September
1922
|
cSep-01-22/1 |
During an attack on Carrickmacross Barracks
(Co. Monaghan) by anti-Treaty forces, a pro-Treaty soldier Private Patrick
McCabe from Bawn is killed. A civilian, John O’Leary, is also fatally wounded by a stray bullet. |
Dooley (2017a), pg 107 |
|
Sep-01-22/2 |
Two anti-Treaty volunteers, Leo Murray and Rodney Murphy, are shot dead when pro-Treaty troops raid the cottage in which they are sleeping in Stillorgan, Co. Dublin. Two other anti-Treaty volunteers are wounded and captured. |
Dorney (2017), pg 181 |
|
Sep-01-22/3 |
Liam Lynch writes to Liam Deasy saying “I know
of no alternative policy of present one of fighting … At present it is a
waste of time to be thinking too much about policy.” |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 134 |
|
Sep-01-22/4 |
An anti-Treaty prisoner, Richard Monks from
Kilkenny, is shot dead when allegedly trying to escape from the Curragh, Co.
Kildare. |
Durney (2011), pg 150 |
|
Sep-02-22/1 |
Cope reports that 27,400 rifles, 6,066
revolvers, 246 Lewis guns and five Vickers guns had been supplied by the
British Government to the Provisional Government. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 127; Ferriter (2021), pg 48 |
|
Sep-02-22/2 |
William O’Brien and Tom Johnson (Labour
Leaders) say that Cosgrave and Mulcahy tell them that if the anti-Treaty
forces disbanded, they could keep their arms ‘and the government would not
molest them’. The anti-Treatyites refuse this offer and the Provisional
Government later deny ever making it. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 183; Curran J M (1980),
pg 251 |
|
Sep-02-22/3 |
A British military intelligence report states that “several Republicans have been murdered under extremely revolting circumstances, probably as a reprisal for [the killing of] Collins”. |
Dorney (2017), pg 178 |
|
Sep-02-22/4 |
Anti-Treaty forces attack Macroom, Co. Cork
using the armoured car River Lee, but it is little more than extended
sniping. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 203 |
|
Sep-02-22/5 |
Ten members of the anti-Treaty ASU commanded
by Thomas Keating is surprised and captured by pro-Treaty forces at their
base in Kilrossanty in the Comeragh Mountains. They hadn’t posted sentries. A month later another section of the ASU is
captured near Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford which greatly diminishes it as a
fighting force. See Apr-11-23/3. |
McCarthy (2015), pg 112 |
|
cSep-02-22/6 |
In early September, Liam Lynch switches Sean Hyde
from O/C Western Command to be Director of Intelligence while admitting that
“Our Intelligence system is in great need of organization.” Michael
Kilroy is made O/C Western Command. Pa Murray is made O/C Britain. According to
McMahon, “By February 1923, he had revitalised the organisation and developed
good smuggling networks”. See
Feb-08-23/4. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 130 & 212 &
254; McMahon (2008), pg 107 |
|
Sep-03-22/1 |
An anti-Treaty volunteer, James Stephens (originally from Belleek), is taken from his lodgings in Gardiner Street, Dublin. He is taken out to the Naas Road where he is shot – he dies later that night in hospital. |
Dorney (2017), pg 181 |
|
Sep-04-22/1 |
Dromahaire, Co. Leitrim is taken by
anti-Treaty forces. MacEoin reported
that the pro-Treaty garrison had surrendered their barracks due to
dissatisfaction with pay and supplies. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 215; Farry (2000), pg 83 |
|
Sep-04-22/2 |
The flying column of the anti-Treaty Kerry No. 3 brigade ambush a pro-Treaty patrol at Ohermong, three miles from Cahirciveen on the road to Waterville. Two pro-Treaty soldiers (Lieutenant Clement Cooper and Sergeant John O’Donoghue) are killed and one anti-Treaty volunteer (James ‘Jama’ O’Connell) is wounded. |
Horgan
(2018), pg 100 & 150 |
|
Sep-04-22/3 |
A civilian, Katie Walsh, is shot dead during a
sniping attack on pro-Treaty forces in Waterford City. |
McCarthy (2015), pg 113 |
|
Sep-05-22/1 |
Following the publication of possible (but
unrealistic) peace terms by de Valera, a meeting between Mulcahy and de
Valera is arranged. (Mulcahy said that he agreed as he believed that de
Valera had changed his views but only told Eoin MacNeill of his cabinet
colleagues.) However, nothing came of the meeting as Mulcahy was
looking for agreement on the basis of the Treaty while de Valera was looking
for its revision. The rest of the cabinet is annoyed when they
found out about this meeting. As a result, the cabinet decided that,
henceforth, that all ministers had to adhere to strictly to collective
cabinet responsibility and any minister involved in peace talks would have
report to cabinet. Mulcahy later claims that his talks with de
Valera led him to support the establishment of military courts so as to
hasten surrender. |
Hopkinson (1988), pgs 183-184; Macardle
(1999), pg 780; Curran J M (1980), pg 252; Dorney (2017), pg 134; Kissane (2005), pg 103 |
|
Sep-05-22/2 |
Anti-Treaty Adjutant General sends an order to all Divisions telling them to “make a list of all officers [responsible for the killing of anti-Treaty prisoners] and deal suitably with them when the opportunity presents itself”. |
Dorney (2017), pg 183 |
|
Sep-06-22/1 |
An Irish Times special correspondent
states that “There is no doubt that Mr [Erskine] Childers is the chief
military brain among the Irregulars”. This is untrue but part of
growing animosity (from both the pro-Treaty and British sides) against Childers.
