1916 Derry Rising Revisited by derrybluebadgeguide.com

1884–1916: The local context for the Rising The 1884-16 period saw a number of political developments in the city which were influenced by British government policy, the growth in political and cultural nationalism, the consolidation of Unionist resistance to Home Rule and the attempts of the catholic church to maintain influence over the catholic population against the challenge posed by nationalist/republican groups such as the Irish Volunteers and Sinn Féin. All of these factors had a significant impact on the city of Derry which continue to have resonance today. 1884: The GAA is formed to promote Irish sport as a way of asserting cultural nationalism. This is mirrored by the development of new Irish literature movements. These groups are heavily influenced by the growth of political nationalism. Whilst constitutional nationalism backs the Home Rule policy to give Ireland limited self-government, other more radical republicans became involved with groups such as the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and later Sinn Féin. 1895: The Westminster election victory of Nationalist candidate Vesey Knox leads to fears amongst local unionists that they will lose control of the local corporation as well. The ‘Londonderry Improvement Bill’ manipulates local government electoral boundaries to ensure Unionist control of the local government is maintained, despite the city having a nationalist majority. The policy leads to resentment from Derry nationalists which would manifest itself during the post-Rising period. 1905: Sinn Féin is formed in Dublin by Arthur Griffith (left), originally advocating a dual-monarchy policy as an alternative to Home Rule. The Catholic Church resists attempts by Sinn Féin to recruit locally and also encourages local Catholics to play soccer instead of Gaelic games in an attempt to counter the influence

of the GAA. 1905 also sees the formation of the Ulster Unionist Council to resist the Home Rule policy. The Council receives strong support from unionists in the Fountain and across the city. 1910: Shane Leslie, a cousin of Winston Churchill but a fervent supporter of Home Rule, narrowly loses the local Westminster seat to the Duke of Abercorn, the Tory candidate. The result reflects the improved electoral organisation of Derry nationalists, something which was lacking for many years. The wider impact of the Westminster election sees Nationalist MP’s holding the balance of power in Westminster, leading the Liberal party to instigate a third Home Rule bill. With the House of Lords veto removed in 1912 (which had seen the two previous Home Rule bills of 1886 and 1893 rejected) it seems inevitable that the measure will be enacted.

Shane Leslie.

1912: On Friday September 20th 1912, Edward Carson visited the city in advance of the launch of the Solemn League and Covenant which pledges to oppose Home Rule by whatever means necessary. 471,414 unionists would sign the Covenant, including 275 residents of the Fountain Street area. Below: Sir Edward Carson, surrounded by the Unionist establishment signing the Covenant on ‘Ulster Day’ in City Hall Belfast in 1912.

Above: 471,414 unionists would sign the Solemn League and Covenant, including 275 residents of the Fountain Street area. Below: Sir Edward Carson visited the city in 1912, and later inspected the UVF ranks throughout South Derry and Garvagh in 1914.

By 1912 the IRB, through figures such as Seamus Cavanagh, were already organising in Derry and Donegal. A number of their weapons were being bought from British troops based at Leenan and Dunree Forts by Derry man Pat Hegarty.

Left: Heavy UVF mobilisation in the city in 1914/15.

1913: In January the UVF is officially formed to militarily oppose the Home Rule policy. Commanded by Lieutenant George Richardson, its local headquarters is based at 24 Hawkin Street in the Fountain area. By August 1914 it has 3480 members across the city split into three battalions. Its local commander is Captain Marshall Morris, a retired British officer. Their members practice at firing ranges at Carlisle Road and Abercorn Road with the weapons smuggled into Larne in April 1914. The death of the Duke of Abercorn in 1913 sees a snap election called. Local shirt factory owner David Hogg, a Liberal Presbyterian, wins the seat with the backing of the Catholic Church, leading to a 17-16 majority of nationalist MP’s across the Nine Counties of Ulster. In the same year Glenarm man Eoin McNeill (founder of the Gaelic League), IRB man Bulmer Hobson and The O’Rahilly found the Irish Volunteers as a counter force to the UVF and to push nationalist demands in a more militant fashion. In February the first local Irish Volunteers are recruited and start drilling under the direction of Charles O’Neill and Patrick Campbell. Initially the group is shunned by the Catholic Church and the moderate nationalism of John Redmond and Joe Devlin. Gradually this attitude changes as it becomes clear that the Volunteers have struck a chord with many nationalists. Led locally by Commander James McGlinchey, recruitment is strong in the Bishop Street, Bogside and Waterside areas with nightly drills taking place in Celtic Park.

Above left: Irish Volunteers lined up for inspection in Celtic Park. Above right: Commander James McGlinchey.

McGlinchey is buried in the City Cemetery just yards from the grave of James Keenan, who would become one of the Irish Volunteers key activists during the War of Independence period. His son Sean would become a leading figure in the Republican Movement during the modern conflict until his death in 1993. Sean’s son, IRA volunteer Colm, was killed by British troops in 1972. Similarly Commander McGlinchey’s son Joseph would lose his life during the 1920 riots when trying to remove a Union Jack from a lamp post in Long Tower Street. August 1913 also saw serious rioting in the Bridge Street/Fountain Street area following a confrontation between nationalist workers at Tillie & Henderson shirt factory and unionists living in the Fountain. Gunfire later breaks out killing Fountain resident Francis Armstrong with Fountain residents blaming the RIC for firing the fatal shot. 1914: By 1914 partition is being mooted as a serious option by many Unionists and Conservatives. Derry nationalists are panicked by the possibility that Derry, with its nationalist majority, will end up in a new northern state under British jurisdiction. At the same time, UVF members are mobilising under fear that the British government will move against them. The outbreak of World War One suspends hostilities in the short term. John Redmond’s call for the Irish Volunteers to fight in Europe for the freedom of small nations (and the hope that the British government would reward Ireland with Home Rule after the war) sees a split in the Irish Volunteers. Those opposed to Redmond’s approach broke away and retained the name of the Irish

Volunteers whilst those in favour of his policy adopted the name of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;National Volunteersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This split was reflected locally with 150 staying with the Irish Volunteers whilst over 4,000 sided with the pro-Redmondites. In August both National Volunteer and UVF members departed from the local train stations to fight in Europe; many would never return. In August 1914 Roger Casement inspected an Irish Volunteers Parade in Celtic Park. This was his last inspection of any Volunteer company before he departed to America from where he would eventually travel to Germany to procure the weapons with which he was captured at Banna Strand just before the 1916 Rising. 1915: For most of 1915 the United Irish league led by John Redmond and Joe Devlin remained publicly at the forefront of nationalism. However, in the background the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) continued to infiltrate the Irish Volunteers in preparation for a republican Rising against British rule. By February 1915, 20,000 Irish Volunteers and 23,000 UVF members had gone to fight in Europe. As the death toll mounted and with no end in sight, the argument that fighting for small nations to be free would lead to Home Rule was beginning to wear thin. Locally, recruitment to the National Volunteers remained steady in the city but in the rural areas of Derry and Donegal numbers were dropping dramatically. 1915 also saw another unionist, Robert Newton Anderson, elected as mayor of the local corporation, leading to further nationalist complaints about gerrymandering and discrimination against the local nationalist majority. By mid-1915 2,000 IRB members had infiltrated the Irish Volunteers and had taken over its Executive. Famously, the local Volunteers were involved in a raid on Ebrington Barracks (below) which saw a local British Army recruit assist them in smuggling over 6,000 rounds of ammunition out of the base. Those involved avoided detection by marching amongst the British troops across the Carlisle bridge to the city centre before proceeding to John Mitchel Hall from where the ammunition was smuggled to Dublin for use in the planned Rising.

As well as being used for entertainment and history lectures, the John Mitchel Hall was used as a training camp with its own shooting range. It also held Cumann na mBan meetings (who had around fifteen local members in 1915 under the command of Mrs Cavanagh) and was also used by the Fianna. 1916: By early 1916 the IRB military council had settled on 23rd April as the date for the Rising. British government records from the time show an estimated 194 Irish Volunteer members in Derry with 32 rifles in their possession. In one case arms were bought in England, camouflaged as ironware and delivered to a Unionist owned hardware store in the city where they were intercepted before being delivered to Dublin for use in the Rising. One month before the Rising Patrick Pearse came to Derry to inspect the local volunteers in the company of Herbert Moore Pim. Pim was also supposed to collect some weapons on the visit as Derry was being used as a central point for arms trafficking. The transfer of the weapons never transpired due to the large presence of police in the city at the time. On Easter Thursday night, a Ms Roisin O’Doherty brought a dispatch from Dublin to Seamus Cavanagh (right), the local O.C. of the Volunteers ordering a mobilisation for Easter Sunday. Liam Brady, a member of the Fianna at the time, recounts the events of the next few days: ‘That night Seamus Cavanagh notified a select number of the Volunteers to meet at John Doherty’s shed at the top of William Street (which was an outer portion of Watt’s Distillery) not later than 11.30 that night. Each man was to bring the heaviest top coat he had, his rifle, revolver and ammunition, with all the other equipment and enough rations to last for two days. Cavanagh told me to call off all Fianna parades for the next week and not to let any of the boys near the John Mitchell Hall. At 11.15 every Volunteer that was mobilised, after making their way through the back streets and near cuts, and camouflaged as best they could, so that no one would detect their mission, landed safely and in good time at the place as arranged. In Doherty’s shed Cavanagh checked his men who numbered 17. Their equipment consisted of 5 Lee-Enfield rifles, 5 Mausers, 2 Howth and 5 Martin Henrys (Short Carbines) about 100 rounds of ammunition per man and 22 hand-made bombs. Other supplies had been sent to Tyrone earlier with John Doherty (Corney) and William McAuley. In Doherty’s Shed the Volunteers

settled themselves as best they could. The place inside was in darkness. No one was allowed to smoke or to light a match. After waiting until 5.30am the next morning the Volunteers through Denis McCullough of Belfast received McNeill’s countermanding orders, calling off the mobilisation with instructions to wait for further orders. The men were told to go home and to keep themselves in readiness as they might be called out at any time. On Monday night the Ceilidhe Mor was held and was proving a great success but the whispering went round that a rising had taken place in Dublin and that the Volunteers had taken charge of that City. Such was the excitement that the Ceilidhe broke up at 11 o’clock. We were told that all English soldiers were to report at their Barracks at once and notices to this effect were thrown on the screen of every Picture House in the city. Cavanagh called a parade for Tuesday night in the John Mitchell Hall where he instructed the Volunteers in first aid... Another parade was called for Wednesday night where further instructions were given. St. John’s Ambulance books were distributed, along with some bandages. I supplied strips of white cloth that night. Tom McLaughlin and Edward J. Duffy, who had brought the books and bandages had also a large first aid chart of the human body. That night Duffy took the first aid chart home and as the Hall was constantly under the eyes of the detectives they followed him believing that he was carrying some important plans or documents. He was arrested at 12 o’clock, being the first Volunteer arrested in the city. At midday next day Seamus Cavanagh, Joseph O’Doherty, Vincent O’Doherty, Paddy Hegarty, John Fox, Patrick Shiels and Eamonn McDermott were arrested. Raids were carried out throughout the City but in spite of all, not one rifle or one round of ammunition was found. The John Mitchell Hall came in for a great wrecking, the ceiling and walls were tore and the floor boards pulled up in a vain search for arms and documents. The days following were dull, without hope, and the future so dimmed, that it looked as if it was the end of another chapter in Irish History but instead, it was only the beginning.

