Ár n-ábhair chartlainne

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/204)

The report of 8 February 1916 states that Thomas J Clarke is ‘still confined to his residence, Richmond Avenue’. A recent presentation on the role of the Mater Hospital in the 1916 Rising, given at the Globalising the Rising:1916 in context conference held in UCD on 5 and 6 February, revealed that Clarke was treated in the hospital for a gunshot wound to his arm during the first week of February 1916. This would explain his continued absence from his shop at 75 Parnell Street. Despite Clarke’s absence, a number of individuals are observed entering his shop, including Charles J Kickham, Diarmuid Lynch, Seán T Ó Ceallaigh, Piaras Béaslaí, Joseph McGuinness and Seán MacDiarmada.

The departure of John Neeson by train to Drogheda [County Louth] is noted.

Seán MacDiarmada and John McGarry are observed together at 12 D’Olier Street. McGarry is later seen in the company of Michael Foley in Sackville Street [O’Connell Street].

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Herbert ‘Barney’ Mellows, Eimar O’Duffy, Laurence Raul, John R Reynolds and Michael O’Hanrahan.

Thomas Kenny of Craughwell [County Galway] and LJ O’Toole [Secretary, GAA] are seen in company at College Green. Kenny’s subsequent return to Galway is noted.

The report concludes with details of a number of raids on the premises of three unidentified individuals on the north side of the City. The search for stolen military rifles proved unsuccessful.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 7 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/205)

The report of 10 February 1916 notes Thomas J Clarke’s continued absence from his shop at 75 Parnell Street. Despite this, the shop is visited by Con Colbert and John McGarry, followed by Seán MacDiarmada and Michael Foley.

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Bulmer Hobson, Michael J O’Rahilly, Michael O’Hanrahan, Laurence Raul and Éamonn Duggan. A second meeting later in the evening is again attended by O’Rahilly, O’Hanrahan, Raul and Duggan, along with Patrick H Pearse, John Fitzgibbon, Seán MacDiarmada, Diarmuid Lynch, Joseph McGuinness, Éamonn Ceannt and Thomas Hunter.

JJ Walsh is observed in Sackville Street [O’Connell Street].

The departure of Patrick O’Malley by train to Galway, and the return of Jeremiah Joseph O’Connell from Cork is noted.

The report concludes with a sighting of John Milroy at 28 North Frederick Street.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 9 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/206)

The report of 11 February 1916 records a brief visit by Thomas J Clarke to his shop at 75 Parnell Street. This is followed throughout the day by visits from Michael Foley, Edward Daly, Seán T Ó Ceallaigh, Diarmuid Lynch, Frank Fahy, Joseph McGuinness, Patrick Ryan, Piaras Béaslaí, Seán MacDiarmada, John McGarry, Reverend E Sheehy and Charles S [Wyse] Power. It is observed that Power ‘returned to Kingsbridge [Heuston Station] from Cork’.

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Bulmer Hobson, Jeremiah Joseph O’Connell, Herbert ‘Barney’ Mellows and Patrick Ryan.

The departure of Patrick H Pearse by train to Waterford is noted.

The report concludes with details of a drill involving around 45 members of the ‘Sinn Fein Volunteers’ at the back of 41 Rutland Square in the presence of Diarmuid Lynch, Frank Fahy, Joseph McGuinness, Bulmer Hobson and Michael McNamara. McNamara is described as ‘an Assistant in Mooney’s publichouse, Parnell Street’.

A copy of The Workers’ Republic referred to in the report is not present.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 10 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/207)

The report of 12 February 1916 records a brief visit by Thomas J Clarke to his shop at 75 Parnell Street, where he is observed in conversation with Seán MacDiarmada and John McGarry. In Clarke’s absence, the shop is visited throughout the day by Edward Daly, Piaras Béaslaí, Thomas Byrne, Charles J Kickham, John R Reynolds and James J Buggy.

