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 The name Fianna Éireann (Irish pronunciation: [ˈfʲiənə ˈeːɾʲən] ( Fianna Éireann, organised as a youth hurling league, for boys and girls, existed in West Belfast, ca 1903 (see Witness Statement of Bulmer Hobson to the Bureau of Military History, 1948). This was the brainchild of Bulmer Hobson, a committed IRB member.[citation needed] Hobson relocated to Dublin and the organisation collapsed in Belfast. In Dublin, Hobson became acquainted with Constance Markievicz, Helena Moloney and others, who were all members of the newly founded Sinn Féin. They were members of the Drumcondra branch. Hobson told Markievicz of his Belfast experiment and the seed was sown with her. With Helena Moloney and Sean McGarry, Markievicz and Hobson soon recreated a new Fianna Éireann. Prior to the setting up of Na Fianna in Dublin in 1909, it has now transpired that Lord Baden Powell had reportedly unsuccessfully sought the assistance of Patrick Pearse in setting up a branch of his Boy Scouts in Dublin. (Related in 'Talk History' radio programme, on Newstalk Radio, 18 August 2009) [edit] Fianna Marching Song (by Brian O'Higgins)
[edit] The Flag of Na Fianna (To air of Bold Robert Emmet)
(Author unknown) [edit] Irish VolunteersAs Na Fianna Éireann had been organised four years earlier than the Irish Volunteers, and that many of its members were now young adults, fully trained in many aspects of warfare, it was no wonder that many young members transferred over to the the Volunteers in 1913. The original committee which set up the new volunteer movement had three Fianna members on it. (Hobson, ibid.) One Fianna officer, in particular,[who?] was instrumental in the training of the newly formed Cumann na mBan in 1914. (Witness Statement of Seamus Pounch) [edit] An Cead SluaghAn Cead Sluagh (The First Sluagh) was set up in Camden Street in August 1909. (Witness Statement of Garry Holohan). Na Fianna fell into line with the Irish Volunteer organisation in 1915. The term "Sluagh" was dropped in favour of "Company" and the brigade area of Dublin mirrored that of the Volunteers.[citation needed]
(Witness Statement of Joe Reynolds) [edit] Dublin Battalion Staff, 1915
[edit] GHQ Staff 1915
[edit] Fianna Éireann HandbookAs with all scouting organisations, an instructional handbook was a necessity. The job of producing this book fell to Seamus O'Riain. With articles from Patrick Pearse and Roger Casement, and advertisements from suppliers of uniforms and equipment, the first Fianna handbook appeared in 1913. It came at a time when the Irish Volunteers was founded and the book was widely used by this group also. Countess Markievicz bought a large rambling house at Ranelagh, called Surrey House. It became the unofficial headquarters of Na Fianna for some time. The older boys would gather and train here, and a mini firing range was set up in the basement. The boys also had a radio set in operation and this led to a raid from the DMP. A proper HQ was later set up in D'Olier Street.[citation needed] [edit] Gun RunningNa Fianna played a major part in the Howth and Kilcoole gun-running episodes. Fianna members brought their treck-cart to Howth Pier to meet the Asgard. The treck-cart was full of homemade batons, and these were distributed to the Volunteers on the pier. The cart was then used to carry the surplus rifles back to the city. At Clontarf, the DMP and British Military were awaiting the return of the volunteers and a confrontation ensued. Fianna officers made a quick decision and detoured with their gun-laden cart up the Howth Road, arriving eventually at Kilmore Road, Artane, where the arms were safely stored for future recovery. (Holohan, ibid.) [edit] 1916 InsurrectionFianna was represented at all the garrisons that were involved in the fighting of Easter Week 1916. Even though they were now more heavily involved with the Irish Volunteers, Cornelius Colbert and Seán Heuston were still regarded as Fianna members. Colbert was under the command of Eamonn Ceannt at Watkins Brewery, while Heuston was given the task of commanding the Mendicity Institute. Colbert and Heuston both were executed for their part in the Rising. In Galway, Liam Mellows was in command of activities, but he escaped capture and got safely to to