In addition to Liam Brady’s version of events, the activities of Joseph O’Doherty provides an insight into the planning carried out by older members of the local organisation: On Spy Wednesday O’Doherty had gone to Dublin to visit his girlfriend Margaret Irvine. The next day he went to meet Sean MacDiarmada who disclosed to him that a rising was being planned. Despite pleading to be allowed to stay in Dublin to take part, MacDiarmada told him to go back to Derry to engage in operations there. O’Doherty went home with brother Seamus with the orders that if they hadn’t received any notification by 9pm on Easter Sunday then they should ‘strike at liberty as they saw fit’. The following morning he went with his sister Roisin to Dr Pat McCartan in Tyrone to see how much weaponry they wanted to be supplied with from the dumps that were based in Derry. At this stage McCartan was not aware that a Rising was being planned. On Holy Saturday O’Doherty’s brother Seamus went back to Dublin with a large amount of weaponry for distribution to the Dublin units. He was then told by Tom Clarke to return to Derry to allow him to help reconstitute the IRB in the aftermath of the Rising. Joseph O’Doherty spoke to Seamus Cavanagh that same evening to inform him that important orders were expected soon from Dublin. When the orders hadn’t arrived by 9pm, O’Doherty told Cavanagh about the Rising upon which Cavanagh told him to meet him at 9am the following morning. Before he met Cavanagh that morning, O’Doherty had read the countermandering order by Eoin MacNeill in the Irish Independent. He also received a letter from Dr McCartan telling him to meet a Seamus Cassidy in Strabane. When informed of the letter, Cavanagh told him that either Cassidy was meeting him to confirm MacNeills orders that the Rising was not going ahead, or was being sent by those who were still planning to proceed with the Rising to tell O’Doherty to ignore the countermander. On not finding Cassidy either in Strabane or in Cassidys home of Ballybofey, O’Doherty returned to Derry. At 8pm he met with Cavanagh and other senior figures who were all informed about the planned Rising and told that if orders hadn’t arrived by 9pm from Dublin then they would proceed with their own operations. O’Doherty was then dispatched to find Dr McCartan in Tyrone to inform him of what was happening. His fruitless mission saw him return to Derry by just before 6am to meet with the other men who had gathered at the shed in William Street. The decision was then taken by Cavanagh not to proceed with any actions. Later on the Sunday O’Doherty visited the post office in Derry. The extra police

presence convinced him correctly that the Rising had taken place in Dublin after all. The decision was then taken to prepare for action on the Tuesday. However, the arrival of a message from Dr McCartan telling them to wait until Wednesday or Thursday before they struck, combined with a lack of orders from Dublin, saw the Derry men call off any action. O’Doherty was arrested and interned later that week with other republicans from the city. The Rising The Rising had not begun until Easter Monday (April 24th) due to Eoin McNeill (who would later become Sinn Féin TD for Derry in the first Dail) countermanding the order for the rebellion to proceed once he had discovered that Roger Casement had been captured with an arms shipment on board The Auld at Banna Strand in County Kerry. Despite the order reducing the numbers of those taking part, Pearse and the other leaders decided to proceed. During the next week almost 500 people were killed. The British use the HMS Helga to bombard the streets and buildings of Dublin city centre. When the smoke cleared some of the city’s most historic edifices were badly destroyed. The British subsequently executed sixteen men who they accused of leading the Rising, including the seven signatories of the Proclamation, Roger Casement and Thomas Ceannt who had been arrested for his involvement in the death of a policeman following a raid on his house in county Cork the week after the Rising. Other republicans who were captured were taken to prison camps throughout Ireland and further afield to England and Wales.

As mentioned by Liam Brady, a number of local republicans were arrested as the Rising was ongoing in Dublin. They included: Seamus Cavanagh, 17 Alexandra Place: Seamus Cavanagh was said to have been an early member of the IRB and to have fought in the Boer War. Following his arrest he was transported to Wormwood Scrubs from Derry Gaol and took part in a hunger Strike before being released. On his return to Derry he moved into a leadership position but was subsequently arrested on a number of occasions which curtailed his activities. He was later interned on the Argenta and in Larne Camp.

Seamus Cavanagh pictured on Hunger Strike.

Patrick Shiels, Bogside: Interned in Wakefield Prison May 1916. Patrick was subsequently re-arrested in September 1919 for allegedly threatening police with revolvers during a house search. He became the IRA O.C. in the city in June 1920 and was heavily involved in the defence of nationalist areas.

Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney speaking at the unveiling of a new headstone on John Fox’s grave in 2015.

John Fox, 11 St Columb’s Wells: John Fox became involved with republican activities as a young man. In 1915 he attended the funeral of the Fenian O’Donovan Rossa in Glasnevin Cemetery and was pictured standing directly behind Padraig Pearse as he made his famous graveside speech which is now seen as a precursor to the 1916 Rising. Arrested on May 26th 1916, he was interned in Ballykinlar, Newbridge, Derry Jail, Victoria military barracks in Belfast, Richmond military barracks in Dublin, Lewes Jail and finally Wormwood Scrubs in England. On his release he resumed his activities with the IRA and played an integral role in the War of Independence in the North West, including the defence of St Columb’s College during the upheavals of May and June 1920. He later became the Quartermaster of the Northern Division of the IRA. John died on October 6, 1952 and was buried in the City Cemetery. In 2015 the republican movement unveiled a new headstone on his grave to honour his contribution to the republican cause.

Joseph ODoherty was born on Christmas Eve 1891. From 23 Creggan Street, he was educated at the Christian Brothers, St Columb’s College and St Patrick’s teacher tranining college in Drumcondra before attending Trinity and King’s Inns in Dublin. As a trainee teacher in Dublin he became involved with the Irish Volunteers and attended O’Donovan Rossa’s funeral in 1915. On Easter Thursday 1916 he was asked by Sean McDiarmada to become the main link person between the IRB leadership Joseph O’Doherty. and its members in Derry during the Rising. Following the Rising he and his brother Vincent were held in Richmond Barracks in Dublin, Wakefield Prison and finally in Frongoch camp in Wales. At Frongoch he got involved in discussions on how the republican movement needed to be restructured to continue the campaign against British Rule. On his release in 1917 he was elected as a member of the IRA Executive and the following year won a Westminster seat in the North Donegal constituency. The same year he married his partner Margaret Irvine (who became a medical officer in Derry) and they set up home in Clarendon Street. In January 1919 he joined his fellow Sinn Fein elected members in the first Dail. In December, he was forced to go on the run from his home and was sheltered over the Christmas period in St Columb’s College by his friend Reverend McGlinchey, the Dean of St Columb’s College. In 1920 he was the Commanding Officer of the IRA in the city for a four month period but was imprisoned again in Ballykinlar camp from January to June 1921. He rejected the Treaty in 1922 and left Derry the same year as his wife had been suspended from medical practice for refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance to the Crown. Moving to Dublin, he was sent to America by the republican movement to secure further funds for the anti-Treaty campaign. On his return from a second trip in 1928 he joined Fianna Fail and was appointed to the Seanad. In 1932 he was elected again to the North Donegal Constituency and served as a TD until 1937. He was subsequently appointed to the bar and also served as county manager for Kildare and Carlow. He also continued legal practice until his retirement and death in 1979. Eamonn McDermott: Eamonn McDermott was born in 1881, most likely in the Bellarena area of county Derry. The son of an RIC officer, he moved to the city and was initially a dock worker until an accident saw him being paid compensation which he used

to open a tobacconists shop. Eventually his republican activism forced him to close the shop. A keen Gaelgeoir, he was a founder member of a branch of Cumann Litordha na Gaedilge and was very active in the local GAA. He joined the Irish Volunteers soon after their formation and stuck with the minority who refused to heed John Redmonds call to go and fight in Europe to secure Home Rule. This saw him move into the structures of the IRB and he was one of the Derry contingent who attended O’Donovan Rossa’s funeral in 1915. He was also involved in the formation of local units of Inghinidhe na hÉireann (the forerunner of Cumann na mBan) and Éire Óg Eamonn McDermott. which eventually became Fianna Eireann. He was one of many local Republicans who gathered in the city to take part in the Rising only to be disappointed by Eoin MacNeills countermander. The following week he was arrested and ended up in Frongoch before being released at Christmas 1916. The following year he was the Derry delegate at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis in Dublin but also continued his activities with the IRA. In 1918 he was sentenced to 12 months in Mountjoy Prison and also spent time in Derry Gaol and Ballykinlar camp during 1919. Following the Treaty Eamonn and his wife Delia both sided with Republican anti-Treaty forces. They were forced to move to Buncrana when Delia was suspended from her job in the north for refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown. Eventually Delia got a job in Illies School and later in Buncrana National School. The couple had three children, including Fidelma who tragically died at a young age and Maire who became a noted archaeologist. The death of Fidelma saw their son Domhnall go into medicine which led to him become a leading doctor in Derry city. He famously treated the wounded during the Battle of the Bogside and Bloody Sunday and some of his own sons became involved in republicanism during the modern conflict. Eamonn McDermott died in 1957. His tricolour draped coffin was flanked by a guard from the Old IRA as it made its way to the City Cemetery followed by thousands of mourners from across Derry and further afield.

Phil O’Doherty, Lecky Road: Later imprisoned for possession of arms in 1918, on his release the following year he continued with republican activities before joining the Free State army after the Treaty. He died in 1925. Other notable volunteers at that time include: Patrick Hegarty (right), Westland Avenue Charles O’Brien, William Street Vincent O’Doherty, Creggan Street J O’Duffy, Foyle Street According to Liam Brady, the following men were also members at the time of the Rising: Hugh Devlin, Stanley’s Walk William Hegarty, William Street James McGuinness, Chamberlain Street Barney McGettigan Mickey Wray, Lecky Road Charley Breslin, William Street Mick McGrory, The Bogside Denis MacIntyre Dan Coyle, Foyle Road Joe Murray James O’Neill, Nailor’s Row John O’Donnell Andy Barr, Park Avenue Mr Mullan, St. Columba’s Wells Charlie Duggan, Nailor’s Row Barney McKenna John Keyes O’Doherty Dan McGinty

Frank McDevitt, The Bogside John Adams, Frances Street James McAuley, Abbey Street Tommy Johnson, Saint Columba’s Wells Joe Logue, Waterloo Street John McGilligan, Orchard Row Andy McDermott, Bogside Paddy Lafferty, Bishop Street James Lynch, Sloan’s Terrace Tomas McLaughlin, Waterside Paddy Cullen, Nailor’s Row Joe Flannagan, Waterside John Cullen, Nailor’s Row Dan Cullen, Nailor’s Row W.J. Carlin, Nelson Street William McAuley, Alma Place John Doherty, Lower Road William Sharkey, Saint Columba’s Wells

Female Republicans also played a critical role in the city and across the country during this period. Less likely to be stopped by troops or police, Cumann na mBan members helped to transport and store weapons, arrange safe houses and also took part in operations. Liam Brady recalls the following ladies as being Cumann na mBan members in 1916:

Mrs J. Fox Miss Fox Mrs W. Sharkey Mrs P. Hegarty Miss Tilley Cullen Miss Rose O’Doherty Miss Gibson Miss McDaid France MacIntyre & Lizzie Maclntyre

Mrs Cavanagh Mrs M. J. Wray Mrs McDevitt Annie Smith Mrs J. McDaid Miss Keenan Annie Martin Patsy Durante Mrs O’Neill

One of the most well known Cumann na mBan members in the Bogside area was Lizzie Doherty: Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Doherty (born 19th December 1898) was a member of Cumann na mBan, as was her sister, the teacher Mary Doherty. Both sisters grew up in 35 Waterloo Street above their fathers sewing machine shop with brothers Eddie, Tommy, Mickey, Barney, George and Willie. The house became a regular meeting place for the city’s republicans at the time of the Easter Rising and during the turbulent years that followed. Prominent republicans from across Ireland were also regular visitors, including leading Donegal republican Peadar O’Donnell, Liam Lizzie Doherty. Mellows and Tyrone-born Joe McKelvey, who later rose to the rank of IRA Chief of Staff before being executed by the Free State in 1922. Elizabeth’s contribution to the republican struggle in Derry was recognised at the fiftieth anniversary of the Easter Rising in 1966 when she received medals for her activism. As her daughter Rosa recalled, ‘She was proud of her medals (see below) but she refused to take the ‘IRA’ pension as she did not support the Fianna Fáil government in the 26 Counties’.

