Decoding the IRA (50 page)

4
McMahon P., ‘British intelligence and the Anglo-Irish truce, 1921'
, Irish Historical
Studies,
Vol. XXXV, No. 140 (November 2007), pp. 519–40.

5
A note which is unsigned and unaddressed, no date, in MTUCDA P69/48 (25); probably accompanied HS to CS, 12 May 1924 [1927], in MTUCDA P69/48 (24); MD to HS, 18 May 1927 in MTUCDA P69/48 (21).

6
HS to CS, 27 May 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (16).

7
MD to HS, 29 May 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (15); HS to CS, 1 June 1924 [1927], in MTUCDA P69/48 (10).

8
MacEoin, U.,
The IRA in the Twilight Years, 1923–1948
(Argenta Publications, Dublin, 1997), p. 118.

9
Tarpey M.,
The Role of Joseph McGarrity in the Struggle for Irish Independence
(Arno Press, New York, 1976) p. 43.

10
Borgonovo, J.,
Florence and Josephine O'Donoghue's War of Independence
(Irish Academic Press, Dublin, 2006), p. 76.

11
List of IRA keywords, no date, in MTUCDA P69/47 (114); Aire Cosanta to QMG, 3 October 1925, in MTUCDA P69/208 (6).

12
O'Halpin, E.,
Defending Ireland: The Irish Free State and its Enemies since 1922
(Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2000), pp. 56–7.

13
Twomey spelled obscure as ‘obsecure'; chairman to An Timthire, 27 May 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (25).

14
HS to CS, 6 May 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (27).

15
HS to MD, 20 June 1924 [1927], in MTUCDA P69/48 (2).

16
MD to HS, 23 June 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (1).

17
DI to adjt. general, 13 January 1925, in MTUCDA P69/137 (16–17).

18
In the original document ‘never' is spelled ‘neven'. CS to Assistant adjt Cork 1, 3 May 1926, in MTUCDA P69/44 (87–8).

19
CS to OC Scotland, 12 October 1926, in MTUCDA P69/41 (43).

20
Adj. Liverpool to adjt general, 28 October 1926, in MTUCDA P69/47 (57).

21
In the original decryption ‘no.' was used as an abbreviation for ‘number'; DI to [no name], 10 December 1926, in MTUCDA P69/193 (62).

22
In the original decryption ‘rec'd' was used as an abbreviation for ‘received' and ‘ack' for ‘acknowledge'. Unsigned to DI, 23 January 1927, in MTUCDA P69/41 (10).

23
Unsigned to Mr Jones, 18 March 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (81 and 82–3).

24
From An Timthire, unaddressed, 10 May 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (29–30).

25
MacEoin,
The IRA in the Twilight Years,
p. 841.

26
MD to HS, 29 May 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (15).

27
Unsigned to Mr Jones, 18 March 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (81, 82-83).

28
Ambrose to DI, 15 September 1926, in MTUCDA P69/193 (120).

29
This letter is addressed to Mr Smith or Andy Cooney. However, Moss Twomey acknowledged receipt of it on 11 May 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (53) and he appears to have been the intended recipient; Jones to Mr Smith, 20 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (54).

30
Chairman to Mr Jones, 11 May 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (53).

31
E-mail communication from Seamus Helferty, 9 May 2008.

32
Unsigned [from DI] to George G, 10 December 1926, in MTUCDA P69/193 (63).

33
Ibid
.

34
Experiment carried out in the Mahon/Chin household with an unfolded paperclip, 4 May 2008; not verified under conditions of incarceration.

35
Unsigned [from DI] to George G, 10 December 1926, in MTUCDA P69/193 (63); DI to Mick P, 10 December 1926 in MTUCDA P69/193 (66).

36
Chairman to An Timthire, 3 February 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (123–5).

37
Communications log book, no date, circa September 1926, in MTUCDA P69/ 195.

38
Ibid
.

39
Between 1924 and 1926 two IRA veterans who emigrated to New Zealand planned to keep in touch with the organisation by enrolling in its ‘foreign reserves, in Hanley, B.,
The IRA, 1926–1936
(Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2002), p. 162; JB to Mr Brown, 26 November 1926, in MTUCDA P69/183 (168-169).

40
Cowan was spelled ‘cowman'; Unsigned to Mr Jones, 14 December 1926, in MTUCDA P69/183 (161–2).

41
JB to Mr Browne, 25 October 1926, in MTUCDA P69/183 (180).

42
‘To make it worse addressee left here and had no relatives locally to see after her correspondence', unsigned to adjt general, 1 November 1924 [1927], in MTUCDA P69/149 (108–10).