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Michael J O’Rahilly, Michael O’Hanrahan, Herbert ‘Barney’ Mellows, Seán MacDiarmada, John McGarry and Eimar O’Duffy. A second meeting later in the evening is again attended by O’Hanrahan, along with Thomas MacDonagh, Éamon de Valera, John Fitzgibbon, Frank Fahy, Thomas Hunter, Piaras Béaslaí, Con Colbert, Jeremiah Joseph O’Connell, Joseph McGuinness, Éamonn Duggan and Edward Daly.

The return of Patrick H Pearse from Waterford is noted.

Seán MacDiarmada and Patrick O’Keeffe are observed together in Westmoreland Street. The subsequent departure by train to Belfast of MacDiarmada in the company of Seán T Ó Ceallaigh is noted.

JJ Walsh is observed in his shop at 26 Blessington Street.

A copy of The Spark referred to in the report is not present.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 11 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/208)

The report of 15 February 1916 notes the absence of Thomas J Clarke from his shop at 75 Parnell Street. In his absence, the shop is visited throughout the day by Michael McGinn, John McGarry, Piaras Béaslaí, Seán MacDiarmada, Edward Daly, Joseph McGuinness, Éamonn Duggan and James Stritch.

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Michael J O’Rahilly, Diarmuid Lynch, James Whelan, Laurence Raul, Michael O’Hanrahan and Edward Daly.

The return of Seán MacDiarmada and Seán T Ó Ceallaigh from Belfast is noted.

JJ Walsh is observed in his shop at 26 Blessington Street and Éamon de Valera is seen entering the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street.

The report concludes with details of a drill involving around 60 members of the Irish Volunteers at 41 Rutland Square in the presence of Éamonn Duggan and Joseph McGuinness.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 14 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/209)

The report of 16 February 1916 notes the absence of Thomas J Clarke from his shop at 75 Parnell Street. In his absence, the shop is visited throughout the day by Seán MacDiarmada, Piaras Béaslaí, Edward Daly, Michael Foley and Patrick H Pearse.

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Bulmer Hobson, Herbert ‘Barney’ Mellows, Michael J O’Rahilly, Laurence Raul and Michael O’Hanrahan. A second meeting held later that evening is attended by Éamonn Ceannt, Con Colbert, Jeremiah Joseph O’Connell, Éamon de Valera, Éamonn J Duggan and TJ Sheehan.

Diarmuid Lynch and Seán MacDiarmada are observed at 12 D’Olier Street.

The arrival of JL [Diarmuid] Fawsitt by train from Cork is noted.

Seán MacDiarmada and Joseph McGuinness are observed entering the premises of the Keating Branch of the Gaelic League at North Frederick Street, while JJ Walsh is observed in his shop at 26 Blessington Street.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 15 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/210)

The report of 17 February 1916 notes the absence of Thomas J Clarke from his shop at 75 Parnell Street. In his absence, the shop is visited throughout the day by Jeremiah Joseph O’Connell, Con Colbert, Edward Daly, Piaras Béaslaí, Diarmuid Lynch, James J Buggy and Thomas Byrne.

The departure of Joseph Murray by train to Dundalk [County Louth] is noted.

Michael O’Hanrahan and William T Cosgrave are observed together at the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, early in the day. At lunchtime, a meeting in the same location is attended by Bulmer Hobson, Seán MacDiarmada, Michael J O’Rahilly and John McGarry. A second meeting later that evening is again attended by Hobson, O’Rahilly and MacDiarmada, along with Éamonn Ceannt, Patrick H Pearse, Éamon de Valera, [James] O’Connor, John Fitzgibbon, Diarmuid Lynch, Laurence Raul and John E Lyons. Lyons is described as ‘a Printer who resides at 14 Portland Place, N.C. [North Circular] Road’.

The arrival of James Sullivan from Crossdoney [County Cavan] is noted.

Copies are included of the latest issues of The Irish Volunteer, The Hibernian, Nationality, The Gael and Honesty. A copy of The Irishman and No. 3 of the Bodenstown series of pamphlets referred to in the report are not present.