Fianna members of the period included: Liam Brady: As a young teenager, Liam Brady (right) tried to join the Fianna in Derry, commanded at that time by men including Charlie Breslin, John Keys O’Doherty, Eamonn McDermott, Seamus Murrin, Pat Hegarty, Joe Flanagan and Seamus Cavanagh. His bid was unsuccessful due to his young age and build. Undeterred, he often sneaked into the United Irish Rooms at the bottom of Waterloo Street to hear debates about Redmond’s approach to Home Rule, Edward Carson’s support for the UVF and the subsequent formation of the Irish Volunteers whose members included Liam’s uncle William. In his account of the period he recalls the Irish Volunteers from Derry travelling by train to Ballyliffin beach for a sham fight with the Inishowen Battalion and other training camps at Ludden near Buncrana. He also recounts the split in the Irish Volunteers and the formation of Cumann na mBan in the city. His enlisting with the Fianna finally took place on the night that The O’Rahilly came to Derry on 22nd November 1915 to give a lecture on the three Manchester Martyrs. Thus began six years of intense activity within the republican movement including gun smuggling, intelligence gathering and command of the Fianna in both Derry City and Donegal. The truce in 1921 saw Liam temporarily end his activities. After the signing of the Treaty he attended the Fianna Ard Fheis in Dublin where the document was unanimously rejected. During the Civil War/partition period he maintained his activities with the republican movement which saw him become Battalion Chemical Engineer. Interned on the Argenta by the new northern government, he remained an active republican for many years and was interviewed in 1952 at his home in Waterloo Street where he recalled some of the events contained in this publication. Other Derry based Fianna members at the time included: Jack McDaid, Rosemount Jack O’Driscoll, Westland Avenue Paddy Fox, Walkers Square Frank Carlin (on right), Nelson Street Phil. McLaughlin, Waterloo Street Neil McLaughlin, Waterloo Street

Packie McLaughlin, Waterloo Sreet J. McLaughlin, Harvey Street Hugh Deery Paddy Devlin, Walkers Square Thomas Cooper, Rosemount Paddy McKearn, Foxes Corner Edmund Burke, Waterloo Street Eddie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Reilly, Bridge Street Willie Smyth, Orchard Street. As well as a number of Derry men being involved in the Rising on the republican side, there were also locals involved in the British Army who fought on the streets of Dublin. Amongst them was William McGahey (right) from the Fountain. An active member of the UVF, he was also a Company Sergeant Major with the 12th Inniskilling Fusiliers during the Rising and fought in a number of gun battles against republican forces. He later became a Unionist member of the old Corporation and was also instrumental in founding Derry City Football Club. He famously saved a nationalist family from being burned out of their home at the Fountain/Bishop Street interface during disturbances in 1920 and also had a number of relatives who fought in Europe during World War I including his son and brother Jamie who died in 1916. His funeral was well attended by local residents of the Fountain and Bishop Street areas. The Deputy Adjutant General of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in Dublin during the Rising was Derry man J.A. Byrne. Private F.W.W. Knox, aged 37, from Prehen, was killed accidentally on the fourth day of the Rising and is buried in Breandrum Cemetery, Enniskillen. Another casualty was 2nd Lieutenant Private Charles Love Crockett (right) who was shot on the same day by a British military sentry at Fitzwilliam Street as he made his way to the HQ of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. It appears the sentry, who could not see his uniform in the darkness, had challenged him to stop and shot him when he failed to do so. He is buried in the City Cemetery.

Aftermath of the Rising: In the immediate aftermath of the Rising, the British government negotiated separately with John Redmond and Edward Carson, partition was now firmly on the table. Whilst the British government assured Redmond that any partition arrangement for the north would be temporary, at the same time they told Carson that it would be permanent. For republicans neither option was palatable. The confusion and anger created by the partition proposals would see further splits within moderate nationalism which further fuelled the electoral growth of Sinn Féin. A key schism was between moderate nationalists in the eastern part of Ulster, including Belfast, who believed that if partition was going to be a reality then the new northern state should be as large as possible to maximise nationalist numbers and influence within the new structures. On the other hand, nationalists in the west were resistant to any proposals that would see largely nationalist areas in the west subsumed into a new British controlled state. These divisions were further increased when British Prime Minister David Lloyd George finally admitted to Redmond that partition was indeed seen by the British as a permanent solution. Redmond’s warning that nationalist faith in constitutional methods had been shattered would prove to be prophetic. In the internment camps of Frongoch and elsewhere, republican prisoners were already preparing for a new campaign. On their release in December 1916, there were homecoming ceilidhes for the Derry prisoners and Sinn Féin cumann’s began to appear across the city. When the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis was held in the Mansion House, Eamonn McDermott represented the Derry City area. The years 1917-21 would prove momentous for Derry and the entire country. The release of republican prisoners gave increased resources to Sinn Féin with further support created by events such as the death of Thomas Ashe (right) caused by force feeding whilst on hunger strike. 1917: During 1917 Ernie O’Malley made a visit to the city as a representative of the IRA GHQ staff. Shortly afterwards Gabriel McGrath took over from Seamus Cavanagh as local commander. McGrath enlisted a selected group of volunteers into a new company which was much more secretive and highly trained than other units. It became known as the Ten Foot Pikers or ‘TFP’s’.

Locally the TFP’s were under the command of Joseph O’Doherty, a doctor in Clarendon Street, who took the TFP members on a number of operations around Derry and Donegal. Incidentally both McGrath and O’Doherty were former pupils of Patrick Pearse at St Enda’s. Michael Sheerin, who was also recruited as a TFP, lists the following men as being members: Andy Hegarty Lorcan McGrath (Dublin) Phil Doherty Dan McGandy (on right) Eddie Deane Tom Hinchey (Clare) Alfie McCallion Jim Kerby (Sligo) Pat Connolly (Omagh) J. McGlynn (Sligo) Tim Doheny (Tipperary) Sean Haughey (Teelan). The end of 1917 saw the local Volunteers, with the assistance of nationalist civilians, become involved in regular punch ups with members of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers around the Carlisle Bridge/Carlisle Road area. During these confrontations anybody beaten into submission would frequently end up in the River Foyle. 1918: On January 4th 1918 Mrs Pearse, mother of Patrick and Willie, stopped in Derry with her daughter on her return to Dublin from holidays in Donegal. During her visit she addressed the Patrick Pearse Cumann at their headquarters in Richmond Street. On Sunday 10th February Eamonn De Valera in the company of Sean McEntee addressed a large crowd in St Columb’s Hall. Soon after a new Thomas Ashe Sinn Fein cumann was formed in the Bishop Street area with Robert McAnaney as chairman and James Gallagher as secretary. When the British government announced plans to introduce conscription in Ireland in April 1918, the outcry it provoked saw the British reverse their plans. Nevertheless, the mention of the proposal saw further increases in Sinn Féin support.

In December 1918, Sinn Féin wins a landslide 73 seats in the Westminster election. In Derry, where the Redmondite nationalists still had a strong support base, an electoral pact saw Eoin McNeill, the man who had countermanded the order for the Easter Rising to begin, elected as Sinn Féin MP. In the same month a Sinn Féin cumann and Volunteer company was formed in the Waterside by Dan Kelly who had moved to Derry after being involved with republican activities in Glasgow and Donegal. St Patrick’s Hall on Spencer Road was used regularly for meetings and social gatherings by the cumann. December also saw several republican hunger strikers moved to the Workhouse from Derry Gaol due to deterioration in their condition. The strike ended without any deaths. 1919: In January 1919 27 Sinn Féin MP’s (the rest being in prison or on the run) entered the Mansion House in Dublin to establish the first Dail Éireann as an alternative structure to British Rule in Ireland. The Dail appointed its own ministers, established a court system and funded itself through the establishment of the Dail loan. The IRA War of Independence began on the same day. Locally Seamus Cavanagh took command of the Volunteers who gradually adopted the name of the Irish Republican Army. Initially the IRA’s official policy in Derry was to minimise offensive operations to allow on the run republicans from other areas to shelter in the city with reduced fear of arrest. However there were a number of raids on buildings where weaponry could be obtained. These raids included houses belonging to the landed gentry (including the Beech Hill Estate) and Craig’s Foundry on the Strand Road. On 20th January, local volunteer and TFP member Dan McGandy was intercepted by British troops during a raid on teh foundry. It is believed he was deliberately thrown into the River Foyle, where he drowned. He was the first republican to die during the War of Independence in Derry. As republican activity intensified Charles Mawhinney, a Protestant engineering lecture at Magee College, became the O.C. of the Engineering unit which specialised in destroying bridges and other infrastructure. The IRA also formed its own policing structure across the country. Patrick Hegarty became the key figure in the smuggling of weapons into the city from Donegal and other areas. Much of these weapons and ammunition came from British Army forts at Leenan and Dunree. 1919 also saw a General Strike in Ireland caused by the post-war slump. Increased trade union activity in the city was compromised by a nationalist/unionist split within the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, organised

by Donegal republican Peadar O’Donnell (on right), over whether to support the nationalist cause. By the summer of 1919 the increasing confidence of Derry nationalists saw an attempt to march on Derry’s walls during the annual 15th August processions, leading to a riot between the marchers, local unionists and the military in the vicinity of Bridge Street and Fountain Street. Local republican Patrick Shields was one of those arrested as a result of these confrontations. The publication of the Government of Ireland Act in December 1919 saw partition now being formally proposed by the British Government as the solution to the Irish problem. Nevertheless the IRA continued their campaign for an all-Ireland republic. 1920: The local government elections of January 1920 saw nationalists take control of the local Corporation. Ironically, this was made possible due to the introduction of PR elections by the British government which was aimed at increasing Unionist representation in Irish local government structures. The granting of the vote to females over the age of 28 also increased the nationalist electorate in the city. The 21-19 majority secured by the nationalists saw H.C. O’Doherty (right) elected as the city’s first catholic mayor since 1688. James Gallagher was a fellow nationalist member of the Corporation. Born on 5th November 1886 in the Brandywell area of Derry James became involved in republican activities as a young man with his friend, the famous Donegal Republican Peadar O’Donnell. Elected onto the nationalist controlled Derry Corporation in January 1920, he subsequently became the Catholic Registration Agent for Derry in June 1922. This was a key position given the fact that gerrymandering and first past the post elections had been reintroduced by the north’s new Unionist government, meaning nationalists had to ensure every single voter was listed on the register to mitigate the effects of discrimination in local government elections. Like many other nationalists, he was interned in January 1924 by the new northern government. On his release from Derry Gaol he continued his work as a registration agent, a role he maintained until 1956. James died on 11th October