43
Chairman to [unaddressed], 12 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (71–72).

44
Ibid
.

45
Ibid
.

46
In Twomey's reference to ‘the Sweetman brothers' it is unclear which of the Sweetmans exactly he was referring to; McGee, O.,
The IRB: The Irish Republican Brotherhood from the Land League to Sinn Féin
(Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2005) p. 316; MacEoin, U.
Survivors
(Argenta Publications, Dublin, 1987), pp. 38, 41 and 525; MacEoin,
The IRA in the Twilight Years
, pp. 312 and 210,
Wikipedia
, entry on John Sweetman, reviewed September 2006.

47
Borgonovo,
Florence and Josephine O'Donoghue's War of Independence
, p. 148.

48
Andrews, C. S.,
Dublin Made Me
(Mercier Press, Dublin and Cork, 1979), p. 245.

49
Irish Times
, 1 May 1926.

50
Unsigned to Mr Jones, 14 December 1926, in MTUCDA P69/183 (161–2).

51
CS to IO Number 3 Area (Liverpool), 12 October 1926, in MTUCDA P69/47 (61).

52
‘Re sending [of] messages via Cove [Cobh]. Of course they could be given to Mick Burke through Rob Roy', chairman to An Timthire, 3 February 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (123–5).

53
CS to Comdt S, 7 [or possibly 6] September 1926, in MTUCDA P69/47 (133).

54
Maryborough was the pre-independence name for Portlaoise, and the IRA frequently misspelled or abbreviated it to Maryboro; DI to Jack Jones, 18 August 1927, in MTUCDA P69/197 (97).

55
JJ to DI, 28 August 1927, in MTUCDA P69/197 (93).

56
DI to Jack Jones, 21 December 1927, in MTUCDA P69/197 (54).

57
HS to CS, 8 March 1924 [1927], in MTUCDA P69/48 (258).

58
CS to HS, 6 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (143).

59
HS to CS, 1 June 1924 [1927], in MTUCDA P69/48 (10).

60
Communications log book, no date, circa September 1926, in MTUCDA P69/195.

61
JB to Mr Brown, 26 November 1926, in MTUCDA P69/183 (168–9).

62
An Timthire to Mr Smith, 20 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (48–51).

63
Cowan is spelled ‘Cowman'. Unsigned to Mr Jones, 14 December 1926, in MTUCDA P69/183 (161–2).

64
OC South Connemara battalion to CS, 28 September 1926, in MTUCDA P69/47 (124).

65
HS to MD, 25th Nov. 1925 [1927] in MTUCDA P69/150 (16).

66
Adjt. Liverpool to adjt. gen, 5 November 1926, in MTUCDA P69/47 (56).

67
Communications log book, no date, circa September 1926, in MTUCDA P69/ 195.

68
Chairman to [no name], 12 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (71–2).

69
Una is spelled ‘Uma' in the first letter. Chairman to An Timthire, 8 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (74–5). Chairman to [no name], 12 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (71–2).

70
Communications log book, no date, circa September 1926, in MTUCDA P69/ 195.

71
An Timthire to Mr Smith, 20 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (48–51).

72
Chairman to An Timthire, 3 February 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (121–5).

73
Communications log book, no date, circa September 1926, in MTUCDA P69/ 195.

74
HS to ‘Dear Sir', 27 December 1927, in MTUCDA P69/150 (5).

75
Communications log book, no date, circa September 1926, in MTUCDA P69/ 195.

76
For DI to Jack Jones, 2 June 1924 [1927], in MTUCDA P69/197 (153).

77
Adjt. Midland batt to adjt. gen, 18 January 1928, in MTUCDA P69/149 (68).

78
Bessborough spelled as ‘Bessboro', MD to HS, 19 May 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (19).

79
HS to CS, 20 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (61).

80
Chairman to [no name], 12 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (71–2).

81
Acting adjt. N Wexford to D. Comms, 23 January 1928, in MTUCDA P69/149 (40).

82
Communications log book, no date, circa September 1926, in MTUCDA P69/ 195.

83
MD to HS, 29 May 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (15).

84
Unsigned to HS, 2 June 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (12).

85
Communications log book, no date, circa Sept. 1926 in MTUCDA P69/195.

86
Chairman to [no name], 12 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (71–2).

87
An Timthire to Mr Smith, 20 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (48–51).

88
Capt. W to CS, 4 May [1926] in MTUCDA P69/44 (8-9).

89
An Timthire to Mr Smith, 20 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (48–51).

90
CS to OC Scotland, 12 October 1926, in MTUCDA P69/41 (43).

91
Communications log book, no date, circa Sept. 1926 in MTUCDA P69/195.

92
DI to Jack Jones, 21 December 1927, in MTUCDA P69/197 (54); chairman to An Timthire, 18 March 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (77–8).

