On This Day / September 14, 1921

Summary: On This Day – 14th September 1921, Limerick’s Deputy Mayor demanded answers over the murders of George Clancy and Michael O’Callaghan, while an editorial reflected on the declining power of the landed magnates. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.

General Quizzed over Murders | On This Day – 14th September 1921

IN A lengthy letter, Mrs Maire O’Donovan, Deputy Mayor of Limerick, replies to General Prescott-Decie who was Divisional Commissioner in Limerick during the lengthy reign of terror in that city.

The General now has relinquished his duty, having fallen out with the attempt of the British Government to find a national settlement. Before his departure he wrote a letter in the Morning Post.

When the murders of the Mayor Clancy and ex-Mayor O’Callaghan were committed, the city was entirely in the hands of the Crown forces.

Mrs O’Donovan calls for answers from General Decie in relation to these crimes ‘as you are in an especially good position to supply them, having been in charge of the police in Limerick on that fatal night’.

‘Mayor Clancy’s house is about 200 yards from the Strand military barracks. The sentry on guard swore at the inquiry that he heard the steps of three men pass, going in the direction of the Mayor’s house.

Ten minutes afterwards he heard six shots. He reported the matter…but men were not challenged and no patrol was turned out.

‘The Deputy Mayor adds: ‘Prescott-Decie says that that the Irish population is divided into three distinct parts – a/ the loyalists, b/ the extremists- at present Sinn Fein, including corner boys, murderers, etc- and the intermediate portion.

Obviously he would include in division (b) the two Mayors elected unanimously by the Republican Corporation of Limerick.’

‘The Old Order Changes’

Editorial

THE Earl of Meath – who invented ‘Empire Day’ – owns two big residences in Ireland, two other huge homes in England, tens of thousand of acres… But he is a poor man.

Kildruddery in County Wicklow is one of the earl’s ‘seats’. He has a large number of employees in the district and he told them on Monday that he was compelled reluctantly to reduce their numbers’. Now, his lordship [said] he must live in a small house.

Lord Meath is a ‘good’ landlord but it is to be feared his sad picture of his struggle to make ends meet will not evoke sympathy.

The days of the landed magnate exercising rights and performing functions have passed away forever.

(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: THE descent of a fragile peace under the Truce left many people demanding justice as this attack on the former Military Governor of Limerick shows.

In March 1921 the city’s Sinn Fein Mayor, George Clancy and his predecessor, Michael O’Callaghan were murdered in their homes, almost certainly by Crown forces.

Meanwhile, The Irish News welcomed the declining power of the Anglo-Irish landlord class who once ruled supreme.)

On This Day – 14th September 1921

Further Reading on Irish History:

List of other On This Day columns

Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive

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