James Durney’s latest book ‘The
War of Independence in Kildare’ is a welcome addition to the growing list
of publications dealing with that part of our history. No doubt as we enter a decade of centenary
commemorations (mind you not celebrations) further books will be added to the
growing Irish history library of that era.
The book published by Mercier Press sets down the principal military
events which occurred in County Kildare during the 1919-1921 period, the
details of which have been extracted in the main from local newspapers. In doing so and by referencing the sources
the author has provided a worthwhile background against which further research
can be undertaken. He makes the valid
point that the strength of the British Army presence in the County of Kildare
made it extremely difficult for local Republicans to mount an effective
campaign on the lines of the guerrilla tactics which proved so successful in
the South West of the country.
Nevertheless he concludes that Kildare County did play an effective role
in the War of Independence, an opinion with which any person familiar with that
period could hardly disagree.
On reading the book I was of course particularly anxious to see the
many references to Athy and was pleased to find that Mercier Press and the
author have done an excellent job in producing the index. This is a book which anyone interested in our
shared history should read.
Another book recently published is Dr. Jack Carter’s ‘Land Crime and Politics in Queens County
1882-1916’. Jack Carter has
previously published ‘The Land War and
Its Leaders in Queens County 1879-1882’ and ‘Murders in the Midlands 1862-1915’, as well as ‘The Built Curiosities of Laois – 15 Tours’. His latest book is a very detailed and well
researched account of the happenings in County Laois centred around the
Luggacurran evictions in which Athy people and the town itself played a not
insignificant part. It’s a book which
should be in every local household.
Going back to James Durney’s book I have recently come across a
report in the Cork Examiner of the 6th of March 1923 of an event in
Athy which had not previously been referred to in any publication concerning
the Civil War. How much more relevant
material is still out there unnoticed it is difficult to say but it would be
wrong to assume that our knowledge and understanding of the events of 1919-1923
cannot be improved by further research.
The report under the headline ‘Scenes
in Athy’ and the sub headings ‘Stores
Set Ablaze’ and ‘Goods taken from
Shops’ reads:-
‘The town of Athy was invaded by a large
party of armed men – about sixty – On Saturday morning. They arrived in motors. At the railway station they burst in the door
of the station-house, entered the stationmaster’s office, burst open drawers,
destroyed all books, correspondence, etc. and tore down the station clock and
lamps. The same process was gone through
in the parcel office. The goods store
which contained a large quantity of stuff, some, it is said, consigned to local
traders, was next visited and set on fire, also the signal cabin, both of which
were smouldering at 10 p.m. The
instruments of the signal cabin were just a heap of scrap iron. Mr. O’Neill, stationmaster, went out and was
taken away by the raiders, who told his son that they were bringing his father
to the doctor as he had taken ill. Mr.
O’Neill was brought to Dr. Kilbride’s residence, and from there to a
hospital. Fearing the station house
would be fired, Mrs. O’Neill pleaded with the raiders not to fire the office as
her children were asleep in the room overhead.
They did not set fire to the office.
They left at 4.15 a.m.
One party of
raiders broke the window of the Post Office and gained entrance. They smashed the telephone and telegraph instruments,
tore up all official papers and burned on the street all the old age pension
books and a small quantity of stamps.
Fortunately they could not gain entrance to the sorting office, so the
mails were safe. Entrance to the
temporary quarters of the Civic Guard was obtained by one part of the invaders,
after repeated demands for admission, about 12.30 p.m. The uniforms, batons and bedding were taken
and burned in the square. The bicycles
of the guard were also taken, and they were cautioned not to leave the place
for two hours.
Another detachment
entered Mr. Shaw’s drapery establishment, and demanded and obtained half a
dozen waterproofs, skirts, socks, sports coats, riding breeches, leggings and
boots. They were courteous, stated their
wants and touched nothing. Mr. Miley’s
halfdoor was forced, and Mr. Miley was given an order for groceries, which he
made up and handed over. The value of
the groceries was about £10. A motor was
taken from Mr. Maxwell’s garage and another from the foundry. The raiders finally called at Mr. Donegan’s
shop and took cigarettes.’
Irish history, or at least that part of it which encompasses the
post 1916 period and ends with the Civil War, will be rigorously examined and
re-examined over the next decade. Dr.
Jack Carter’s and James Durney’s books have surely whetted our appetite for the
many books and publications on various aspects of that history which will be
available over the next few years.
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