93
An Timthire to Mr Smith, 20 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (48–51).

94
McCarthy spelled as ‘McCardhy'; chairman to An Timthire, 18 March 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (77–8).

95
Chairman to An Timthire, 18 March 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (77–8).

96
CS to OC. Britain, 23 April 1926, in MTUCDA P69/44 (81).

97
CS to Comdt. S, 7 [or possibly 6] September 1926, in MTUCDA P69/47 (133).

98
Chairman to [no name], 12 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (71–2).

99
Chairman to An Timthire, 3 February 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (123–5).

100
CS to HS, 16 June 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (3).

101
Sth Galway to CS, 7 March 1923 [?1927], in MTUCDA P69/48 (253).

102
S O'S to J Jones, 8 May 1926 [or 1927] in MTUCDA P69/197 (163). S O'S to DI, 17 May 1927 in MTUCDA P69/197 (160-161).

103
CS to OC Cork 1 Brigade, 26 April 1926 in MTUCDA P69/44
(95).
CS to DI and QMG, 26 April 1926 in MTUCDA P69/44 (173).

104
CS to OC South Kilkenny, 20 September [year missing, 1926?], in MTUCDA P69/ 47 (129).

105
Chairman to Mr Jones, 14 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/183 (61–2).

106
Communications log book, no date, circa September 1926, in MTUCDA P69/ 195.

107
Ballymackey was spelled ‘Ballymachney' in cipher; Unaddressed and unsigned note, 19 April 1926, in MTUCDA P69/44 (187); OC. Britain to CS, 21 April 1926, in MTUCDA P69/44 (186).

108
CS to DI and QMG, 26 April 1926 in MTUCDA P69/44 (173).

109
Name spelled ‘O'Sdea'; HS to CS, 26 May 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (11 and 14).

110
His name was spelled ‘Shanaghan' in the despatch, ‘for Chairman' to An Timthire, 20 Oct. 1926 in MTUCDA P69/183 (184-185).

111
CS to HS, 24 February 1924 [1927], in MTUCDA P69/48 (297–8).

112
IO Dublin Brigade to DI, 2 September 1927, in MTUCDA P69/196 (86–7).

C
HAPTER
3: A N
EW
L
EADERSHIP
: 1926–1927

1
Lynch was a well-respected and successful commander during the Anglo-Irish War in Cork. However, this contrasted with his role in the Civil War; Hopkinson, M.,
Green Against Green: The Irish Civil War
(Gill & Macmillan, Dublin, 1988), p. 257.

2
I was unable to obtain a reliable estimate of IRA deaths; based on Hopkinson, they may have been approximately 1,000 or so; Hopkinson,
Green Against Green,
pp. 268, 273.

3
Hegarty P.,
Peadar O'Donnell
(Mercier Press, Cork, 1999), p. 162.

4
CS to Military Attache, USA, 15 April 1925, in MTUCDA P69/37 (221–3).

5
Pax Ó Faoláin in MacEoin, U.,
The IRA in the Twilight Years, 1923–1948
(Argenta Publications, Dublin, 1997), p. 147.

6
Connie Neenan in MacEoin, U.,
The IRA in the Twilight Years, 1923–1948
(Argenta Publications, Dublin, 1997), p. 249.

7
CS to Military Attache, USA, 15 April 1925 in MTUCDA P69/37 (221–3).

8
Hanley, B.
The IRA, 1926-1936
(Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2002), p. 161.

9
Figures for the period 1924 to 1926; Hanley,
The IRA, 1926–1936,
p. 162.

10
Minutes of meeting of Army Executive, 27 April 1927, in MTUCDA P69/48 (104–5); the officer was identified as ‘TD', and therefore was likely Tom Derrig, who was elected to the Executive in November 1925. Less than two months later he had been elected a TD for Fianna Fáil. However, it's possible that he had already been replaced on the committee. Another prominent officer with similar initials was Tom Daly, who unlike Derrig remained active in the IRA; Hanley,
The IRA, 1926-1936,
p. 209.

11
At the Army Executive meeting in August 1924, sixteen of the members present, three of those absent and at least two of the headquarters staff were described as being generals; Army Executive meeting minutes, 10 to 11 August 1924, in MTUCDA P69/179 (84); in March 1925 the OC of the Dublin brigade gave his rank as brigadier-general, 1 March [1925], MTUCDA P69/48 (275); Michael McLoughlin, the OC of the Carrick-on-Shannon brigade, in his application for transfer to the foreign reserves stated his rank to be brigadier-general, 1925 in MTUCDA P69/169 (4); based on the roll call from 9 April 1927, meeting of officers, there were thirteen brigades, in MTUCDA P69/48 (152).