Report of 5 April 1916

(NAI, CSO/JD/2/244)

The report of 5 April 1916 records visits to the shop of Thomas J Clarke, 75 Parnell Street, by John O’Mahony, Joseph Murray and Piaras Béaslaí.

A meeting in the office of the Irish Volunteers, 2 Dawson Street, is attended by Jeremiah Joseph O’Connell, Michael O’Hanrahan, Thomas MacDonagh, TJ Sheehan and Bulmer Hobson. A second meeting later the same evening is attended by Eoin MacNeill, Patrick H Pearse and Michael J O’Rahilly.

Seán MacDiarmada and William O’Leary Curtis are observed in 12 D’Olier Street.

A detailed account is given of a ‘Sinn Fein Recruiting’ meeting held at Blessington Street and the march of ‘about 100 persons purporting to be recruits’ to Blackhall Place. Thomas MacDonagh is reported to have called on those present to join a parade of Irish Volunteers on Sunday 9 April ‘through the principal streets of the City so that Dublin Castle could see the number of recruits they had got since they started this campaign a few days ago’.

An annotation on the report states ‘I Ch. Sec [Chief Secretary] II The Lord Lieutenant I do not think Dublin Castle need be impressed by the acting of this stage army. But if necessary precautions will be taken in regard to the proposed Sunday March’.

For the full report please see Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Department report on the movement of Dublin extremists on 4 April 1916.