1 |
Just after midnight, eight Special Constables
arrive in McGuill public house in Dromintee, Co. Armagh. They are looking for the owner, James McGuill,
who they suspected of being involved in the killing of S/Constable Sheridan –
See Jun-06-22/1. However, McGuill is not at home. His family is at home – including his wife,
Unah McGuill (who is in the late stages of pregnancy), her mother, her two
small children, a female servant and a friend of the family. The Special Constables proceed to wreck the
pub, take money from the till and drink looted alcohol. Unah McGuill is savagely attacked and raped by
three members of the USC – she is left with severe injuries including a
fractured skull from repeated kicks to her head by her attackers. The servant girl is also beaten and
raped. The family friend saves herself
by throwing herself from an upstairs window.
(Unah McGuill’s husband James McGuill is a
friend of Frank Aiken and it is thought that revenge for Unah McGuill’s
brutal beating and rape was one of the motivations for the sectarian killings
in Altnaveigh – see Jun-17-22/2.) |
Connolly (2019), pg 38; Lawlor (2011), pgs 298-299; Lynch
(2010), pgs 196-197 |
|
Jun-14-22/2 |
Speaking in Cork, Collins repudiates the
'Pact' with de Valera (just two days before the election). He tells his
audience that he expected them to vote for the candidates they thought were
best regardless of whether they were on the panel or not. He said that “the country [is] facing a very
serious situation. If the situation is to be met as it should be met, the
country must have the representatives it wants. You understand fully what
you have to do, and I depend on you to do it”. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxi; Hopkinson (1988), pgs 109-110; Macardle (1999), pg 721; Curran J M (1980), pgs 220-221; Kissane (2005), pg 73 |
|
Jun-14-22/3 |
Kennedy meets with British officials to agree
the final draft of the Free State constitution. See Jun-15-22/1. |
|
|
Mid-Jun-1920/1 |
During the second and third weeks of June, arms were exchanged between Beggars Bush and the Four Courts and many officers were sent with equipment to the IRA Divisions in the North. |
Macardle (1999), pg 732
|
|
Jun-14-22/4 |
The anti-Treaty Army Executive rejects
proposals which Liam Lynch had earlier agreed to the pro-Treaty side (via
work of joint Army committee set up after Collins-de Valera Pact).
These proposals, agreed with Mulcahy, included Liam Lynch and Liam Deasy
being made deputy chiefs of staff under Eoin O’Duffy as chief of staff. Instead, they pass the following resolution: “That we instruct the officers deputed to meet the Beggars Bush officers to inform them that: (a) Negotiations on Army unity with Beggars Bush must cease; (b) We take whatever action may be necessary to maintain the Republic against British aggression and (c) No offensive will be taken by our troops against the Beggars Bush troops”. This resolution was passed by O’Connor and O’Malley to Mulcahy the following day. The Executive also set up a sub-committee to examine the possibility of an immediate attack on the British troops still in the 26 counties. See also Kissane (2005), pg 72. |
O’Donoghue (1986), pg 245; Hopkinson (1988), pg 102; Macardle (1999), pgs 733-734; Hall (2019), pg 100 |
|
Jun-15-22/1 |
The British signatories and Law Officers agree that the revised constitution conforms with the Treaty and the following day it is passed by the British cabinet. It is published the following day - see Jun-16-22/3. Curran has a short evaluation of the constitution and concludes with the following quote from Leo Kohn: “The constitution was a most comprehensive and, in spirit, essentially republican constitution on continental lines. … Its [the British constitution’s] archaic symbols had to be introduced, but their meaningless for Ireland were writ large on every page. The monarchical forms paled into insignificance in the light of the formal enunciation of the principle of the sovereignty of the people as the fundamental and exclusive source of all political authority”. |
Curran J M (1980), pgs 216-218 |
|
Jun-16-22/1 |
Craig and Londonderry meet with Lloyd George, Churchill, Balfour and Chamberlain in Downing St in London to discuss the setting up of an enquiry into the northern disturbances. However, all they do is direct a government official (Stephen Tallents) to carry out an investigation into the reasons for the breakdown of the March Craig-Collins pact and report back to the British cabinet – see Jun-21-22/3. |
Phoenix (1994), pgs 234-235 |
|
Jun-16-22/2 |
A committee of magistrates write to Craig informing him that a considerable majority of their group believe that martial law should be introduced in N.I. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 291 |
|
Jun-16-22/3 |
The
Pact Election The Free State Constitution appears in
newspapers on morning of polling day.