1969, just as the modern conflict was taking hold in Derry. Indeed his home was one of the first to be raided in Derry by the British Army after their arrival in August of that year. A number of Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; grandsons became involved with the Republican Movement in the years that followed. Like him, two were interned in the 1970â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and one, Raymond McCartney, took part in the first H-Block Hunger Strike in 1980. Another fellow member of the first nationalist controlled Corporation was Robert McAnaney. Robert had a number of relatives who fought in the First World War including a brother who was injured. His daughter Maggie died in 1922 in an incident at Burt involving the accidental discharge of an IRA weapon. The combination of the local government election results and the ongoing War of Independence saw increased tensions between unionists and republicans in the city. Demos were also held by unionists in protest at the decision by the mayor to ban the flying of all flags, including the Union Jack, from the Guildhall to give the Corporation a sense of neutrality. These protests culminated in serious riots and shootings between April and June leading to the deaths of four unionists and fifteen nationalists. Amongst those killed was 12-year-old George Caldwell, who died in May 1920 when a bullet entered his cubicle in Nazareth House on lower Bishop

Street. During the same events St Columb’s College (on right) was occupied by republican volunteers including Michael Sheerin, Dominic Doherty, Paddy Shiels and Cumann na mBan members to prevent it being taken over by UVF forces. They were eventually forced to withdraw when the building was shot up by the Dorchester Regiment which had been sent to the city by the British government. The Long Tower Street/Upper Fountain Street areas were particularly affected by the events of that summer. On June 19th Patrick Mallett was shot dead at Long Tower Street whilst Thomas Farren was killed in the same street two nights later. The next day James Doherty was shot dead in the exact same location as he left Thomas Farren’s wake. Other victims included a labourer by the name of Dobbins, a Mrs Eliza Moore, Peter Campbell (from Dungiven, he was shot crossing the River Foyle on a boat), Thomas McLoughlin, Mrs McLaughlin, Edward Price (an ex-World War One soldier who was staying in the Diamond Hotel), exsoldier Bernard Doherty, James Doherty from Tyrconnell Street, James McVeigh (killed by Unionists but who ironically had three sons who had served in the First World War including one who died in France), the Head of the RIC Special Branch in Derry, a Margaret Mills from Bishop Street and Howard McKay (son of the Governor of the Apprentice Boys). The situation only calmed when a curfew was imposed on 24th June. One of those present in the city during this period, Charles ‘Nomad’ McGuinness (right), describes the situation vividly: ‘In July, 1920, the city was like a town on the Western Front. Business was suspended and the shops barricaded against looting. Bodies lay in the streets for days because no man dared to risk a dash into the line of fire to drag them away’. As the Dorchester Regiment continued to impose the curfew the numbers of civilian casualties mounted. This, combined with RIC and British Army attacks on commercial premises and homes, saw further recruitment to the IRA. Such

was the upheaval that Donegal OC Peadar O’Donnell brought his own men into the city to assist local republicans, commanded by Patrick Shields, in defensive operations. Others involved included Alfie and Pat McCallion, Seamus McCann (right), William Cullen and Frank Shiels. Interestingly, the main supplier of arms to republicans in the city at that time was a Norwegian called Oscar Norby. Another victim of the riots was 18 year old John Gallagher. His brother Hugh would subsequently reject the Treaty and align himself with the anti-Treaty IRA. He was shot by Free State Forces when trying to escape from Drumboe castle (used as a holding centre by the Free State government) in December 1922. Additionally James Gallagher, the father of John and Hugh, was interned on 7th January 1924 by the new northern government. In September 1920 the new Ulster Special Constabulary was formed to assist police and military forces during the War of Independence. Three sections were formed: the full-time A-Specials, part time B-Specials and casual C-Specials. November 8th 1920 became known as the ‘Night of Terror’ in Republican circles. It began with a confrontation between some Volunteers and RIC members on the Strand Road where a number of shots were fired by both sides leading to the injury of five RIC men. In reprisals later that night by the military virtually all the buildings on William Street were burnt out and republican businesses raided or burned across the city. Ironically there were also a number of casualties caused by an RIC and British military unit firing on each other. During the events large crowds sought refuge in St Eugene’s cathedral until the gunfire subsided. By Christmas 1920 the city was under martial law. This was something that was encouraged by the Republican leadership who wanted to take military pressure off the south of the country by forcing the government to put military resources into the north. It is estimated that around 5,000 troops were based in the city which had a population of 50,000 at the time. 1921: By the start of 1921 key buildings in the city such as the courthouse, St Columb’s Hall (where Republican meetings had been held in the past) and St Patrick’s Hall in the Waterside were being occupied by the British Army. There were also machine gun posts at Bligh’s Lane, Letterkenny Road, Strand Road and both sides of the Carlisle Bridge.

The 1st April 1921 saw a large number of IRA operations take place across the city, During these incidents RIC Sergeant Higgins was killed by Volunteer Seamus McCann in Great James Street and four other police and troops injured in separate incidents. Two civilians were also injured and a Private J. Wright accidentally killed when another soldier shot him in the back. The Government of Ireland Act also officially came into force in April 1921. Consequently, the new northern parliament met for the first time in Belfast City Hall on 7th June without the northern nationalist representatives. In July a truce between the IRA and British forces led to negotiations between the British government and republicans beginning in London. This led to nationalists from Derry sending delegations to the Dail to seek guarantees that Derry would not be included in any new separate northern state that may emerge from the negotiations. Following the Truce Patrick Shiels was appointed as Liaison Officer for Derry. When the Treaty was signed on 6th December 1921 TD Eoin McNeill suggested that northern nationalists should refuse to recognise the proposed new northern state on the assumption that the new arrangement would not last. Others, including mayor H.C. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Doherty, argued that the Treaty settlement would be permanent and that northern nationalists would suffer under the new system. On 2nd December twelve prisoners broke out from Derry Gaol but were all eventually recaptured. Three of the prisoners (Patrick Leonard, Thomas McShea and Patrick Johnston) were sentenced to be executed for the deaths of Constable Michael Gorman and Special Constable William Lyttle who died from the effects of chloroform. Although the escaping prisoners had only intended to subdue the officers with the substance, the dosage Derry Gaol. used was so potent that the officers died. The death sentences were later commuted. Other prisoners, including Paddy Reilly, were transported to Peterhead prison in Scotland where he and two others died of TB.

1922: In April 1922 the new Ulster Unionist government quickly introduced the new Special Powers Act. This gave the government a number of draconian powers which it used to assert its authority within the new northern state. In May 1922 there were hopes that the Free State government would smuggle weapons into the north to assist republicans in defensive operations and to destabilise the new northern state in its infancy. The plans were later called off although there was activity in county Antrim when the countermand order was not received in time. May 1922 also saw the introduction of internment which saw the imprisonment without trial of large numbers of republicans, the majority of them on the Argenta prison ship. Of the 700 held on board, 27 were from Derry City. The Argenta Prision Ship. The fears of northern nationalists was compounded in October 1922 when the new northern government abolished PR in local elections and permitted a second gerrymander of the local government boundaries in Derry and the loss of Corporation control by the nationalist majority in the city. As 1922 wore on anti-Treaty Republicans continued with their activities throughout the country, including Derry and Donegal. On 2nd November 1922 members of an IRA unit were captured by Free State Forces at Dunlewey in north Donegal. The group included Dan Coyle, Frank Ward, Jim Lane, Sean Larkin, Charlie Daly, Dan Enright, Tim Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Sullivan and Derryman James Donaghey. The men initially believed their sentences would be for the possession of weapons. However the death of a Free State Officer at Creeslough Barracks (which was blamed by the Free State on anti-Treaty Republicans) saw four of the eight (Daly, Enright, Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Sullivan and Larkin) sentenced to death as a reprisal. They were executed in the grounds of Drumboe castle on 14th March 1923. 1924: In 1924 the Boundary Commission was finally established. Its three members included former Derry MP and TD Eoin McNeill who was now Minister

for Education in the Free State Government. The last remaining hope for nationalists in Derry, south Down, Tyrone and South Armagh was that the Commission, established to decide on the location of the new border, would exclude their areas from the new northern state. In nationalist eyes, the exclusion of these areas would mean the northern state would be too small to survive, leading to eventual reunification. 1925: When the Boundary Commission published its report in November 1925 and refused any opt-out for Derry and the other areas hoping for exclusion, northern nationalists began to realise that partition was now a reality for the entire six counties. Eoin McNeill resigned his ministerial post in protest at the findings although he later voted in favour of the proposals on 10th December when they were ratified by the Dail. It was the culmination of over a decade of political developments in Derry and across the north which had been most keenly influenced by the events that took place in Dublin and elsewhere during Easter 1916. The following section features the names and biographies of just a small selection of republicans from the city who were involved in activities during the period: Michael Sheerin: Michael Sheerin was born in Glenelly in county Tyrone but was educated in Derry at Hughes Academy whilst living at 17 Foyle Street. In 1914 he joined the Fianna before progressing to the Irish Volunteers. Due to his young age he was not involved in the Rising mobilisation. He later became a section leader in the city whose activities included the disruption of British Army recruitment meetings, intelligence gathering, burning evacuated RIC stations and the escorting of important republican figures whilst in the city. Other members of this company, under the command of Seamus Cavanagh, included Dan McGandy and Seamus McCallion. Sheerin was present in 1917 when Ernie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Malley made a visit to the city as a representative of the IRA GHQ staff. As a result the local units were reorganised and Sheerin was enlisted into the TFPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Ten Foot Pikers). By 1919 he was working at Swan Hunter shipyard on the Strand Road from where he was seconded to work in Glasgow where he continued his republican activities. On his return to Derry in spring of 1920 he discovered that the number of local volunteers had greatly reduced. In response he worked with Alfie

McCallion to recruit a group of 50 new men. These numbers were enlarged when fighting broke out in the city in June 1920, Sheerin was in charge of the men based in St Columb’s College until Paddy Shiels, who had just got out of prison, arrived to assume command. In his memoirs Sheerin also recalled that the Dean and President of St Columb’s, Father McGlinchey and Doctor McShane, were amongst the very few priests in the city who supported the republican movement. In September 1920 Sheerin was involved in the confrontation with the RIC which resulted in the military backlash that became known as the ‘Night of Terror’. By the spring of 1921 he was still active in Derry but then became involved in one of the new Donegal Flying columns alongside Charles McGuinness and others. He remained active right through to the Truce and after the Treaty became an Armaments Officer with the Free State Air Corps at Baldonnell Camp outside Dublin. Dan McGandy: Dan McGandy was a local postman from Barnwall Place off Spencer Road in the Waterside. He was also a member of the Ten Foot Pikers (the TFP’s), the IRA’s active service unit in the city. As a postman, McGandy was able to gather intelligence on republican opponents and was also able to use his postbag to transport weapons and ammunition across the city without detection. On the night of January 20th 1919 Dan McGandy was scheduled to meet other TFP members outside the Technical School (now the NW Regional College) on Strand Road from where they were to enter the nearby Craigs Foundry to take a supply of Mills Grenades being stored on the premises. After an hour of waiting for McGandy the other volunteers went home. The following morning, Dan’s coat, revolver and postbag were found on the quayside. On February 28th his body was found in the water in the Waterside area with his subsequent inquest recording an official verdict of death by drowning. Doubt was immediately cast on this verdict by local republicans. One theory was that McGandy was delayed in meeting his fellow volunteers due to his duties in the post office and proceeded to enter the Foundry by himself to take the grenades only to be discovered by troops who then proceeded to throw him in the nearby River Foyle before placing his coat, bag and weapon on the quay to create the impression he had committed suicide. Dan McGandy was given a full military funeral and is recorded as the first Derry volunteer to die on active service during the War of Independence.