|
Hopkinson (1988), pg 133 |
|
Sep-06-22/2 |
The minutes of the Provisional Government cabinet
records that “sanction has been given to the Army to co-operate with the
authorities in places outside Ireland for the arrest of person engaged in
gun-running or other activities, on behalf of the Irregulars”. According to McMahon “This was a euphemism
for active intelligence co-operation with the British authorities”. Diarmuid O’Hegarty took over as the pro-Treaty army’s Director of Intelligence around this time. |
McMahon (2006), pg 95 |
|
Sep-06-22/3 |
Two pro-Treaty soldiers die in a vehicle crash
near Kilmeaden, Co Waterford. |
McCarthy (2015), pg 112 |
|
Sep-07-22/1 |
Writing to anti-Treaty TD Charles Murphy, de
Valera recommended against anti-Treaty TDs attending the Dáil and stressed
that, as the Second Dáil was not legally dissolved, it could not be legally
replaced by a new assembly. Writing to
Deasy, on August 5th, Lynch agrees with this position. In the end, only one anti-Treaty TD attends –
see Sep-09-22/1. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 187; Curran J M (1980),
pg 253; Kissane (2005), pg
104 |
|
Sep-07-22/2 |
After some stalling, British cabinet
acquiesces in Craig determination to abolish Proportional Representation for
local elections in Northern Ireland (thus removing an important safeguard for
Catholics). Llyod George admitted that
it was “a breach of the spirit of the Treaty”. Before Craig joined their meeting, British
government had decided to appeal to “Sir James Craig’s patriotism and good
sense with a view to the suspension of the [Local Government] Bill for the
present.” However, when Craig joined
the meeting, he yet again threatened that his government would resign if the
bill was not enacted and the British ministers capitulated. See Sep-11-22/4. Matthews makes the interesting point that “Practically speaking, there were only two alternatives: allow the Ulster Unionists to abolish PR, or return the six counties to direct rule from London. Fifty years later those were still the only two alternatives when a Conservative government reimposed direct rule”. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 247; Matthews (2004), pg 85 |
|
Sep-07-22/3 |
Churchill calls a meeting of the British
signatories of the Treaty and Macready at which he reads from letters
indicating the deteriorating situation in Ireland. Macready gives a pessimistic analysis of
the situation in Ireland. As a result, Lionel Curtis writes to Cope in
Dublin seeking an immediate update on what was happening in Ireland, in
particular, he asked about rumours that the Provisional Government was
negotiating with the anti-Treaty side.
In a series of telegrams, Cope gave an optimistic view (from a British
perspective) of the situation in Ireland. Specifically, he countered claims
by the ‘Die Hards’ on the Tory backbenches that loyalists were being
persecuted. See Sep-08-22/2 and
Sep-17-22/ |
|
|
Sep-07-22/4 |
Writing to Ernie O’Malley (his Assistant Chief
of Staff), Lynch says that the anti-Treaty Executive is the only body on the
anti-Treaty side competent to deal with peace moves. (However, he continues to stall requests
for meetings of the Executive.) |
|
|
Sep-07-22/5 |
In his regular report on revolutionary
organisations, Basil Thomson reports that when Roddy Connolly (head of the
Communist Party of Ireland) had joined the Four Courts garrison during the
fighting (expecting to be given an important command), he was put filling
sand bags and had “bolted at the first opportunity”. |
McMahon (2008), pgs 123-124 |
|
Sep-08-22/1 |
Anti-Treaty Volunteer, Timothy Kenefick or
Kennefick, is captured in Cork and killed while in custody – apparently after
being tortured. Liam Lynch claims that
Kenefick was killed on the orders of Emmet Dalton. |
Dorney (2017), pg 130; Ferriter (2021), pg 68 |
|
Sep-08-22/2 |
Writing from Dublin to Lionel Curtis in London, Andy Cope says “there a large body of opinion which wants the thing finished and not very particular which way”. |
Ferriter (2021), pg 61 |
|
Sep-08-22/3 |
Writing to Jeudwine, Macready says that a
fundamental difficulty was “the reluctance of Free State troops to kill the
Irregulars”. He goes on to say that it
was a “case of ‘when’ not ‘if’” the BA would be called on “to destroy the
gunmen”. See Sep-20-22/3. |
McMahon (2008), pg 90 |
|
Sep-09-22/1 |
The
Third Dáil, elected in June, meets on this day for the first time after a
number of postponements. Anti-Treaty deputies do not attend except for
the aging Laurence Ginnell who asked if he was in Dáil Éireann or a partition
assembly. He was ejected. (There
had been considerable debate among anti-Treatyites about attending but, in
the end, they decided against it.) Cosgrave was elected President of the
Dáil. There was much debate as to correct terminology but Cosgrave
announces his intention to formally merge Dáil and Provisional Parliament.
All the ministers appointed on August 25th (see Aug-25-22/1) are
approved by the Dáil. All members take the oath of allegiance to the
Irish constitution and swear fidelity to King George V and his successors.
