Athenry Crime 1859-1912 by Ronan Killeen

T. Curran's Butcher's which was shot into in the year 1905 which was of a nature of agriarian outrage

I have decided to continue anyways with the blog as google does penalise you for copying and pasting your own work to another website... in this month's article I am going to write a short time line on Athenry Crime which I always wanted to do but some of the time will be skipped as there has been publications been done on some of the crimes that will be mentioned here as they are very long winded and I will be skipping the 1916-1923 era.

*What I am using are articles from the Irish Times website archive:

17 December 1859

At the Petty Sessions court, a 20 year old man, William Tierney was charged with stealing a sheep from

property of Timothy Kinneen, Athenry. It was on the 9th August that Kinneen realised the sheep was

missing at Cullain Bawn (today known as Cullairbaun) and he immediately reported it to one of his

herd. 

   It was on a Monday that the heard saw a butcher drive a sheep through the town. He followed the

Butcher to his house and notice that it was Mr. Kinneen's sheep. He told Kinneen about this. Kinneen

met the butcher and told him he would not pay him or give him the sheep as the sheep was stolen until he handed the sheep over to the police - Tierney was arrested by the constabulary and confined to the police barrack. 

   On Tuesday 13 Decembr1859 the whole affair was investigated at Athenry Petty Sessions by James

Clarke, Esq, who sent the affair for trial at the next court of quarter sessions to be held at Loughrea.

01 August 1862

Two men - John Donohue and Thomas Keely (doubt any relation to the the Thomas Keely who was hanged in 1902 for the murder of Mary Clasby) were indited for breaking into the storehouses of Charles 

Blackhall on 8 July Athenry stealing six calfskins and one cowhide. 

  'Mr. Blackhall identified the calfskin which had been sold on the 11 July 1862 to a man named Small, near Ballinasloe, who lived near the the prisoners but Donohue cross-examined the witness to much of his own dis-advantage. It was very memorable that each of the prisoners was blind of the left eye'.

  The Jury without leaving the box, found the prisoner Donohue guilty and Keely innocent sentenced

was differed.

1869 The Peter Barrett case

To read this case read the chapter by Ann Healy 'Did the Evicted Tenant's son really shoot the Landlord' in the book Carnaun National School  1891-1991  by  Finbarr O'Regan which you can find in the following libraries of Co. Galway http://ipac.galwaycoco.ie/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1346L6HD42779.29844&profile=gweb&uri=link=3100010~!639836~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=basic_search&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Carnaun+school%2C+Athenry+%3A+1891+-+1991+%2F+edited+by+Finbarr+O%27Regan.&index=ALTITLE.

28 December 1874

Thomas Cahill was arrested near Athenry on the charge of murdering his sweetheart Bridget Sandergran in America, December 1873. The couple were natives of Co. Galway.

1881 - The Craughwell Prisoners

I remember when I was doing my thesis I came across what was called the Athenry murder which

later became the Craughwell murder. Read Pat Finnegan's book about it.

16 December 1881

13 people were arrested for rioting and unlawful assembly at Athenry who were the following people Andrew Keary, Patrick Coyne, Patrick Cawley, Martin Connolly, Mary Shiel, Owen

Doherty, Patrick Howley, Michael Shiel, Mary Nolan, Thomas Mannion, Joseph Regan,

 Patrick Doherty and James Gormen.

   'The MacDermott of the Q. C. (Queen's Council) and Mr. F. Le Poer Trench Q. C.'s instructed by Mr. R. D. O'Farrell crown solicitor for the County Galway appeared to prosecute. Mr. John R. Stitich instructed by Mr. Fauler and Mr. McGough late land league solicitor appeared on behalf of the prisoners. The jury found the following prisoners not guilty, Andrew Keary, Mary Nolan and Patrick Coyne' were let go free.

   The prisoners had been recommended on the ground of peculiarity of the case. The Baron Fitzgerald gave and order that the prisoners would be discharged apart from one prisoner who was Patrick Keary when The MacDermott stated that Keary had been arrested and in custody of the 'PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY ACT'as a suspect. The sentences of the other prisoners were discharged. You can read about the PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY ACT here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protection_of_Person_and_Property_Act_1881.

24 March 1904

Michael and John Coen were charged with stealing cattle at Kilconnell and Athenry fairs. John pleaded not guilty, and the crown (British Judicary System at the time) entered a 'noelle prosequi'  (see here http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Nolle+prosequi).