Hugh Martin: Hugh Martin was one of the city’s most active volunteers. During the War of Independence he was wounded in an engagement with the Black and Tans in Carlisle Road, Derry where he got caught in a cordon and had to shoot his way out. Although the wound in his foot often gave him trouble he continued his activities in Dublin where he was arrested in October 1920. On his release in March 1921 he became involved in the unsuccessful plot to free Frank Carty (on right) from prison in Scotland. He then enlisted with Charles McGuinness’ Donegal Flying Column with whom he remained up to the 1921 Truce. He later became an officer in the Free State Army from which he eventually resigned. In one account in the Military Archives it is claimed that he later became an American journalist with a further claim that the film “Odd Man Out” is based on his activities and experiences during the War of Independence period. What is certain is that he was arrested in 1933 in Australia and charged with several armed robberies. He died in Melbourne. Michael Doherty: Although from Limewood Street in Derry most of Michael Doherty’s activities were in county Donegal between April 1920 and July 1921. In his claim for a military pension he lists his involvement in raids on Moville Barracks, the burning of Quigleys Point and Burnfoot barracks, arms raids and sniper attacks on Carndonagh barracks. Jim Taylor: Born in the Springtown area, Jim lived most of his life in the Barry Street area off the Lower Strand Road. In 1916 he joined the Fianna and later joined the ranks of the IRA. Summonsed to a house in Chamberlain Street, he was told by Peadar O’Donnell that he would be operating with a Flying Column in the Donegal area. After a period of intense activity, he returned to Derry with the intention of staying away from his home in Barry Street to avoid arrest. However, on one clandestine visit to his home he began to suffer a severe toothache and heeded

his mother’s advice to stay at home. At 5am the following morning the RIC arrived and interned him in the Curragh. Jim was released on 21st December 1921, just after the signing of the Treaty. He was later present in Newtoncunningham in May 1922 when four Free State soldiers were killed in a confrontation with the IRA. A short time later he was arrested and brought before his old commander General Sweeney who offered him the chance to join the Free State army. Jim responded that he would not bear arms against his old comrades but instead took the opportunity to join the Free State Army Engineers department where he remained for seven years before returning to civilian life. He died in 1990. Owen Callan: From Derry, he received his training in military engineering from Charlie Mawhinney. He would eventually join one of the Donegal Flying Columns that was active in 1920-21. Known as Ginger, he was continually experimenting with gadgets and explosives and at one point injured himself in a premature explosion. After the War of Independence he moved to England and made a name for himself in Constructional Engineering Circles in London. Neil Gillespie: Born in Shroove in 1889, Neil Gillespie moved to Elmwood Terrace and joined the Irish Volunteers. Heavily involved in defence of nationalist areas during the 1920 riots, he later took part in a 41 day hunger strike and was also held on board the Al Rawdah prison ship on Strangford Lough during the Second World War. Harry O’Doherty: Harry O’Doherty was born in Frederick Street on 7th December 1889. Harry joined the Irish Volunteers with his brother George and was particularly active between April and June 1920, including the defence of St Columbs College. Interned in the 1930’s, his sons were also interned in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. According to Michael Sheerin, the following men were all members of the IRA in the 1920-21 period in Derry: Alfie McCallan, Pennyburn. Dan McGandy,Waterside. Lorcan McGrath, Dublin. Subsequently wounded. Eddie Dean, Rosville Street.

Sean Haughey, Teelan. Jim Cunningham, Teelan. W. Moyne, Magazine Street. John Grant, Inishowen. Subsequently wounded. Jim Taylor, Pennyburn. Frank & Jim McCourt, Bishop Street. Patrick & John McCallan, Pennyburn. Mick Doherty, Illies. Phil O’Doherty, Lecky Road. John McDaid, Creggan Street. Jim & Leo Harkin Nelson Street. Joe McMurray Foyle Road. Dan Doherty, John Harkins South Derry. Owen Callan (Ginger) Donemanagh. Patrick Connelly, Omagh. Martin Savage, County Down. Sam Stuart, Newry. Tim Doheny (Tipperary), Tipperary. Subsequently killed in action. Jim Hinchey, Clare. Reported killed in action. John O’Hair, Creggan Street. Leo & Jim McGrory, Rosemount. Hugh Martin, Lecky Road Anton Rodgers, Bogside. William & Charles Doherty, Lecky Road. Mick & Jim Kelly, Belfast. Manus McCool, Burtenport. Austin O’Dwyer, Galway. Nick Flynn, Sligo. Charlie Cannon, Lettermacaward. Subsequently killed in action. Paddy Wynne, Mayo. Gerald & J Loughery, Moville. J. Scanlon, Glenfin. Subsequently killed in action. P. Conroy, Ballina., Co. Mayo. Nick Dawson, Mountcharles. Subsequently severely wounded. T. Murphy, Leitrim. Captured. S. Breslin, St. Columb’s Hall.

John Murphy (Spud). Cobh, Cork. Jim Walsh (Mut), Cork City. Subsequently wounded. John O’Sullivan (Jef.) Cork City. Joe & William Bradley, Bridge Street, Nick Kelly, Dollymount, Dublin. J and F McKeever, Fanad, John Sheehy, South Derry. Chris Gallagher, Donegal. William & Leo McCauley, Pennyburn Leo & Charles McGinley, Lecky Road. Charles McGill, William Street. B. McLaughlin, Waterloo Street Mick McGeehan, Raphoe. Wounded in 1920. G. Devine, Strabane. Subsequently killed in Action Frank Carney: Frank Carney was born in Enniskillen in 1896 and fought in WWI before joining the Irish Volunteers in December 1915, just weeks after he left the British Army. He was one of a group of volunteers who were due to march to Galway in Easter 1916 to collect the arms that were to be delivered by Roger Casement before his capture. During 1917 he focussed on reorganising Sinn Féin in Fermanagh. The conscription crisis saw a rejuvenation of the Irish Volunteers which Carney used to his advantage to recruit members in the same area. By 1919 he was also a member of the IRB and went to London to organise the purchase of weapons for the IRA campaign from John Smith Chartres, an Englishman who was involved in spying missions for Michael Collins and who was later a member of the Republican delegation which negotiated the Treaty. After the signing of the Treaty Carney became Chief Supplies Officer for the Free State Army but resigned when the Civil War began and joined Fianna Fail. He was elected to the Donegal constituency and remained a TD until 1932 when he died of a heart attack at the age of 36. At the time he was living at Westland Villas in Derry. His funeral in Dublin was attended by thousands before his coffin was brought to Derry for burial. Again a large cortege lined the route to the city cemetery.

Charles ‘Seaman’ McGuinness: Charles ‘Seaman’ or ‘Nomad’ McGuinness was born in the Rosemount area of Derry. During his teenage years he worked as a sailor before returning to Derry in June 1920 as the serious violence in the city was reaching its peak. His involvement in the defence of nationalist areas during this period saw him eventually joining the Volunteers and commanding a Flying Column operating in an area of Donegal between Glenties, Ardara, Glendoran, and the Poisoned Glen. In 1921 he was recalled to Derry to assist in the escape of Sligo IRA commander Frank Carty from Derry Gaol on Bishop Street. Although the initial escape attempt was aborted, McGuinness and others returned a few weeks later to help Carty escape his captors and make his way by coal boat to Glasgow. McGuinness then returned to action in west Donegal before being sent to Glasgow. This time he was tasked with another rescue attempt for Frank Carty who had been caught there and was being shipped to Derry to be executed. Due to conflicting ideas about how the escape should be affected McGuinness played no part in the operation which was ultimately unsuccessful. Carty was resultantly transported to Death Row in Mountjoy Prison; his life was only saved by the announcement of a truce between the IRA and the British in the summer of 1921. On his third stint in west Donegal McGuinness was involved in a campaign to force local landlords and businessmen to use Irish banks for their transactions instead of British financial institutions. He was eventually captured by the British Army following a gun battle near Ardara before being moved to Ebrington Barracks. He escaped from Ebrington with the help of local Cumann na mBan members Miss McGuinness and Ms Doherty who smuggled hacksaw blades into the barracks inside a cake. His next assignment was an attempt to smuggle arms into Ireland from Germany by boat. Although these missions were successful, the outbreak of the Civil War saw him move to New York. Officially, McGuinness drowned in 1947 as a crew member of a ship which went down off the coast of Wexford.

Dominic Doherty: Dominic Doherty lived at 63B Great James Street in Derry. Active in the Fianna from 1910, he was a member of the Irish Volunteers from 1914. When the Easter Rising took place, he was not involved in the mobilisation in Derry as he had not received notification. Nevertheless he continued to drill with the Volunteers after the Rising. His first major operations were raids on Income Tax offices and the homes of retired British Army Officers in search of arms. However it was the events of the spring of 1920 which saw his activities reach a new level. That June, in the midst of heavy fighting in the city which had seen a number of nationalists and unionists killed, he was one a number of republican volunteers who defended St Columbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College against loyalist attack for a full week as firing raged across the Bishop Street and Fountain areas. He was then involved in the first abortive attempt to spring Frank Carty from Derry Gaol (alongside Joseph Sheehy, Charles McGuinness and Bernard Doherty) in January 1921. A few weeks later, he took part in the second successful attempt to liberate Carty which involved the use of a house in Harding Street owned by the Heaney family. In April 1921, alongside Jim Taylor, he was involved in a major attack on Strand Road military base. Soon afterwards, he joined a Flying Column which was involved in a number of confrontations with the RIC, Black and Tans and British Military under the command of Charles McGuinness. After his capture by troops near Dunlewey he was held at Ebrington Barracks where he helped in the escape of Charles McGuinness. He was later transferred to Ballykinlar Barracks in county Down. During his time there he witnessed the killing of Volunteer Tadhg Barry and was a member of the guard of Honour when Barryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body was being removed for burial in Cork. Doherty was finally released after the general armistice and returned to civilian life. Seamus McCann: Seamus McCann joined the Derry Volunteers in 1918. Following several years of training he became active in 1920 and was involved in the burning of Carrigans RIC barracks with Hugh Morrison (killed in 1922), William Mayne and John McShane. During the June 1920 riots he was involved in the transport of weapons

(commandeered from Redmondite forces) from Scalp Mountain to St Columb’s College. He was also involved in the attack on the RIC guard outside the Customs House in November 1920 (with Michael Sheerin, Alfie McCallion and James Molloy) which led to the Crown Forces reprisals known as ‘The Night of Terror’. He then joined Peadar O’Donnell’s Flying column and was involved in numerous operations including the attack on the troop train at Meenabad in January 1921, a similar attack on a troop train at Crolly, and an attack on Falcarragh Barracks in March 1921 before returning to Derry. In April 1921 he was involved in the killing of RIC Sergeant Higgins at the junction of Great James Street and Windsor Terrace which saw him go back on the run to Donegal. In May 1921 he was involved in attacks on Glenties barracks and an operation to move Peadar O’Donnell across Donegal to evade arrest by British forces. O’Donnell had been injured with Con O’Boyle in Glendowen and was lucky to escape the raids which lasted a full week. He was then involved in training new IRA recruits in Donegal until the truce came into effect in July 1921. Alfie McCallion: From the Pennyburn area, Alfie McCallion was an IRB member who was also a member of the local Active Service Unit known as the TFP’s. He was involved in the defence of St Columb’s College in June 1920 with Michael Sheerin and others and was also involved in the armed confrontation in November 1920 which saw five RIC men injured and subsequent reprisals which became known as the ‘Night of Terror’. Following the War of Independence he became Waterworks Superintendent for Detroit and a personality in American politics. Charles Mawhinney: From 33 Westland Street, Charles was a Protestant IRA man who taught engineering at Magee College and Derry Technical College. Before being interned he had been OC of the Derry IRA Engineering unit and was temporarily seconded as OC of the Derry Brigade when Paddy Shiels was working as Divisional Intelligence Officer. Arrested in the ‘swoop’ on the Erin Hall, while interned on the Argenta he became the ship’s OC. He was then transferred to Derry jail and was promised a position with the Department of Agriculture if he agreed to leave for the Free State and renounce the IRA. He refused, and, despite being in bad health saw internment through until being released on December 15, 1924. He subsequently married the famous Republican nurse Linda Kearns.

