Tom Barry (47 page)
Authors: Meda Ryan
Tags: #General, #Europe, #Ireland, #History, #Biography & Autobiography, #Guerrillas, #Military, #Historical, #Nationalists
Nobody appears to have come to Mr Aiken's rescue. The correspondence closed when a New York Club sent a âunanimously adopted' resolution âwith regard to Frank Aiken's comment of Tom Barry's record.'
We the Liam Lynch IRA, Club of New York City, representing the exiled members of the five Cork brigades, challenge Frank Aiken or any of his followers to match records with Tom Barry during the fight for Irish freedom.
[64]
In June 1935, when Barry was fighting to keep IRA men out of jail and trying to defend his name, there were serious incursions upon working class Nationalist areas in Belfast, and July became an âorgy of murder, arson, looting, assaults and sniping in which 13 died.'
[65]
Throughout July, riots continued, with mainly Catholics being killed, many severely wounded; âover 2,000 were driven from their homes' and large numbers âwere forced from their workplaces'. Though 12 IRA were arrested there âwas ample opportunity' for its members âto wage a sectarian war' and as previously âit refused to do so. Protestants were not shot at or bombed after the rioting had ceased, while Catholics were.'
[66]
When Nationalist party candidates were contesting seats in November in Northern Ireland British election, Tom Barry spoke in Belfast to âan estimated 10,000 strong' and warned of âan approaching war' when the British administration would conscript nationalists. In such a scenario of being âtramped down by armed force, the only way to defeat that slavery is with a gun in your hand', he warned.
[67]
Barry set out for England to see his friend Jack Doheny Lynch who was OC of the Republican forces in Britain. âHe stayed with me for a week, and it was a great week. We went to Manchester, our headquarters, doing all our travelling at night because it was cheaper and safer. Other places visited were Scotland, Birmingham, Liverpool, London and all over Coventry. Barry had a great sense of humour; we had a few good laughs. I can tell you he took a few chances.'
Barry took Jack Doheny with him to visit his parents in Liverpool. They got a âgrand tea â lamb chops and brown bread, and a grand welcome'. Sitting around the table afterwards, they were having a wide-ranging chat with Tom's mother and father when a family member rushed in shouting, âThere's a police car outside!' The two dived for the back door, cleared the wall and made their escape. That night they moved quickly to the country where they stayed for a few days. Then Barry, well used to slipping through loopholes, hid in a cargo boat and returned to Ireland.
[68]
Barry wanted Ireland for the Irish; at least he wanted to see them getting a share in the work that was available. To this end his next target was the Freemasons in Cork, owners of large businesses known to employ only those of their own persuasion, despite consistent requests by influential people to broaden their employee personnel. âYou could never get one step up the ladder while they were at the foot of it,' he said.
On the night of 25 January 1936 the masons were having a party in the Masonic Hall in Tuckey Street, all happily sitting around their tables, when Barry with a select group of men burst in, smashing the plates, cups and furniture and gave them an ultimatum. âThe incident had the desired effect; they became friendly and employed Catholics after that. Barry was a dangerous man to have on their backs', Jerh Cronin recalled.
[69]
Barry lived at this time in Belgrave Place, Cork and on several occasions the house was raided, but the police failed to find him. Den Carey tells of a night when Barry was staying out in College Road and decided he'd like to go to Counihan's pub as he was to go to Dublin the next morning for an operation for a stomach ulcer. He then insisted on going home. Seán Mitchel and Den Carey were with him.
âLeslie wasn't home. We knew where the key was, so we went in, and as I was about to close the door, two detectives stood in front of us. They looked at us, hesitated and walked away. I'm sure they were afraid when they saw the three of us.'
Instantly the three made their getaway. Den Carey took Barry to Jim Grey in Cobh who was to drive him to Dublin. But before he left Tom insisted on buying a bottle of whiskey, and apparently he drank so much of it that he didn't need the anaesthetic while being operated on! Though he seldom drank during a period of action and was prepared to face any enemy, he had an utter dread of hospitals and operations. However, his recovery didn't take too long â he joked that the whiskey before the operation aided the healing process.
[70]
Notes
[
1
]Jennie Wyse Power to Sighle Humphreys, 7 February 1922, SH Papers, P106/ 743, UCDA.
[
2
]Draft Agenda for Convention. MT Papers P69/46, UCDA.
[
3
]
Ibid
.