An annotation on the report states ‘Chief Secy [Chief Secretary] to see the papers. The Irishman [promises] not badly & is at present run [objectionable] ‘The Murder Machine’ [essay by PH Pearse on the education system] is interesting…Seen by C.Secy [Chief Secretary] who has kept the two papers to which you refer’.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 16 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/211)

The report of 18 February 1916 notes the continued absence of Thomas J Clarke from his shop at 75 Parnell Street. In his absence, the shop is visited throughout the day by Charles J Kickham, Frank Fahy, Edward Daly, MW O’Reilly and John R Reynolds.

Joseph Murray and Thomas Byrne are observed together in Sackville Street [O’Connell Street].

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Michael J O’Rahilly, Michael O’Hanrahan, Bulmer Hobson, Herbert ‘Barney’ Mellows, James Whelan, Eimar O’Duffy, Laurence Raul and Thomas Walsh. Walsh is described as a bricklayer by trade who ‘was sentenced at Arklow Petty Sessions in September last to two months’ imprisonment for assaulting the Police’.

Seán MacDiarmada and Piaras Béaslaí are observed in the office of [James] O’Connor, solicitor, at 57 Dame Street.

Thomas Byrne is noted visiting the shop of JJ Walsh at 26 Blessington Street, whilie LJ O’Toole, secretary, GAA, and Thomas Kenny [Craughwell, County Galway] are seen together in Sackville Street [O’Connell Street].

The report concludes with details of the assembly of around 60 members of the Irish Volunteers at 41 Rutland Square, including Frank Fahy, Joseph McGuinness, FJ McCabe, Edward Daly, Piaras Béaslaí and Peter Healy. Healy is described as ‘a ticket checker at Broadstone [railway station] and resides at 86 Phibsborough Road’.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 17 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/212)

The report of 19 February 1916 states that Thomas J Clarke paid a brief visit to his shop at 75 Parnell Street. Following his departure, the shop is visited throughout the day by a number of individuals, including Con Colbert, James O’Sullivan, Edward Daly, Frank Fahy, John McGarry and John R Reynolds.

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Bulmer Hobson, Michael O’Hanrahan, Michael J O’Rahilly, Thomas Hunter and Herbert ‘Barney’ Mellows. O’Hanrahan is later observed in the same location in the company of JJ Walsh. A second meeting later that evening is again attended by O’Hanrahan, along with FJ McCabe, John E Lyons, Éamon de Valera, Thomas MacDonagh, James Coleman and Joseph Byrne.

It is stated that Coleman and Byrne ‘reside at 2 Camden Place. Coleman is by trade a Blacksmith, and Byrne a Hairdresser. Both are members of the Sinn Fein Volunteers’.

The report concludes with details of a debate, held at 41 Rutland Square, entitled ‘Do we want peace now?’, the main speaker being Francis Sheehy-Skeffington. The event, the proceedings of which are described as being ‘of no importance’, is attended by around 100 people, including James Connolly, William O’Brien, Seán MacDiarmada, John McGarry, John R Reynolds, John Milroy, George Irvine, Frank Fahy, James J Buggy, Edward Daly, James Stritch, Mrs [Hanna] Sheehy-Skeffington, Mrs [Jennie] Wyse Power and Countess [Constance] Markievicz.

Copies are included of the latest issues of The Workers’ Republic and The Spark. Also included is the first issue of a ‘new weekly paper-The Eye Opener-published and printed by Flynn and O’Brien, 7 College Street’.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 18 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/213)

The report of 21 February 1916 records a brief visit by Thomas J Clarke to his shop at 75 Parnell Street on Saturday 19 February. The shop is visited throughout the day by Thomas MacDonagh, James O’Sullivan, Edward Daly, Con Colbert, Joseph Murray, Diarmuid Lynch, Seán MacDiarmada and James Leddan, whose arrival on the evening train from Limerick is noted later in the report. On Sunday 20 February, Clarke is noted to be absent from his shop. In his absence, the shop is visited by James J Buggy, James Leddan and Patrick Hughes, who arrived early Sunday morning by train from Dundalk [County Louth].

On Saturday, the departure of Piaras Béaslaí by train to Cork is noted, along with the arrival of Pierce McCann from Thurles [County Tipperary] and Francis J Biggar from Belfast. Biggar is noted to have remained in Dublin only a few hours before returning to Belfast on the 6pm train. Later on Saturday evening, the arrival of Terence McSwiney and Thomas Curtin by train from Cork is reported.