(Obviously, it does not live up to the hopes of the anti-Treaty
side.). Results become known on June 24th. Pro-Treaty Sinn Féin gets 58
seats; Anti-Treaty Sinn Féin gets 36 seats; Labour gets 17 seats; The Farmers
Party gets 7 seats; Independents get 6 seats and TCD has 4 seats. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxi; Litton (1995), pg 67; Hopkinson (1988), pgs 109-110; O’Donoghue (1986), pg 245; Macardle (1999), pg 722 & 727; Curran J M (1980), pgs 221-22; Walsh (2018), pg 176; Ferriter (2021), pgs 40-41; Regan (2013), pgs 40-41 |
|
Jun-16-22/4 |
Four anti-Treaty men break into the
Kilateelagh House, near Dromineer, Lough Derg in Co. Tipperary. It is the home of the Protestant Biggs
family. Eileen Mary Warbutron Biggs is
brutally raped. (Dorney gives her name
as Harriet Biggs.) Three men were charged in Nenagh with assault on Biggs – they were Patrick Hogan, Edward Hogan and James Grace (members of the 1st Tipperary Brigade). All three were acquitted. The reported leader of the gang who carried out this brutal rape, Martin Hogan (brother of Patrick and Edward) had fled to Dublin before the trial – see Apr-21-23/1. |
Dorney (2017), pg 55; Connolly (2019), pgs
37-238; Ferriter (2021), pg 105 |
|
Jun-16-22/5 |
During an altercation between pro- and
anti-Treaty forces over the occupation of a hall to be used in the election
in Castledermot, Co. Kildare, shots are fired and an anti-Treaty volunteer,
Thomas ‘Smack’ Dunne, is mortally wounded, apparently accidently. |
Durney (2011), pg 70 |
|
Jun-16-22/6 |
The High Court in Dublin rules in favour of the Blennerhasset family in their land dispute with John Murphy. See April 9th (Apr-09-22/2) and May 13th (May-13-22/1) above. Also, see Dec-20-22/3. |
Doyle (2008), pg 102 |
|
Jun-17-22/1 |
A fourteen-man Ulster Special Constabulary
patrol from Forkhill is ambushed at Drumintee, Co. Armagh resulting,
according to Abbott, in the death of S/Constable Thomas Russell and the
wounding of the S/Con George Hughes. Some of the ambushers were located in
McGuill’s public house – see Jun-14-22/2.
The 50-man IRA ambush is led by Frank Aiken. (Lawlor says that another
S/Constable, called Arkwright, was also killed.) See Jun-17-22/2. |
Abbott (2000), pg 297; Lawlor (2011), pg 299; Hall (2019), pg 98 |
|
Jun-17-22/2 |
The Altnaveigh and Lisdrumliska Killings IRA men from Frank Aiken’s 4th Northern Division carry out a sectarian attack on Protestant farming families in the townlands of Altnaveigh and Lisdrumliska outside Newry in South Armagh killing six, wounding four others and burning or bombing twelve houses. |
McDermott (2001), pg 259; Coogan and Morrison (1999), pg 44; Hall (2019), pg 98; Parkinson (2020), pgs 208-210 |
|
Jun-17-22/3 |
Ernie O’Malley and a group of anti-Treaty IRA
men carry out a raid on the HQ of the new Civic Guard in Kildare
Barracks. After they gain entry, they
tie up the Guards on duty and make away with 167 rifles, 243 revolvers and
ammunition. They bring them back to
the Four Courts. In this endeavour,
they had the assistance of Thomas Daly who was leading the mutiny of Civic
Guards in Kildare Barracks. See Jun-24-22/1. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxi; Dorney (2017), pg 63; Durney (2011), pg 54 |
|
Jun-17-22/4 |
Six armed and masked men break into the home
of Stephen Kilmartin in Meggah, Carron, Co. Clare. Kilmartin was a herdsman. Several shots are fired. Margaret Kilmartin, Stephen’s wife, is
killed by a bullet meant for her husband.
The Kilmartins had nine young children. |
Power (2020), pg 21 |
|
Jun-17-22/5 |
The brother of an ex-RIC man is shot dead near
Ballymote, Co Sligo by anti-Treaty IRA men who wanted to question his
brother. |
Farry (2012), pg 92 |
|
Jun-17-22 |
At least eight arson attacks by the “Falls Firebugs”
in Belfast over this day and following day including the burning to death of
12 horses in a coal merchant’s yard. Three IRA men are captured in Harry Ferguson’s garage at 4.45am on June 18th – the authorities noted that after they were captured that arson attacks in the area of the ‘Low Markets’ ceased. Three cinemas in West Belfast were burned on June 20th along with the Rock Bar on the Falls Road. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 272; McDermott (2001), pg 254; Parkinson (2020), pg 200 |
|
Jun-18-22/1 |
Third convention of
anti-Treaty IRA The third convention of
anti-Treaty army meets in Mansion House to discuss the army re-unification
proposals brought forward by the joint army council. The outcome is a split in the anti-Treaty
army. |
O’Donoghue (1986), pg 246; Litton (1995) pg 68; Hopkinson (1988), pgs 114-115; Macardle (1999), pg 735; Curran J M (1980), pg 223; O'Farrell P (1997), pg 145; Townshend (2014), pgs 403-404; Kissane (2005), pg 74 |
|
Jun-19-22/1 |
Three armed but unmasked men hold up Edward
Street railway station in Newry, Co. Down and they question a number of
employees. Asked where he comes from,
Peter Murray says that he is from Dublin and adds that he is a Catholic. The armed men reply “You are the man that
we are looking for”. He is taken away
and his body is found the following morning at Long Bridge, Glassdrummond
about two miles from Newry. Two other Catholics were abducted that night –
one managed to escape and the other was let go. |
Lawlor (2011), pgs 292-293 |
|
Jun-19-22/2 |
Two Ulster Special Constables (S/Constable William
Mitchell and S/Constable Samuel Young) are ambushed at Drumalane, Keady (or
in the townland of Fergot at Derrynoose) Co. Armagh - they both die the next
day from their wounds. A civilian
(Charles Haughy) is also wounded. The Special Constables had been detailed to
protect Protestant farmers in the wake of the Altnaveigh massacre (see
Jun-17-22/2) but were abducted by the IRA. |
Abbott (2000), pg 297; Lawlor (2011), pg 301; Lynch (2010), pg c208 fn |
|
Jun-20-22/1 |
Shots are fired into six unionist houses in
Demesne Terrace in Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Afterwards, a number of unionist families leave their homes. |
Lawlor (2011), pg 293 |
|
Jun-20-22/2 |
Three Catholic carters killed in Belfast. Around
lunchtime, David French (30) was shot in the back in Duncrue St and later
dies in hospital. Later in the afternoon, James Tutton (50) is killed
in the same street. Another carter, Charles O’Neill (46) was shot dead
in the Skegoniel Av area after a large crowd approached him and his colleague
and asked his religion. His colleague escaped. IRA man, William Thornton (22), is shot dead by an RUC patrol when they discover him along with a number of colleagues trying to set fire to an oil merchant’s premises in the Cromac St area of Belfast. Thornton was a member of an IRA arson team from the Markets area. (McDermott notes that Thornton is the last IRA man to be killed in Belfast in the 1920s and that he was the first to be killed by the RUC.) |
Parkinson (2004), pg 268 & 274; McDermott (2001), pg 254; Parkinson (2020), pg 202 |
|
cJun-21-22/1 |
A row erupts in Westminster over sale of
honours by the Coalition government.