the United States. Countess Markievicz, second in command to Michael Mallin at the College of Surgeons, was sentenced to death, but eventually reprieved due to her gender. After the provisional government abandoned the GPO, and set up HQ at Moore Street, James Connolly gave command of the GPO to Seán McLoughlin, a Fianna officer. His orders were to oversee the safe retreat of the rest of the occupants. (Witness Statement of Eamon Martin) Several of the Fianna were killed in action at this time. Seán Healy was shot dead at Phibsboro whilst delivering despatches, Seán Howard and Seán Ryan died in similar fashion. Volunteers under the command of Fianna officer Paddy Houlihan captured and burned down the Linenhall Barracks. Eamon Martin, a future Chief of Staff was seriously wounded at the Broadstone Railway Station. Possibly the first shots of the Rising were fired by Fianna officers who attacked and captured the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park. Gerald Playfair, an unarmed teenager and the son of the fort commander, was shot and killed by Garry Holohan as he [Playfair] ran to raise the alarm at Islandbridge Barracks. (Holohan, ibid.) [edit] InternmentAt least fifteenn Fianna officers from the Dublin Brigade were rounded up after the Rising and interned at Frongoch, North Wales. (Witness Statement of Eamon Martin) [edit] Inspector Mills of the DMPOne year after the Rising, a large demonstration was held outside the burnt-out shell of Liberty Hall. A large contingent of DMP, under an Inspector Mills, arrived and the Riot Act was read to the crowd. The police waded into the crowd with batons and Inspector Mills was struck a mortal blow to the head with a hurley stick. His assailant was Ernie Murray, a young Fianna officer, who was O/C of a Sluagh on Parnell Square. Murray made off from the scene along Abbey Street, pursued by a DMP man. He was cornered at Marlborough Street, but he drew a revolver and the policeman backed off. Murray was secreted away to the United States, where he remained until the Truce of 1921. (Holohan, ibid.) [edit] Post 1916 reorganisationA provisional governing committee was set up in Dublin in May 1916, including Eamon Martin, Seamus Pounch, Theo Fitzgerald, Liam Staines and Joe Reynolds. All had evaded the round-up after the Rising. This committee functioned until January 1917, when it handed over command to the newly released senior officers. (Witness Statement of Joe Reynolds) Na Fianna was first to re-organise after the Easter Rising of 1916. In February 1917 a section of Na Fianna marched in full uniform to mass at Blanchardstown, County Dublin for Michael Mallin, who had been executed following the Easter Rising. "As the police did not interfere, we got courage and got bolder and bolder. On one route march, the police at James Street stopped us and an Inspector of the DMP grabbed me. However, as the Fianna scouts became so threatening, I was released." (Witness Statement of Garry Holohan) Na Fianna continued to defy the British ban on marching and parading, and drilled openly with hurleys in open defiance. This inevitably led to clashes with the DMP and the RIC in outlying areas. The most notable clash occurred in July 1917, when the whole Dublin Battalion went on a route march through the South City and County. Efforts were made by the DMP to stop the march and break it up at Terenure and Rathmines DMP stations, but the paraders broke through the cordons at both points. The march continued to the GPO, where the parade was dismissed. (Witness Statement of Aodh Mac Neill) Seán Saunders recalled being arrested with at Milltown with Roddy Connolly (son of James Connolly), Hugo MacNeill, Theo Fitzgerald, Seán McLoughlin and Garry Holohan. (Witness Statement of Seán Saunders) [edit] Reorganisation of June 1917An intensive recruiting campaign had been set in motion throughouthe city and county after the earlier reorganisation of January 1917, and it proved to be a tremendous success. Recruits came in large numbers and new companies were formed. In June, the Dublin Battalion had become so large and unwieldy, that it was decided to set up a Brigade structure of two battalions. The county was simply split in two, with the Liffey as the divide. South of the Liffey became the 1st Battalion and