In this post, we will look at a series of documents—not all contemporaneous—from different collections, which help us to build up an understanding of the events of Easter weekend, 1916. The choice of documents also illustrate some of the challenges faced by historians and researchers in working with archives.
The documents I have chosen come from three different collections: Papers of Eamon de Valera, the Diary of J.R. Clark, and the Ernie O’Malley Notebooks.
Original copies of Eoin MacNeill’s countermanding orders form part of a file in de Valera’s papers concerning the presentation to de Valera by Dr Lorcan G. Sherlock, Under-Sheriff of Dublin, of these documents. Sherlock writes to de Valera about the documents (13 October 1941):
when they came into my possession immediately after Easter Week I considered two view points. A. The danger to yourself personally and Mr. McDonagh (sic) if the military authorities got possession of them. B. Their intense historical interest in after years depending upon the outcome of the Rebellion and its aftermath. I felt very strongly that the enclosures should not be destroyed and took good care that they should not reach the authorities, but of course the fact that I was His Majesty’s Sheriff in itself tended to prevent any inquiries in my direction…
These are not the only documents in de Valera’s papers presented to him long after the events occurred. They are an interesting feature of his papers, which we might examine in a later post. The documents illustrate the sometimes arbitrary nature of both the survival of documents, and what may be found in private paper collections. As contemporary documents, we read the physical evidence for what many consider MacNeill’s defining act (and which has coloured his legacy as a leader): countermanding the order for Volunteers to mobilise on Easter Sunday 1916.
- 2.
UCDA P150/462 Papers of Eamon de Valera
Reproduced by kind permission of UCD-OFM Partnership
1. Original countermanding order addressed to Eamon de Valera from Eoin MacNeill, Woodtown PUCDA P150/462 Papers of Eamon de Valera
Reproduced by kind permission of UCD-OFM Partnership, Rathfarnham, County Dublin, stating
Easter Sunday, 1.20p.m. As Commt. MacDonagh is not accessible, I have to give you this order direct. Commt. MacDonagh left me last night with the understanding that he would return or send me a message. He has done neither. As Chief of Staff, I have ordered and hereby order that no movement whatsoever of Irish Volunteers is to be made today. You will carry out this order in your own command and make it known to other commands.
2. Original general countermanding order from MacNeill stating:
Easter Sunday. The order to Irish Volunteers printed over my name in today’s Sunday Independent is hereby authenticated. Every influence should be used immediately and throughout the day to secure faithful execution of this order as any failure to obey it may result in a very grave catastrophe.
The Diary of J.R. Clark was deposited in UCD Archives in 1999 by Dr Cathal Brugha, who was given it by his neighbour, a Mr J.J. Jennings. Clark was a civil servant with the Office of Public Works. His diary (UCDA P169) is a handwritten, first-person contemporaneous account of his experiences during Easter Week, 1916. He writes in detail about his difficulties in moving about the city, his personal observation of the fighting in Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street) and Rutland Square, and his return to work in the Customs House in the aftermath of the Rising.
UCDA P169 Diary of J.R. Clarke
Apl 24 [1916] *
1 o’c left by tram for Howth with Jean. Tram stopped at [ blank ] by heavy firing down Camden St. A jarvey dash up & shouted to a friend. Hye Paddy don’t go down there you’ll be killed. Fresh volley of shots & crowd rushing about. Learned it was the Shin Feiners firing at the military at Jacobs. Saw ½ a platoon Irish Rifles turn out of a side street into direction of firing. Got off tram & went round by Harcourtt [sic] Street wh[ich] was all quiet. No tram running so proceeded down Earlsfort Terrace [insert: Hotel __]. Here the road was barricaded with beer barrels & at the bottom by motor cars but there was not a soul in sight. A man told us that an officer had ridden into the ranks of the Sinn Feiners & had been pulled off & stabbed whereupon the military had been called out. So thinking it was only an accidental outbreak & would be over in an hour or two & not wishing to frighten Jean I proceeded on the way to Amiens Street. Firing continued all the time crossing the Donnybrook tram line. Say people all looking in Stephen’s Green direction from which sounds of rifle shots came. The North end of the green was empty save for a deserted tram & an overturned cart. We proceeded & getting near Amiens St Westland Row I said it would be better to go down to Kingstown but found the Station shut & in the hands of the Rebels one of whom we saw on guard.