This brings more pressure on the Conservatives/Liberal Coalition
government from the Conservative Die-Hards. |
Matthews (2004), pg 81 |
|
Jun-21-22/2 |
An elderly Catholic, William Miller (70) of Willowfield St in east Belfast was breaking wood in his back yard when men climbed over his back wall and shot him – he dies later. Also, a Protestant, John Ireland (37), was shot dead by the British Army in the York St area of Belfast. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 261 & 264 |
|
Jun-21-22/3 |
The man appointed (Stephen G. Tallents) to enquire and report on the breakdown of the Craig-Collins pact arrives in Belfast – he stays until July 1st and meets a wide selection of people. |
Phoenix (1994), pgs 236-241; McDermott (2001), pgs 254-255; Parkinson (2004), pgs 288-289; Ferriter (2021), pg 29 |
|
Jun-22-22/1 |
Writing to the ministers of the NI government,
Wilfred Spencer (Secretary to the NI cabinet) says the Provisional Government
had “not only not co-operated with the government of Northern Ireland to the
extent which was foreshadowed in the [Collins-Craig] pact but had taken steps
to obstruct our government to try and prevent its proper recognition”. |
Ferriter (2021), pg 28 |
|
Henry Wilson is shot dead outside his home in
Eaton Sq in London - he had been Chief of the Imperial General Staff until
February 1922 after which he had acted as Military Adviser to the Northern
Ireland government. Also,
at the time of his death, Wilson was a Unionist MP. |
O’Donoghue (1986), pg 255; Hopkinson (1988), pg 112; Macardle (1999), pgs 736-737; Curran J M (1980), pgs 223-224; Phoenix (1994), pg 235; Griffith & O’Grady (1999), pg 281; Parkinson (2004), pgs 276-277; Ó Duibhir (2011), pgs 139; Townshend (2014), pgs 404-405; Fanning (2013), pg 333; Jeffrey (2006), pg 281-290; Hart (2003) pgs 194-220; Ferriter (2021), pg; Kissane (2005), pg 16; Parkinson (2020), pgs 205-207; McMahon (2008), pgs 78 & 104 |
|
|
Jun-22-22/3 |
Special Constable Robert McDowell is
holidaying at Windgates near Greystones, Co. Wicklow when a number of armed
and masked men enter the house in which he is staying. S/Constable McDowell is taken outside where
he is shot dead. |
Abbott (2019), pg 40943 |
|
Jun-23-22/1 |
A British cabinet conference of
ministers takes place in aftermath of the killing of Wilson. After the meeting, the British send a
letter to Collins saying that Wilson’s assassins had links to the anti-Treaty
men occupying the Four Courts and “formally” ask that the occupation be
brought to an end. The British cabinet also
decided to attack the Four Courts if the Provisional Government did not do
so. Macready (who opposed this move)
is told to return to Dublin and prepare his troops. See Jun-24-22/3. |
O’Donoghue (1986), pg 256; Hopkinson (1988), pg 115; Macardle (1999), pg 737; Curran J M (1980), pgs 224-226; Dorney (2017), pgs 65-66; Townshend (2014), pg 405; Fanning (2013), pg 334 |
|
Jun-23-22/2 |
A meeting is held between Griffith, Emmet Dalton, Andy Cope and two British Army officers to discuss the continued occupation of the Four Courts. |
Macardle (1999), pg 739 |
|
Jun-23-22/3 |
Three Catholics are killed by the USC in Cushendall, Co. Antrim. The three are Seamus McAllister (18), John Gore (21) and John Hill (30). Two more were wounded. All were civilians and not involved with the IRA. (However, Parkinson (2020) says that McAllister was a member of the IRA.) |
Parkinson (2004), pg 349; Lawlor (2011), pgs 301-309; Parkinson (2020), pgs 181-186 |
|
Jun-23-22/4 |
Lionel Curtis writes to Churchill saying that
it was “scarcely possible to doubt that the I.R.A. Headquarters under General
Mulcahy” was responsible for the organisation of the IRA in NI. |
McMahon (2008), pg 143 |
|
Jun-23-22/5 |
In Belfast, a Catholic teenager, Leo Rea, is fatally wounded by loyalists as he makes his way to work. The Protestant manager of Hughes and Dickson’s mill in Divis St., Belfast, William Kirkwood, is shot dead on his lunchbreak. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 258 & 264; McDermott (2001), pg 259 |
|
Jun-24-22/1 |
Griffith and Duggan arrive at the Kildare
barracks of the mutinous Civic Guards with the following offer: (1) the men
were to be paid all money due to them; (2) an inquiry is to be held and (3)
in the meantime all men were to be suspended.
