On This Day / May 26, 1921
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19210526
Reference Date
19210526
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 26th May 1921, Éamon de Valera appealed to Ulster voters to reject Partition while reports emerged of intimidation by Specials in Co. Derry. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
‘Reject Partition’ – Dev | On This Day – 26th May 1921
MR DE VALERA [President of Sinn Fein] has sent a telegraphic appeal to North East Ulster.
In it he says: ‘Politicians and statesmen declare the Irish problem insoluble, but you, the plain people, can solve it in a few hours tomorrow…
‘Vote tomorrow against War with your fellow-countrymen; vote that brother’s hand may not have to be raised against brother’s; vote that there may be an end to boycott and retaliation, to Partition, disunion and ruin. …
‘Live in history as having created a truly united Irish nation. Orange and Green together can command the future. Ireland one is Ireland peaceful, prosperous and happy. Vote for it.’
Appeal to Nationalist Voters
PARTITION as planned by the authors of [1920 Act] means ruin for North East Ulster and an indefinite continuation of the ghastly struggle in Ireland. If the voters of NE Ulster reject Partition today, a great and permanent national peace will become possible within a month. The country’s unity is at stake. Your vote may decide the issue….
This is the day for action. Vote early – at the earliest possible hour. Go to the booths. Drive if you can, walk if you must: and don’t wait for conveyances. Liberty is not won by lethargy or dalliance. Make up your mind that you shall not and cannot be intimidated by anyone. It is your duty to act as resolutely and fearlessly as your fathers against greater odds than confront you today.
A Special’s Sacrilege
ACCORDING to a report from Claudy, Co Derry, a party of Ulster Specials visited St Patrick’s Church and tore down all bills dealing with the election.
Shortly after Mass, members of the congregation were horrified to see an armed man in police uniform emerge from the sacristy and ascend the Altar steps.
He was smoking at the time and owing to his manner it was thought he was under the influence of drink.
After a mock display on the altar, he proceeded to open the Tabernacle which he searched, disturbing the sacred vessels.
Sinn Fein Meetings in Co Antrim
AN important meeting was held at Feystown, Glenarm on Sunday on behalf of the Republican candidates, Louis Walsh and Joseph Connolly. Mr Patrick Mulvenna presided.
Mr John Clarke [the Glens writer, ‘Benmore’] said Ulster’s Irish vote must be cast solidly for the Republicans and Nationalists.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: On the eve of the ‘Partition’ election, The Irish News used all its influence to deliver a record vote against partition and to remind voters to the need to observe the voting pact between Devlin and de Valera.
Meanwhile, the Specials were active in intimidating nationalist voters.)
On This Day – 26th May 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19210526
Reference Date
19210526
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 26th May 1921, Éamon de Valera appealed to Ulster voters to reject Partition while reports emerged of intimidation by Specials in Co. Derry. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
‘Reject Partition’ – Dev | On This Day – 26th May 1921
MR DE VALERA [President of Sinn Fein] has sent a telegraphic appeal to North East Ulster.
In it he says: ‘Politicians and statesmen declare the Irish problem insoluble, but you, the plain people, can solve it in a few hours tomorrow…
‘Vote tomorrow against War with your fellow-countrymen; vote that brother’s hand may not have to be raised against brother’s; vote that there may be an end to boycott and retaliation, to Partition, disunion and ruin. …
‘Live in history as having created a truly united Irish nation. Orange and Green together can command the future. Ireland one is Ireland peaceful, prosperous and happy. Vote for it.’
Appeal to Nationalist Voters
PARTITION as planned by the authors of [1920 Act] means ruin for North East Ulster and an indefinite continuation of the ghastly struggle in Ireland. If the voters of NE Ulster reject Partition today, a great and permanent national peace will become possible within a month. The country’s unity is at stake. Your vote may decide the issue….