   Michael Coen pleased guilty to the charge, and the judge sent the prisoner to jail for six months and for Michael's imprisonment to start on the the 14 January 1904.

3 March 1905

By this time in the locality in Ireland agitation had heightenened in Athenry  according to the Irish Times 'Agrarian troubles seem to have grown very acnte recently in the Athenry district. For months passed there had been a formidable succession of wanton outrages against property in this portion of Co. Galway' .

   The paper mentions that ten days ago previous to the publication of the Irish Times newspaper on the 3 March 1905 that a herd named Dobbyn, four shots were discharged. It was unclear as to the reasons why Dobbyn's house was fired into 'His offence against the powers that be - in other words the United Irish League - is not very clear, but it appears to have some connection with the position of herd on Newport farm,  recently purchased by the Congested Districts Board. The farm consists of some six or seven hundred acres, and we understand that by an arrangement with the Board of Agriculture, it is to be used for educational purposes connected with the farming industry.'

  The place that the Irish Times newspaper are on about for 'educational purposes' was more than likely the location of the Agricultural College to due to the fact it was heavily policed with the Royal Irish Constabulary around the area.

   A place near Moyvilla, an outrage also took place in the location of where the United Irish League had required to be divided amongst the people.

   On Sunday 26 of February, Thomas Curran, a butcher from Athenry, who was 'in occupation on the eleven mouth's system' premises, was shot into (see picture). A claim for compensation under the MALICOUS INJURIES ACT was made.

   Also on that publication of the Irish Times reference was made on an attack of a clergyman 'Outrages already given a constitute a sufficiently black record for the last month, especially when it is considered that the district which we are dealing with is a small one. Only recent cases have been referred to, but by going back a few months some other wanton violations of the law.

28 March 1905

Two agrarian outrages near Athenry in the parish of Kiltullagh. Were Mr. Murphy, a victuller of Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo and Mr. Loughlin of Zetland Arms Hotel, Cashel, Connemara both had grazing farms close to Athenry.

   Murphy has his land taken of him twelve months previous by the Congested District Boards, back in November 1904 and was then given back to him by February 1905. A number of tenants had planned to divide the land, under the disapproval of the United Irish League (I will at some point on the blog do a short article on Athenry politics but for now I will concentrate on the crimes up to 1912).

   Loughlin who had a grazing farm on the property of the Lambert family, was called by the United Irish League to surrender his farm. Loughlin refused which resulted in the consequence of 'Moonlighters' to knocked down the wall of his farm, drive his cattle through the country side, and cut the tail off one animal. It was the same consequence for Murphy but tails were cut of more than one of Murphy's animals. 

   The farms were located in three Royal Irish Constabulary barracks', they were Bookeen, Athenry and Larah.

 October 1906

An Royal Irish Constable - Constable O'Halloran was shot and wounded. I plan to write this story as a separate article on the blog due to the length of the case.

12 June 1907 in the House of Commons (reported 13 June 1907 in Irish Times)

Mr. Charles Craig http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Curtis_Craig of the House of Commons asked the then Chief Secretary of Ireland Mr. Augustine Birrell http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Birrell was he aware that Mr. Palmer's farm had been raided with his cattle and sheep cleared? To which Mr. Birrell replied 'On the 28 of May, there was a crowd of 100 persons drove off cattle, from Mr. Palmer's farm. There was two police present. No arrests were made, but proceedings had been taken against five men, and steps would be taken  by the police to afford at necessity.

From 1907-1912 it doesn’t say much about agitation in Athenry but moves into the murder of Constable Goldrick known as The Craughwell Murder. For further reading read The Craughwell Prisoners by Pat Finnegan, and Land, Revolution and Nationalist Politics in the West 1891-1921 by Dr. Fergus Campbell. Both books can be found in Athenry library.

   

An occupational directory of Athenry from Slater in 1846 by Ronan Killeen

See link

http://www.athenryonline.com/index.php/news-menu/69-athenry-occupations-from-slater-s-directory-1846-by-ronan-killeen

Thom's Occupational Directory of Athenry 1936 by Ronan Killeen

See link http://www.athenryonline.com/index.php/news-menu/67-athenry-occupations-in-1936-from-thom-s-directory

Athenry Eucharistic Congress clipping from Connacht Tribune 1932 by Ronan Killeen

As you can see the engravement for the Eucharistic Congress.


