On This Day / January 26, 1921
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19210126
Reference Date
19210126
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 26th January 1921, Edward Carson refused to lead Northern Ireland’s new parliament, while shootings involving Specials wounded civilians in Tyrone and Derry warned that Partition would devastate the city’s economy. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Carson abandons Belfast | On This Day – 26th January 1921
LORD Londonderry and the deputation of sixty failed to persuade Sir Edward Carson that he was bound to cross the North Channel to help set up the bogus ‘Parliament’ presented to six Irish counties by the British Coalition Government at his bidding.
The delegates travelled to London on Monday night and lunched at one of Lord Londonderry’s clubs. They met Sir Edward at the Constitutional Club.
After a protracted interview, the visitors were compelled to acknowledge their failure. Sir Edward’s final answer was No.
‘Sir Edward Carson[replied] that, having regard to the strain he endured in connection with Ulster affairs since he became leader [in 1910] and his work during the war, he felt he had insufficient reserves of strength at his age to undertake the work involved in bringing into existence a new Parliament …’
New light on shooting
FURTHER details of a shooting near Ballygawley, County Tyrone on Sunday which resulted in three Special Constables being wounded, go to show that a dance was in progress involving about fifty young men and a number of girls when a party of Specials from Aughnacloy entered the hall.
They ordered the young men to one side and lined them against the wall with their hands up.
While the search was in progress a shot was discharged and eyewitnesses stated it was discharged by one of the Specials.
As a result, Sergeant Donnell and his brother, William Donnell were wounded, as was Constable Moore. Three civilians, all brothers named Montague, were also wounded.
People who were present at the dance stated that it had no connection with politics and it was not, as alleged, held under Sinn Féin auspices.
Partition’s blight on Derry
AT the annual meeting of Derry Corporation yesterday, the outgoing Mayor [Alderman Hugh C O’Doherty, Nationalist] was re-elected Mayor by 20 votes to 18.
Returning thanks, the Mayor alluded to the Government of Ireland Bill which had drawn a barbed wire entanglement around six counties.
In the interests of Belfast, a deadly blow had been struck at Derry and it was a blow it would reel under in the commercial world. It would directly affect their pockets.
The economic aspect of the question overshadowed all others for the city of Derry – which was situated in Donegal – and depended on its commercial prosperity on Donegal.
And this Bill would be fatal to prosperity, not only of Derry but of Ulster.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: Carson’s refusal to accept the premiership of NI reflected, not just age and infirmity, but his sense of personal defeat at his failure to keep all Ireland under the Union Jack.)
On This Day – 26th January 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19210126
Reference Date
19210126
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 26th January 1921, Edward Carson refused to lead Northern Ireland’s new parliament, while shootings involving Specials wounded civilians in Tyrone and Derry warned that Partition would devastate the city’s economy. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Carson abandons Belfast | On This Day – 26th January 1921
LORD Londonderry and the deputation of sixty failed to persuade Sir Edward Carson that he was bound to cross the North Channel to help set up the bogus ‘Parliament’ presented to six Irish counties by the British Coalition Government at his bidding.
The delegates travelled to London on Monday night and lunched at one of Lord Londonderry’s clubs. They met Sir Edward at the Constitutional Club.
After a protracted interview, the visitors were compelled to acknowledge their failure. Sir Edward’s final answer was No.
‘Sir Edward Carson[replied] that, having regard to the strain he endured in connection with Ulster affairs since he became leader [in 1910] and his work during the war, he felt he had insufficient reserves of strength at his age to undertake the work involved in bringing into existence a new Parliament …’
New light on shooting
FURTHER details of a shooting near Ballygawley, County Tyrone on Sunday which resulted in three Special Constables being wounded, go to show that a dance was in progress involving about fifty young men and a number of girls when a party of Specials from Aughnacloy entered the hall.
They ordered the young men to one side and lined them against the wall with their hands up.
While the search was in progress a shot was discharged and eyewitnesses stated it was discharged by one of the Specials.
