"THE CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF
THE NATIONAL STRUGGLE
By GENERAL SEAN MacEOIN, T.D.
(Formerly Vice-Brigadier and Director of Operations Longford
Brigade I.R.A., and 0/C Longford Brigade Flying Column)
FEW PEOPLE realise today what was the constitutional basis, on which the
national struggle was waged in the period 1919 to the Truce. When the
Government of the Republic of Ireland issued its Proclamation in 1916 the
signatories gave just their names, without stating the offices or ministries
which they held in the Government of the Republic. Each signatory held a
particular office and appointment. Amongst the signatories to the
Proclamation was the President of the Republic, ministers of the various
offices of state, and a Commander-in-chief of the Army. Though they
described themselves as a “Provisional Government,” there is no doubt
whatever that each man held an appointment or office similar to those held
today by the Head of the State and by the various ministers.
When, in December 1918, the Irish people got an opportunity to elect an
independent parliament, they did so by an overwhelming majority in
practically all Ireland, and though, when it assembled on January 21st, 1919
some of the elected members of parliament refused to take their seats in the
First Dáil, as that parliament was officially named, their absence did not
lessen its validity. When the First Dáil met it carried out the same
procedure which is followed today. The election of a Ceann Comhairle was
proceeded with, and Cathal Brugha became the first holder of that office.
Father O‘FIanagan opened the session with a prayer invoking the Divine
blessing upon that first elected parliament of the Irish people. The roll
was then called. All elected representatives from Antrim to Cork and from
Dublin to Galway, had already been summoned to attend and their names were
called. The Constitution for the Dáil was submitted and approved. The
Declaration of Independence proclaimed in 1916 was confirmed and was
published in a new form, in Irish, French and English. Delegates
representing the Irish nation were appointed to the Peace Conference in
Paris, and a message of peace and goodwill was sent to all the free nations
in the world. A democratic programme was enacted and in the report of that
programme is the first official recognition of a President of the Republic."
"The Volunteer Army, which then became known as the Irish Republican Army,
was organised throughout the thirty-two counties and had been formed into
brigades, battalions and companies. Accordingly, not alone had we a properly
constituted government, but we also had a properly constituted national
army, all members of which had taken the Oath of Allegiance prescribed by
the Government and Parliament of the people. Hereunder is given the
personnel of the Headquarters, Brigade and Battalion Staffs as entered on
the Roll of the Director of Organisation from January 1919 onwards. This
Roll, which is still in my possession, dates from January, 1919, and is in
the handwriting of Eamonn Price and of Diarmuid O’Hegarty. It is, to the
best of my belief, the only written record of its date, and its authorship
is a guarantee of its accuracy; but it must be remembered that promotions,
removals, additions and other alterations were very numerous between the
commencement of the year 1919 and the Truce.
Blanks are entered where the records were not kept or where organisation was
not complete by January 1919. The numerals before the names of the officers
denote rank as follows:— (1) Brigade 0/C or Battalion 0/C; (2) Vice 0/C; (3)
Adjutant; (4) Quartermaster.
HEADQUARTERS STAFF: Chief of Staff, Richard Mulcahy; Adjutant General,
Gearoid O’Sullivan; Quartermaster-General, Sean McMahon; Director of
Intelligence, Michael Collins."
"Mayo North Brigade (Ballina): (1) T. Ruane, (2) E. Gannon, (3) P. O’Connell
(4) D. Sheerin.
First Battalion (Belmullett): (1) Enri Ua Gairin. (2) Martin Moran, (3) Sean
Neary. (4) ___.
Second Battalion (Ballycastle): (1) Dr. Crowley, (2) Sean O’Longain, (3) A.
O’Feargaill, (4) John Deane.
Third Battalion (Ballina) : (1) George Delany, (2) Matt Delany (3) Sean
Concannon (4) Patrick O’Beirne.
Fourth Battalion (Foxford): (1) Dr. Ferris, (2) Dr. Dunleavy, (3) Sean
O’Moran, (4) M. Docartaig.
Fifth Battalion (Corbally): A. Cleirig, (2) M. Beirne. (3) Seamus
0'Caomanaig, (4) B. O’Hanrahan.
Sixth Battalion (Crossmolina): (1) Sean Flynn. (2) B. O'Hegarty, (3) Eamon 0
Baoghail, (4) ___ .
Seventh Battalion (Bangor):(1) Peadar 0'Máille, (2) ____.(3) ____.(4) Eamon
O’Huston."
