Volunteering to be a part of history

Peadar McNamara looks back at the story of Clare’s National Volunteers during one of the most tumultuous times in Ireland and Europe’s history.

The Irish Volunteer Force in Clare in August 1914 had 5,200 recruits in 60 companies. Following the Irish Parliamentary Party’s break from the Irish Volunteers, the overwhelming majority, 5,000 men, transferred their obligiance to the National Volunteer Forces.

The Home Rule Bill for Ireland had been proposed in 1912 by the Irish Parliamentary Party led by John Redmond. In 1913 the Ulster Volunteers were formed to fight Home Rule. The Irish Volunteers were formed in opposition. John Redmond supported the Allied War in Europe and led the breakaway majority. The Home Rule Bill was passed in 1914 and it was to be implemented one year later or at the end of World War 1, which started on August 3, 1914. The bill proposed partition and limited self-administration and was regarded by some as little more than a local administration reform. John Redmond hoped that Orangemen and Irish nationalist fighting side by side in Europe would ensure peace and harmony in Ireland.
The National Volunteers were an unofficial civilian army. The first Clare inspection was deferred for a week due to the Clare team’s participation in the All-Ireland hurling final, which they won on October 26, 1914. In May 1914 Clare had 800 recruits in nine companies affiliated to Ennis. By June 1 there were 1,600 recruits in 23 companies.
The Ennis Brian Boru Company was led by Michael McNamara, who had served with the British Army in the Boer War. He was assisted by his son, Patrick. They were fuel merchants from the Turnpike, who had founded the Ennis and District Labourers Association, which later joined the Irish Transport and General Worker Union. Paddy McNamara, served as a Labour member of Ennis UDC until the 1967.
The National Volunteers were poorly armed and drilled with wooden rifles. The Ennis Brian Boru volunteers had 150 members, with full kit and Martini rifles for 100 men. When a tailor, not approved by the Ennis Volunteers was appointed to the Lunatic Asylum, the unit surrounded the Asylum until the appointment was cancelled.
The Clare representative on the National Volunteer Council was Edward E McLysaght of Raheen, Toumgraney.
The first Irish Volunteer review was held in O’ Connell Square, Ennis in June 1914. William Redmond, the MP. for East Clare and brother of John Redmond, stated that there should be no attack on fellow Irishmen unless attacked and that he would “take my place shoulder to shoulder with the young men of Ennis”.
A few days later Col Arthur Lynch, the MP for West Clare addressed voluntary companies from Mullagh, Kilfarboy and Glendine from the central Hotel, Miltown Malby.
He said, “A free man is a man who has a vote and a rifle. We have the votes. It is now our task to get the rifles”. He opposed partition and called for a United Ireland. Lynch later called for volunteers to go to France and stated that if Germany won Ireland would be a German Province.
On Sunday Oct 25, 1914 Col Moore, the National Commanding Officer of the Volunteers and William Redmond MP reviewed 700 volunteers in Ennis. Mr Redmond rejected calls for foreign service. The volunteers were to defend Ireland.
In April 1915, at a National Volunteer Rally in Dublin, Clare was represented by companies from Ennis, Barefield, Miltown Malbay, Lahinch, Ennistymon, Killaloe, Mountshannon and Scariff. Sir Rodger Casements announcement of a forthcoming Irish Rebellion was dismissed as ‘raimeis’.
The Clare NV Commander was Col John O’Connell Bianconi of Lacknashannagh, Kildysart. He was great nephew of Daniel O’Connell – the Liberator, and grandson of Charles Bianconi, – King of the Irish Roads.
In a letter to John Redmend General Moore expressed his doubt of Bianconi’s leadership qualities given that he was deaf and weighed 22 stone. He completely filled a pony trap as he reviewed the volunteers.
The Great War saw many of the volunteers enlisting in different regiments. The Parliamentary Party wanted Irish Units to be established but Lord Kitchner, a native of Crotta, Lixnaw, Kerry, refused this request. Eventually the 8th Battalion of the Munster Fusilers were formed as an NVF unit. Many of the British Army ex-servicemen and reservists who formed the officer comp and junior ranks enlisted, which led to the disorganisation and collapse of volunteer units. Also volunteers were disillusioned by the failture to supply rifles despite the massive fundraising campaigns.
Of twenty per cent of the National Volunteers about 1,000 Clare men enlisted. Among them was Clarecastle man, Lieutenant Daniel O’Brien, chairman of Ennis Rural District Council who died November 10 1917. Ennistymon man sapper Joseph O’Loughlin, Royal Engineers who died on January 1, 1915, and Newmarket man 2nd Lieutenant Patrick Senan McMahon, 8th Royal Munster Fusiliers who was the first casualty of the 16th Irish Division, died December 29, 1915.
William Redmond MP had enlisted in the Royal Irish Regiment in February 1915 at the age of 54.
He was given the rank of major but had become disillusioned and wrote to his brother John Redmond, stating the Irish Parliamentary Party was obsolete and should retire to hand over power to younger men. He was from Ballytrent, Wexford. He was elected MP for Wexford in 1883, Fermanagh in 1885 and East Clare in 1891. He bought 500,000 rounds of ammunitation, for the volunteers, which were detained in Hamburg. He died of wounds at Messines in Flanders on June 7, 1917. He had represented Clare for 23 years. Eamon DeVelara was elected in the bye-election.
The 1916 Rising was initially strongly disapproved of by most Irish people; it was seen as a stab in the back to the Irish at the front. The Ennis and Kiladysart Volunteers offered their services to quell violence and maintain order. The execution of the 1916 leaders saw opinions change and the National Volunteers become isolated and irrelevant.
About 7,000 Claremen served in the Great War of which about 700 were killed. These were all volunteers’ recruits, except for UK and US residents who were conscripted or drafted. Many were encouraged by the political leaders and some joined up to share the experiences of war. Five MPs enlisted, among them William Redmond, his nephew Willie Redmond, Thomas Kettle and DP Sheehan, who’s son PA O’Sitochan was a Labour candidate for Clare in 1965 General Election.
Every town, village and parish in Clare had a National Volunteer unit. Many did not join the colours – some re-affiliated to the Irish Volunteers. Some returned soldiers joined the Volunteers and provided much needed experience in the War of Independence.
Looking back on the hopes, ideas and passion of volunteer armies, the on-goings northern divisions, and the recent banking and economics collapse, one wonders as to the judgement of politicians.