Dan Black: Dan Black was born in Elmwood Street in 1899. A merchant seaman and docker by trade, after a period in Fianna Eireann he joined the IRA in 1919 in Greenock in Scotland. In May 1920 he returned to Derry and became a section commander in C Company of the Derry Volunteers. Active in the upheavals of June 1920, he continued his activities in 1921 and was involved in smuggling weapons out of Ebrington Barracks. He was also involved in transporting arms from the IRA HQ at Shamrock Hall to Ballymagroarty which was used as an arms dump at the time. In April 1921 he was involved in attacks on barracks in Lecky road and at the Great Northern Railway Goods Depot which saw the death of two policemen and the injury of a sergeant in the B-Specials. After the signing of the Treaty he sided with the Republican forces and was active in Donegal, West Tyrone and county Offaly. At one stage he was captured but escaped from the Free State forces. He went on to become a captain before returning to civilian life. When the Civil War ended – Dan Black died in 1961 at his family’s holiday home in Quigley’s Point. He is buried in the City Cemetery. Hugh Gallagher Hugh Gallagher, an anti-treaty Republican from Derry, was shot while trying to escape from Drumboe Castle in December 1922. His brother John was also killed by loyalists in Bishop Street in June 1920. Further information on Hugh is scarce, save these details, which appear on his headstone in the city cemetery: Plot Number: MD1103 Proprietor: Hugh Gallagher, 8 Pennyburn Cottages 1. John Gallagher, 18 years, 8 Pennyburn Cottages Died: 21/6/1920 Parents: Hugh and Mary Gallagher 2. Mary Gallagher, 42 years, 8 Pennyburn Cottages Died: 1/9/1922 Parents: Stephen and Margaret Harper 3. Hugh Gallagher, 21 years, 8 Pennyburn Cottages Died: 12/12/1922 Parents: Hugh and Mary Gallagher 4. Hugh Gallagher, 71 years, 8 Pennyburn Cottages Died: 6/8/1940 arent: Hugh and Mary Gallagher

Hugh Morrison and the Battles at Skeog: In the early hours of Friday 7 July 1922, a party of IRA men was attempting to abandon their besieged fort at Inch Island to make their way to Glenveagh Castle. They were travelling in a car and crossed an embankment roadway from Inch Island to the mainland. Free State troops observed them and called on them to halt, which they ignored. The troops then opened fire on the car, causing it to crash into a bridge. The four IRA men, two of whom were injured, were arrested. The car was searched and four large bombs, five revolvers, two Mauser rifles and ammunition were found. The focus of the Free State troopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; attention then turned to an area known as Skeog, on the boundary between Donegal and Derry. At approximately 4 p.m. on Friday large numbers of Free State troops arrived in the Skeog area from Buncrana and Newtowncunningham. Skeog House and a number of farmhouses nearby were surrounded. The officer in charge of the Free State forces sent a courier under a white flag with a note requesting the surrender of the IRA garrison, with a time limit before fire would be opened. The reply received from the IRA OC, George McCallion, was: In receipt of your demand to surrender barracks to your men. I wish to inform you that, as soldiers of Ireland and the Irish Republic, we will defend the barracks and the cause for which we stand till the last. Signed: George McCallion. As the battle of Skeog was taking place, twenty-five fully armed men were successfully withdrawn from Inch fort by motorboat. However, on their arrival at Ramelton they heard of the battle taking place at Skeog and ignoring orders to continue to Glenveagh Castle, returned to Inch Island in anticipation of an attack there. A member of the IRA, Hugh Morrison from Creggan Road, Derry, who had been seriously wounded during the battle at Skeog, died the following week at the county Hospital, Lifford. Morrison had been part of the IRA garrison in occupation at Skeog House and was handling a bomb when it exploded.

Cumann na mBan members active during the period: Lissie Logue. Mary McCormick. Mary McGlinchey. Bridie McCarron. Mary Doherty. Kathleen McGuinness. Nora McGuinness. Minnie McDaid: Minnie McDaid was born near Ballymagorry outside Strabane in Co. Tyrone in 1880. Her mother Annie was widowed and in the 1880s the family moved to Beltony outside Raphoe where they ran a scutch mill. In the census returns of the time she is described as a flax scutcher. During the June 1920 riots in Derry, Kenneth Austin (married to Minnies cousin Sarah) was shot in Bond’s Street. This led to her involvement in the smuggling of weapons into the city for the Republican movement. Her two brothers James and John also became republican volunteers at the time and their names are recorded in the Military Archives. Her modus operandi was the funeral cortege. Though she never married she would often pose as a widow accompanying her fictitious husband’s coffin into the city for burial. In reality the coffin would be carrying weapons for use by volunteers in the defence of nationalist areas. She reputedly had any number of different outfits to wear and was unfazed at military checkpoints as she accompanied the coffin to its non-existent place of burial. Amongst the weapons was a machine gun which was used in the defence St Columb’s College by local volunteers in June 1920. As soon as Nationalists began to retaliate the British army began to raid areas looking for their weaponry. At that time members of Minnies extended family, the Pattons, were living on a small farm in the townland of Managhmore not far from Drumahoe. Its location in a predominantly Unionist area on the outskirts of Derry meant it was less prone to raids by the military and saw it used regularly for the storage and transportation of weapons into Derry during the 1920-21 period.

The McDaids suffered financially after partition due to Minnies anti-Treaty stance which also saw many of her unionist neighbours refuse to deal with her family’s farming business. It is unclear whether she was granted a pension by the Free State government or whether she refused one. In the early 1970’s Minnie was in Lifford hospital when relatives called to see her. When one relative remarked that ‘it was terrible that the young people in Derry were throwing stones at the police and army’, Minnie is said to have replied ‘Yes it is terrible – it’s bullets that they need’. This remark was typical of her rebellious nature which she held to the end. She died on 5th June 1977 at the age of 87 and was buried at Beltony near Raphoe. Margaret McAnaney: Margaret McAnaney was the daughter of city councillor Robert McAnaney. She died on May 31st 1922 at Burnfoot in an incident involving the accidental discharge of a weapon. According to the account given at the official inquest by her friend Maggie Canning, Margaret called to Maggie’s house in Derry at 9.30am in the morning from where they left with five other girls to travel to Inch Island for a picnic. On the way the girls took a lift on a Fergusons Motor Lorry as it drove through Bridgend. The lorry was then stopped at an IRA checkpoint near the manse at Burnfoot. As they waited for the lorry to be given permission to move off again, Maggie and Margaret chatted to the IRA sentry who they both knew well. According to Maggie, the sentry put the butt of his rifle to the ground as he chatted to the girls before the lorry driver told everyone to sit down again as they were about to continue their journey. As they did so a shot rang out and Margaret fell to the floor, fatally injured by a bullet accidentally discharged from the sentry’s weapon. The IRA officer at the inquest offered sympathy and made the offer that the sentry could be brought to the inquest for questioning if required. The inquest chair deemed this unnecessary and a verdict of accidental death was recorded. It was undoubtedly one of the most tragic cases of the War of Independence/Civil War period. The names of numerous other republican activists appear in various military and civilian archives from the period. They include: James McBride Neill McDermott

Nellie McLaughlin Henry Moore, Michael McMenamin Joseph Mahon James Lynch Leo Burke Joe Logue John McGilligan. Desmond Green, College Terrace John McDaid, 8 Tyrconnell Street John Doherty, 29 Deanery St Daniel McCallion, Lone Moor Road Edward Mooney, 34 Nassau Street James McCarron, 13 Hoggs Folly James Friel, 71 Lecky Road Ben Palmer, 17 High Street William Porter, 226 Lecky Road Edward McMonagle, Daisy Hill Cottages, Culmore Road Thomas Reilly, 37 Creggan Road James McGuinness, 3 Osborne Street William Millar, 40 Nelson St William Campbell, 1 Clifton St, Waterside Patrick Kelly, 45 Duke Street George Sheerin, 8 Quarry Street John Houston, 24 Windmill Terrace Robert McCafferty, 58 Strabane Old Road Thomas Lynch, 15 Hamilton St Edward Duffy, 36 Argyle Street Patrick Lynch, 1 Sloans Terrace Henry McElhinny, 20 Phillip Street Francis Donaghy, 25 Eglinton Place Richard Bradley, 9 Harvey Street Robert McFeely, 68 Bridge Street Daniel O’Donnell, 72 William Street Edward Molloy, 6 New St, The Collon William Duddy, 5 Eglinton Place James O’Neill, 32 Nailors Row

Michael Quigley, Glen Road Daniel O’Brien, 9 Glasgow Terrace Charles Morrison: Killed in an accidental explosion at Glebe House in Burt in 1921 According to Michael Sheerin, the following men were all members of the IRA in the 1920-21 period in Derry: Alfie McCallan, Pennyburn. Dan McGandy,Waterside. Lorcan McGrath, Dublin. Subsequently wounded. Eddie Dean, Rosville Street. Sean Haughey, Teelan. Jim Cunningham, Teelan. W. Moyne, Magazine Street. John Grant, Inishowen. Subsequently wounded. Jim Taylor, Pennyburn. Frank & Jim McCourt, Bishop Street. Patrick & John McCallan, Pennyburn. Mick Doherty, Illies. Phil O’Doherty, Lecky Road. John McDaid, Creggan Street. Jim & Leo Harkin Nelson Street. Joe McMurray Foyle Road. Dan Doherty, John Harkins South Derry. Owen Callan (Ginger) Donemanagh. Patrick Connelly, Omagh. Martin Savage, County Down. Sam Stuart, Newry. Tim Doheny (Tipperary), Tipperary. Subsequently killed in action. Jim Hinchey, Clare. Reported killed in action. John O’Hair, Creggan Street. Leo & Jim McGrory, Rosemount. Hugh Martin, Lecky Road Anton Rodgers, Bogside. William & Charles Doherty, Lecky Road. Mick & Jim Kelly, Belfast.

Manus McCool, Burtenport. Austin O’Dwyer, Galway. Nick Flynn, Sligo. Charlie Cannon, Lettermacaward. Subsequently killed in action. Paddy Wynne, Mayo. Gerald & J Loughery, Moville. J. Scanlon, Glenfin. Subsequently killed in action. P. Conroy, Ballina., Co. Mayo. Nick Dawson, Mountcharles. Subsequently severely wounded. T. Murphy, Leitrim. Captured. S. Breslin, St. Columb’s Hall. John Murphy (Spud). Cobh, Cork. Jim Walsh (Mut), Cork City. Subsequently wounded. John O’Sullivan (Jef.) Cork City. Joe & William Bradley, Bridge Street, Nick Kelly, Dollymount, Dublin. J and F McKeever, Fanad, John Sheehy, South Derry. Chris Gallagher, Donegal. William & Leo McCauley, Pennyburn Leo & Charles McGinley, Lecky Road. Charles McGill, William Street. B. McLaughlin, Waterloo Street Mick McGeehan, Raphoe. Wounded in 1920. G. Devine, Strabane. Subsequently killed in Action Argenta prisoners: Below is a list of republican internees held on the Argenta following the introduction of internment in May 1922. Many of them were held following a raid on the Erin Hall. Bishop Street/Bogside: Charles Mawhinney, 33 Westland Street. John Adams, 45 Francis Street. Held until January 1924. At one stage he was offered but refused release on payment of a £10 bail. Like many internees he refused the offer as a matter of principle. Robert McAnaney, 245 Bishop Street.