(This is done, not in public, but privately in the office of a minor
official.) |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg xxii; Hopkinson (1988),
pg 180; Macardle (1999), pg 779-785; Curran J M (1980), pg 252; Dorney
(2017), pg 138 |
|
Anti-Treaty forces led by Sean Hyde and John
Joe Rice carry out a successful attack on Kenmare. There are about 84
men in the attacking party and Tom ‘Scarteen’ O’Connor, the pro-Treaty O/C,
and his brother John are killed during the attack (apparently unarmed).
The anti-Treaty forces capture 110 rifles, 2 Lewis machine guns and
considerable ammunition. They also capture 120 pro-Treaty soldiers but
they later release them. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 175 & 206; Horgan (2018), pg 50; Doyle
(2008), pgs 165-173; Ferriter (2021), pg 70 |
|
|
Sep-09-22/3 |
Anti-Treaty forces, under Frank Carty, attack pro-Treaty posts in Tubbercurry and Ballymote in Co. Sligo. One pro-Treaty man and one anti-Treaty man are killed but neither post is taken. |
|
|
Sep-09-22/4 |
Oscar Traynor, Liam Pilkington and other
jailed anti-Treaty leaders express their wish for a meeting of the
anti-Treaty TDs and the election of a new President. (Farry says that Pilkington is not jailed
at this period but recuperating from a broken limb) |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 186; Farry (2012), pg 103 |
|
Sep-09-22/5 |
Seamus Woods, leader of the Northern Pro-Treaty
IRA, complains that northern volunteers in the Curragh had not been given
rifles. See Sep-16-22/3. |
Phoenix (1994), pg 252 |
|
Sep-10-22/1 |
A convoy of pro-Treaty forces (under
Commandant J. McGuinness) is ambushed between Killarney and Rathmore on Co.
Kerry. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 204 |
|
Sep-10-22/2 |
In a letter to Joe McGarrity, de Valera blamed
the pro-Treatyites for starting the Civil War but admitted that the majority
in the country were for the Treaty. He describes Cosgrave as a “ninny”
who would be “egged on by the Church” against the anti-Treatyites. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 253 |
|
Sep-10-22/3 |
In its Weekly Intelligence Summary, the Dublin District of the BA noted, with regard to the new Irish cabinet, that “there are no signs of double dealing at present, a feature noticeable with the preceding Ministry”. |
|
|
Sep-10-22/4 |
Anti-Treaty forces from the Kerry No. 1
Brigade take Tarbert. About this time, Abbeyfeale is also briefly taken by
anti-Treaty forces. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 207; Doyle (2008), pgs
173-174 |
|
Sep-11-22/1 |
At Carrigaphocca
Bridge, about three miles from Macroom on the road to Ballyvourney in Co.
Cork, a massive land mine kills seven pro-Treaty soldiers – including former
prominent Squad member Colonel Commandant Tom Keogh. Another killed was Raph Conway. In the aftermath of the explosion, an anti-Treaty prisoner (James Buckley) is shot dead and his body thrown into the hole made by the explosion. |
Boyne (2015), pg 185; Dorney (2017), pg 130 |
|
Sep-11-22/2 |
Writing from Cork to his Commander-in-Chief,
Emmet Dalton said that “They [Anti-Treaty forces] have now adopted a type of
warfare, of which they have years of experience. They now operate over
territory which they know. They are now better armed and better trained
than they were against the British. In short, they have placed me and
my Troops in the same position as the British were a little over a year ago”. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 174 |
|
Sep-11 to
12-22/1 |
Cosgrave and O’Higgins make statements to the
Dáil on the events that led up to the decision to attack the Four
Courts. On September 11th, O’Higgins tells the
Dáil that “we had very good reason to believe that we anticipated by a couple
of hours the creation of conditions under which this Parliament never would
have met – conditions that would have brought back the British power – horse,
foot, artillery and the Navy – in hostile relations to this country”. On September 12th, Cosgrave tells
the Dáil that the action taking by his government since June 28th
was not for the “mere formula of the supremacy of parliament” but “a formula
for the security of the people, of the security of their lives, and the value
of their money in the country”.
Cosgrave told the Dáil that the kidnapping of JJ O’Connell was a last
straw for the Provisional Government and it had to act or anarchy would
ensue. Comment
on the Origin of the Civil War The motion “that the Dáil approves of the
action that the Government has taken and is taking to assert and vindicate
the authority of this House” is passed by 54 votes to 15. |
Macardle (1999), pgs 785-786; Kissane (2005),
pg 127; Regan (2013), pgs 118-120 |
|
Sep-11-22/3 |
The Dáil votes against recognizing the right
of public servants to strike. This was
in the context of an on-going strike in the Post Office. See Sep-28-22/5. |
Kissane (2005), pg 159 |
|
Sep-11-22/4 |
The Local Government Bill (Northern Ireland)
receives royal assent. It abolishes proportional representation in local
elections in Northern Ireland and also required declarations of allegiance
from person elected to, or employed by, local authorities. There had been a little opposition from the
British Government. However, Fanning
notes that “British opposition was never more than muted. Although both Llyod George and Churchill
went through the motions of protesting that the bill was in ‘breach of the
spirit of the Treaty’.” Fanning also notes that Churchill had pledged himself to Craig to ratify the Bill – see Jul-28-22/5. |
Fanning (2013), pg 337; Matthews (2004), pg 85 |
|
Sep-11-22/5 |
Writing to Mary MacSwiney, de Valera says
“Reason rather than faith has been my master …For the sake of the cause I
allowed myself to be put into a position which it is impossible for one of my
outlook and personal bias to fill with effect for the party … every instinct
of mine would indicate that I was meant to a dyed-in-the-wool Tory, or even a
Bishop, rather than the leader of a revolution”. For contrast, see Mar-15 to 19-22/3. |
Ferriter (2021), pg 1 |
|
Sep-12-22/1 |
There is a bomb and gun attack by
anti-Treatyites on a car full of CID officers in Drumcondra in Dublin which
leaves two bystanders badly wounded. Also, on this day, there is an attack on a
pro-Treaty army lorry in Curzon St off the South Circular Road. The attackers miss (injuring a civilian)
and are chased through the streets.