Thomas MacDonagh and Countess Markievicz are observed in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street. They are followed later the same evening by Pierce McCann, Michael O’Hanrahan and B O’Connor [Donnybrook, Dublin].

JJ Walsh is observed in his shop at 26 Blessington Street.

Details are provided of those in attendance at a meeting of the Executive Council of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, held on Sunday 20 February. The meeting is followed by the departure of Terence McSwiney and Thomas Curtin by train to Cork, and James Leddan to Limerick.

Details are provided of a number of those in attendance at a concert and dramatic performance, and a lecture by Eoin MacNeill on ‘Celtic Laws’, all of which take place at 41 Rutland Square.

A description is given of the assembly at Dartry Road of 300 members of the Irish Volunteers ‘150 of whom carried rifles’ and their march towards Rathfarnham under the command of Éamon de Valera. The group is escorted by the Dublin Metropolitan Police.

The report concludes with details of a meeting held near Portobello Bridge in support of taxi drivers on strike from Wayte Bros. The meeting ‘which was not of much importance’ is addressed by James Connolly, Richard O’Carroll and Thomas Lawler.

A copy is included of a return of cases examined by police while undertaking searches for arms at Dublin Port.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 19 and 20 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/214)

The report of 22 February 1916 notes the continued absence of Thomas J Clarke from his shop at 75 Parnell Street. In his absence, the shop is visited throughout the day by Seán MacDiarmada, Con Colbert, Frank Fahy, Charles J Kickham, John McGarry and Diarmuid Lynch.

The departure of John Neeson by train to Drogheda [County Louth] is noted.

Edward Daly and James O’Sullivan are observed together in Dame Street.

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Bulmer Hobson, Michael J O’Rahilly, Pierce McCann, Herbert ‘Barney’ Mellows, Jeremiah Joseph O’Connell and Laurence Raul. O’Rahilly’s subsequent departure by train to Carrickmacross [County Monaghan] is noted, along with the departure of Thomas Kenny to Athenry [County Galway].

Thomas MacDonagh is observed in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, later in the evening.

It is noted that John Nolan ‘ex-Dynamite Convict’ is now employed in the Corporation Works on Stanley Street.

The report concludes with details of a drill by 50 ‘Sinn Fein Volunteers’ in the hall at the back of 41 Rutland Square in the presence of Joseph McGuinness, FJ McCabe and Frank Fahy.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 21 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/215)

The report of 23 February 1916 notes the continued absence of Thomas J Clarke from his shop at 75 Parnell Street. In his absence, the shop is visited throughout the day by John McGarry, Edward Daly, James O’Sullivan and Seán MacDiarmada.

The return of Michael J O’Rahilly by train from Carrickmacross [County Monaghan] is noted.

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Bulmer Hobson, Thomas McCarthy, James Whelan, Herbert ‘Barney’ Mellows and Michael O’Hanrahan. A second meeting later that evening is attended by Thomas MacDonagh, Éamonn Ceannt and Seán MacDiarmada.

Thomas Byrne is observed in the company of William J Ryan at Dorset Street, while Charles S [Wyse] Power and Seán MacDiarmada are seen together in Sackville Street [O’Connell Street].

The departure of Pierce McCann by train to Cashel [County Tipperary] is noted.

JJ Walsh is observed in his shop at 26 Blessington Street.

The report concludes with details of a meeting ‘under the auspices of the Trades Council’ held at the Mansion House ‘to protest against the restrictions proposed by the Government on materials used in the printing trade’. The meeting, which is attended by around 160 people, is addressed by John E Lyons, Patrick Thomas Daly and William O’Brien.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 22 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/216)

The report of 24 February 1916 notes the continued absence of Thomas J Clarke from his shop at 75 Parnell Street. In his absence, the shop is visited throughout the day by Con Colbert, Seán MacDiarmada and Edward Daly.