As there is a celebration for the Eucharistic Congress coming up I took the liberty of printing out an article from that time:

'The Executive of the Athenry Congress Committee, at a public meeting held at Lady's Well, Athenry authorised a ladies committee to collect funds in Athenry and surrounding districts for the purpose of erecting a Memorial Cross at Lady's Well. The Cross (Crucifiction) will be erected and unveiled on June 26, 1932, as a lasting memorial of this solemn event, on the grounds of Our Lady's Well.'


www.alhref.blogspot.com

Glimpses of Erin - taken from Athenry.net link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS8WisImDEM if you go to 5:00 of this clip the back lawn (where Athenry House and Kenny Park G. A. A. pitch is) is featured at an Agriculutral show a tip I got from the Athenry.net message board.

Athenry in the Year of 1865 by Ronan Killeen

In the 19th century there were three directories Piggott's, Thom's and Slater's. Today I am using Slater's directory from an article published on Athenry in 1856. Slater's directory begins about the medieval history and geography of the town but as my blog is focused on the modern history I will skip past that piece.
  In Slater's directory he mentions that 'The parish contained in 1854 4,505 inhabitants, and the town 1,487 of that number' the directory then mentions the people of the town 1.487 of that number' the directory continues of who has businesses in the town of Athenry as follows:

Post Master
James Barrett

Professional Persons:
James Barrett, land agent, and comissioner of affidavits and master extrordinary in chancery.

John Bradish, master of the national school

M. W. Eager, Surgeon

Nicholas Lawless, master of parochail school

John Lopdell, barrister, Prospect House

Hotels & Public Houses:
Margaret Barrett, hotel and Posting House

William Brown, Railway Hotel

Bridget Cannon

John Dunleavy

John Holleran

Timothy Kinneen, hotel

Bridget Whelan

Shopkeepers & Traders:
Joseph Barrett, Grocer and Draper

Michael Belton, Saddler

John Blake, Ironmonger, Grocer and Publican

Charles Blackhall, Grocer and Ironmonger

Martin Broderick, Carpenter

Peter Broderick, Grocer and Butcher

John Burke, Grocer and Baker

Thomas Burke, Carpenter

Michael Collins,  Provision Dealer

Patrick Connolly, Shoe Maker

Thomas Cooney, Butcher

Daniel Culkeen, Car Maker

Martin Daly, Shoe Maker

James Dennody, Shopkeeper

James Fahy, Clothier and Dyer

Patrick Glynn, Tobacconist

Thomas Grady, Blacksmith

Patrick Grealey, Draper and Stationmaster

John Heavy, Publican

Thomas Higgins, Publican

Bryan Kelly, Nial Maker and Leather Seller

James Kelly, Nail Maker

Patrick Kelly, Boot and Shoemaker

William Kelly, Publican

James Kennedy, Gunsmith

Margaret Kennedy, Dress Maker

Thomas Kinnamore, Butcher

Thomas Mitchell, Grocer

John Monahan, Publican

Peter Monisey, Cooper

Michael Murphy, Blacksmith

James Quinn, Process Server

James Ryan, Grocer and Publican

John Whelan,  Draper

Places of Worship and Their Ministers:
Established Church - Rev Mark Perrin, Rector

Roman Catholic Chapel - Rev Peter Curran, Parish Priest; Rev Austin O'Dwyer, Curate

Midland Great Western Railway  - The Station Mater:
Patrick Fallon

Kilskeagh, Athenry by Ronan Killeen

As I was in my local pub one night J. Glynn's on Old Church st. I was requested when I will do Kilskeagh, Athenry. Well I am going to do it now. It will be short as Kilskeagh, Athenry has its own history page by Fiona Gavin http://kilskeagh.com/html/history-fiona_gavin.html.

What I will do though is write about the people in Kilskeagh in the 19th Century using Griffith's Valuation. In 1855 Michael Hennelly who owned 384 acres 1 root 1 perch his landlord was Robert Browne. £151 on his land and 10 shillings on his buildings.
Marcus Loughnane owned offices and land at 192 acres 1 root 24 perch, £22 on his land and 10 shillings on his buildings. His land lord was also Robert Browne.

Below is the Robert Browne family tree link from the Landed Estates research NUIG have done.
http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie:8080/LandedEstates/jsp/estate-show.jsp?id=1011.