Liam Brady, 12 Waterloo Street. Held until 1924. John Burke, 107 St Columbs Wells. Michael Shiels, 10 Nailors Row. William Cullen, Lecky Road. Michael Devlin, Walkers Place. Seamus Cavanagh, Alexander Place. John Farren, Boyle Street. Arthur Patrick Friel, Nelson St. James Gallagher, 8 Deanery Place. Held until January 1924. James was a former member of the Corporation and later became the Catholic Electoral Registration Officer in Derry. Patrick Leonard John Gibbons, 47 Bridge Street. James Harkin, St Columbs Wells. William Harley, 3 Carlisle Place. Released in 1924 The three Mackey Brothers, Fosters Terrace. James Moore, 37 Nelson Street. John Frank McLaughlin, Waterloo Place. Held until June 1924. Thomas Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hara, Bishop Street. Rosemount: James A Campbell, 2 De Burgh Terrace. Released on May 23rd 1922 but rearrested June 19th 1922. James Horner, 5 Mountjoy Terrace. James also took part in the Argenta Hunger Strike. Caldwell Hyndman, 30 Philip Street. Caldwell had charge of the prison chapel and was later held in Larne Camp. John Mullan, 16 Argyle Terrace. Waterside: Paddy Moore. A member of Charles McGuinness flying column. James Callaghan, 48 Fountain Hill. James took part in a Hunger Strike on the ship. He is buried in St Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graveyard Ardmore. James McCafferty, 2 Strabane Old Road. James also took part in the Hunger Strike on board the Argenta. Hugh Kelly, 67 Fountain Hill. Held until 1923 and likely buried in Ardmore cemetery.

As well as the involvement of republicans in local events, some Derry men were also involved in activities in other parts of the country. One of them was Edmund ‘Ned’ Breslin. Ned Breslin: Ned Breslin was born in Long Tower Street in 1898. It is unclear when he went to Dublin but it is certain that he ended up in the ranks of the IRA and rose to become a member of Michael Collins famous ‘Squad’, an undercover Intelligence Unit who targeted British agents during the War of Independence. A close comrade of Tom Flood, he was also involved in the burning of the Custom House in 1921 and was arrested after a bullet was found in the lining of his jacket. Although most of those arrested at the scene were taken to Kilmainham prison, Breslin was taken to Mountjoy where he was severely beaten before being sentenced to death. Ned’s life was saved by the signing of the Treaty, which included an agreement that no more prisoners would be executed. Breslin remained loyal to Michael Collins when the Civil War broke out and quickly rose to command level in the new Free State Army. In 1923 he was transferred to Kerry alongside Paddy O’Daly and other Free State forces from Dublin. Following a landmine attack by Republicanswhich Four Courts and Custom House were seriously damaged during the War of Independence.

Ned was loyal to Michael Collins.

killed five Free State soldiers, Paddy O’Daly issued an order that any further landmines which were discovered were to be moved to safety by Republican prisoners. The following night a number of prisoners, under the custody of Ned Breslin, were brought to Ballyseedy in county Kerry to move a mine. Whilst the official Free State government version states that the mine exploded whilst the prisoners were moving it, another version claims that the men were deliberately tied together before the mine exploded in front of them. Ned Breslin and another Free State army captain were also injured which saw his name forever associated with the events at Ballyseedy. Breslin was also involved in the Free State Army mutiny in 1923. The mutiny centred around a plan by WT Cosgrave to downsize the Free State forces and his refusal to follow plans originally drawn up by Michael Collins before his death to arm and train northern battalions of the IRA to make the new northern state ungovernable. After a tense stand off at a Dublin barracks which had been taken over by the faction who were opposed to downsizing, it was decided that Breslin and other senior Free State forces figures would resign en masse rather than implement Cosgraves policies. In 1940 Breslin was recommissioned into the Free State Army during the ‘Emergency’. He died in 1959 and is buried in Ballygriffin cemetery in Dublin.

Personal Accounts

The Coyle Family Ginnie Coyle is the daughter of John Cahir O’Doherty. In this interview, alongside her niece Eileen, she recalls the many stories of the Easter Rising and Tan War period told to her by her father: “I suppose the worst thing was that I didn’t listen more to my father’s stories as I was growing up. I remember walking up Lone Moor Road to his wake with Johnny Coyle who was also heavily involved back then. Johnny said ‘You should have recorded your father’ but you don’t think like that when you’re younger”. “He told me loads of stories. One day he told us how as a young member of the Fianna (the junior wing of the republican movement) was told to go to a house in Fahan in county Donegal to get a safe house ready for two IRB men who were coming up from either Belfast or Dublin. They did just that, and met the two men when they arrived to get acquainted with them. It seems the plan was to meet a ship that was to bring guns into Lough Swilly, pay the boys on the ship for the weapons and then get them into the house – ready for distribution. The ship in question did appear but couldn’t dock for some reason. Afterwards our John came home with his Fianna comrades according to orders and thought nothing more about the event. Then a few days later the local IRB contacted them to ask what had happened in Fahan. John Cahir didn’t know what they were talking about but was told to go back down to the house in Fahan with the others. “When they arrived there was a really bad smell in the house coming from the flagstones on the floor. Underneath they found two bodies which must have been the two men they’d been sent to look after. From what we can gather, the boat with the guns must have finally arrived and must have met with the IRB men. The boys on the boat must have killed the two IRB men once they handed over the money and then left the country with the guns. There’s also the possibility that the guns were being smuggled out of Dunree fort by British soldiers based there at the time and maybe their superiors found out about it and arranged a sting to get the IRB men from down south killed – we would love to find out more”. Whilst the above event took place around the Rising period, John Cahir was also active during the War of Independence or ‘Tan War’.

“At one point he was acting as a look out down at Barnesmore Gap near Donegal Town. There was a pub called Biddies of the Gap and Biddie herself used to bring the men out food to keep them going when they had a terrible hunger. She was very kind to them. During the same period there was a one-armed major based in Derry who was a terror. Because my father was an only son he would try to call to my grandmother’s house as often as he could even when he was on the run. One day when he arrived he saw soldiers in the house who were asking where he was. The major was with them. My father started to crawl around the floor and even untied the major’s laces. He was trying to create the impression that he had mental health issues and couldn’t be the same person the soldiers were looking for. My mother turned to the major and said ‘Do you not think I’ve enough problems looking after this ‘buck eejit’ here without you looking for my other son!’. The soldiers fell for the trick hook line and sinker and left the house – a lucky escape definitely!” “There was a lot of fear in the town during the Tan War. Around the 1920 period there was a 10pm curfew in place. A neighbour called wee Johnny Clifford was getting nervous because his mother had gone out visiting a neighbour and still hadn’t returned even though it was approaching 10pm. He went out into the back lane, to try to find her, and was shot. There was a great fear of the military in general. I remember my father telling me about a pregnant woman standing at her door in Anne Street and being told to get inside by a soldier or else he would put a bayonet into her”. At this point Ginnies son Luke mentioned the fact that his grandfather had been awarded a medal to mark his involvement in the Tan War, a separate medal in the 1960’s known as the survivors medal and also a document informing him that he had been awarded a bungalow in county Donegal in recognition of his services during the Tan War. All of these are kept in a frame which has pride of place in the Coyle household. Sitting next to Ginnie, Eileen and Luke (during this conversation) was Cathal Fox (pictired on right). His own grandfather, John Fox, was also deeply involved in the Rising and Tan War period. John Fox was also very close to John Cahir O’Doherty: “John Cahir O’Doherty was actually my wife’s grandfather. We had a shop in the Bogside and most days he would have come in and told us stories and

the activities he and my grandfather were involved in during that period. “Just like Ginnie, I remember him telling me how he and a friend were doing look out at Barnesmore Gap. As well as getting fed by Biddie of the Gap, they were also helped by a local farmer. This farmer had a wee farm and kept mainly hens. Unusually he had a motorbike which had a little box attached to it which he used to transport the eggs. Unknown to the British Army he also had a secret compartment inside the box in which he was able to smuggle handguns such as Simth & Westons and Webleys. He would regularly go back and forward into Derry with the excuse that he was selling his eggs but was able to ferry the guns to the Derry IRA at the same time. “My grandfather (john fox) got involved with republicanism at a young age and according to the family his father was also involved in the 19th century. He was involved for years before the Easter Rising. We know he was a quartermaster in Dublin and was once arrested with Sean McDermott and Liam Mellows in a building in D’Olier Street in Dublin. He was at O’Donovan Rossas funeral in 1915 when Patrick Pearse made his famous speech at the graveside. Only about 200 people who had been heavily involved were allowed inside the cordon beside his grave. My father was one of a number of Derry men at the graveside, including Paddy Hegarty and Eamonn McDermott. The famous photograph of the funeral was found underneath floorboards in a house. We reckon it was originally taken by the RIC who were trying to identify the IRB members at the time. He was actually around 40 years old when the photo was taken. Old Garret Fitzgerald the professor told us that during the IRB period he and my grandfather recruited the entire membership along the east coast from Dublin to Cork, including men like Michael Collins. “A week after the Rising he was arrested with a group of other men and taken to Frongoch camp in Wales. As they were being brough to the boat some of the Dubliners were throwing pennies at them as they didn’t agree with the Rising. That all changed once the leaders were executed. He was a founder member of the IRA with Michael Collins when he got out of Frongoch and agreed with the decision to move to guerrilla warfare. “When he came back to Derry he was always a marked man. I remember being told a story by Marky Toland’s uncle who was a milkman. He was doing his rounds one day when he discovered a bomb at John’s door. He knocked him up and John defused the bomb himself at the front door. On another occasion the one-armed major we were talking about earlier came looking for him. He made a family stand outside their door in Howard Street and said that if John

Fox didn’t make an appearance then he would execute the family. My grandfather eventually did appear and was arrested but at least it saved the family’s life. I heard the same major actually did kill a family in Belfast later on. “The Tans caused all sorts of grief at the time. One little known fact is that there were fifteen Derry men in the Tans and 200 Irish members in total. The founder of William Hill bookmakers was a member and ended up on the IRA wanted list for his actions. Another man was said to have murdered a pregnant woman in Cork and was later based in Derry as well. The IRA were said to have executed him in Dublin stepping off a train. “My grandfather was in countless prisons over the years: Brixton, Wandsworth, Derry Gaol and twice in the Curragh where he went on Hunger Strike in protest against the Treaty being signed. That led to him being refused his IRA pension; I still have the letters in the house written by T.D.’s protesting that decision. When he finally did get the pension he was told to half it with another IRA man. “He also lost a couple of houses over the years due to his involvement. Our uncle Sean used to complain about him saying ‘Do you know what your granny had to put up with walking the streets barefooted with six children due to your granda being involved?’ “He was also ex-communicated twice from the catholic church who at one point were very cosy to the IRA but then disassociated themselves from them. At one stage he was getting sent Christmas cards by Bishop Farren. He would throw them in the bin and say ‘Ill not take anything from old rosy cheeks!’ “In the end he was very embittered against the Free State government. When De Valera came to visit Derry my grandfather was working in England. A cousin of mine called Frankie Ramsey went to see De Valera and my grandfather sent a message over saying that Frankie must have been losing his senses to do so. “I remember being at an event in the 1960’s and seeing well known figures such as Sean Keenan and Neil Gillespie. In fact it was a who’s who of the republican movement in Derry before the split in 1969. During the event the older IRA members who had their medals on display from the Rising and Tan War were handing over flags to the younger members. It really showed the esteem the older men were held in. And I’m proud to say my grandfather was one of those men.”