They are caught and shot in Bishop Street. This action results in the death
of one anti-Treaty Volunteer, Sean McEvoy. |
Dorney (2017), pg 153 |
|
Sep-12-22/2 |
Anti-Treaty forces led by Michael Kilroy and
PJ Ruttledge carry out a successful raid on Ballina, Co. Mayo in which they
retake the town and capture 50 pro-Treaty soldiers, over 100 rifles and
20,000 rounds of ammunition. Despite substantial fighting, a young
civilian, Malachy Gereghty, is the only fatality. (Afterwards, the anti-Treaty forces withdraw
from the town but only after many of them had enjoyed a drink. Kilroy is unhappy with his men
drinking.) A few days later, a large pro-Treaty force
pursue the anti-Treaty forces into the Ox Mountains and pro-Treaty Brigadier
Joe Ring is killed in the ensuing gun battle. (Ring was one of the few
Mayo IRA officers to go pro-Treaty.) Pro-Treaty Sergeant John Ingram is also
killed. Pro-Treaty Privates Edward
Crabbe and Thomas Rawl may also have been killed. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 175 & 213-214;
Macardle (1999), pg 800; Price (2012), pgs 225-226; Ferriter (2021), pgs 102
& 149 |
|
Sep-13-22/1 |
Writing to anti-Treaty TD Charles Murphy, de
Valera outlines the three options he saw with regard to setting up governance
of the anti-Treaty side: (1) ‘The Republican Party … take control, acting as
legitimate Dáil’; (2) ‘The Army Executive take control and assume
responsibility’ and (3) ‘A Joint Committee be formed to decide policy for both’. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 187;Macardle (1999), pg
806; Curran J M (1980), pg 254 |
|
Sep-13-22/2 |
The pro-Treaty Government publish six terms
for peace, including that the government controls all the arms in the
country. |
|
|
Sep-13-22/3 |
Writing to Brigade O/C’s in his anti-Treaty 1st
Southern Division, Liam Deasy wrote “There are indications that in many
instances A.S.U.s are not properly staffed, … carry out no systematic method
of attempted ambush, or other forms of attack”. See Sep-16-22/2. |
|
|
Sep-13-22/4 |
A Protestant messenger boy, John Walker, is
shot dead by a lone gunman on Little George St in Belfast. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 304; Parkinson
(2020), pg 246 |
|
Sep-13-22/5 |
Retired RIC man, James O’Rourke, is killed on
Merchant’s Quay, Dublin – he is the unintended victim of an attack on
pro-Treaty soldiers. |
Dorney (2017), pg 153 |
|
Sep-14-22/1 |
There is an ambush by Kilroy’s anti-Treaty
column on 40 pro-Treaty soldiers between Ballycastle and Belderg, Co. Mayo. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 214 |
|
Sep-14-22/2 |
The pro-Treaty garrison in the barracks in
Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim is captured by the anti-Treaty column, based in the
Arigna mountains, led by Ned Bolfin.
One pro-Treaty soldier, Private James Dolan, is killed during this
operation. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 215; McGarty (2020), pg
119 |
|
Sep-14-22/3 |
A bomb is thrown into a group of children
playing in Ton St., near Cullingtree Rd, in the west of Belfast. Two
teenagers are seriously wounded and Louisa Cannon (30) dies from stomach
wounds received. Later, Arthur Heany (21) was shot in the
stomach in the Oldpark area of the city. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 304-5; Parkinson (2020),
pgs 160 & 246 |
|
Sep-15-22/1 |
The pro-Treaty capture anti-Treaty documents which
show that de Valera did not share Lynch’s optimism about the likely success
of their military campaign. (This
information was relayed to Churchill by Andy Cope.) According to Liam Deasy, de Valera held out no
chance of military success after Lynch had to abandon Fermoy (see
Aug-11-22/1). |
Kissane (2005), pgs 107-108 |
|
cSep-15-22/2 |
There is a large sweep by pro-Treaty forces,
under General W R E Murphy, which converges on Ballyvourney in Co. Cork. This sweep is unsuccessful as the plans are known in advance by the anti-Treaty forces. Murphy replaces O’Duffy as O/C of Pro-Treaty forces in Kerry and soon (as he did in Mayo and Sligo) closes down small outposts. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 204 |
|
Sep-16-22/1 |
Writing to Churchill about the Dáil’s
intention to enact the Public Safety Bill, Andy Cope says “They are now going
to take the gloves off”. See
Sep-27-22/1. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 194 |
|
Sep-16-22/2 |
In response to divisional demands for more
organised attacks on pro-Treaty forces, Humphrey Murphy (O/C Kerry No. 1
Brigade) says “Give ye typewriter and your index finger a rest for a few
weeks, because the harvest being generally late in my Brigade, the crop of
I/O’s is not yet mature and the harvesters are few.” |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 206 |
|
Sep-16-22/3 |
Diarmuid O’Hegarty, Director of Organisation
of the pro-Treaty army, writes to Mulcahy saying that he is awaiting a
government decision as to whether the Northern volunteers in the Curragh
should be asked to decide either to join the pro-Treaty army or go back to
their homes. See Sep-21-22/2. |
Phoenix (1994), pg 252 |
|
Sep-16-22/4 |
The Dundalk
Democrat reports on an inquest into the death of pro-Treaty Private
Patrick McBreen who was killed in an ambush on Church St, Dundalk. Later in September, another pro-Treaty
soldier, Owen Sherlock, is killed in Dundalk. |
Hall (2019), pg 113 |
|
Sep-16-22/5 |
The Belfast Telegraph states “The peace
of Belfast does not apparently meet with favour in some quarters, as, after a
good period of welcome orderliness, some persons of the hooligan type have
been doing their best to revive the awful deeds which disgraced the city
several months ago.” |
Parkinson (2004), pg 305 |
|
Sep-16-22/6 |
A 14-cart unescorted supply convoy was on its way to Killarney, Co. Kerry when it was held up by armed men at Brennan’s Pass near Farranfore and several tons of supplies stolen. |
Doyle (2008), pg 176 |
|
Sep-17-22/1 |
Kilroy’s anti-Treaty column raid Newport, Co.