north of the Liffey became the 2nd Battalion. The Dublin Brigade Staff in June 1917 comprised Garry Holohan (Commandant), P.J. Stephenson (Adjutant) and Joe Reynolds (QM). [edit] Army AgreementIt came to the attention of GHQ Staff c1918, that in many areas around the country that Na Fianna was being controlled by the local units of the Irish Volunteers. A meeting of Fianna GHQ representatives and Volunteer representatives was held in Dublin to discuss the problem. What emerged from this meeting was known as the Army Agreement. From that point on, the Volunteers would not seek to control Fianna in their areas. Those who reached the age of seventeen had transferred to the Volunteers ranks; this would now cease and any transfer would be voluntary. The volunteer O/C was to liaise with the Fianna O/C on all local matters, and due consideration was to be extended to Fianna. During the "Tan War" Fianna members featured prominently in every brigade area. Some lost their lives or were imprisoned. In the picture taken of the West Mayo Brigade Active Service Unit in 1921, ten of the thirty in the photograph had been members of the Westport Fianna Sluagh, as had Tom Derrig, who rose to the rank of Adjutant General during the Civil War.[citation needed]
[edit] TruceDuring the Truce, Na Fianna devoted a great amount of time to training. At least three full-time training camps were set up to train potential officers. Each prospective officer had to attend the camp for one weeks training. One of these camps was held at Kilmore Road, Artane and another at Kilmashogue Mountain. Na Fianna held discussions all over the country where they debated the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. At an Ard Fheis, Fianna rejected the Treaty and called for all to still work for a Republic. In support of this, the Dublin Brigade's Fianna Éireann marched to The Smithfield where they were reviewed by senior Republican leaders.[citation needed] [edit] Civil WarFianna Éireann played a major part in the civil war fighting, especially in Dublin. When the Four Courts Garrison was attacked in July 1922, a second front was created to relieve the Four Courts. The Dublin Brigade, Fianna Éireann provided many leaders in this period. All along the eastern side of O'Connell Street buildings were taken over and barricaded. Parnell Square and Parnell Street were similarly barricaded. Fianna, under their new Brigadier, Seán Harling, took over 35 North Great Georges Street as a barracks (Bureau of Military History, Witness Statement of Seán Saunders}. In August 1922 (the same month that saw the deaths of Michael Collins and Arthur Griffiths), Na Fianna Éireann sustained a heavy blow when two of their senior officers in Dublin were murdered by Free State Army Intelligence members. These were Seán Cole and Alf Colley, who were found shot to death at The Thatch, Whitehall.
[edit] ExecutionsThree Na Fianna scouts (Hughes, Holohan and Rogers) were found murdered at Clondalkin on 28 November 1922. They were all from Drumcondra and had been putting up republican posters in the Clonliffe Road district. They were arrested by Charlie Dalton (younger brother of Emmet Dalton) and Nicholas Tobin, two high-ranking Free State officers. The scouts were brought for interrogation to Wellington Barracks, where Free State Army Intelligence had their HQ. That was the last time that they were seen alive. When the Free State started to execute Republican prisoners, the first to be shot were four young men who had left Na Fianna to join the Republican Army. They were followed by another group of three, who had similarly graduated from the ranks of the Dublin Brigade, Fianna Éireann.[citation needed]