Marion Melaugh “My name is Marion Melaugh. I am the niece of Dan McGandy, the first IRA volunteer to die in Ireland during the War of Independence. “The name McGandy is actually from Cork. Dan’s father came from Cork to a hiring fair in Derry where he was hired out to work in Prehen House as a stable boy. He eventually married a girl who’s surname was Boyle and we think they lived in Lecky Road before moving to Barnewall Place. Our grandfather then got work on a steamer called the ‘Roe’ through his uncle who worked on the ferries as well. I actually have an article from 1914 reporting that our grandfather had pulled a man called Wilson to safety from the river Foyle. Its ironic that he lost his own son in the same river five years later. “Dan was the second child in a family of seven. There was James, his older brother, followed by Dan, Margaret Mary, Willie, Hugh and then my mother who was the youngest. “James had joined the British Army in 1914 and fought in the war. When he returned he managed a shirt factory and married a local girl called Cissie. Times were tough so James emigrated to America looking for work. He and Cissie ended up in the Bronx in New York and had a son who was also called Dan. They kept in contact with the rest of the family for a while but eventually lost touch. In fact we still have photographs of their son Dan as a young boy which they had sent over. I assume he had a family as well so if there are any McGandy’s reading this in America we would love to hear from you – its such an unusual name we must be related! We also know that his younger brother Willie ended up as an engineer in the post office and was posted to Enniskillen where he got married and started a new life. We know there are still McGandys there today who are connected to us as well. James’ departure left Dan, as the eldest, to help his parents to raise the other children. Obviously that meant that he had to find work. In 1915 he had become a messenger boy in the Derry post office then later became a postman. Secretly, he had also become a member of the ‘Ten Foot Pikers’, an elite IRA unit. His role in the post office meant he could gather intelligence and also smuggle weaponry around the town in his post bag with little chance of detection.

He went missing on the night of January 20th 1919. The police called to our grandmothers door to say that his topcoat, postbag and revolver had been found at the edge of the river Foyle near where Quaywest restaurant would be today and that he had probably gone into the river himself and drowned. My mother didn’t believe that story for two reasons. Firstly, Dan was a very strong swimmer and secondly she knew that his disposition and approach to life meant that suicide was extremely unlikely. The family believe he was in fact murdered. Our reasoning is based on accounts given by other volunteers in the city of the events which led up to his disappearance. That day he had been scheduled to meet other IRA men outside the Technical College (now the North West Regional College) on the Strand Road. From there they were supposed to go to to the nearby Craigs Foundry to steal Mills Grenades. When the other men turned up at the Technical College Dan was nowhere to be seen. They waited around for a while and when he didn’t appear they went their separate ways. Those same men later wrote that they thought that Dan had gone to the Foundry by himself to try to get hold of the grenades and was intercepted by members of the British Army. They believe that Dan was beaten and eventually thrown into the river Foyle and then his coat, gun and bag were left at the side of the Foyle to make it appear to have been suicide. His body was then discovered on the 20th February 1919. He was only 19 years old. Our belief that he was murdered is reinforced when you read the report from the inquest into his death which mentions marks being on his body which suggest he had been hit by something. These marks were never explained properly by the police who gave evidence; otherwise they would have been admitting his death was suspicious. His death had a devastating effect on my grandmother. She had been really proud of him getting a job in the post office. He was always very studious and generous and was probably the main breadwinner in the house. When he went missing she was out every night looking for him until he was found. His body was in such a bad state they had to keep the coffin closed during the wake which meant she never got to see him before he was buried. As far as we know she didn’t know he had been involved in the IRA which made it even more difficult for her to accept his death. She had a breakdown afterwards and even used to go over to the police barracks to see if they knew where he was. That also had a knock on effect on my mother and her siblings as effectively it meant that they had lost their mother as well.

He disappeared on the 20th January and the first action of the Tan War took place in Tipperary the next day. That means we can say with confidence that he was the first IRA volunteer to die during the War of Independence. When she was alive, our mother didn’t really express any great wish that his death was marked publicly. She was also probably wary during the Troubles that showing those types of opinions could see your house raided. Nevertheless I think she was very proud of him and maybe would have liked his contribution to be recognised. We aren’t even sure which cemetery he was buried in. We know his sister Margaret Mary, who died aged just 22, is buried in Enagh Cemetery but we aren’t sure ourselves whether Dan is there as well. We would love to find out so we can visit and pay our respects’. After the interview with Marion, we did some research through Derry & Strabane Councils’ Cemeteries Department and discovered that Dan was actually buried in the City Cemetery in Creggan. As a result, we were able to bring Marion and her family to Dans grave and also to the new plaque which was unveiled by Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness outside Annies Bar in Gobnascale, not far from Barnewall Place where Dan was raised. The images of these emotional visits are pictured below and marked some further closure for the family of the first IRA volunteer to die during the War of Independence.

JAMES MULLAN The story of James Mullan encapsulates the complexities of the 1916 period and its aftermath. James and his brother Joseph both enlisted with the British Army in the belief that they were going to France to fight for small nations like Belgium to be free from German Imperialism and that as a consequence Irelands demand for Home Rule would finally be met by the British Government. The reality for James was very different. He fell at the Somme whilst Joseph was also injured. The impact on Joseph was profound. His feelings of anger and betrayal at the British saw him go on to fight for the IRA during the War of Independence. In this article his grandson Jim talks about both men: “My grandfather was one of the lucky ones who was injured at the Somme but lived to tell the tale. Both he and his brother were raised in Ramelton but as far as I know his family came to Derry to look for work. My father James and his brother Joseph joined the British Army in Derry on the assumption that fighting for the British Army against the Germans would be rewarded with Home Rule for Ireland. There is a notion that both of them lied about their age to allow them to join up which shows just how determined they were to get Home Rule for the country. “What we know for certain is that when they went to the front at the Somme but only one of them came back. My uncle Joseph was killed but my father survived and was eventually promoted to the rank of sergeant. He was hit in the leg and when he went for the x-ray he could see the bullet was still lodged. It never really bothered him so he let it stay in his leg until he died. The fact that he was injured and saw his brother killed left him very angry, especially given the fact that both their sacrifices and those of others were not rewarded with Home Rule. He was later based in Belgium and Egypt but remained bitter against the British government. He eventually got released from the army due to his leg injury. “When he came home we believe he got involved with the local republican movement which probably wasn’t a surprise. His military experience would have been crucial. We know that he was involved in the defence of Bishop Street and St Columbs college in 1920 during the major conflict that was taking place

between republicans, loyalists and the British Army at the time. When he arrived at the Christian Brothers School, behind the college, he was told by the OC of the IRA, Patrick Shiels, to take his pick of the guns that had been lined up against the wall. He then got involved in sniper duties with others which prevented the college from being destroyed. “We know that he eventually got involved in local business after the War of Independence and opened a pub called the Waterloo Bar which stood where the Rocking Chair bar stands today. At the time a lot of people were illiterate and needed help filling in forms to claim their benefits. My father would help them and in exchange they would buy a drink. “There’s an interesting twist to the story as well. During World War II the British Army approached him and asked him to join up again. Obviously my father was disgusted but at the same time he needed to come up with a valid excuse why he couldn’t re-enlist. His solution was to eat a full five pack of Woodbine cigarettes before he went for his medical in Ebrington Barracks. The doctor told him he wasn’t fit to fight which was a massive relief to him! “I know of these facts because I had to interview him for a project when I was at school. I wish I had asked him more questions but I know that the memory of his brother does survive with his name on the War Memorial in the Diamond. His experience at the Somme wasn’t unique but it certainly coloured his views towards the British government so its no surprise that he fought back when he got back home”.

Michael Gillespie Michael Gillespie is from Lisfannon Park in the Bogside. Like many others in Derry, he can point to family connections with both the First World War and the War of Independence. His story begins with his aunt’s husband: “My aunt’s husband, John Smith, came from Patrick Street in Derry. His mother was called Nellie and he had a brother called Charlie but we have no knowledge of the rest of his family. He was married to my aunt Rose who also had four brothers in the same regiment though we aren’t sure whether they fought alongside John. John’s brother, Charlie, also fought in the war. We know he hadn’t been married long when he went to the front. “We had been told his name was inscribed on the Diamond War Memorial. Although we couldn’t find it initially we were certainly aware that he had died in WWI as we had the documents to prove it. When we were moving from Lecky Road to Lisfannon Park we actually came across both the paperwork and the medals he had been awarded. He had joined the 3rd Inniskilling Fusiliers reserves during the war and trained at their base in Clonmany before going to fight in France. “We know that when he was moved to the frontline his entire regiment was promoted from 3rd reserve to 1st reserve, such were the losses being incurred. He went onto the frontline in September 1917 and ended up serving 205 days in a row which was one of the longest continuous periods in the trenches. Whilst he was in the trenches, he was promoted to Lance Corporal then to Corporal and then to Sergeant. In early May 1918 he went over the top and was hit by a mortar shell. When the battle was over German medical corps picked him up and he was treated at their hospital before he was moved to a POW camp in north eastern France. Thats where he died and he was buried at Chambieres cemetery near Metz. “We have his grave reference and a photo of the grave which was given to us by Trevor Temple from the Diamond War Memorial Project. I definitely would like to get there someday to pay my respects. “Amongst the items we also have is a letter from Red Cross in Dublin informing my aunt that he had been injured and a letter from the king of England’s secretary.

The document that really excited the Royal British Legion, who were shown his records, was a letter from the Offices of the Secretary of State for War dated 7th April 1918 stated that Field Marshal Douglas Haig had mentioned him in dispatches for bravery which was why he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. We also have a silk handkerchief inscribed ‘Royal Sussex regiment’ which we assume was given to him by a fellow soldier on the front. In addition we have his war medals which state his regimental number 3880 and a letter from Major J Wood conferring him with the 1415 star. Overall, the documents are in very good condition and are clear evidence of the role he played in the First World War.” Whilst John Smith was only involved in the fighting in Europe at the time, his mothers own brothers, who had also fought on the front, were destined to come back to Ireland and play a significant role in the conflict engulfing Ireland in the same period: “After they fought in Europe my mothers brothers ended up being stationed in Egypt before they came home to Ireland. We know one of them joined the Free State Army and died in Collins Barracks. One version says he committed suicide in the barracks whilst another story said he ended up in an argument with another soldier about the Treaty which led to a gun being discharged and my uncle being killed. His name was Leo Friel and his gravestone in the city cemetery simply says ‘Leo Friel killed in Collins barracks 1923’. “We also believe that at least some of the other brothers joined the IRA during that period. We believe that they were involved in the burning of the Lecky Road Barracks which stood at the bottom of Westland Street opposite where the Bogside Inn now stands. Apparently my mother and aunt had smuggled the guns that were used in the attack up from Buncrana. They were on a hayrick which was stopped by the British Army who searched the cart but found nothing. Little did they realise that my mother and aunt had the gear hidden in their bloomers! It also seems that the policemen in the barracks, who would have known all the locals, were told that the attack was going to happen and that they should make good their escape before the men arrived to carry out the operation. There were plenty of other stories like that but unfortunately my sister, who knew many of them, is no longer with us to pass them on. “Four of them ended up as fugitives and had to be shipped across the border via Moville to Letterkenny before travelling onto America. One of them did come back and gave himself up which saw him imprisoned in Derry gaol. Its said he was involved in one of the escapes by Republican Prisoners which also involved

Sean Keenan senior. Another uncle, Joe Friel, was well known in the town. He would walk around the streets on his walking stick at night singing Jerusalem. His own grandson, also called Joe, was then shot and injured on Bloody Sunday in 1972. Our American relatives used to come back here regularly and each time they visited we get to know a little more of what the men had been involved in. I think the last time they visited was in 1977. “It’s amazing that our stories, like many other families who have connections to both the First World War and the Tan War, are now having new light shed upon them due to the centenary of the Rising and the Battle of the Somme. I still hope that one day I can visit John’s grave in France but we are also extremely proud of the role played by my uncles in the War of Independence as well!”