Created: May 5, 2023
Extract from the report of Liam Lynch, IRA Chief of Staff, read into the minutes of the final IRA Executive meeting he attended, from the 23rd to 26th March 1923.
My thanks to the team over at UCD Library Culture Heritage Collections, for giving me a chance to write a blog entry on a series of important files connected to Liam Lynch’s last days, specifically related to the IRA Executive meeting held in two different between Waterford and South Tipperary from 23rd to 26th March 1923.
These files include two versions of the minutes of this important IRA Executive meeting, as well as the Chief of Staff and Assistant Chief-of-Staff’s reports into recent developments for the IRA in the conflict. Usually found in Éamon de Valera’s papers in the UCD Archives and viewed on micofilm there, (reference P150/1739) these are presented here for the public on this blog entry for the first time.
Of interest, on the second version of the minutes, Frank Aiken – note his initial in the top-right corner – did another copy of the minutes in 1925. In this version, Aiken emphasised the group who voted with Lynch against Tom Barry’s motion to to end the civil war – which included Aiken – were very keen on the artillery pieces Seán Moylan was attempting to acquire for the IRA in Europe. (Moylan’s efforts came to nothing after Lynch’s death). It’s not clear why Aiken did a second version, perhaps to emphasise his military credentials and closeness to Lynch for the historical record. Aiken left the position of IRA Chief of Staff in November 1925, ahead of joining Éamon de Valera’s Fianna Fáil party the following year.
The UCD Collections blog entry, with the files mentioned, can be seen here.