The largely ceremonial role of governor-general in the Irish Free State (1922–1963) was to act as the official representative of the Crown. The office was viewed negatively by many as a symbol of continued British involvement in Irish affairs.

Timothy Healy (1855–1931) held the role from 1922–1928, James McNeill (1869–1938) from 1928–1932, and Domhnall Ua Buachalla (1866–1963) from 1932–1936. The role was removed from the Constitution on 11 December 1936 following the abdication of King Edward VIII which provided the Irish government with the opportunity to finally abolish the governorship-general.

According to Micheal Kennedy, “The governor-generalship of the Irish Free State had been progressively reduced in importance by the Cumann na nGaedheal government, and through the reforms in dominion status agreed at the imperial conferences of the 1920s. With Mrs McNeill he established a lively social circle in Dublin society. However, following the coming to power of Fianna Fáil in February 1932, what was to be McNeill’s last year as governor general was played out in public, in sharp contrast to the preceding years.” *

Éamon de Valera, president of the executive council following the 1932 general election, sought to lessen the significance of the office of the governor general, with a view to its abolition. McNeill was advised not to invite any members of the executive council to official functions hosted by the governor-general. As the government’s boycott of the office continued, McNeill was left humiliated and belittled.

McNeill’s breaking point came on 23 April 1932 when Seán T. O’Kelly and Frank Aiken stormed out of a reception at the French legation in Dublin when the McNeills arrived. McNeill sought an apology from de Valera but none came.

A further humiliation occurred when McNeill was asked by the government not to welcome visitors in his official capacity as governor general to the eucharistic congress in June 1932. This resulted in a battle of wills when the governor-general published his private correspondence with de Valera and de Valera sought McNeill’s resignation. McNeill instead, forced the executive council to remove him. Following a submission by de Valera to King George V, McNeill relinquished the office of governor general on 31 October 1932.

UCDA P234/318 Papers of Josephine McNeill

The documents below constitute a file of documents marked ‘Papers re publication of letters’ found in the papers of McNeill’s wife, Josephine. Part 2 of this post will be published later in the year where we will discuss documents in Éamon de Valera’s papers concerning the status and functions of the office of governor general and the events described in this post.

UCDA P234/318 Papers of Josephine McNeill

Copy letter from James McNeill to Éamon de Valera, president of the executive council of the Irish Free State, drawing his attention to a statement in The Irish Press where it was reported that on the arrival of McNeill to a reception hosted by the Minister of the French Republic, Ministers Sean T. O’Kelly and Frank Aiken walked out, apparently as a form of protest at his presence. McNeill claims that as The Irish Press is under the control of de Valera, that it must be ‘a considered policy that the Governor General should be treated with deliberate discourtesy’ by members of the executive council and the newspaper he controls (26 April 1932).

UCDA P234/318 Papers of Josephine McNeill

Letter from Éamon de Valera, department of the president, to James McNeill, denying that there is a considered policy that the governor general should be treated with deliberate discourtesy by members of the executive council or by The Irish Press. De Valera states that the governor general should communicate public social engagements to the executive council so that similar incidents do not occur (30 April 1932). Copy provided with the original letter marked ‘Personal. Not to be published’.

UCDA P234/318 Papers of Josephine McNeill

Copy letter from McNeill to de Valera, demanding an apology from de Valera and Ministers O’Kelly and Aiken, ‘not merely on my personal or official account, but with regard to the honour and self-respect of Irish public life’ (2 May 1932).

UCDA P234/318 Papers of Josephine McNeill

Letter from de Valera to McNeill reiterating his view that the whole affair was ‘unfortunate and regrettable and one that should not have been permitted to occur. Further than this I am unable to go’ (7 May 1932).Letter from de Valera to McNeill reiterating his view that the whole affair was ‘unfortunate and regrettable and one that should not have been permitted to occur. Further than this I am unable to go’ (7 May 1932).

UCDA P234/318 Papers of Josephine McNeill

Copy letter from McNeill to de Valera, concerning the arrangements for the eucharistic congress. Refers to de Valera’s message conveyed by Joseph Walshe, secretary, department of external affairs, that it would cause the government great embarrassment if McNeill as governor general invited a number of distinguished European Catholics to stay with him at the Vice Regal Lodge.  ‘I feel that the embarrassment, if it should arise, would not be sufficient to justify me in failing to make the contribution to the Congress which I had already arranged’ (24 May 1932).

UCDA P234/318 Papers of Josephine McNeill

Copy of a letter from Sir Clive Wigram, personal secretary to King George V, Buckingham Palace, to James McNeill, thanking him for keeping him updated on events at the eucharistic congress. Wigram refers to diplomatic protocols which had to be observed during the visit by the Cardinal Legate (Lorenzo Lauri, 1864–1941) to the Vice-Regal Lodge and states that McNeill ‘did everything possible to maintain the dignity of the Governor General in exceptionally difficult circumstances’. Reassures him that the letter will not be circulated to Downing Street (5 July 1932).

UCDA P234/318 Papers of Josephine McNeill

Copy letter from James McNeill, to de Valera, outlining the deteriorating relationship between the governor general and the government since the protest staged by Ministers O’Kelly and Aiken at the French Legation the previous April. McNeill refers to the exclusion by de Valera of the presence of the governor general at a civic reception for the Cardinal Legate during the eucharistic congress. ‘I never sought any public office. I am willing to return to private life when my acceptance of public duty is displeasing to a majority either of the Dáil or of the people. But I do not think I am a suitable target for ill-conditioned bad manners. I know that you have a majority in the Dáil. I know that you can have me removed’. Adds that he intends to publish the correspondence unless he receives an apology for the discourtesy shown towards his office (7 July 1932).

UCDA P234/318 Papers of Josephine McNeill

Copy of a letter from de Valera to McNeill, expressing his surprise that McNeill wishes to publish correspondence which he would consider to be confidential State documents. De Valera formally requests McNeill to refrain from publishing the letters in question (8 July 1932).

UCDA P234/318 Papers of Josephine McNeill

Copy letter from McNeill to de Valera, objecting to ‘unjustifiable and offensive’ acts by de Valera and the executive council. Reiterates his position that he will publish the correspondence in defiance of de Valera’s previous order (9 July 1932).

UCDA P234/318 Papers of Josephine McNeill

Copy letter from McNeill to Sir Clive Wigram, private secretary to King George V, enclosing recent copy correspondence between McNeill and de Valera, and explaining the course of action he has taken. ‘I feel sure that anything but a direct challenge would encourage those who regarded any Governor General as objectionable and would discourage all those who accepted the Governor General as the King’s representative. My resignation might save me trouble but would not, I deferentially submit, be the more honourable way to serve the King’ (9 July 1932).

This post was written by Kate Manning, Principal Archivist, UCD Archives

---

* https://doi.org/10.3318/dib.005751.v1