All quite [sic] in Tara St w the people seemingly oblivious of what was going on in the City which reassured us. Crossed Butt Bridge & past Liberty Hall which was apparently deserted & so to Amiens Street about 3 o’c. Waited here for ¾ hr & was just going to give back tickets when the train
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came in so went off to Howth where we walked over the ___ ________ side amidst the mist & saw a lovely red Rhodedendron.
Coming down near 6 to go home we found a crowd at the station which was closed & learned that there were no more trams or trains so went back to a small house & had tea. After tea returned to station still closed & local RIC Inspector advising everybody to stay where they were as Dublin was very dangerous & there would be no trams or trains today or tomorrow the trains being in the hands of the military.
Got room for the night & walked along the pier then turned in.
Apl 25 Tuesday
Still no chance of trams or trains. Spoke to a Sergt who had been caught by Rebels & would have been shot but a priest got him away. The priest was afterwards shot. He was glad enough to stay in Howth. Learned that there was no bread or meat in Howth.
Could not get money at P.O. so in view of having no money & probably starvation of the Howth population decided to walk to town. So at 10 mins to 12 got a tram round the head wh[ich] after a wait of 20 mins at the Summit which we could not see for mist landed us at Sutton about 2 o’c.
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From here we walked in to Dollymount [insert: putting papers in coat lining :end insert] where we had dinner of very nice cold ham & tea. The shop was just like a little country place where everyone that came in knew every one else & all had a chat with the shopkeeper. Nearing Clontarf we learned that the rebels held the bridge into town & were stopping everyone. I had my discharge papers & decided that as they would not help me through the lines I had better leave them in Clontarf. Jean was also anxious about this so went into Chemists for a directory to find Quail’s. Found a Quail in St Lawrence Road which turned out to be his brother who directed us to 47 Hollybrook Road. Here Mr Quail consented to keeping papers for me & Mrs Quail insisted on us staying for Tea & afterwards, as Jean was tired out & it was dangerous to go across the city that we should stay the night. Fire broke out in the city from which occasional firing could be heard.
Wed 26 Apl
Morning at 8 o’c 6 or 7 terrific bangs.
Self & Quail walked into town without hindrance of any sort. Going up Talbot St many rifle shots all around some apparently quite close. Apparently fighting on the roofs. Saw green white & yellow flag on Post Office. Barricade at top which diverted us to Marlboroug [sic] St. We crossed Sackville St by Parnell Monument. The street crowded by people watching the fight at the Post Office as if it were a cinema. Saw dead horse still lying near underground WC.
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All this time sniping shots could be heard from all directions. Reached office where we found one or two of the staff & all the porters. Veitch in a state of funk said he had not slept for 2 nights, as the Rebels were at Broadstone & were sniping.
Learned Mother had just been there & had left with Alexander & Mrs Trotter. She left a note for me telling me she was safe in Norfolk Hotel Gardiner Place with McNair. I judged she would have bone home with Alec. Left about 12 with Quaid. Rather undecided about going to Hotel with Mac [?] there. However it became impossible as just as we were crossing about to cross Sackville St again at Parnell Monument a fusillade started & a woman was shot just in front of us so we had to turn & tried to cross by Rutland Sq.
The rebels were firing from the roof of the Rotunda & from the windows of the corner house opposite & the continuous bursts of firing & cracking [crashing?] of bullets overhead became alarming. We went up the side of Rutland Square feeling far from comfortable as the [other side?] was swept by stray bullets. I thought we would have little chance of crossing there & just as we reached the turn a terrific crash of a volley rang out & we saw soldiers in Gardiners Place.
