October Document of the Month
This month sees the 100th centenary of the death of the revolutionary Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney.
To mark this anniversary we share a file from the Chief Secretary’s Office Registered Papers relating to MacSwiney’s internment in the wake of the 1916 Rising. MacSwiney had been active in the fight for Irish independence having helped set up the Cork Brigade of Irish Volunteers in 1913. According to the file, MacSwiney ‘organised nearly all the Irish Volunteer Branches in Cork W.R. [West Riding]. He was arrested in the house of Robert Hales, Knocknacarra, Bandon, on 3/5/16 with other dangerous Sinn Feiners after apparently evading arrest in Cork City’.
This file ref. CSO/RP/1918/16628/A125 is the application for the release of Terence MacSwiney from custody. In seeking the release of internees, local police were asked their opinion. In response, the District Inspector, CF Walsh, states that MacSwiney ‘was always an extremist. He took a very active part in promoting and organising the Irish Volunteers in Cork and was constantly travelling round by train and bicycle visiting country district and stirring up sedition. He contributed articles to Sinn Fein papers and wrote seditious pamphlets and songs. He is possessed with a fanatical hatred of all things British and is at the same time an able and highly educated man’. In a further opinion, he outlines how MacSwiney was found in possession of seditious literature and cipher codes, including discussion of the ‘desirability of shooting John Redmond’. He concludes by stating that ‘there are many enemies of England in Cork who may be regarded without concern as they possess neither the resolution nor the ability to be really dangerous. McSweeney has both the will and the ability’. His application for release was refused.
MacSwiney was elected to the First Dáil in 1918 and became Lord Mayor of Cork in March 1920, following the murder of Tomás Mac Curtain. He was arrested and tried by court martial in August 1920 and sentenced to two year’s imprisonment in Brixton jail in England, where he died on October 25th after 74 days on hunger strike.
The full CSORP file can be viewed here.
Transcription:
Terence J McSweeney at present interned for complicity in the Rebellion
County of Cork ER [East Riding]
Cork 24.10.16
For compliance, please
D.I. [District Inspector], Cork S. [South], 25.10.16
I beg to state that I see no reason to change the opinion I have already expressed in the several reports I have made respecting this man.
Please see full report submitted in ¾ margin on 18th inst. [18 October 1916]
I regard McSweeney as a very able and a very dangerous man. Prior to his internment he was paid organiser of the Sinn Fein Volunteers, and was associated with every dangerous character here and elsewhere. He was arrested for delivering a seditious speech in company with T. [Thomas] Kent, since executed, last Feby [February] and his house was searched. A mass of seditious literature and seditious correspondence was found in his house. In some of these letters addressed to him the invasion of Canada and the desirability of shooting John Redmond was mentioned. On his person was found a cipher code. I do not believe he would respect any conditions entered into as he would regard them as entered into under duress and therefore not binding. He is engaged to be married to a wealthy Cork heiress whose mind he has impregnated with his own extreme views though all her people are strong loyalists. This would be a further reason why he would probably sign any conditions necessary to gain his liberty.
There are many enemies of England in Cork who may be regarded without concern as they possess neither the resolution nor the ability to be really dangerous. McSweeney has both the will and the ability.
He has written seditious songs and pamphlets and was a constant contributor to Sinn Fein publications prior to the rebellion. C.F. Walsh, D.I. [District Inspector]
Cork 25.10.16
Submitted
Particulars concerning this man and others were submitted on 18th inst. [October]
I fully concur in the D.I.’s remarks [ ?, CI [County Inspector]
Undersecretary
Submitted
Please see special reports attached. McSweeney was the chief rebel organiser in Cork prior to the rebellion. He is a most dangerous man and I strongly recommend that under no circumstances should he be released. WS O’Connell D29, 26.X[October].16
Transcription:
Interned Rebels
County of: City of Cork Cork South, 10th Oct 1916
- Terence J McSwiney, formerly teacher D.A.T.I. subsequently paid organiser of the Irish Volunteers 34 years of age. This man lived with his sisters at 4 Grand View Terrace, Victoria Rd, Cork. This house has been given up since his internment and his sisters now reside at Belgrave Terrace, Wellington Rd. Cork N. [North] District
- This man was always an extremist. He took a very active part in promoting and organising the Irish Volunteers in Cork and was constantly travelling round by train and bicycle visiting country district and stirring up sedition. He contributed articles to Sinn Fein papers and wrote seditious pamphlets and songs. He is possessed with a fanatical hatred of all things British and is at the same time an able and highly educated man. His sisters share his views and are prominent members of the Cumman na mBan. He was two brothers in America who are bitterly hostile to England and strongly pro-German. He was in constant correspondence with these men. I regard him as a very dangerous man. He attended all meetings of the extreme party held in Dublin prior to the rebellion.
- He was very active in Cork during the rebellion and was prepared for anything but apparently the rest of the rebels have lost courage on the capture of Casement [Sir Roger Casement] and the sinking of the German ship carrying arms for the Sinn Feiners.
- It would be most unwise to release this man on any conditions.
- An able and very dangerous man. On no account should he be liberated until the termination of the war.
C.F. Walsh, DI [District Inspector] for CI [County Inspector] Cork 18.10.16
Crime Special
County of Cork WR [West Riding] District of Bandon
Interned Rebels
- Name, address, occupation and age? Terence J McSweeney, Blackrock, Cork City, Irish Volunteer Organiser, 34 years
- His history prior to rebellion. What part, if any he took in Irish Volunteer Movement. Any other reasons for regarding him as a dangerous suspect? He was actively engaged as Irish Volunteer Organiser in Co Cork for one year prior to the rebellion – He made disloyal speeches in various places and was arrested for one speech and fined – He visited the Ballinadee Dist. [District] on various occasions and lodged with Robert Hales of Knocknacarra whose son John Hales is also interned. Was No. 7 on War ‘B’ List of Decr [December] 1914 He organised nearly all the Irish Volunteer Branches in Cork W.R. [West Riding]. He was arrested in the house of Robert Hales, Knocknacarra, Bandon, on 3/5/16 with other dangerous Sinn Feiners after apparently evading arrest in Cork City.
- What part he took in the Rebellion? It is not known that he took any active part in the rebellion – He was arrested at the house of Robt [Robert] Hales of Knocknacarra on 3rd May last when a large quantity of arms and ammunition was found there.
- Police opinion as to whether he could be unconditionally released without danger – or whether he could be release on conditions giving the conditions deemed desirable? That his release under any conditions would be dangerous.
[ ] Bandon, 13.10.16
- County Inspectors opinion
I am of opinion that this man should not be released while the war lasts
T Tweedy CI [County Inspector], Dated at Bandon 16th October 1916