As a result, Sergeant Donnell and his brother, William Donnell were wounded, as was Constable Moore. Three civilians, all brothers named Montague, were also wounded.
People who were present at the dance stated that it had no connection with politics and it was not, as alleged, held under Sinn Féin auspices.
Partition’s blight on Derry
AT the annual meeting of Derry Corporation yesterday, the outgoing Mayor [Alderman Hugh C O’Doherty, Nationalist] was re-elected Mayor by 20 votes to 18.
Returning thanks, the Mayor alluded to the Government of Ireland Bill which had drawn a barbed wire entanglement around six counties.
In the interests of Belfast, a deadly blow had been struck at Derry and it was a blow it would reel under in the commercial world. It would directly affect their pockets.
The economic aspect of the question overshadowed all others for the city of Derry – which was situated in Donegal – and depended on its commercial prosperity on Donegal.
And this Bill would be fatal to prosperity, not only of Derry but of Ulster.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: Carson’s refusal to accept the premiership of NI reflected, not just age and infirmity, but his sense of personal defeat at his failure to keep all Ireland under the Union Jack.)
On This Day – 26th January 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19210126
Reference Date
January 26, 2021
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 26th January 1921, Edward Carson refused to lead Northern Ireland’s new parliament, while shootings involving Specials wounded civilians in Tyrone and Derry warned that Partition would devastate the city’s economy. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Carson abandons Belfast | On This Day – 26th January 1921
LORD Londonderry and the deputation of sixty failed to persuade Sir Edward Carson that he was bound to cross the North Channel to help set up the bogus ‘Parliament’ presented to six Irish counties by the British Coalition Government at his bidding.
The delegates travelled to London on Monday night and lunched at one of Lord Londonderry’s clubs. They met Sir Edward at the Constitutional Club.
After a protracted interview, the visitors were compelled to acknowledge their failure. Sir Edward’s final answer was No.
‘Sir Edward Carson[replied] that, having regard to the strain he endured in connection with Ulster affairs since he became leader [in 1910] and his work during the war, he felt he had insufficient reserves of strength at his age to undertake the work involved in bringing into existence a new Parliament …’
New light on shooting
FURTHER details of a shooting near Ballygawley, County Tyrone on Sunday which resulted in three Special Constables being wounded, go to show that a dance was in progress involving about fifty young men and a number of girls when a party of Specials from Aughnacloy entered the hall.
They ordered the young men to one side and lined them against the wall with their hands up.
While the search was in progress a shot was discharged and eyewitnesses stated it was discharged by one of the Specials.
As a result, Sergeant Donnell and his brother, William Donnell were wounded, as was Constable Moore. Three civilians, all brothers named Montague, were also wounded.
People who were present at the dance stated that it had no connection with politics and it was not, as alleged, held under Sinn Féin auspices.
Partition’s blight on Derry
AT the annual meeting of Derry Corporation yesterday, the outgoing Mayor [Alderman Hugh C O’Doherty, Nationalist] was re-elected Mayor by 20 votes to 18.
Returning thanks, the Mayor alluded to the Government of Ireland Bill which had drawn a barbed wire entanglement around six counties.
In the interests of Belfast, a deadly blow had been struck at Derry and it was a blow it would reel under in the commercial world. It would directly affect their pockets.
The economic aspect of the question overshadowed all others for the city of Derry – which was situated in Donegal – and depended on its commercial prosperity on Donegal.
And this Bill would be fatal to prosperity, not only of Derry but of Ulster.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: Carson’s refusal to accept the premiership of NI reflected, not just age and infirmity, but his sense of personal defeat at his failure to keep all Ireland under the Union Jack.)
On This Day – 26th January 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
On This Day is a daily column in the Irish News looking back either 50 or 100 years. The column was compiled by Dr Éamon Phoenix from the mid 1980s until autumn, 2022. The Foundation is very grateful to the Irish News for giving permission to reproduce Eamon’s columns. Funding gratefully received from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust.
* The Foundation has worked hard to recreate Eamon’s distinctive voice through AI. Since this is an emerging technology, occasional imperfections may be audible.