The executions of Rory O'Connor, Joe McKelvey, Liam Mellows and Dick Barrett became a symbol for Na Fianna. They became known as "The Four Martyrs". Until 1964, an annual concert was held by Na Fianna to commemorate their executions. A very prominent ex Fianna officer, Aodh MacNeill (son of Eoin MacNeill), officiated at the executions. Eamon Martin related that he was a cellmate of Mellows in Mountjoy Prison. It is now estimated that some 22,000 people were interned during the Civil War period 1922-24. Fianna Éireann was decimated with the loss of most of its officers and the organisation went underground until well after the general release of prisoners in 1924. There was mass unemployment then, and most young men had to emigrate to survive. This left Na Fianna more or less leaderless for a few years. After the Civil War, Seán Harling became the leading light in Na Fianna Éireann. The Special Branch of An Garda Siochana eventually compromised him and turned him into an agent provocateur. For years he posed as a leading Fianna officer and Republican. He was eventually exposed by IRA Intelligence. Two former Fianna members made an attempt on his life 1n 1928, but Harling escaped and actually shot dead one of his attackers—Tim Coughlan. Harling was secreted out of the country by the Special Branch and ended up in the U.S. until his return in 1933 to Ireland. [edit] Fianna proscribedThe Free State government brought in new legislation in 1931 to counter the popularity of the resurgent Fianna. Fianna Éireann, the IRA and Cumann na mBan were all classified as illegal organisations. Many arrests followed and these organisations had once again to go underground for a period. When Fianna Fáil was elected to power the following year this legislation was revoked and the prisoners were freed. In 1932, many young republicans switched allegiance from the republican movement to Fianna Fáil. In 1934 the Fianna Fáil government set up a version of the Free State CID, when they enticed members of the Dublin Brigade IRA to join the the Special Branch of An Garda Siochana. IRA volunteers were sworn in as Gardaí detective officers and were issued handguns, ammunition, badges and whistles. They were under the control of Ned Broy of the CID and became known as the "Broy Harriers". [edit] Post WW2 reorganisationFianna Éireann did not operate openly between 1939-47 due to coercion, internment and lack of suitable leaders. Any person that showed leadership and organisational skills was monitored by the special branch, and were eventually interned. A group of young boys was organised in the Pipers Club in Thomas Street under the name of Clann Piarsaigh. Tom Lyons, an ex internee, was the man who led this group and they were the forerunners of the Fianna that emerged after WWII. There was a general reorganisation of the Republican Movement when the prisoners were all released by 1947.The IRA took Na Fianna under its wing. It now appears that the first Chief Scout of Na Fianna after the reorganisation was Tomas Óg MacCurtain of Cork (United Irishman newspaper, November 1948). He emerged from Portlaoise Prison after a general amnesty given by the Fianna Fáil government in 1946. He had been imprisoned for shooting dead a special branch detective in Cork. He had been given the death sentence, but because he was the son of Thomas MacCurtain, the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. MacCurtain put Na Fianna back on track and soon the Around 1950 the reins of leadership passed to Dick Bell, who, in turn, passed the reins of leadership to Ned Kelly in 1952. When Ned Kelly was dismissed from the republican movement in 1954, he was replaced as Chief Scout by George Darle from Drumcondra. Darle was a nominee of the IRA and he brought some new blood into the organisation (United Irishman, January 1955}. [edit] Chief Scouts 1948-1969
[edit] Old Fianna OrganisationFianna Éireann survived the Civil war period intact, they had sided with The Republic. The organisation was decimated then, and further disintigration occurred in 1926 when Fianna Fáil was founded. When WW2 broke out, the old IRA and old Fianna organisations marched as a body to Griffith Barracks in Dublin and they joined the Irish Army there as a separate battalion. When on parade, this battalion was allowed to fly the Fianna Flag and the Oglaigh na h-Eirinn flags. When the war was over these bodies stayed intact and had premises at Parnell Square. They marched in Bodenstown with Fianna Fáil and attended all the usual commemorations organised by the government.[citation needed] Around 1953, the Old Fianna organisation issued an invitation to Ned Kelly (Chief Scout) to meet with them. The Old Fianna reportedly offered their Fianna flag to the Fianna of 1953. However when Kelly heard that the flag would be handed over in a military barracks in an official ceremony, that was unacceptable, and the parley proved fruitless. The old Fianna petered out in the late 1950s. [edit] Adjutants General ca. 1954-1965
