THE AFTERMATH OF THE RISING IN THE KERRYMAN
REBELS NOT A HORDE Saturday 13 May 1916 WELL ORGANISED AND HANDLED ARMY (From the ‘Daily Mail’)
A man of long experience of Irish and Irish-American affairs who knows the whole of Ireland intimately and has just returned from Dublin, said yesterday: ‘This is really a critical moment for the pursuance of a policy in Ireland which will put down the Sinn Fein movement for all time. If there is anything like wavering now in dealing with this rebellion on the score that it has merely been the error of a number of misguided people which ought to be looked over – that will be fate. ‘The first and greatest mishap in connection with the movement was the discovery of the auxiliary ship off the west coast of Ireland disguised as a Dutch tramp steamer. She had on board, I believe, 25,000 stand [sic] of arms, machine guns, and ammunition. There is reason to infer that she had German military officers on board. If her crew had got this ship safely into the Shannon, for which she was making, the whole rebellion movement would have had a very different complexion. ‘The way in which the ship went down was significant. The captain of the vessel which discovered the auxiliary told me that when those on board the latter found escape was hopeless, as they did at once, they hoisted the German flag, gave three cheers and sank their ship. SKILLED PLAN IN DETAIL ‘The plans for the rebellion give evidence of military efficiency and thoroughness. One who had seen a copy of the orders issued to the various rebel leaders in different places told me that the order for Dublin was given in the greatest detail and enumerated all the particular places to be seized. And as it turned out, possibly with one exception, the rebels
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did not make a mistake in carrying out the details of the order. They seized various strategic points in accordance with an extremely clever and comprehensive plan, matured and carried out with very great skill. ‘Apart from the loss of the auxiliary ship all the points in the rebel’s scheme worked out in their favour until Saturday. I cannot see that anything miscarried. The effect of a prolonged rebel success in Dublin or different parts of Ireland must not be overlooked. It is no reflection on the loyalty of Ireland as a whole to point out that others might have been led astray by a movement which worked on ignorance and passion, and which appeared to be succeeding. In one way and another, the situation would have meant a diversion which no doubt was what Germany intended! ‘This was a thoroughly business-like rebellion. Everything in it shows organisation. What had been going on for a long time before the outbreak illustrated the efficiency and ability of the Sinn Feiners as a military body. They were as well armed as the British soldier. That was known. They had been drilling openly. They had a sham fight in Dublin some weeks ago, and even rehearsed the taking of the Castle gate. In their way they behaved as an army during the rising. They shot at every man who appeared in uniform and everyone who interfered on his behalf, but otherwise they did not shoot anyone. They were absolutely in hand – which shows organisation. As for the burning which took place it was a mishap as far as I could see. ‘This was a real business, this rebellion. The plan miscarried.’
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A PLEA FOR MERCY Saturday 13 May 1916 ‘WIDE DISPARITY IN THE DEGREE OF GUILT’ The ‘Irish Independent’ says:– As we have previously said, we believe that justice should be tempered with mercy in dealing with the general body of the participants in the rising. As the ‘Irish Times’ said on Friday the prisoners who have been taken include many decent young fellows and hundreds of lads, some of whom are almost children. ‘It is certain,’ says our contemporary, ‘that hundreds of the rebels were the dupes of cleverer men, some of whom, perhaps, were the dupes of their own fantastic imaginings.’ As between the organisers and leaders of the revolt and many of their followers there is a wide disparity in the degree of guilt, and for this every possible allowance should be made. To the credit of the insurgents it must be said that they took no part in looting the city, but, on the contrary, made some efforts to prevent it. The public, as a whole, cannot be unmindful of the terrible consequences which have followed the outbreak, when they think of those to whom it owes its origin. But the sympathy which they may withhold from the leaders, they will extend to those who were victims rather than masters of the circumstances by which they were surrounded.
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TRALEEMAN WOUNDED IN DUBLIN Saturday 13 May 1916 Mr Christie O’Halloran, son of Mr Patrick O’Halloran, Staughton’s Row, Tralee, was shot through the door while engaged as chemist’s assistant in Montgomery’s establishment in Dame St. We are so glad to learn that the wound is not serious.
EXPLOSIVES IN THE G.P.O. Saturday 13 May 1916 On Sunday the military guarding Sackville Street warned the few people who were let pass through the street that they ought not to remain near the General Post Office, as there was danger of an explosion of dynamite, which the insurgents had brought into the building. The explosion did not occur; but that day a number of bombs were found in the ruins. They were made of salmon tins with fuses attached, and had they gone off might have done much damage. Since Sunday the work of searching the ruins has gone on and many strange things have been brought to light. Yesterday morning, a box holding gelignite was found. Handed over to Police Inspector Barrett, it was brought by his order to a safe place until it could be examined by military officers.
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#KATIE, I’M DONE!’ Saturday 13 May 1916 GIRL SHOT DEAD IN A ROOM DURING THE RISING HER COMPANION’S PATHETIC STORY
The intelligence has been received that a Miss Janie Costello, shorthand writer and typist, was shot dead in Dublin on 27th April, and was buried in Glasnevin on 1st May. She was a native of Glenfield, Kilmallock. The sad news of her tragic death has evoked feelings of the deepest regret, and the utmost sympathy will go forth to the parents in their great sorrow. A girl friend (Miss Katie Lewis) writes to her parents:– ‘I, for one, will never forget the Irish rebellion. One of the chief firing lines was outside our windows. Now prepare yourselves for the greatest shock you ever got in your life. Janie Costello is sleeping her last sleep in Glasnevin since the 1st May. My poor child was shot dead before my eyes in our bedroom. The firing had ceased. ‘Unfortunately, she raised the window, turned away instantly and was shot through both lungs. I heard no sound as she stopped the bullet herself. All she said was, “I’m shot, oh Katie, I’m done”, and fell lifeless. I knew she was gone. ‘Before he had time to reload, I was through the door for assistance which I had gotten in a few seconds. One bullet lodged in the jamb of the door, about one and a half inches above Mrs Hanlon’s head, I discovered one bullet. ‘I searched everywhere until I found the one in the door. It was a soldier’s bullet. ‘She was shot on the 27th April. ‘Mr Bell kept on to the military for a permit to go on with the funeral arrangements and a pass to Glasnevin. That is all we wanted
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from them. Of course, the military would bury her, but, thank God, their assistance was not required. ‘The best oak coffin in Dublin was got for her; also a lovely spot in Glasnevin, not far from the Parnell grave. They were allowing no friends to the cemetery, only the driver of the hearse, in some cases one friend to see the body interred. ‘However five people saw Janie to the grave. As we were leaving Glasnevin, four hearses arrived with no one accompanying them but the drivers. ‘Under the circumstances, more could not be done for Janie if she had thousands at her back. God help her, it was her fate; she was to go and I know she is better off. ‘I knew she felt no pain, her face was as peaceful as though she were asleep. I seemed turned to stone since I left her behind me in Glasnevin but I am certain of one thing – she is in Heaven. She was at Holy Communion a few days before she died. She was after making a novena and she died a martyr’s death. ‘I folded her hands and closed her eyes, and who could touch her with more love, once? There are 60 unidentified bodies in the morgue. Hundreds of girls shot and Dublin in ruins. From Nelson’s Pillar to O’Connell’s Bridge is gone completely. I must now write to her mother.’
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