02 April
On
In Jail
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A champion cyclist, Martin Hegarty, was jailed for 2 months in Ballina Court for illegal drilling¹ during St. Patrick’s Day in Crossmolina. He was escorted to the courtroom from Castlebar Jail by sixteen armed police, who restricted the number of the members of the public allowed into the courtroom. A group of Irish Volunteers turned up at the courthouse and sang The Soldiers Song in support. The defendant did not recognise the authority of the court.Read More →

27 March
On
In Information
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The Freeman’s Journal reprints editorials from The Morning Post and The Globe, which call for conscription in Ireland. From the Morning Post :-   … The exemption of Ireland from any of the burdens and obligations of the war has long been a crying scandal and an offence. The time has come to end that state of things, and to require not, indeed, an equality of sacrifice, but … a share of that sacrifice. From the Globe :- …It is now high time that Ireland should be asked to take her fair share in the great fight for freedom, particularly for the rights of smallRead More →

20 March
On
In Event
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Five men tried in Westport courthouse for illegal drilling. William O’Malley (Kilmeena) was sentenced to one month in prison, while M J Ring, Thomas Kitterick, Charles Gavin and William Malone (all from Westport) were all sentenced to six months hard labour. None of the defendents recognised the authority of the court. The Connaught Telegraph (Saturday, March 23rd, 1918) reports that :- Both for their conduct in Westport [i.e. drilling] and their hooliganism in the court, the magistrates decided to impose an exemplary sentence.Read More →

19 March
On
In Event
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Thomas Ruane was sentenced to two months for unlawful assembly, for leading a company of men in military formation in Crossmolina on March 3rd. A large number of Sinn Fein supporters sang “A Soldier’s Song” outside the courtroom, and a large force of police and soldiers kept them at bay while the trial was in progress. When asked by the judge if he had any questions, the defendant replied¹ :- I am a soldier of the Irish Republican Army and I cannot put a question in this foreign court. A fire has been lighted that cannot be extinguished no matter what the oppression is used.Read More →

23 February
On
In Information
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Who can tell [..] what may happen if the Government permit itself to be deluded by some evil genius into the idea that it can enforce conscription on Ireland… …But should rulers act rashly or arbitrarily, the teaching of the Church did not allow subjects to rise against them of their own authority. Rebellion is absolutely unjustifiable in the circumstance of this country. Excerpt¹ from Lenten pastoral  of Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Dr. Brian FoleyRead More →

13 February
On
In Event
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The Freeman’s Journal¹ reports on an interview given by Frederick Edwin Smith to the Boston Post on January 14th, while in the United States. He is quoted in the newspaper :- Nothing ever me greater delight than the execution of the traitor Casement As Attorney General for the British government, he led the case for treason against Roger Casement in 1916. In the same interview he states:- It would be unwise at this time to try to enforce conscription in Ireland  since, unquestionably, it would precipitate riots.  Read More →