Mayo but fail to take it. (Newport is evacuated by the pro-Treaty men
on September 24th.) |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 214 |
|
Sep-17-22/2 |
Members of the 3rd Battalion of the
anti-Treaty Dublin Brigade, led by Joe O’Connor attack Oriel House, which is
the HQ of the increasingly notorious Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Detective Tony Deane is shot dead. As the anti-Treaty volunteers fled, they are
followed by men from Oriel House and, in a subsequent firefight in Mount St,
two pro-Treaty soldiers were wounded.
One anti-Treaty volunteer, Patrick Mannion, was killed (reportedly
after being shot in the leg, he was ‘finished off’ by shots to the
head). Paddy Brennan, O/C anti-Treaty Kildare Brigade is captured and Michael Price, O/C anti-Treaty 1st Eastern Division, replaces him with Jim Dunne. |
Dorney (2017), pg 169 -170; Durney (2011), pgs 95-96; Ferriter (2021),
pg 70 |
|
Sep-17-22/3 |
In the afternoon, two Catholics – Thomas
McCullagh (40) and James McCluskey (41) – are shot by snipers in the York St.
area of Belfast. Later, a Catholic woman – Jane Rafferty (40) -
living in the Garmoyle St area was shot dead in her home in New Andrew
St. Rafferty was probably killed by Alex Robinson
(aka ‘Buck Alec’) – a notorious Protestant paramilitary and sectarian killer. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 305; McDermott (2001), pg
270 |
|
Sep-17-22/4 |
Thirty-five-year-old Thomas Power is walking
in Tralee, Co. Kerry when he is killed by a single shot. It is not known why he was killed or by
whom. |
|
|
Sep-17-22/5 |
Lionel Curtis visits Dublin from London. His reports help to calm British government
nerves on the progress being made by the Provisional Government. |
McMahon (2008), pg 91 |
|
Sep-18-22/1 |
Despite what it said two days earlier (see Sep-16-22/5),
the Belfast Telegraph refers to Belfast as a “bright spot” in “the
midst of the darkness and gloom that hang over southern Ireland”. Its editorial claimed that “conditions in
the Six Counties are as free from Crime and bloodshed as are Kent and
Lancashire”. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 307; Parkinson
(2020), pg 247 |
|
Sep-18-22/2 |
Cosgrave introduces into the Dáil a bill to
enact the Constitution of the Irish Free State. On the following day,
the Dáil agrees to the preparation of a new electoral register (for an
election expected to take place in April 1923). Macardle treats, in some detail, the debate on
the constitution which carries on in the Dáil for a number of days. |
Macardle (1999), pgs 788-799; Curran J M
(1980), pg 260 |
|
Sep-18-22/3 |
A 17-year old girl, Margaret Collins, dies after picking up a bomb in a field near her home at Grangemore, Brannockstown, Co Kildare. It is thought that she had come across an anti-Treaty arms dump. |
Durney (2011), pg 96 |
|
Sep-19-22/1 |
A large sweep by pro-Treaty forces takes place
in North Sligo. Six anti-Treaty men killed while trying to escape
across Ben Bulben. They were killed in suspicious circumstances. In one incident, four were killed. These were
Brigadier-General Seamus Devins, T.D.; 3rd Western Divisional
Adjutant, Brian Mac Neill (son of Eoin Mac Neill); Lieutenant Paddy Carroll
and Volunteer Joseph (or James) Banks. Pro-Treaty Captain Charlie
McGoohan was accused of ordering that they were shot after they
surrendered. In another incident, anti-Treaty men Captain
Harry Benson and Volunteer Tommy Langan were captured and their bullet
scarred bodies were found eleven days later. Also, a considerable number of
anti-Treaty men were captured. Following these incidents, there were no
further major confrontations in North Sligo. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 215; Macardle (1999), pg
801; Dorney (2017), pg 138; Farry (2012), pg102; McGarty (2020), pgs 119-120 |
|
Sep-19-22/2 |
Despite previously agreeing on July 19th
(see Jul-19-22/2) that he would not require any further money from the
British Exchequer to fund the USC in fiscal year 1922/1923, Craig writes to
Churchill saying that he wanted a further Ł200,000 for 1922/1923 and a
commitment from the British to provide a further Ł1.35 million for 1923/1924. See Nov-06-22/1. |
Matthews (2004), pg 74 |
|
Sep-19-22/3 |
Anti-Treaty forces attack three pro-Treaty posts in Killorglin, Co. Kerry. This was a ‘ranging’ exercise to test the strength of the defences of the three posts in preparation for a larger attack on September 27th – see Sep-27-22/2. |