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Went on to cross further up. A tremendous racket started wh[ich] we learned was a military machine gun in the laundry at the Dorset St corner. Obviously no chance of crossing there so proceeded higher up to Berkey [Berkeley?] St. Here a Sentry stopped the people but allowed them at times to double over. We doubled & landing in the street with the [?] in it got into Drumcondra Road & proceeded towards the bridge. Just at the N.C.R. a Company of Dublin Fusiliers came down & halted apparently taking up a position. The officer told us & the crowd to go home if we didn’t want to be shot. He was obviously in earnest so the crowd melted away, ourselves to Clontarf via Clonliff[e] Road & at the bridge by the manure works which had been occupied by the rebels & was commanded by a Gilbeys shop with windows barricaded. This was all smashed up by shot holes & vacant. Large fires in town [?] continuous sniping & occasional heavy bursts of fire from machine guns which kept going all night.
Proclamation & intimation that all was in hand.
Thursday 27
Fairly quiet in morning.
In the afternoon we went over golf course with W & Q [?] at about ¼ to 4. Heavy rifle firing commenced in Ringsend direction & continued without cessation for an hour where there were half a dozen large
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explosions which were followed by silence.
Quiet. Comparative quiet reigned till 7.30 when pandemonium broke loose & continued all night.
Friday 28
Comparatively quiet.
Afternoon was enrolled & given a white band & after a long wait near the station giving any enterprising rebel the chance of shooting us all without any damage to himself went off to the strand near the Railway bridge & filled sandbags for a barricade across the road.
Tom Morris formerly a transcriber in the Deeds appeared in a military uniform without buttons & told a laughable tale of his being imprisoned as a Sinn Feiner at Arbour Hill.
Saturday 29
Still comparatively quiet. A food train arrived from Belfast with butter & margarine Bread *& bacon. The “bandits” helped to unload & distribute the stuff to the various traders whose carts barrows & every available conveyance were lined up at the station looking for all the world like the arrival of the train at a country station. I did not help in this as it seemed to be a sort of local business & I was ___ & ___ .
At about 4 o’c Rumours came that it was all over as the Rebels had surrendered unconditionally. The military cordon remained
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and indeed grew stricter.
Sunday 30
Spent the morning going to the Bull for a military pass & in the afternoon tried to get across to Harolds X. The pass got me into the cordon but I was prevented from going via Butt Bridge & only got up Talbot St as far as Gardiner St. Had to retrace & go some other way to Mountjoy Square. Thence to Norfolk Hotel where McNair told me Mother had gone home on Wed. I promised to let him know & set of via Capel St. Got across Parliament bridge & pas the Castle Christ Church & St Patrick’s. The military here were lining the streets & I heard one [?] telling the people to go indoors.
At Harolds X bridge the officer would not allow me to cross as he could accept nothing but a Provost Marshall’s pass. So I had to get back. Tried the Castle for a pass but being send from one door to another &c. Came to the conclusion I’d better get back before too late.
Was not allowed however to cross bridge. The Mil[itary] seemed to have surrounded this small district & were going to clear it & had got me inside this cordon. I approached an officer who was telling the sentry to allow no one across the bridge. He happened to personally know the signatory to my pass & let me over the bridge after wh[ich]I got without difficulty to the Norfolk
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where Mac being out I left a note & proceeded home. Was stopped at the bridge to Fairview & the police not recognising me it looked as if I’d have some difficulty in getting out but my discharge papers shown to the officer got me across.
Monday 1
Set out on a borrowed bike to reach Harolds Cross outside of the cordon via Richmond Road to Drumcondra Canal bank to Cross Guns bridge Glasnevin Cemetery to NCR above Phibsborough. Military in possession of NCR & Park closed so cycled round Park by Castleknock to Chapelizod & thence to Crumlin & Harolds Cross where I found mother quite safe. Could only stay a short while & took some clean clothes for Jean & changed myself. Mother had watered garden & said a robin has built a nest in the ivy.
