On This Day / December 21, 1920
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19201221
Reference Date
19201221
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 21st December 1920, peace talks faltered as Lloyd George and Sinn Féin exchanged bitter telegrams, while sectarian conduct by newly sworn Specials in Enniskillen deepened nationalist fears. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Peace Recedes | On This Day – 21st December 1920
THE Press Association says that the following telegrams have passed between the Prime Minister and Fr Michael O’Flanagan [Vice-President of Sinn Fein].
In his telegram to Mr Lloyd George dated 17th December, Fr O’Flanagan says: ‘While sending through a message of peace and goodwill to the people of Ireland, your government have intensified their fiendish attacks upon our lives, our liberties and our property.
‘How hollow your fair words read in the newspapers, sandwiched in between the burning of Cork and the murder of Canon Magner…
‘If you really wish for peace, allow the Constitution adopted by the Irish people at the last general election to perform its legitimate functions. …
‘Then arrange the terms of a Treaty by direct negotiations with the official head of the Irish nation, President de Valera…’
The British Prime Minister replied: ‘I had hoped… it might have been possible to reach an understanding which would put a stop to strife in Ireland…
‘I have never failed to make it clear that there was no possibility of settlement so long as Sinn Fein demands an Irish Republic… [and]…persists in trying to propel any settlement by the methods of assassination and violence…’
Specials’ Display in Enniskillen
SHORTLY after seven o’clock yesterday morning while a large number of the Fermanagh Special Constabulary recruits were passing St Michael’s Catholic Church, Enniskillen on their way to the railway station, a shot was heard.
It was subsequently discovered that a portion of the moulding at the entrance to the church had been smashed.
At a special meeting of Enniskillen Urban Council, the chairman (Mr Joseph P Gillin, Nationalist) said that up to the present they had no trouble or annoyance in Enniskillen.
As chairman, he considered it his duty to call attention to the action of some members of the Fermanagh Special Constabulary.
On Thursday evening, after taking the Oath of Allegiance, they marched through the town and their conduct was most provoking.
He congratulated the people on their patience under such provocation.
When passing through the streets some of the Specials shouted, ‘To hell with the Pope’, ‘Up Dolly’s Brae’ and other expressions.
Mr James Cooper (Unionist) – You are out of order.
The chairman said he was asked to take part in the formation of the Special Constabulary and was thankful that he had had nothing to do with it.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: As the Clune peace initiative receded, the reckless, sectarian behaviour of the Specials as they passed the church in Enniskillen confirmed the worst fears of their nationalist critics.
Within months, the USC would be defending the new border as the northern state hardened into permanency.)
On This Day – 21st December 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19201221
Reference Date
19201221
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 21st December 1920, peace talks faltered as Lloyd George and Sinn Féin exchanged bitter telegrams, while sectarian conduct by newly sworn Specials in Enniskillen deepened nationalist fears. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Peace Recedes | On This Day – 21st December 1920
THE Press Association says that the following telegrams have passed between the Prime Minister and Fr Michael O’Flanagan [Vice-President of Sinn Fein].
In his telegram to Mr Lloyd George dated 17th December, Fr O’Flanagan says: ‘While sending through a message of peace and goodwill to the people of Ireland, your government have intensified their fiendish attacks upon our lives, our liberties and our property.
‘How hollow your fair words read in the newspapers, sandwiched in between the burning of Cork and the murder of Canon Magner…
‘If you really wish for peace, allow the Constitution adopted by the Irish people at the last general election to perform its legitimate functions. …
‘Then arrange the terms of a Treaty by direct negotiations with the official head of the Irish nation, President de Valera…’
The British Prime Minister replied: ‘I had hoped… it might have been possible to reach an understanding which would put a stop to strife in Ireland…
‘I have never failed to make it clear that there was no possibility of settlement so long as Sinn Fein demands an Irish Republic… [and]…persists in trying to propel any settlement by the methods of assassination and violence…’
Specials’ Display in Enniskillen
SHORTLY after seven o’clock yesterday morning while a large number of the Fermanagh Special Constabulary recruits were passing St Michael’s Catholic Church, Enniskillen on their way to the railway station, a shot was heard.