You can read a lot more on Fiona Gavin's page above.

Canton Memorial Hall by Ronan Killeen

Above: Canton Hall, Church Steert one time called Chapel street in 19th century

Below: The plaque of Canton Hall which reads - ' Canton Hall Athenry, Joseph Canton P. P. V. F. 1891-1920'

I will write a short biography of who this hall is in memory of first. Cannon Joseph Canton was born in 1850 in the parish of Aglish, Castlebar Co. Mayo in Linenhall street. His father Michael Canton, who was a teacher in the 1850's in a small school prior to the De La Salle School. Cannon Canton's mother was a Sarah McLoughlin. He was the eldest of five children. Subsequently two of his sisters lived with him in Athenry; one predeceased him and the three are buried together on Rathcruacha in the New Cemetary.
   Patrick Canton, an uncle of Joesph thaught in a school built by Rev. Denis Egan on the site where later the De La Salle Monastery was built and is presently a residents for the priests of the parish. Cannon Canton despite growing up in the famine era went to school in St. Jarlath's of Tuam.

He continued his eduaction in the Irish College in Paris on the 22 September 1871 to study for the priesthood. The college itself had previously been closed from the 28 August 1870 on accoutn of the Franco- Prussian war, and re-opened on the day Canton entered.
   It was on the 8 November 1874, Canton was finally ordained as a priest by Archbishop John McHale in the Tuam Cathedral. In St. Jarlath's College he became Professor of the Second Department of the Humanities and his teaching subjects were Science, History and French.  After his second year in the college Canton was sent to the parish of Killascobe - Menlough in 1876. Cong in 1877; the Cathedral in Tuam 1878-1890; were he was Curate and appointed Administrator in 1888.
  Life was not always easy for Canton in Tuam due to the poor relationship between Archbishop McHale and Bishop McEvilly who had been appointed his Co-Adjutor and would take over the diocese on his death. McEvilly, was then appointed Co-Adjutor Bishop of Tuam on 7 January 1878  and Archbishop McHale died on 7 November 1881.
   As Ireland - was a time of the Land League era in the 1880's, Canton who was now the new Catholic Administrator and his predecessor  Rev. Michael O'Connell who was then President of St. Jarlath's College Tuam attended a meeting of the Irish National League, and a banquet in honour of the Irish Parlimentry Parties - Sir Thomas Edmonde M. P. It was held in Market Square Tuam.
  There were evictions on tenants who could not pay there land lord in this era and in 1888 Rev. Canton spoke after evictions in the Cloondarone and Cloonmore area's  'All honour to the Cloondarone people for their conduct here to-day. They showed displine and kept within the law and as long as they do so, they need not fear for the issue between themselves and Mrs. Bodkin'.

Canton was moved from Tuam and succeeded by Rev. John Loftus as Administrator. Canton was appointed P.P. of Ballinakill (Letterfrack) in 1890 but then sent to Athenry in 1891 due to the fact there was not harmonious relations between himself and Archbishop MacEvilly. Reason for this was Canton's stance for tenant farmers, the G. A. A., and his Patornage to Cortoon Club, his old relationship with McHale.
   Canton in 1893 became president of the Athenry Branch of the Irish National Federation to fight for the tenants rights - the chairman was the P. P. Michael Nolan. Athenry during this time was seen as a 'disturbed district'. At the turn of the century Canton is reported about in the Tuam Hearld 10/11/1900. It reads the following; 'To the northwest is the parochail house, in which resides the Very Rev. Cannon Canton, a gentleman who has at all times taken the deepest interest in the welfare of Athenry and its inhaitants. Cannon Canton is a well-known figure in our County Council meetings (I would like to add here that before County Councils existed there was such thing as the Grand Jury who had the same duties as the council but was then abolished in 1898)...where he at all times advocates the construction of pathways in Athenry; and indeed, any stranger visiting the town would at once be struck by the non-existence of thsoe most essential structures for the safety and acccommodation of pedestrains.'