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Michael J O’Rahilly, Herbert ‘Barney’ Mellows, Bulmer Hobson and Patrick Ryan. A second meeting later that evening is again attended by O’Rahilly and Hobson, along with Michael O’Hanrahan, James O’Sullivan, [James] O’Connor, Jeremiah Joseph O’Connell, Eimar O’Duffy, Seán MacDiarmada, John E Lyons and Éamonn Ceannt.

Alderman Thomas Kelly is observed attending a lecture entitled ‘Ancient Irish Music’ at the Sinn Féin Rooms, 6 Harcourt Street. The lecture, delivered by P Ffrench Mullen, is also attended by Thomas S Cuffe, Gerald Crofts and Henry Dixon.

A meeting in the office of the Gaelic League, 25 Rutland Square, is attended by Michael J O’Rahilly, Seán T Ó Ceallaigh, John McGarry, Patrick H Pearse and Patrick Dowling.

The report concludes with details of the route march of 75 members of the Irish Volunteers ’50 carrying rifles’ from outside the Gaelic League to Fairview under the command of Edward Daly and FJ McCabe.

Copies are included of the latest issues of The Irish Volunteer, Nationality, The Hibernian, The Gael and Honesty.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 23 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/217)

The report of 26 February 1916 records visits to the shop of Thomas J Clarke, 75 Parnell Street, by Con Colbert, John McGarry, Edward Daly, Con Collins and Diarmuid Lynch.

Clarke was absent from his shop but is noted to have met with Seán MacDiarmada and Diarmuid Lynch at 12 D’Olier Street, following which he departed by train to Limerick.

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Bulmer Hobson, Michael O’Hanrahan, Con Colbert and Mrs [Hanna] Sheehy-Skeffington. A second meeting later that evening is again attended by O’Hanrahan, along with John E Lyons, Thomas Hunter, John O’Hanrahan, FJ McCabe and James Coleman.

The departure of Alexander McCabe by train to Sligo is noted. It is observed that McCabe, who was ‘acquitted at the recent Commission on indictment for having explosives in his possession’, is seen off at Broadstone railway station by Edward Daly.

A meeting at 25 Rutland Square is attended by John McGarry, Joseph McGuinness, Seán T Ó Ceallaigh and Patrick Dowling.

John R Reynolds and James Stritch are observed together in 41 Rutland Square.

Copies are included of the latest issues of The Workers’ Republic and The Spark.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 25 February 1916.

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/218)

The report of 28 February 1916 records visits to the shop of Thomas J Clarke, 75 Parnell Street, on Saturday 26 February by Charles J Kickham, Piaras Béaslaí, John McGarry, John O’Hanrahan and Jeremiah [Diarmuid] Lynch. On Sunday 27 February, Clarke’s shop is visited by Joseph McGuinness, Éamonn Duggan, James J Buggy and Ben Parsons. It is noted that Clarke is absent from his shop on both days and has not yet returned from Limerick.

The departures on Saturday of James O’Sullivan by train to Crossdoney [County Cavan], James Connolly to Belfast and Patrick H Pearse to Cork are noted.

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Bulmer Hobson, Jeremiah Joseph O’Connell, Michael O’Hanrahan, George Irvine, Thomas MacDonagh, Eimar O’Duffy and Thomas Ashe. MacDonagh is observed later that evening in the same location in the company of Éamon de Valera.

On Sunday, the departure of John Neeson by train to Drogheda [County Louth] is noted.

A report is provided of the march of around 150 members of the ‘Sinn Fein Volunteers, 80 of whom carried rifles’ towards Glasnevin under the command of Edward Daly and Joseph McGuinness.

The report concludes with details of those involved in organising a rally to oppose the introduction of a war tax on Ireland. The meeting is scheduled to take place on 29 February in the Round Room of the Mansion House. An annotation on the report states ‘The Lord Mayor’s desire to stand [well] with everyone accounts for his allowing the Mansion House to be used for the purpose of this Sinn Fein meeting’.

A copy is included of a leaflet advertising the rally and a return of searches for arms carried out by police at the North Wall, Dublin, between 21 February and 26 February 1916.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 26 and 27 February 1916.