It was subsequently discovered that a portion of the moulding at the entrance to the church had been smashed.
At a special meeting of Enniskillen Urban Council, the chairman (Mr Joseph P Gillin, Nationalist) said that up to the present they had no trouble or annoyance in Enniskillen.
As chairman, he considered it his duty to call attention to the action of some members of the Fermanagh Special Constabulary.
On Thursday evening, after taking the Oath of Allegiance, they marched through the town and their conduct was most provoking.
He congratulated the people on their patience under such provocation.
When passing through the streets some of the Specials shouted, ‘To hell with the Pope’, ‘Up Dolly’s Brae’ and other expressions.
Mr James Cooper (Unionist) – You are out of order.
The chairman said he was asked to take part in the formation of the Special Constabulary and was thankful that he had had nothing to do with it.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: As the Clune peace initiative receded, the reckless, sectarian behaviour of the Specials as they passed the church in Enniskillen confirmed the worst fears of their nationalist critics.
Within months, the USC would be defending the new border as the northern state hardened into permanency.)
On This Day – 21st December 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19201221
Reference Date
December 21, 2020
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 21st December 1920, peace talks faltered as Lloyd George and Sinn Féin exchanged bitter telegrams, while sectarian conduct by newly sworn Specials in Enniskillen deepened nationalist fears. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Peace Recedes | On This Day – 21st December 1920
THE Press Association says that the following telegrams have passed between the Prime Minister and Fr Michael O’Flanagan [Vice-President of Sinn Fein].
In his telegram to Mr Lloyd George dated 17th December, Fr O’Flanagan says: ‘While sending through a message of peace and goodwill to the people of Ireland, your government have intensified their fiendish attacks upon our lives, our liberties and our property.
‘How hollow your fair words read in the newspapers, sandwiched in between the burning of Cork and the murder of Canon Magner…
‘If you really wish for peace, allow the Constitution adopted by the Irish people at the last general election to perform its legitimate functions. …
‘Then arrange the terms of a Treaty by direct negotiations with the official head of the Irish nation, President de Valera…’
The British Prime Minister replied: ‘I had hoped… it might have been possible to reach an understanding which would put a stop to strife in Ireland…
‘I have never failed to make it clear that there was no possibility of settlement so long as Sinn Fein demands an Irish Republic… [and]…persists in trying to propel any settlement by the methods of assassination and violence…’
Specials’ Display in Enniskillen
SHORTLY after seven o’clock yesterday morning while a large number of the Fermanagh Special Constabulary recruits were passing St Michael’s Catholic Church, Enniskillen on their way to the railway station, a shot was heard.
It was subsequently discovered that a portion of the moulding at the entrance to the church had been smashed.
At a special meeting of Enniskillen Urban Council, the chairman (Mr Joseph P Gillin, Nationalist) said that up to the present they had no trouble or annoyance in Enniskillen.
As chairman, he considered it his duty to call attention to the action of some members of the Fermanagh Special Constabulary.
On Thursday evening, after taking the Oath of Allegiance, they marched through the town and their conduct was most provoking.
He congratulated the people on their patience under such provocation.
When passing through the streets some of the Specials shouted, ‘To hell with the Pope’, ‘Up Dolly’s Brae’ and other expressions.
Mr James Cooper (Unionist) – You are out of order.
The chairman said he was asked to take part in the formation of the Special Constabulary and was thankful that he had had nothing to do with it.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: As the Clune peace initiative receded, the reckless, sectarian behaviour of the Specials as they passed the church in Enniskillen confirmed the worst fears of their nationalist critics.
Within months, the USC would be defending the new border as the northern state hardened into permanency.)
On This Day – 21st December 1920
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.