ARKLOW
ARKLOW
– Jim Rees
The war escalates: January to June 1920 The final days of 1919 and the early days of 1920 saw some significant developments in republican politics in Arklow. Matt Kavanagh was promoted from Company Captain in Arklow to Brigade Adjutant. The exact date of the promotion and therefore its place in the sequence of events is in some doubt. Meanwhile, Jack Holt, who had been Acting OC of the 5th Battalion since Jim O’Keeffe’s arrest the previous year, was confirmed in that position.1
Ireland’s first female council chairperson On 15 January, Sinn Féin member and former member of Cumann na mBan, Maria Curran became one of the first women urban councillors in the country and her appointment to the chair of Arklow Urban District Council made her the first female council chairperson in Ireland.2 She was also Matt Kavanagh’s aunt. Her appointment not only reflects her strength of character and the respect with which she was regarded by her fellow councillors, but also the republican politics that had now taken hold in the council, a fact confirmed by a council resolution passed on 19 March, 1920. Maria Curran, one of the first [That this Council] hereby acknowledge the female urban councillors in the authority of Dáil Éireann as the duly elected country, elected in 1920. Government of the Irish People, and undertake Photo: Arklow Maritime Museum to give effect to all decrees duly promulgated by the said Dáil Éireann in so far as same affect this Council, and direct that copies of this Resolution be forwarded to the Republican Minister for Foreign Affairs for transmission to the Governments of Europe and to the President and Chairman of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America.
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