These proposals are accepted. (After the men get paid, a number go drinking
in Newbridge during which one recruit, Farrell Liddy from Leitrim, is
accidently shot dead.) See Aug-18-22/4. |
Durney (2011), pg 55 |
|
Jun-24-22/2 |
The British government makes a definite decision to go ahead with their attack on the Four Courts on the following day (i.e. June 25th) and this is telegrammed to Macready who had returned to Dublin. [McMahon comments “This [decision] was a serious misjudgement, which if carried out, would have changed the course of Irish history”. He goes to say that the decision came from “flawed handling of Irish intelligence and a poor understanding of the political situation in Ireland.”] Macready discussed the details with General
Boyd. He also sends a senior staff officer, Colonel Brind, to London
with a letter arguing against the attack, mainly on the grounds that it would
give rise to increased public support for the men in the Four Courts and
could unite the pro- and anti-Treaty factions. (He also threw doubt on a
Special Branch report from one source in Dublin which claimed that the
killing of Wilson was the start of a wider campaign against British interests
in Ireland.) He also says that it
could prompt attacks on the remaining British soldiers in Ireland; a violent
reaction against Protestants in Southern Ireland and lead to a rupture
between the British government and the Provisional Government. [Ferriter comments that Macready’s arguments
“signalled greater nuance than his political counterparts”.] See Jun-25-22/1 [Dates slightly different in different sources. For example, McMahon says decision to attack the Four Courts was taken by British cabinet on June 23rd and that the attack was to take place on June 24th.] |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 115; Macardle (1999), pg 739; Curran J M (1980), pg 226; Fanning (2013), pg 334; Ferriter (2021), pg 43; McMahon (2008), pg 78 |
|
Jun-25-22/1 |
Lloyd George meets with Colonel Brind who supplements
Macready’s arguments with his own. In addition, a memo from General
Imperial Staff is read by Lord Cavan (Wilson’s replacement as Chief of the
Imperial Staff) which also argues against an attack. The British
government rescinds order to attack Four Courts (and Churchill tries to
destroy the evidence of their decision the previous day). Instead, it is decided that Churchill is to
write to Provisional Government saying that Treaty would not be proceeded
with if the Four Courts were not cleared. Also, they authorise
Churchill to make a stern speech in the British House of Commons the
following day (see Jun-26-22/2).
|
Hopkinson (1988), pg 116; Macardle (1999), pg 740; Curran J M (1980), pgs 226-228 |
|
Jun-25-22/2 |
The men in the Four Courts hold a meeting but do not come to any decision other than to send a section under Peadar O’Donnell to the North. Some want to attack the British immediately while others wish to mend the breach with Lynch and the 1st Southern men. Relations are established with Lynch and his men in the Clarence Hotel and eventually friendly relations are re-established between the two anti-Treaty IRA factions. |
Macardle (1999), pg 740; Curran J M (1980), pg 228 |
|
Jun-26-22/1 |
Between 31st January and 26th June, the British Government supplied the Provisional Government with 11,900 rifles, 79 Lewis machine guns, 4,200 revolvers, 3,504 grenades, 1.7 million rounds of ammunition, six armoured cars and a large number of trucks. (See also Sep-02-22/1.) Pro-Treaty forces amounted to (approx) 8,000 men while a Provisional Government source estimated that the anti-Treaty army had 12,900 men and 6,780 rifles. So, while the anti-Treaty forces outnumbered the pro-Treaty (and had more experienced fighters), the pro-Treaty forces were much better equipped. Also, it is difficult to know how many of the anti-Treaty men were active. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 127; Fanning (2013), pg 336 |
|
Jun-26-22/2 |
Heated debate in the British House of Commons
(within hours of Wilson’s state funeral in St Paul’s Cathedral in London) in
which Lloyd George and Churchill come under sustained attack from Bonar Law
and others about the killing of Wilson.