[
4
]Army council to Fianna Fáil, 28 April, 1927, MT Papers, P69/48 (34), UCDA.
[
5
]Army council to E. de Valera, 17/5/1927, MT Papers, P69/48 (128), UCDA.
[
6
]Army council to E. de Valera 1/5/1927, P69/48 (30) MT Papers, UCDA.
[
7
]Correspondence between P69/48 (29) (30) (31) (32), MT Papers, UCDA.
[
8
]Danny Canty, author interview 7/12/1974.
[
9
]Pat Buttimer, author interview 18/10/1980; Criostóir de Baróid, author interview 11/1/1981;
Cork Examiner
, January 1931.
[
10
]John O'Donovan, author interview 28/10/1976.
[
11
]Dan Cahalane, author interview 25/8/1980. This was Pat O'Donovan's house; he had fought in the Kilmichael ambush. Many of Barry's Column and Third Cork Brigade men were there.
[
12
]Seán Cronin,
Frank Ryan â The Search for the Republic
, p. 44.
[
13
]See Maurice Manning,
The Blueshirts,
pp. 17â27.
[
14
]Tom Barry to Moss Twomey, 13 May 1932, MT Papers, P69/52 (63) & (64), UCDA.
[
15
]Correspondance between Tom Barry and Moss Twomey, MT Papers, P69/52 (62) & P69/52 (58) â May, June, July 1932, UCDA.
[
16
]Tom Barry to Moss Twomey, 13 May 1932, P69/52 (63), (64), Tom Barry to Moss Twomey, 3 June, 1932 and 11 July, 1932, P69/52 (60) & (61), UCDA; Moss Twomey to Tom Barry, 6 June 1932, P69/52 (59); Report P69/52 (45), MT Papers, UCDA. Barry had resigned his executive position.
[
17
]Moss T., C/S to O/C Cork No. 1 Brigade, meeting with Fianna Fáil, 19 July 1932, MT Papers, P69/52 (54) (55) (56) (57), UCDA.
[
18
]Long confidential report â 15, 16, 17 July 1932, MT Papers, P69/52 (55), (56), (57), UCDA.
[
19
]C/S to Tom Barry 19 July 1932, MT Papers, P69/52 (53), UCDA.
[
20
]Tom Barry to Moss Twomey C/S, (handwritten) 20 July 1932, P69/52 (48) & (49) & (50) & (51) & (52), MT Papers, UCDA.
[
21
]
The Sunday Express
, 24 July, 1932.
[
22
]Tom Barry to Moss Twomey, 25 July 1932, MT Papers, P69/52 (47), UCDA.
[
23
]Memo August 1932, P69/53 (374), MT Papers, UDCA.
[
24
]Barry in a letter to Moss Twomey, âI would have been at the station to see you off only I had to get back to work.' 28/11/1932, P69/54 (53) (54), MT Papers, UCDA.
[
25
]Letter to Seán Martin â sender not given, 6/12/1932, P69/54 (52), MT Papers, UCDA.
[
26
]Tom Barry to Moss Twomey, 28/11/32, MT Papers, P69/54 (53) (54), UCDA.
[
27
]Report on general army convention, 17, 18, 19 March 1933, MT Papers, P69/ 187 (90) â (118), UCDA.
[
28
]Tom Barry to Moss Twomey, 23/3/1933, (handwritten) MT Papers, 69/53 (259), (260), (261), (262), UCDA.
[
29
]Moss Twomey to Tom Barry, 27/3/1933, MT Papers, P69/53 (257), UCDA.
[
30
]Tom Barry handwritten note, 27/3/1933, P69/53 (258), MT Papers, UCDA.
[
31
]Tom Barry to C/S, 3/4/1933, MT Papers, 69/53 (212), UCDA.
[
32
]Tom Barry to Moss Twomey, 10/4/1933, P69/53 (161), P69/51 (33), (34), (35), MT Papers, UCDA.
[
33
]Tom Barry to C/S, 10/4/1933, 69/53 (161), MT Papers, UCDA.
[
34
]Moss Twomey to Joe McGarrity, 26 October 1933, Joe McGarrity Papers, MS 17,490, NLI.
[
35
]Tom Barry 16/5/1933, MT Papers, P69/53 (8), UCDA.
[
36
]C/S to O/C, West Cork, 23 May 1933, P69/53 (2) MT Papers, UCDA.
[
37
]Tom Barry to C/S, 8/5/1933, P69/53(9), MT Papers, UCDA.