Agitation in the west was becoming heavier since the late 19th and into the earlier 20th centuries -  on 30 November 1907 Canton wrote a strong letter to the Irish Independent stating that the people of Athenry were 'irate that the Independent and Herald were connecting names in the parish with the shooting of Mr. White-blake of Hollypark'. 
   One of the last committees Rev. Cannon Joseph Canton was on was a committee to assist with the construction of water and sewerage works for Athenry. In my own research I would like to add, that this may have been knowns as the Waterworks Committee which I hope to write about in the future.
    For a man who lived such an eventful life -Canton passed away on the 14th August 1920 in the Parochia House in Athenry. The then Archbishop Gilmartin of Tuam (See Stories of Athenry and the Irish Civil War 1922-1923 Part 4) presided at the Solemn Requiem Mass for the late Cannon Canton at Athenry, Rev. Bishop O'Dea - Bishop of Galway and 50 priests were present in the Choir!
    Archbishop Gilmartin spoke about Canton; 'I am sure I am voicing the sentiments of all the priest here present, when I say that in the death of Cannon Canton, the Archdiocese of Tuam has lost a most zealous, a most edifying and a most accomplished priest. To you, the people of Athenry, we offer our most sincere sympathy on the departure of a pastor whom you loved dearly and our tender condolences to his respected sisters in his great beravement......


In the image at the very top of the article is Canton Memorial Hall which was built in 1932 in memory of Cannon Canton. The labourers who helped build Canton Memorial Hall were Christy Doherty of Northgate Street, and Paddy Corley of Bridge Street. It was a meeting place for many organisations throughout the past century but always used for its amenities such as cards, snooker and billiards.
   The hall's first trustess were Walter Walsh, Ballybacka for representing the farmer's interest; Timothy O'Regan, representing the towns people; and vested in the Catholic Church under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop.The hall today is still used as a meeting place and snooker is still played there.

Athenry Ladies History: Irish Country Women's Association of Athenry by Ronan Killeen

For a while I have been asking about the Irish Country Women's Association and by a small piece of luck by having been given a gift off another Researcher like myself of the old Athenry Journal's. We see only today now that past has become important as future generations will ask question and revise over local history itself. Here is a short summary of the Athenry's 'Irish Country Women's Association'.

In 1910 the Irish Country Women's Association was founded to give women 'a chance to express opinion, socialise, and to take part in handcrafts, debating and cookery'. A lady named Angela Connolly founded the Athenry organisation in 1958. The committee consisted of Mrs. Dr. Brennan (President), Angela Connolly (Hon. Sec.), Mrs. Taylor of the Town House Athenry (Treasurer) and Mrs. Frawley (Co. Organiser Galway) weret the ones who offically started the guild, along with members Mrs. A. Qualter (Aggie Qualter who wrote the history book Athenry Since 1780), Abbey Row, Mrs Ciss Curran, Boyhill; Miss M. Kennedy, ", Mrs Coffey, Old Church St; Mrs. Mary Monaghan of Blaine; Maureen Healy and Mary Donlon (Morrissey).

Subsequently, Angela was appointed Federation President which was a three year term where her duties consisted of 'presiding county meetings, meeting guild members and sorting out any problems' . Anglea, Aggie and a Mrs. Johnson-Green (Oughterard) came first at a County Debate on the subject of 'Manners Maketh Man' but lost to their next opponents who were members known as The Toast Masters Club were the subject was 'Should Ireland Joine N. A. T. O.?'.
  The A. I. C. A. also took a trip to a place known as 'The Grianán' which was the headquarters of the I. C. A. were the then famous singer Máire Ní Scolaidhe visited them and sang for them which the A. I. C. A. appreciated.

If anyone has any info on this subject I would very much appreciated it - contact athenrylohis@gmail.com

How to Reference an Article?

History books and Journals (Academic Magazines) do a lot of research from the sources they use such as other books, journals themselves, old newspapers, genealogical records, photographs and minute books. These sources are always and should be referenced. Lets start with the most common used source in an article - the book. You will see all these sources used near the end of the history book.

Book

In any reference bar newspaper or genealogical record it always starts with the author's surname so a book I will take for example will be Land, Revoultion and Nationalist Politics by Dr. Fergus Campell.

A book is referenced this way; author's surname, author's name, title of book in italics, then the name of the publisher and year in brackets)

So it would go like this Fergus, Campell, Land, Revoultion and Nationalist Politics in the West 1891-1921, (Oxford University Press, 2005).

 'Dr.' is left out of the reference. If you are referencing this on a page from a book in a thesis you can do it the same way as above but after '(Oxford University Press, 2005)' put the page no. in e.g ' (Oxford University Press, 2005) p6'.

You will find the publishers on the spine of the history book or after the main title page.