Llyod George regrets that the Provisional
Government had not done more to protect life and property. Churchill makes a
speech linking Wilson’s assassination with the anti-Treaty men occupying the
Four Courts and demanding that the Provisional Government clear out this
“nest of anarchy and treason” – otherwise the British would do it for
them. He says that the Irish
Government must take steps that “this sort of thing must come to an end” and
if not then “His Majesty’s Government” shall deem the Treaty to be “formally
violated” and “resume full liberty of action in any direction that may seem
proper”. The British government wins the division on
its Irish policy comfortably (by 342 votes to 75). See Jul-01-22/4. |
Macardle (1999), pgs 740-741; Townshend (2014), pgs 405-406; Fanning (2013), pg 335; Matthews (2004), pg 82; Ferriter (2021), pgs 43-44; Regan (2013), pg 118 |
|
Jun-26-22/3 |
Leo Henderson, leading an anti-Treaty raiding
party enforcing the Belfast boycott, is arrested by pro-Treaty troops led by
Frank Thornton at Ferguson’s garage in Lr Baggot St. Henderson’s men
had commandeered 15 cars which had been imported in defiance of the
boycott. They wanted the cars to bring an anti-Treaty IRA section to
the North. In retaliation for the arrest of Henderson, anti-Treaty forces arrest pro-Treaty Deputy Chief-of-Staff General J J (Ginger) O'Connell as he came out of McGilligan’s pub in Lesson St. in Dublin and hold him in Four Courts pending Henderson’s release. The release of Henderson and five anti-Treaty volunteers held in Drogheda is demanded for the release of O’Connell. On afternoon of June 26th, the Provisional Government meet to discuss the garage raid and the Four Courts men threat to attack the British. Griffith and Mulcahy later claim that a decision to attack the Four Courts “practically taken” at this meeting but they decide to put off the decision until the following morning. (Ernest Blythe later claimed that the decision had been taken before the assassination of Henry Wilson saying that “It was only a question of timing.”) On September 11th 1922, Cosgrave told the Dáil that the kidnapping of O’Connell was a last straw for the Provisional Government and it had to act or anarchy would ensue. See Sep-11 to 12-22/1. However, while admitting that the arrest of O’Connell was a factor, Regan argues that other factors were probably more important in leading the Provisional Government to decide to attack the Four Courts such as making sure that the Four Courts garrison did not launch an attack on Northern Ireland which would have provoked British re-intervention. Regan says “there is little doubt that by 27 June the Four Courts IRA, with or without support [of the anti-Treaty IRA Executive] were close to initiating a border war. Once this appeared imminent, Collins and Griffith had little choice but to contain that threat” (Regan (2013), pg 119). See Jun-27-22/4
|
O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxi; Litton (1995) pgs 69-70; Hopkinson (1988), pg 117; Curran J M (1980), pgs 228-229; Hall (2019), pg 101; Regan (2013), pgs 118-119 |
|
Jun-26-22/4 |
Special Constable William Leggett is killed
near Garrison, Co. Fermanagh when a Crossley tender overturns due to a burst
tyre. |
Abbott (2019), pg 409 |
|
Jun-26-22/5 |
One of the leaders of the extremist ‘Die-Hard’
Conservatives in the British House of Commons, Colonel John Gretton, writes
to Churchill saying that a concerted attack was planned against Irish
loyalists in the first few days of July.
(One of reasons that he gave for this belief was that the RC
Franciscan order was planning a great pilgrimage to Multyfarnham Abbey in Co.
Meath and that they had met there in 1641 to plan a Protestant massacre.) |
McMahon (2008), pgs 75-76 |
|
Jun-27-22/1 |
Notice appears in official gazette (Iris Oifiguil) calling the “The House of Parliament to which the Provisional Government is to be responsible” to assemble on July 1st. (Not called in name of Third Dáil.) |
Macardle (1999), pgs 766-767 |
|
Jun-27-22/2 |
Referring to the assassination of Wilson, the Belfast Newsletter states that it was “an epochal crime” which stood out “stark in its fiendishness, marking for all time the criminality of the Sinn Féin movement”. The Newsletter also stated “He was ours, ours by blood, ours by sympathy and ours by service. He died a martyr to the cause of the freedom and liberties of Northern Ireland”. De Valera drew attention to Wilson’s role in Northern Ireland when he said [date not given] “The killing of any human being is an awful act but … life has been made a hell for the nationalist minority in Belfast … I do not approve [of the killing] but I must not pretend to misunderstand.” |
Parkinson (2004), pg 277 & 278; Fanning (2013), pg 333 |
|
Jun-27-22/3 |
The London Times states “The moment has at last come for Mr Collins to choose which path he shall take. There are only two paths – that of the Treaty and that of anarchy.” |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 116 |
|
Jun-27-22/4 |
There is much activity in the Four Courts as they prepare a force to go North. The Provisional Government meet again and give
the go ahead for the attack on the Four Courts. Hopkinson says that Griffith and O’Higgins wanted to attack the Republican forces for some time and stresses the disagreement among the republicans as a large factor in Collins’ eventual agreement to attack the Four Courts. Griffith drafts a notice for the press stating “The Government has been forced to take action after a series of criminal acts culminating in the kidnapping of General O’Connell.” Lynch goes to the Four Courts about 10.00pm and stays until 1.00am in discussions with Mellows. The rift in the anti-Treaty forces (see Jun-18-22/1) was healed but this was probably not known to the Provisional Government when they made the decision to attack the Four Courts. At about 10.00pm, two couriers are sent by the Provisional Government arrive at the Four Courts. They demand the evacuation of the Four Courts and surrender by mid-night. The men in the Four Courts cannot decide what to do but they do confer with Traynor who mobilises the Dublin Brigade. Pro-Treaty troops under Paddy O’Daly surround the Four Courts. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxi; Litton (1995) pgs 69-70; Hopkinson (1988), pg 117; Curran J M (1980), pgs 228-229; Dorney (2017), pg 67 |