This is the day for action. Vote early – at the earliest possible hour. Go to the booths. Drive if you can, walk if you must: and don’t wait for conveyances. Liberty is not won by lethargy or dalliance. Make up your mind that you shall not and cannot be intimidated by anyone. It is your duty to act as resolutely and fearlessly as your fathers against greater odds than confront you today.
A Special’s Sacrilege
ACCORDING to a report from Claudy, Co Derry, a party of Ulster Specials visited St Patrick’s Church and tore down all bills dealing with the election.
Shortly after Mass, members of the congregation were horrified to see an armed man in police uniform emerge from the sacristy and ascend the Altar steps.
He was smoking at the time and owing to his manner it was thought he was under the influence of drink.
After a mock display on the altar, he proceeded to open the Tabernacle which he searched, disturbing the sacred vessels.
Sinn Fein Meetings in Co Antrim
AN important meeting was held at Feystown, Glenarm on Sunday on behalf of the Republican candidates, Louis Walsh and Joseph Connolly. Mr Patrick Mulvenna presided.
Mr John Clarke [the Glens writer, ‘Benmore’] said Ulster’s Irish vote must be cast solidly for the Republicans and Nationalists.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: On the eve of the ‘Partition’ election, The Irish News used all its influence to deliver a record vote against partition and to remind voters to the need to observe the voting pact between Devlin and de Valera.
Meanwhile, the Specials were active in intimidating nationalist voters.)
On This Day – 26th May 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19210526
Reference Date
May 26, 2021
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 26th May 1921, Éamon de Valera appealed to Ulster voters to reject Partition while reports emerged of intimidation by Specials in Co. Derry. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
‘Reject Partition’ – Dev | On This Day – 26th May 1921
MR DE VALERA [President of Sinn Fein] has sent a telegraphic appeal to North East Ulster.
In it he says: ‘Politicians and statesmen declare the Irish problem insoluble, but you, the plain people, can solve it in a few hours tomorrow…
‘Vote tomorrow against War with your fellow-countrymen; vote that brother’s hand may not have to be raised against brother’s; vote that there may be an end to boycott and retaliation, to Partition, disunion and ruin. …
‘Live in history as having created a truly united Irish nation. Orange and Green together can command the future. Ireland one is Ireland peaceful, prosperous and happy. Vote for it.’
Appeal to Nationalist Voters
PARTITION as planned by the authors of [1920 Act] means ruin for North East Ulster and an indefinite continuation of the ghastly struggle in Ireland. If the voters of NE Ulster reject Partition today, a great and permanent national peace will become possible within a month. The country’s unity is at stake. Your vote may decide the issue….
This is the day for action. Vote early – at the earliest possible hour. Go to the booths. Drive if you can, walk if you must: and don’t wait for conveyances. Liberty is not won by lethargy or dalliance. Make up your mind that you shall not and cannot be intimidated by anyone. It is your duty to act as resolutely and fearlessly as your fathers against greater odds than confront you today.
A Special’s Sacrilege
ACCORDING to a report from Claudy, Co Derry, a party of Ulster Specials visited St Patrick’s Church and tore down all bills dealing with the election.
Shortly after Mass, members of the congregation were horrified to see an armed man in police uniform emerge from the sacristy and ascend the Altar steps.
He was smoking at the time and owing to his manner it was thought he was under the influence of drink.
After a mock display on the altar, he proceeded to open the Tabernacle which he searched, disturbing the sacred vessels.
Sinn Fein Meetings in Co Antrim
AN important meeting was held at Feystown, Glenarm on Sunday on behalf of the Republican candidates, Louis Walsh and Joseph Connolly. Mr Patrick Mulvenna presided.
Mr John Clarke [the Glens writer, ‘Benmore’] said Ulster’s Irish vote must be cast solidly for the Republicans and Nationalists.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: On the eve of the ‘Partition’ election, The Irish News used all its influence to deliver a record vote against partition and to remind voters to the need to observe the voting pact between Devlin and de Valera.
Meanwhile, the Specials were active in intimidating nationalist voters.)
On This Day – 26th May 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.