Doyle (2008), pg 178 |
|
Sep-19-22/4 |
An anti-Treaty 1st Northern
Division report estimates that there any between 300 and 400 anti-Treaty
volunteers in Co. Donegal while there are some 2,700 pro-Treaty men. Writing to Ernie O’Malley, Sean Lehane (O/C of
the anti-Treaty 1st Northern Division) says that because of the
“B+T [Black and Tan] methods of the Free Staters themselves and the growing
demoralisation matters are slowly turning in our favour”. However, at the same time he says “the
civilian population [of Donegal] is practically 90% Free State”. See also Oct-15-22/2. |
Ozseker (2019), pg 166; Ferriter (2021), pg 55 |
|
Sep-20-22/1 |
According to O’Farrell, the armoured car The
Ballinalee is recaptured by pro-Treaty forces at Ballintrillick/Glencar,
Co. Sligo. He also says that anti-Treaty Captain Henry
Benson and Volunteer Joseph Banks are killed in this engagement. However, see Sep-19-22/1. |
O'Farrell P (1997), pg 142 & 143 |
|
Sep-20-22/2 |
A 60-cart supply convoy escorted by pro-Treaty
forces in Kerry is attacked a number of times by anti-Treaty men resulting in
the wounding of two pro-Treaty soldiers.
Around this time a pro-Treaty army driver called Magee died of wounds received in an earlier ambush. |
Doyle (2008), pg 176 |
|
Sep-20-22/3 |
Writing to Churchill, Macready says that he suspected
that the Provisional Government would cave into republican demands. |
McMahon (2008), pg 90 |
|
cSep-20-22/4 |
A taxi-driver, Thomas Lyons, is shot dead in his taxi at Ballycarthy Bridge, two miles from Tralee, Co. Kerry. It is assumed that an anti-Treaty Volunteer lying in ambush mistook Lyons’s taxi driver uniform for the uniform of a pro-Treaty officer uniform. |
Doyle (2008), pg 177 |
|
Sep-21-22/1 |
Irish Constitution Bill passes its second
reading in the Dáil by 47 to 16. |
Curran J M (1980), pg 261 |
|
Sep-21-22/2 |
Writing to Richard Mulcahy, Seamus Woods (O/C
3rd Northern Division IRA and now in pro-Treaty army) says he has
detected a marked change in the attitude of some GHQ staff since the death of
Collins and that Dublin was revising its policy and deciding that it could no
longer fight the British authorities in the Six Counties. McDermott says that demoralisation was setting
in with the northern pro-Treaty IRA with some drift towards of the
anti-Treaty IRA. (Most northern IRA men had gone pro-Treaty.)
Woods writes a longer and angrier memo to Mulcahy on September 29th
– see Sep-29-22/2. |
Gallagher (2003), pg 41; McDermott (2001), pg
274; Phoenix (1994), pgs 252-253 |
|
Sep-21-22/3 |
An attack on a pro-Treaty army lorry on Eden Quay
in Dublin results in the death of one pro-Treaty soldier, James Kennedy, and
the wounding of three other soldiers and three civilians. Roadblocks and checkpoints had become a normal feature of the city by this stage. |
Dorney (2017), pg 153 |
|
Sep-22-22/1 |
A Protestant, James Spratt (50), is shot dead
by the RUC in Westmoreland St in Belfast as he was breaking curfew trying to
go to feed his donkey. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 306 |
|
Sep-22-22/2 |
A pro-Treaty soldier is killed in a grenade
attack in Eden Quay in Dublin. An anti-Treaty volunteer, Michael Neville (who
works in Mooney’s pub on Eden Quay) is arrested – he is taken to Killester in
the north side of Dublin and shot four times.
Neville was from Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare. |
Dorney (2017), pgs 181-182; Ó Ruairc (2009),
pg 310; Power (2020), pg 107 |
|
Sep-22-22/3 |
Pro-Treaty Colonel Michael Hogan was driving an army medic, John Lyden, and two civilians to Blennerville, Co. Kerry when they encounter some anti-Treaty men. In the ensuing shoot-out, Lyden is killed. |
Doyle (2008), pgs 178-179 |
|
Sep-22-22/4 |
Replying to a question in the Dáil from Labour
Leader, Thomas Johnson, who had asked which articles of the draft
constitution were considered necessary to preserve the Treaty and which ones
could be revised, O’Higgins gives a long list of articles that were
considered necessary. (See Aug-26-22/1
above – see also Oct-26-22/1.) (Kissane suggests that this was further evidence of a much more literal adherence to the Treaty – see Sep-10-22/3.) |
Kissane (2005), pgs 86-87 |
|
Sep-23-22/1 |
Pro-Treaty Captain Matthew McGrath is killed
in an accident in Listowel, Co. Kerry.