|
Jun-27-22/7 |
Solly-Flood tells Tallents that the IRA were
responsible for 24 murders in NI in the preceding period. |
McMahon (2008), pg 143 |
|
Jun-28-22/1 |
The pro-Treaty troops demand the surrender of
the Four Courts for a second time (this time they demand evacuation by
4.00am). As the men in the Four Courts stay in position, at 4.15am
pro-Treaty troops, under Emmet Dalton & Tom Ennis, direct artillery fire
against the Four Courts. (The artillery was given to them by the
British.) The Civil War in the south is underway. See Jun-28-22/2 |
O’Donoghue (1986), pg 256-257; Hopkinson (1988), pg 117; Dorney (2017), pgs 68-77; Ó Ruairc (2009), pg 299; Curran J M (1980), pg 234 |
|
Jun-28-22/2 |
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. |
O’Donoghue (1986), pg 259; Hopkinson (1988), pg 125; Macardle (1999), pgs 745-746 & 748; Curran J M (1980), pg 234 & 236; Ó Duibhir (2011), pgs 144-145; Townshend (2014), pg 409; O’Connor and Connolly (2011), pgs 91-102 |
|
Jun-28-22/3 |
De Valera issues a statement which includes
the following “In the face of England’s threat of war some of our countrymen
yielded. The men who are now being attacked by the forces of the
Provisional Government are those who refuse to obey the order to yield –
preferring to die. They are the best and bravest of our nation”. De Valera then reported to his old battalion – 3rd Battalion of the Dublin Brigade. Curran says that he refused to accept any position of command [in the anti-Treaty forces], preferring to seek an end to the fighting by political means. |
Macardle (1999), pgs 746-747; Curran J M (1980), pg 234; Townshend (2014), pg 409 |
|
Jun-28-22/4 |
The Provisional Government barricade themselves
into government buildings in Merrion Square in Dublin. Over the coming days, government ministers
and top civil servants live, sleep and eat in these buildings. |
Dorney (2017), pg 89 |
|
Jun-28-22/5 |
At 11.30am, Lloyd George meets with Churchill (Secretary of State for War) and Lord Cavan (Commander in Chief of the Imperial Staff) to discuss the news from Dublin. At this and subsequent conferences during the day, it is agreed that the Irish government would be given whatever support requested, including troops. See Jun-29-22/1. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 234 |
|
Jun-28-22/6 |
An ex-RIC man is taken from his home and his body is later found at Killavullen, Mallow, Co. Cork. |
Abbott (2000), pgs 294-5 |
|
Jun-28-22/7 |
Collins writes to Churchill asking him to
disavow Craig’s repudiation of the Boundary Commission and denounces Craig’s
intention of abolishing proportional representation in local elections saying
that its abolition would effectively eliminate the “representation of
Catholic and Nationalist interests” especially in Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry
City. He also described PR as an
“enlightened and eminently fair system”.
Collins reminded Churchill that while
safeguards for Southern Unionists “have been frequently demanded and readily
granted by us”, the rights of Northern Nationalists “under the Craig regime
are not protected in the slightest degree”.
See Jun-30-22/7. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 246; Phoenix (1994), pg 244; Matthews (2004), pg 83 |
|
Jun-28-22/8 |
Commandant T. Mandeville and Captain Michael Vaughan (of the pro-Treaty army) are killed in an ambush on Lesson Street, Dublin carried out by anti-Treaty men from 3rd Batallion. (Vaughan was from Ennistymon, Co. Clare.) (Dorney says June 28th but Power says July 4th.) One anti-Treaty volunteer (John McGowan from
Skerries) was killed on St Stephen’s Green and a civilian (Miss Harrison) is
killed during an attack on pro-Treaty troops on Harcourt St. |
Dorney (2017), pg 290 & 78; Power (2020), pgs 106-107 |
|
Jun-28-22/9 |
In the morning, pro-Treaty troops, led by
Frank Bolster, attack anti-Treaty positions in Parnell Sq. One pro-Treaty soldier (Sgt William
Brennan) is mortally wounded and one anti-Treaty volunteer (William Clarke of
Corporation St) is killed by a sniper. Anti-Treaty positions catch fire and they retreat to North Great Georges St. Three other anti-Treaty volunteers are killed in the Parnell St/O’Connell St area over June 29th and 30th – they are Thomas Markey, Mathew Tomkins and John O’Mahoney. |
Dorney (2017), pg 77 & 292 |
|
Jun -28-22/10 |
Pro-Treaty soldier, John Moran, is accidently
shot dead by a colleague in Kilkenny Military Barracks. |
Walsh (2018), pg 181 |
|
Jun-28 to 29-22/1 |
Two separate delegations try to negotiate between the sides but the anti-Treaty side refuse the pro-Treaty side demand for the surrender of arms. |
Macardle (1999), pg 750 |
|
Jun-29-22/1 |
Macready meets with Collins and Mulcahy to discuss Provisional Government demands for more artillery. See Jun-29-22/3. |
|
|
Jun-29-22/2 |
The military subcommittee of the British cabinet committee on Irish affairs agrees to large-scale transfer of arms and ammunition to the Provisional Government. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 235; McMahon (2008), pg 87 |
|
Jun-29-22/3 |
Fresh supplies of high-explosive artillery
shells reach the pro-Treaty forces and they soon breach a hole in the west
wing of the Four Courts. At 11.00pm, they launch an attack on the Four
Courts and soon have a substantial part of the building in their possession.
