On This Day / February 8, 1921
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19210208
Reference Date
19210208
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 8th February 1921, Sir James Craig spoke of tolerance and a shared Irish future, as an IRA attack destroyed a newly occupied RIC barracks in County Antrim. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Craig’s Comments on Ireland’s Future | On This Day – 8th February 1921
YESTERDAY afternoon the old and new Ulster leaders were entertained to luncheon in the Ulster Reform Club. Sir James Craig said it was very difficult to visualise what might happen in the future but, for his part, he had a very broad vision.
It was quite simple for them to close their doors upon themselves [in Ulster].He hoped their doors would always be open, especially in the face of the great Imperial connection…
With regard to the rest of Ireland, they wished to set an example to the South and West but he would say the South and West should not want for any example, but go along step by step towards progress and reform.
It was an opportunity which might not arise again to bury the past and to make an excuse for taking into their own hands the government of their own part of the country and showing that Munster, Leinster and Connaught were just as good as Ulster.
‘We are very much bound up in the rest of Ireland’, he proceeded, ‘and therefore I do sincerely hope that in the heat of the coming contest no word will be said which would alienate the sympathy of those desirous of having peace throughout our land.
‘We must hope not only for a brilliant prospect for Ulster but a brilliant future for Ireland. I will sincerely welcome anything that will put a stop to the present campaign of murder but let no-one read into [my words] that I am prepared to sacrifice the old principles for which we fought.
‘We in Ulster will not tolerate anyone or anything which attempts to wrest from us the position we have attained today. Remember that the rights of the minority must be sacred to the majority (hear, hear) and that it will only be by broad views, tolerant ideas and a real desire for liberty of conscience that we here can make an ideal Parliament and executive.’
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: The future Unionist PM’s moderate tone towards the minority and the South was in stark contrast to his earlier support for the sectarian shipyard expulsions.
His words enabled Craig to meet de Valera as Lloyd George’s emissary later.)
Co Antrim Barracks Destroyed by IRA
THE new police barrack which had just been taken over by the RIC at Loughguile was completely burned down yesterday. It adjoined the house of a schoolmaster named Daly.
The attackers held up Mr Daly and, having removed him, attacked the barrack with bomb and rifle fire.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: Patrick Daly was the Roscommon-born father of the late Cardinal Cahal Daly, whose childhood home was destroyed in this attack.)
On This Day – 8th February 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19210208
Reference Date
19210208
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 8th February 1921, Sir James Craig spoke of tolerance and a shared Irish future, as an IRA attack destroyed a newly occupied RIC barracks in County Antrim. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Craig’s Comments on Ireland’s Future | On This Day – 8th February 1921
YESTERDAY afternoon the old and new Ulster leaders were entertained to luncheon in the Ulster Reform Club. Sir James Craig said it was very difficult to visualise what might happen in the future but, for his part, he had a very broad vision.
It was quite simple for them to close their doors upon themselves [in Ulster].He hoped their doors would always be open, especially in the face of the great Imperial connection…
With regard to the rest of Ireland, they wished to set an example to the South and West but he would say the South and West should not want for any example, but go along step by step towards progress and reform.
It was an opportunity which might not arise again to bury the past and to make an excuse for taking into their own hands the government of their own part of the country and showing that Munster, Leinster and Connaught were just as good as Ulster.
‘We are very much bound up in the rest of Ireland’, he proceeded, ‘and therefore I do sincerely hope that in the heat of the coming contest no word will be said which would alienate the sympathy of those desirous of having peace throughout our land.
‘We must hope not only for a brilliant prospect for Ulster but a brilliant future for Ireland. I will sincerely welcome anything that will put a stop to the present campaign of murder but let no-one read into [my words] that I am prepared to sacrifice the old principles for which we fought.
‘We in Ulster will not tolerate anyone or anything which attempts to wrest from us the position we have attained today. Remember that the rights of the minority must be sacred to the majority (hear, hear) and that it will only be by broad views, tolerant ideas and a real desire for liberty of conscience that we here can make an ideal Parliament and executive.’
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: The future Unionist PM’s moderate tone towards the minority and the South was in stark contrast to his earlier support for the sectarian shipyard expulsions.
His words enabled Craig to meet de Valera as Lloyd George’s emissary later.)
Co Antrim Barracks Destroyed by IRA
THE new police barrack which had just been taken over by the RIC at Loughguile was completely burned down yesterday. It adjoined the house of a schoolmaster named Daly.
The attackers held up Mr Daly and, having removed him, attacked the barrack with bomb and rifle fire.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: Patrick Daly was the Roscommon-born father of the late Cardinal Cahal Daly, whose childhood home was destroyed in this attack.)
On This Day – 8th February 1921
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19210208
Reference Date
February 8, 2021
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 8th February 1921, Sir James Craig spoke of tolerance and a shared Irish future, as an IRA attack destroyed a newly occupied RIC barracks in County Antrim. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Craig’s Comments on Ireland’s Future | On This Day – 8th February 1921
YESTERDAY afternoon the old and new Ulster leaders were entertained to luncheon in the Ulster Reform Club. Sir James Craig said it was very difficult to visualise what might happen in the future but, for his part, he had a very broad vision.
It was quite simple for them to close their doors upon themselves [in Ulster].He hoped their doors would always be open, especially in the face of the great Imperial connection…
With regard to the rest of Ireland, they wished to set an example to the South and West but he would say the South and West should not want for any example, but go along step by step towards progress and reform.
It was an opportunity which might not arise again to bury the past and to make an excuse for taking into their own hands the government of their own part of the country and showing that Munster, Leinster and Connaught were just as good as Ulster.
‘We are very much bound up in the rest of Ireland’, he proceeded, ‘and therefore I do sincerely hope that in the heat of the coming contest no word will be said which would alienate the sympathy of those desirous of having peace throughout our land.
‘We must hope not only for a brilliant prospect for Ulster but a brilliant future for Ireland. I will sincerely welcome anything that will put a stop to the present campaign of murder but let no-one read into [my words] that I am prepared to sacrifice the old principles for which we fought.
‘We in Ulster will not tolerate anyone or anything which attempts to wrest from us the position we have attained today. Remember that the rights of the minority must be sacred to the majority (hear, hear) and that it will only be by broad views, tolerant ideas and a real desire for liberty of conscience that we here can make an ideal Parliament and executive.’
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: The future Unionist PM’s moderate tone towards the minority and the South was in stark contrast to his earlier support for the sectarian shipyard expulsions.
His words enabled Craig to meet de Valera as Lloyd George’s emissary later.)
Co Antrim Barracks Destroyed by IRA
THE new police barrack which had just been taken over by the RIC at Loughguile was completely burned down yesterday. It adjoined the house of a schoolmaster named Daly.
The attackers held up Mr Daly and, having removed him, attacked the barrack with bomb and rifle fire.
(Éamon Phoenix editor’s note: Patrick Daly was the Roscommon-born father of the late Cardinal Cahal Daly, whose childhood home was destroyed in this attack.)
On This Day – 8th February 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.