GIBSON BEQUEST MEETING
SOLDIERS OF LIBERTY – LEGION OF THE REARGUARD
Following a number of exploratory meetings of IRA Executive to ‘dump arms’ (Frank Aiken, Chief of Staff IRA), Eamon de Valera, though not being a member of the IRA leadership himself, writes to all ranks of ‘The Legion of the Rearguard’. He asserted that while ‘the Republic’ could ‘no longer be defended successfully by your arms’, volunteers should not let ‘sorrow overwhelm you’.
The Sinn Féin leader also tried to offer some explanation for the IRA’s defeat. He reminded the men that ‘seven years of intense efforts have exhausted our people. Their sacrifices and their sorrows have been many. If they have turned away and not given you the active support which alone could bring you victory in this last year, it is because they are weary and need a rest. Give them a little time and you will yet see them recover and rally again to the standard.’
Though violence continued sporadically in different parts of the state, in general the IRA accepted the cessation order. There was no suggestion, however, that it was recognising the Free State. As far as republicans were concerned, there would be another day.
[source: https://www.rte.ie/history/the-end-of-the-civil-war/2023/0221/1357935-the-cease-fire-that-ended-the-civil-war/]
Harry Clarke Lecture Offer
Stained-glass artist and illustrator Harry Clarke, who had been invited on 5 May to present a guest lecture at the Crawford Municipal School of Art (CMSA), writes to say, ‘that owing to pressure on his time he cannot at the moment undertake to give a lecture but that if, later on there are some vacant dates, the matter will receive his sympathetic attention.’
[source: Crawford Municipal School of Art minutes]