[edit] 1950 and afterThe Republican Movement was again decimated by internment, emigration and dissension, as a result of the Second World War. By 1948 there were signs of re-organisation. Fianna Éireann, as an organisation, was moribund. Tomas Òg MacCurtain of Cork was put in charge as a caretaker Chief Scout. Around 1950, Dick Bell, of Old Cabra, Dublin, was then elected as Chief Scout. There was no one place that Na Fianna could claim as their Headquarters, and they depended on the use of old buildings that were in Republican ownership, or owned by Republican sympathisers. There were premises at 9 Upp. Blessington Street and 32 Blessington Street, the Kevin Barry Hall on Parnell Square and another on North Frederick Street. In 1952, Ned Kelly of Long Lane, Dorset Street, Dublin, became Chief Scout. Soon he gather around him a cadre of young leaders and had four Sluaithe running in the Dublin area. These were at North City, Drimnag/Crumlin, Dundrum and Finglas. He had as his adjutant Brian McConnell from Swilly Road in Cabra. His QM was Annrai MacGloin, from Bohernabreena. [edit] Sluaithe in 1952Dublin;
Na Fianna suffered another blow in 1955 when Ned Kelly was dismissed from the IRA and he subsequently resigned from Na Fianna (United Irishman, March 1954, p. 3). At this time, older Fianna boys were attending at IRA training camps, where they would do the cooking and run on errands. It became known that Ned Kelly had broken the rules by allowing Fianna boys to handle and use the weaponry. Ned went on to become Field Commissioner for the CBSI.[citation needed] [edit] Saor UladhIn 1954/55 a serious split occurred in the republican Movement. Activists, led by Joe Christle, became disenchanted with the leadership. They were looking for armed action in occupied Ireland, but were being restrained by the Army Council. This breakaway group called themselves Saor Uladh. They also set up a youth group, and unfortunately called themselves Fianna Éireann. They had a 'Chief Scout' called Gearoid O'Kelly, who previously had a Fianna Sluagh in Newbridge, but was now living in Ballyboden. This 'Fianna' had one Sluagh at Inchicore, with members mainly from the Drimnagh/Crumlin area. They were unrecognisable from members of Na Fianna Éireann. One serious clash occurred between these groups, later in 1959. Around 1955 Kelly was replaced as Chief Scout by George Darle from Drumcondra. Darle brought some new members into Na Fianna, including Frank Lee and Terry Kiely. They set about reorganising Na Fianna and soon new Sluaithe were being formed in Navan, Dundalk, Drogheda and Sligo. A new modern uniform was also mooted at this time.[citation needed] The Border Campaign by the IRA began in December 1956 and it led to Na Fianna losing many of its members, especially in Dublin. In January 1957, 38 IRA recruits were surrounded in a house, used as a training camp, in Glencree, Co. Wicklow. At least 12 of these had been members of Na Fianna in the Dublin Battalion. This was a great set-back at the time, and responsibility now fell on the younger members to carry on with the organising. Finglas, for instance, had lost its O/C, and its QM. [edit] Uniform changes ca. 1958The uniform in 1958 was basically the same as when Fianna was founded in 1909 and some members were advocating change. Scouts wore a green blouse with two rows of brass buttons, an orange neckerchief, slouch hat, blacks shorts and a white lanyard that was attached to his scout whistle. Officers were still wearing riding breeches and a military type jacket, slouch hat and a Sam Brown belt. As slouch hats were hard to find, berets became the head dress for officers. Different type uniforms were mooted and an American Boy Scout pattern was decided on. Scouts would now wear a green shirt with two pockets and a military-style side hat. The uniforms eventually arrived and were first seen at the annual Dick McKee Commemoration in Finglas Village in November 1958 (United Irishman, December 1958, p. 3). Eventually, the side hats were replaced by a green beret, and the long trousers for officers were replaced by black shorts or breeches again. Lee and Kiely left Na Fianna after a falling out.