Two pro-Treaty soldiers are killed (Joseph Stewart and James Walsh) and one
Red Cross medic (M J Curtin). Also,
pro-Treaty soldier, Paddy Lowe (from Liverpool) is killed. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 235; Dorney (2017), pgs 81 & 290 & 170; Walsh (2018), pg 180 |
|
Jun-29-22/4 |
Anti-Treaty forces from the Dublin No. 1
Brigade under Oscar Traynor occupy buildings on the east side of O'Connell
St. including the Gresham and Hamman hotels. Two buildings on the west side of O’Connell St
and other buildings (in York St.; Sth Circular Rd.; Capel St.; Parnell Sq.
and Dolphin’s Barn) are taken over by anti-Treaty forces. Anti-Treaty HQ is
initially Barry’s Hotel and then moved to the Hamman Hotel in O’Connell
St. 41 York St taken over by men under Joe O’Connor, O/C of the anti-Treaty 3rd Battalion, Dublin Brigade and a Malt factory in Newmarket (Square?) is taken over by men from the 4th Battalion. Anti-Treaty forces also take over buildings in Dolphins Barn, Terenure and Rathfarnham police barracks. |
O’Donoghue (1986), pg 257; Hopkinson (1988), pg 123; Dorney (2017), pgs 77-79 |
|
Jun-29-22/5 |
Liam Lynch sets up his anti-Treaty army GHQ in
the New Barracks in Limerick and takes over again as Chief-of-Staff of united
anti-Treaty forces. His GHQ staff are Ernie O'Malley (Assistant Chief of Staff); Con Moloney (Adjutant General); Joe O'Connor (Quartermaster General); Sean Moylan (Director of Operations); Dr Con Lucey (Director of Medical Services); Sean Hyde (Acting Director of Intelligence); Jim Moloney (Director of Communications); Sean McCarthy (Director of Publicity) and Maurice Twomey (General Staff Officer). Liam Deasy takes over as O/C 1st Southern Division. |
O’Donoghue (1986), pg 261; O’Callaghan (2018), pg 108 |
|
Jun-29-22/6 |
Anti-Treaty forces from Kerry No. 1 and No. 2
brigades, led by Humphrey Murphy and John Joe Rice, capture the pro-Treaty
post of about 250 men in Listowel. The pro-Treaty forces are led by Tom Kennelly (ex-O/C 3rd Battalion, Kerry No. 1). Pro-Treaty soldier Patrick Sheehy is killed and another wounded. About 50 of the pro-Treaty troops join the anti-Treaty side and the rest are brought as prisoners to Ballymullen Barracks in Tralee. The anti-Treaty forces capture a considerable number of weapons. At Sheehy’s funeral, the pro-Treaty soldiers had to borrow rifles from the anti-Treaty side to carry out the graveyard salute. The anti-Treaty side proceed to augment their
forces in Limerick. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 165; Horgan (2018), pg 89 & 130; Doyle (2008), pgs 106-107 |
|
Jun-29-22/7 |
In an attempt to relieve the Four Courts garrison,
a number of anti-Treaty fighters makes their way down Henry St to the corner
of Capel St and Mary Abbey (only about 50 meters from the Four Courts). A company of the pro-Treaty army were ordered
to stop attacking the Four Courts and intercept the approaching
anti-Treatyites. One pro-Treaty man
(Sgt Patrick Lowe) is killed in the ensuing fighting. |
Dorney (2017), pg 82 |
|
Jun-29-22/8 |
Traynor sends an order to Joe O’Connor (O/C 3rd Battalion, anti-Treaty, Dublin brigade) telling him that they were planning to organise a line of retreat for the Four Courts garrison and ordered him to attack every pro-Treaty post possible “the further that you can push inwards the more use you will be to the Four Courts”. 3rd Battalion men subsequently
advanced from Dame St into Temple Bar and lost one of their men, Frank
Jackson, in fighting around Crown Alley.
4th Battalion anti-Treaty men got as
far as the Bridge Pub on Bridge St (right behind one of the pro-Treaty
artillery positions). They attacked
the pub but had to withdraw because “the [local] people got noisy so we had
to clear out”. In subsequent actions by anti-Treaty forces,
pro-Treaty Luke Condron and Sergeant John Keenan are killed on South Circular
Road and Francis St. |
Dorney (2017), pgs 82-83 |
|
Jun-29-22/9 |
An anti-Treaty Volunteer, John Monks of
Inchicore, is killed in a skirmish in Clondalkin and a civilian, John
McCormack, is killed in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin during an attack on a
pro-Treaty post. |
Dorney (2017), pg 79 |
|
Jun-29-22/10 |
Captain Willie Moran, O/C Bohola Company of
the anti-Treaty East Mayo Brigade is ordered to arrest Thomas Ruane of
Kiltimagh as he was recruiting for the pro-Treaty army. Ruane resists arrest and in the ensuing
gunfire Moran is killed and Ruane is mortally wounded. |
Price (2012), pg 220 |
|
Jun-29-22/11 |
Frank Aiken calls a meeting of all the 4th Northern divisional officers (including anti-Treaty men led by Patrick McKenna in Dundalk) and agree that the division as a whole would adopt a policy of strict neutrality. Also agreed that there would be no further offensive operations in Northern Ireland. |
Hall (2019), pg 101 |
|
Jun-29-22/12 |
Pro-Treaty forces in Donegal, led by Joe Sweeney, seize a number of critical posts in the county such as Finner Camp, Ballyshannon Barracks and Bridgend. In taking Finner Camp, anti-Treaty Captain James Connolly from Kinlough was killed. (His father had been killed by the RIC – see Sep-14-20/2.) Pro-Treaty forces also capture anti-Treaty
posts in Ballymaccool House and Rockhill House outside Letterkenny. The pro-Treaty troops were led by James and
Eddie McMonagle respectively. A number
of anti-Treaty men were captured in Ballymaccool House. Pro-Treaty Lieutenant
Daniel Harkin was wounded in the assault on Rockhill House and later dies of
his wounds. Anti-Treaty forces, led by Charlie Daly,
evacuate a number of the posts they held in locations such as Lifford,
Carrigans, St Johnston and Castlefin.