Journal

A journal is slightly different. So for example I will take the Athenry News and Views as an example. Journals have issue and volume numbers that books don't have. So to reference a journal it is authour surname, name, 'Title of Article not in italics', Title of magazine/journal in italics, volume number, issue number, which results in below:

Killeen, Ronan, 'Athenry Western Sack & Bag Factory', Athenry News & Views, Vol.2, No.4, (April/May, 2011) p18.

No.4 = the issue number of the journal

Thesis/Disserations    

(A) An undergratuate dissertation = Killeen, Ronan, Capital Punishment in Galway 1885-1923, (Unpublished B. A. Dissertation, Department of Humanities, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, 2011)

(B) A MA (Masters) Thesis = The only thing that changes here is the degree so the the undergratuate thesis becomes in brackets (Unpublished M. A. Thesis, School of Humanities, Galway-Mayo Insititute of Technology, 2011

(C) PhD Thesis = Once again the only change is in brackets (Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Humanities, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, 2011)

Websites
This is simple all you have to do is copy and paste to the url e.g http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=2776758945557745334&postID=421950787267289651 to your footnote.

In you blog you could be reference the national archives website in you bibliography just type in http://www.nationalarchives.ie/ but it you want to reference something specfic on the national archives like those in the railway hotel you have to copy and paste it to your footnote or whatever type of reference you are using and type in http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Athenry/Cullairbawn/1385360/.

Manuscript

This is our very last piece to look at in this article/lesson of some sort.

National Library of Ireland, Dublin, MS. 8499, Photostat Copy of a Draft a War Bulletin by P. H. Pearse, Commandant General of the Army of the Irish Republic, 27 April 1916.

A Little Bit More Bureu of Military History by Ronan Killeen

This should give the reader more of a deeper look into the Bureu of Military History which has been featured in the article by Dr. Ferghal McGarrry - 'Too Many Histories: The Bureue of Military History' in the Nov/Dec issue of History Ireland which you can get in Burke's Newsagents.

WS = Witness Statement

In the case of the Irish Civil war 1922-1923 and the Treaty negotiations  were excluded from the Bureu’s sphere of activity, a practical decision given its ambition to secure co-operation from veteran’s on both sides of the civil war divide. Army officers were given the task of gathering ino off former revolutionaries.

  Then oral accounts were written by the witness but more frequently they were based on their oral testimony and composed into ‘coherent statements by the investigators before being approved and signed by witness statements.’
  After the archive of the WS were compiled they were sealed into 83 steel boxes in the strongroom of Government buildings where the documents remained unavailable for public or scholary scrutiny until the release in 2003 following the death of the last witness.

There are some problematic issues with the WS for example the bias of oral history, the shape of historical memory, the selective nature of the testimony collected and the reliability of the witnesses memories. In some of the content of the WS from the BMH some are 'egocentric, self-serving or others to justify actions or settle scores.
  What is interesting about the unknown volunteers according to Dr. McGarry's article is that the 'unknown volunteers believed  in the importance of recording th minor role they played in an event that they regarded  as he most important of their lives. They make no great claims as to the wider significance of their actions and are characterised by modesty rather than vanity or self-interest.'

Of course, there were some veterans who refused come forward for the reasons of betraying confidences or just wished to forget the past. One member of a 'Flying Column' explained that his memories were tainted with 'feeling aversion and self-disgust'. The well known Éamon De Valera - the leader of the government that established the Bureu and the former IRA chief-of-staff Richard Mulcahy. Another reason why others refused to record a statement to the Bureu was perhaps their distrust of the project or their antipathy to the state.
   One lady, Elizabeth Farrell - who was best known for handing over Padraig Pearse offer of surrender to Brigadier General Low, declined on the grounds that 'all governements since 1921 had betrayed the Republic'.  Another lady Pauline Keating, who did submit a statement, was astonished by her former comrades the Cumman Na mBan that 'they would rather burn anything they had than give it to the Bureu...I suggested that the information might beof interest to future generations, but I did not succeed in convincing them'.

To read more read:

McGarry, Fearghal, 'Too Many Histories: The Bureu of Military History and Easter 1916, History Ireland, November/December 2011 issue, p26-29

Bibliography
McGarry, Fearghal, The Rising, Ireland, Easter 1916, (Oxford Press 2010)

Ryan, A, Witness: Inside the Easter Rising, (Dublin, 2005)