The following day pro-Treaty Private J. Looney
also dies in an accident in Killorglin.
|
|
|
Sep-24-23/1 |
Ernie O’Malley writes to Liam Lynch saying
that “We consider it imperative that some sort of Government, whether a
Provisional or a Republican or a military one, should be inaugurated at
once”. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 186 |
|
Sep-24-22/2 |
An anti-Treaty ASU is attacking a pro-Treaty post in Glendalough, Co. Wicklow when it is surprised by a 50-strong pro-Treaty army patrol arriving on the scene. The anti-Treaty ASU manages to escape with but three of their number captured and two wounded. |
Dorney (2017), pg 163 |
|
Sep-24-22/3 |
An anti-Treaty prisoner in Cork Jail, Patrick Mangan from Lismore, Co. Waterford who was taking part in a protest is killed when the prison guards open fire. |
McCarthy (2015), pg 111 |
|
Sep-24-22/4 |
A pastoral letter from the RC Bishop of Cork, Dr
Cohalan, saying that “the killing of National soldiers is murder” was read in
all churches in the diocese. |
|
|
Sep-25-22/1 |
According to O’Donoghue, the available anti-Treaty
members of the Dáil met secretly in Dublin and constitute themselves as a
Republican Government. They appoint de Valera as President and also a
12-member Council of State. However,
according to a number of other historians, this meeting took place on October
25th – See Oct-25-22/2. See Oct-16 to 17-22/1 for meeting of
anti-Treaty Executive which gave its support to the setting up of an
anti-Treaty Council of State. See also Dec-08-22/4 for O’Higgins view of de
Valera and his Council of State. |
O’Donoghue (1986), pg 277 |
|
Sep-26-22/1 |
The Freeman’s
Journal announces changes in the pro-Treaty army command saying that
Kerry was to become a separate command under General Denny Galvin from
Knocknagoshel, Co. Kerry. Previously,
it was under the command of General W. R. E. Murphy. Doyle says that Murphy’s command was nominal
and that the real command lay with Brigadier Paddy O’Daly, O/C of the Dublin
Guard based in Tralee. Doyle also says that, even after command passed to
General Galvin (formally on October 4th), in reality O’Daly stayed
in charge. Formally, O’Daly takes over
as GOC Kerry Command in early January 1923. But see Jan-1923/1. |
Doyle
(2008), pg 188 & 240-241 |
|
Sep-27-22/1 |
Dáil passes a Public Safety Bill setting up military courts with the power to sentence
prisoners to death for offenses such as the possession of arms and the aiding
and abetting of attacks on pro-Treaty forces. (O’Donoghue says that this bill was passed by
48 to 18, Macardle says measure was passed by 47 votes to 15. Curran agrees with
Macardle’s figures. Dorney says that it was passed by 41 votes to 18.) Cosgrave says that “there is a government
prepared to take the responsibility of governing … although I have always
objected to the death penalty, there is no other way”. The Labour Party oppose the bill. Kevin O’Higgins made a strong speech
condemning Erskine Childers describing him as “the able Englishman who is
leading those who are opposed to this Government”. Kevin O’Shiel writes to Cosgrave on September 28th suggesting that, owing to the drastic nature of this legislation, offering an amnesty to anti-Treaty fighters could “have a good effect on public opinion and would certainly lessen captious criticism of the New Bill” – see Oct-03-22/1. |
O’Donoghue (1986), pg 273; Hopkinson (1988),
pg 181; Macardle (1999), pgs 802-804; Curran J M (1980), pg 256; Dorney
(2007), pgs 207-209; Ferriter (2021), pg 4 & 74-75; Kissane (2005), pgs
87 & 107 |
|
Sep-27-22/2 |
Anti-Treaty forces carry out an abortive
attack on Killorglin, Co. Kerry. About 500 are in the attacking party
led by Sean Hyde, John Joe Rice and Humphrey Murphy but, in 30 hours of
intense fighting, they fail to dislodge sixty Clare men defending the town and
they retreat when a pro-Treaty relieving column arrives from Tralee. |
Hopkinson (1988), pg 206-207; Macardle
(1998), pgs 10-11; Horgan
(2018), pgs 101-102 & 151-152; Doyle (2008), pgs 181-
; Power (2020), pgs 109-110 |
|
Sep-27-22/3 |
A three-vehicle convoy of pro-Treaty soldiers
is ambushed at Brennan’s Glen, near Farrenfore in Co. Kerry, resulting in the
death of two pro-Treaty soldiers, Daniel Hannon and John Martin and the
wounding of a number of others. An anti-Treaty volunteer, 19-year old Bertie
Murphy, had been captured a few days earlier by pro-Treaty forces near
Castleisland, Co. Kerry. He had been taken prisoner to the Great
Southern Hotel, Killarney where he was killed in the aftermath of the above
ambush at Brennan’s Glen. The pro-Treaty forces said that he was killed
in the ambush at Brennan’s Glen. Horgan says that Murphy was killed by Dave
Neligan at the entrance to the hotel.
Doyle says that Murphy was in custody at the time of the Brennan’s
Glen ambush and tortured to reveal information on who would have carried out
the ambush as he was from that area.