Tuesday 2
All quiet. Mr Quail in the office reported easy crossing of town so went to barrier & got a pass so as to start early in the morning.
Wed 3
Once inside the barrier were unchallenged till passing the cordon on South Side. Mrs Quail accompanied me as women needed no passes. Via Talbot St to Pillar where we climbed over the ruins of the tram at top of Earl St & looked at the devastated
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scene. The whole centre of the City was wrecked. The pavement was still hot to the feet & there was a terrible smell of burning about. Kellys shop at corner of Sackville St & the Quay was fairly eaten away, with bullets the windows being shapeless, having been fired at from Trinity College along D’Olier St. One tram or light standard has a shell hole right through it.
Westmorland St is undamaged as are the Bank Trinity College & Grafton St cept for the looting of Knowles Woolworth & Mansfields. Could see no trenches in Stephens Green & were surprised at the College of Surgeons. There was only about 50 bullet marks on it & the windows weren’t even smashed so could not understand why “the woman known as Countess Markievitz [sic]” with 120 men surrendered from there. As we heard that Portobello bridge was stopped we crossed over the one to Palmerston [?] tramway & up the canal but Portobello was used too. Got home & found Mother out with Mac. After dinner the Dugdales called & also Alec Dugdale with an instruction to return to the office the next day. Went to Rathmines Police Barracks but too big a crowd so returned for tea.
Jean & I found the robin’s nest with 4 little ones. The parents fed them even tho we were in the garden all five of us.
To Harolds X Police Barracks where Dugdale produced
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his letter & said he wanted a pass & he supposed that was not enough [?}. “No” said the Sgt nor is it enough to identify you so I stepped forward & pulling out my papers said that they would identify me & I would identify [?] him. “Oh I know you” says the Sgt. I remarked that I didn’t think he would have recognised me as I had been away for two years. “Oh I know you these 10 years said he (possible as Mother remarked he had played ball with me at Rathmines)
He had asked Dugdale why he came there instead of Rathmines.
Thursday 4
Back to office where we had to state all our doings & wherever we slept each night for the past week from 12 o’c Saturday 22 till Monday May 1.
Friday 5
No passes necessary & hours lengthened to 8.30 at night instead of 7.30.
The Ernie O’Malley papers in UCD Archives include a series of 53 notebooks containing O’Malley’s transcripts of interviews he conducted during the period 1948–54. They parallel the Bureau of Military History project, and it is likely that prompted O’Malley to undertake his own interviews. O’Malley interviewed c.400 of his former colleagues from the revolutionary period. His interviews cover the entire period, from 1916 through to the Civil War, whereas the Bureau’s interviews stop at the Truce in 1921. The excerpt from UCDA P17b/106 below is from O’Malley’s interview with Liam Manahan, a senior figure in the Irish Volunteers in East Limerick, outline his recollection about receiving Eoin MacNeill’s countermanding order.
UCDA P17b/106 O’Malley Notebooks © UCD
Sunday morning the Co[mpanies] were on the move. In most country places there are 2 Masses on Sunday. Some of the Volunteers had attended early Mass & others were attending the later Mass at 11 o’clock on their way to the place of mob[ilisation]. About 11 o’clock I had seen the Ballylanders Co[mpany] parade when a d[espatch] rider, Mick Sullivan from Mitchelstown, arrived with a message from the Captain of the Co[mpany] in which he brought MacNeill’s order which had been given to him by The O’Rahilly at Anglesboro’: The O’Rahilly was on his way from Mitchelstown to Tipp[erary]. This order read: “Volunteers completely deceived etc (as published in the Press at the time) “All orders for Sunday cancelled”. …
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*This transcription of UCDA P169 was prepared by Mick O’Farrell, author on the period 1916, and collector of Easter Rising-related publications. Mr O’Farrell also wrote a previous guest post, Do you have a favourite Proclamation?, which discusses UCDA P103 Fragments of the 1916 Proclamation.
This post was written by Kate Manning, Principal Archivist, UCD Archives