[edit] Organisation ca. 1958
Leinster Division;
Dublin Battalion;
North City Sluagh
Drimnagh Sluagh
Dundrum
Finglas
Donnycarney
Haymarket (Smithfield)
Dundalk
Navan
Drogheda
Monageer (Enniscorthy)
Waterford
Galway
Tralee
Killarney
Delgany
Roscrea
Sligo
Derrymacoosh (County Armagh)
Belfast
Derry
[edit] Jubilee Camp 1959
[edit] Junior membersFianna had always catered for boys between the ages of eleven years and sixteen years. About Around 1959 a new idea was put in place to cater for younger boys. This was the brainchild mainly of a Fianna officer from the Finglas Dick McKee Sluagh, Paul Shannon. With the assistance of some Cumann na mBan members, boys as young as eight years were allowed into the ranks of Na Fianna. They wore a plain green sweater and yellow neckerchief. This venture was an immediate success and most Sluaithe followed suit. [edit] Fianna HandbookA committee was set up circa 1963 to gather funds in order to produce a new Fianna handbook. All of the committee were members of the GHQ, and included Liam MacAnUltaigh, Deasun O'Briain, Brian Mulvanney, Uinsionn O'Cathain and Tony Shannon. Funds and advertisers were procured and a new handbook appeared ca. 1965. This was the third edition of the handbook, the others having been printed in 1913 and 1924. [edit] Arrest of Fianna officersAround November 1963 action was taken against Gearoid O'Kelly who was posing as "Chief Scout" of Na Fianna. He was constantly seen about Dublin on weekends, collecting money in pubs for 'Republican Prisoners Dependents'. He was warned several times to desist, but continued to carry on. On a Saturday night in November 1963 he was stopped near his home at Ballyboden Road, Rathfarnham, by a party of armed men. They bundled him into a field and "tarred and feathered" him. The consequence of this action was that about eleven senior officers were arrested by the Special Branch the following Monday morning and brought to the Bridewell. After a few hours, O'Kelly was brought in to try and identify those who may have assaulted him. The officers were all brought into one room and O'Kelly viewed them through a glass panel from an adjoining room. No one was detained, and most had alibis, as they were at an Ard Coiste meeting at Gardiner Place at the time of the assault and had been seen entering and leaving the building by the Special Branch men who constantly watched that premises. O'Kelly had also fallen out with his Fianna and two (Weldon and Phelan) spent six months in prison for assaulting him. He gave up his activities at this stage.[citation needed] [edit] Splits The organisation split into factions with differing political views and ideologies over the subsequent decades, in a manner comparable to that of the various organisations claiming the title Irish Republican Army. Following the 1969/70 split in the Irish Republican Army and Sinn Féin, two organisations claiming the title of Fianna Éireann emerged. One was aligned with the Provisional IRA. The other was aligned with the Official IRA.[citation needed] The latter developed along socialist lines mirroring the political developments in Official Sinn Féin, and eventually in the late 1970s was renamed the Irish Democratic Youth Movement (IDYM), ending its semi-paramilitary training. It forged links with similar groups associated with communist and workers parties abroad, most notably with the Free German Youth in the German Democratic Republic. With the reorganisation of Sinn Féin The Workers Party into The Workers Party in 1982, the IDYM became simply Workers Party Youth, which continues today and has taken a role as an affiliate of the World Federation of Democratic Youth.[citation needed] A current incarnation of Fianna Éireann is linked to Republican Sinn Féin.[citation needed] Another extant Fianna group is linked to the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and allegedly to the Real Irish Republican Army. The most prominent incarnation of Na Fianna Éireann in existence today are Ógra Shinn Féin, the youth wing of Sinn Féin.[citation needed] [edit] Former Chiefs of Staff[edit] Chief Scouts
[edit] Notable former members
[edit] Published Books
[edit] See also
[edit] References[edit] External links[edit] Current
[edit] Historical |
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