When he would not reveal any information, he was shot. Macardle gives the date as September 19th
but Dorney, Horgan and Doyle
say September 27th. |
Doyle
(2008), pg 186-187; Macardle (1998), pgs 9-10; Dorney (2017), pg
131; Horgan (2018), pgs 193 & 271; |
|
Sep-27-22/4 |
Pro-Treaty Sergeant Major Thomas Murray is accidently shot in Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford. A few days later, Private Myles Broughton is also killed in an accident in Lismore Castle. |
McCarthy (2015), pgs 112-113 |
|
Sep-27-22/5 |
First group of Civic Guards arrive in Kilkenny
City and take over the old RIC barracks in Parliament Street. |
Walsh (2018), pg 202 |
|
Sep-28-22/1 |
Twenty-five Civic Guards (3 sergeants and 22 guards)
take over the RIC barracks in Naas, Co. Kildare. |
Durney (2011), pg 56 |
|
Sep-28-2/2 |
A 14-man anti-Treaty column surrender at Doon, outside Tralee, Co. Kerry handing over seven rifles and several revolvers. |
Doyle (2008), pg 175 |
|
Sep-28-22/3 |
Con Moloney, Adjutant General of the
anti-Treaty army, writes to Ernie O’Malley acknowledging that they could not
be victorious but adding “the most that we can hope for is to keep the ball
rolling, gathering speed at the same time but taking care not to overreach himself
until such time that the enemy had enough and we will be able to strike a
hard bargain”. To paraphrase Ferriter, he says that, if the anti-Treaty army had a strategy, this was it. |
Ferriter (2021), pg 55 |
|
Sep-28-22/4 |
Writing in the Irish Times, Ernst Blythe says that the leaders of the anti-Treaty army were not honourable men and that the anti-Treaty political leaders did not have the power to make peace proposals. |
Kissane (2005), pg 91 |
|
Sep-28-22/5 |
After the vote in the Dáil on September 11th which withdrew the right of public servants to strike, the Postmaster General (J. J. Walsh) moved to break the on-going strike in the Post Office by using the pro-Treaty army to sort and deliver mail, protect blacklegs and disrupt pickets. On this day, the strike came to an end. |
Kissane (2005), pg 159 |
|
Sep-29-22/1 |
Pro-Treaty patrol ambushed by anti-Treaty ASU under
Paddy Curran at Ballinamult, Co. Waterford with three pro-Treaty soldiers
wounded. |
McCarthy (2015), pg 112 |
|
Sep-29-22/2 |
Seamus Woods, O/C 3rd Northern
pro-Treaty Division sends a long and angry memo to Mulcahy complaining about
southern government shift in policy to Northern Ireland saying that “the
breaking up of this organisation is the first step in making partition
permanent”. He also seeks answers to a number of specific questions. |
Phoenix (1994), pgs 252-253; Ferriter (2021), pg 61;
Kissane (2005), pg 83 |
|
Sep-30-22/1 |
The Mayor of Derry summons a conference of Nationalist
and Sinn Féin members of the Northern Parliament with a view to establishing
a united platform of northern nationalists. It is welcomed by Devlin
but gets a hostile reaction from pro-Treaty Sinn Féin and border
nationalists. This is part of campaign of Devlinites to find a way, in
the words of one of his supporters to “take the leadership of the northern
nationalists, and find the path clear to his entry into the Belfast
Parliament”. The two surviving pro-Treaty Sinn Féin northern MPs (Sean Milroy
and Eoin Mac Neill) refuse to take part. |
Phoenix (1994), pgs 254- 255 |
|
Sep-30-22/2 |
Philip Cosgrave, uncle of President W. T.
Cosgrave, is shot dead by anti-Treaty volunteers in his pub in James Street
in Dublin. |
Dorney (2017), pg 183 |
|
Sep-30-22/3 |
Sixteen year old William Purcell, who had enlisted in the pro-Treaty army a few months earlier is accidently killed by a colleague in Templemore Barracks in Co. Tipperary. |
Walsh (2018), pg 202 |
|
Sep-30-22/3 |
The Clare
Champion welcomes the first force of Civic Guards in Co. Clare. Twenty-five civic guards, under Superintendent
O’Dwyer, took up duty in Ennis. By October 1923, the Civic Guards had set up
39 stations throughout Co. Clare (but with significantly less men than the
old RIC). |
Power (2020), pgs 94-95 |
|
Sep-30-22/4 |
The last set of violent incidents in Belfast take
place on this day (and the following day) in Westmoreland St in Belfast. |
Parkinson (2004), pg 306 |
|
Sep-1922/1 |
At the request of George McGrath (who Collins had
appointed as accountant general in charge of the accounts of all Dáil
government departments), gold which had been collected as part of the Dáil
Loan was moved from Batt O’Connor’s house in Brendan’s Road in Donnybrook
(where it had been stored under the foundations) to the vault of the Bank of
Ireland. The gold was mostly made up
of gold sovereigns. The Bank of Ireland gave George McGrath a receipt for
Ł25,071. (Prior to being stored in Batt O’Connor’s house in October 1921, the gold was held in Corrigan’s Undertakers in Camden St in Dublin. It was buried at the back of the premises to safeguard it against it being seized by the British.) |
O’Sullivan Greene (2020), pgs 206-207 |
|
Sep-1922/2 |
Pro-Treaty Private Thomas Tiernan (from Cloone, Co.
Leitrim) is killed near Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo. |
Ferriter (2021), pg 136 |
|
Sep-1922/3 |
The body of a Limerick gardener, Thomas Brennan, is found
by people on their way to Mass. His body
has a placard attached to it saying “Convicted Spy”. |
Ferriter (2021), pg 99 |