[
38
]Barry, O/C West Cork to C/S, 19/5/1933, P69/53 (6), O/C West Cork to C/S, 18/5/1933, P69/53 (7); unsigned letter to C/S, 20/5/1933, P69/53 (3), MT Papers, UCDA.
[
39
]Tom Barry, memo, n.d., P69/53 (327), MT Papers, UCDA.
[
40
]âProgramme for Training Camp', his is a detailed document under headings, and though it does not have Barry's name or signature attached, it has all the hallmarks of his work structure, and even spelling such as, âpicquets', and corresponds with his views in a document in his papers, P69/51 (33) (34) (35), MT Papers, UCDA.
[
41
]Minutes of army convention, 17,18,19 March 1933, MT Papers, P69/187 (86 â 118), UCDA. I am indebted to Michael MacEvilly for this reference; see forthcoming publication, Michael MacEvilly,
Andy Cooney
.
[
42
]Minutes of convention, March 1933, MT Papers, P69/187 (86â118), UCDA; see also Keogh,
Twentieth,
pp. 81â87; For details on tensions between the IRA and the Catholic Church, see Brian Hanley,
The IRA 1926â1936
, pp. 63â70.
[
43
]Tim Pat Coogan,
The IRA,
p. 103.
[
44
]Tom Kelleher, author interview 9/4/1979; Jerh Cronin, author interview 10/1/ 1981.
[
45
]Jim Kearney, author interview 18/10/1980; Speakers were O'Duffy, MacDermot, Dillon and Blythe; see also MacEoin,
The IRA,
p. 257.
[
46
]Kathy Hayes, author interview 19/10/1980.
[
47
]Jack Doheny Lynch, author interview 10/1/1981.
[
48
]Handwritten notebook record of March 1934, IRA Convention, P67/525, Seán MacEntee Papers, UCDA.
[
49
]Frank Edwards in MacEoin,
Survivors
, p. 11.
[
50
]Tom to Leslie, 12.20 p.m. (exact, as always) 24 April 1935, TB private papers.
[
51
] J. Bowyer Bell,
The Secret Army
, pp. 149â151, Uinseann MacEoin,
The IRA In The
Twilight Years
, p. 12; Tom to Leslie, 24 April 1935, TB private papers.
[
52
]Frank Aiken Papers, P104/1285 (2), UCDA.
[
53
]
Cork Examiner
, 14 May 1935;
Irish Press
, 14 May 1935;
Irish Independent
, 14 May 1935.
[
54
]
Cork Examiner
,
Irish Press
,
Irish Independent
, 3 June 1935; Frank Aiken Papers, P104/1283 (4), (5), (6), UCDA.
[
55
]
Cork Examiner
, 3 June 1935.
[
56
]
Irish Press
,
Irish Independent
, 6 June 1935;
Cork Examiner
, 5 June 1935; Frank Aiken Papers, P104/1284 (3), UCDA.
[
57
]
Irish Independent
, 7 June and 8 June 1935.
[
58
]
Irish Independent
,
Irish Press
,
Cork Examiner
, 7 June 1935.
[
59
]Frank Aiken Papers, P104/1286 (1), (2), (3), (4), UCDA.
[
60
]
Irish Independent
,
Irish Press
,
Cork Examiner
, 8 June 1935.
[
61
]
Irish Independent
,
Irish Press
,
Cork Examiner
, 14 June 1935; Frank Aiken Papers, P104/1288 (1) (2) (3) (4), UCDA.
[
62
]
Cork Examiner
,
Irish Independent
,
Irish Press
, 12 June 1935.
[
63
]
Cork Examiner
,
Irish Independent
,
Irish Press
, 12 June 1935; Frank Aiken Papers, P104/1287 (1) (2), UCDA.
[
64
]
Cork Examiner
, 28 June 1935 â it is dated 12 June, 1935. Charles Russell in a letter to the
Irish Independent
(17 June 1935) writes of a peace conference he was at in Cork where Tom Barry, Fr Duggan and Liam Deasy were present, and he drove them through Cork sentries. As Liam Deasy was in jail since January 1923, this information does not appear correct. The meeting referred to may have taken place prior to the outbreak of the Civil War,
Irish Independent
, 17 June 1935.
[
65
]Uinseann MacEoin,
The IRA in the
Twilight Years
, p. 12.
[
66
]Hanley, p. 157.
[
67
]
Ibid
., p. 158.