The following day they also evacuate Raphoe. (Quite a number of the anti-Treaty
volunteers in the county were men from the south – mostly Cork and Kerry –
who had come north to fight in the ‘Northern Offensive’. Also, a small number of the IRA men from
Derry and Tyrone, who had fled to Donegal after the NI government crackdown
in May, went anti-Treaty.) Elements of the anti-Treaty Brigade from Derry
City take over Inch Fort in Innisowen (in Co. Donegal) and Daly moves his HQ
to Glenveagh Castle. |
Ozseker (2019), pg 178; Ó Duibhir (2011), pgs 146-150; McGarty (2020), pg 116 |
|
Jun-30-22/1 |
The Provisional Government states that the meeting of the Second Dáil (due to meet on this day to dissolve itself) had been called off and the first meeting of the Third Dáil (due to meet on July 1st) was prorogued until July 15th “for certain causes and considerations”. See Jul-12-22/7. |
Macardle (1999), pg 767; Kissane (2005), pgs 80 & 130 |
|
Jun-30-22/2 |
Fall of the Four Courts In the morning, there is a temporary truce at
the Four Courts so that anti-Treaty wounded could be evacuated. Soon
after fighting resumes and by the evening, the pro-Treaty army has taken the
Four Courts and capture over 100 anti-Treaty prisoners. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxii; Hopkinson (1988), pg 125; Dorney (2017), pgs 81-88; Townshend (2014), pg 409; Power (2020), pg 106 |
|
Jun-30-22/3 |
On being informed of the fall of the Four Courts, the
Provisional Government determined that “the attack on other Irregular
strongholds should be vigorously continued”.
Also, they reject calls for a ceasefire from Labour Party, the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, a women’s delegation and others – see Jul-01-22/6. |
Dorney (2017), pg 90 |
|
Jun-30-22/4 |
A civilian, Thomas Daly, is killed by a burst of gunfire
when looking out his window on Eden Quay, Dublin. |
Dorney (2017), pg 90 |
|
cJun-30-22/5 |
An infant, Isabella Foster, is shot dead by a bullet that entered the window of her Protestant parents’ home in the Oldpark area of Belfast. Also, another Protestant, Mary Semple (25) was sitting in the kitchen of her home in Ardgowan St when a bullet that came through the window hit her in the chest and she later died in hospital. (She may have been mistaken for a Catholic.) – (McDermott says June 23rd.) |
Parkinson (2004), pgs 265-266; McDermott (2001), pg 259 |
|
Jun-30-22/6 |
Pro-Treaty troops capture anti-Treaty posts in Buncrana and
Carndonagh in Co. Donegal. |
McMahon (2008), pg 87 |
|
Jun-30-22/7 |
Writing to Collins, Churchill says “The
archives of the Four Courts may be scattered but the title deeds of Ireland
are safe”. See Jul-07-22/1. |
|
|
Jun-1920/1 |
James Murray from Cable St., Derry is killed by the B Specials when a bullet they fire at a man after curfew goes through the window of Murray’s bedroom and kills him. |
Gallagher(2003), pg 40 |
|
Jun-1920/2 |
In the four months from the beginning of March to end of June 1922, 193 people are killed in Belfast – 119 Catholics and 74 Protestants. However, the level of violence decreases in June with 25 people killed (of whom 18 were Catholics) compared to 75 in May. Nevertheless, the number of Catholic families evicted continued to increase. Many of these became refugees in the South or Britain. |
Phoenix (1994), pgs192 & 228-229 & 242 |
|
Jun-1920/3 |
In the period July 1920 and June 1922, 455
people killed in Belfast alone – of whom 267 were Catholics. 8,750
Catholics had been expelled from their jobs. 23,000 Catholics driven
from their homes, 500 interned and up to 50,000 are believed to have left NI
during this period. Writing to Churchill, Lloyd George drew his
attention to the high number of Catholic fatalities in Belfast and the
significantly lower population concentration and concluded that “our Ulster
case is not a very good one”. He added: “It is true that several
Protestants have also been murdered, but the murders of Catholics went on at
the rate of three or four to one for some time before Catholic reprisals
attained their present dimensions; and even now the proportions are two
Catholics murdered to one Protestant although the population is two
Protestants to one Catholic.” For more detailed figures – see Oct-1922/3. |
Phoenix (1994), pgs 193 & 251; Parkinson (2004), pg 287 |