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From: "conaught" <>
Subject: [MAYO] Easter Week Series #8
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 17:08:02 -0700



Eamon de Valera - He was born in New York on October 14, 1882. His father
Vivion Juan de Valera, was Spanish and his mother was Katherine Coll from
Ireland. When he was 2 his father died and his mother sent him to Ireland
to be raised by the Coll family in Bruee, County Limerick. He was a
mathematics professor. He married Sinead Flanagan, also a teacher, on
January 8, 1910. During the Easter Rising in 1916 he was the commander of
Boland Mills in Dublin and held it until he received word from Padraig
Pearce to surrender. He was sentenced to death but at the last moment the
sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Many believe his life was
spared because he was born in America. He was released in 1917 when the
general amnesty was granted. Upon his return to Ireland he was the Sinn Fein
candidate in East County Clare and won the election handily against the
Redmondite candidate. This was a significant election because of de
Valera's involvement in the Easter Rising the previous year.

de Valera became both the President of Sinn Fein and The Irish Volunteers in
1917. He said the aim of Sinn Fein was to make English rule in Ireland
impossible. It was hoped by all that when the World War ended and a Peace
conference was held that Ireland would be able to present its case for
freedom from England. Through the various elections Sinn Fein won elections
and represented the majority of the people. Sean T O'Kelly was sent to Paris
to represent Ireland's cause. He was unsuccessful in gaining recognition of
the Irish Republic. The U.S. congress voted to urge the Parish Peace
Conference to support Ireland's request for self-determination.

In April 1919 de Valera was elected President by Dail Eireann (Irish
Parliament). The Cabinet Ministers were - Arthur Griffith, Count Plunkett
(his son was one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish
Republic who was executed for his part in the 1916 Uprising), Cathal Brugha,
Constance Markievicz, Eoin MacNeill, William Cosgrave, Michael Collins,
Richard Barton and Richard Mulcahy, Robert Ginnell.

The stage was being set for the conflict between de Valera and Micahel
Collins. de Valera was willing to let the politician's debate, while
Collins was impatient and wanted to take action to secure Ireland's freedom.

Since the British Government was in control of the Irish Revenue and
taxation, the Republican government needed to raise funds. The Republican
Government issued Republican bonds. As Minister of Finance, the task was
left to Michael Collins to organize the loan. The funds were to be used to
present the cause for Irish Independence on the world stage. Harry Boland
was sent to America to make arrangements for a visit by de Valera's. The
purpose of the visit was to raise money to float the Dail Eireann loan; to
have the U.S. Congress recognize the Irish Republic and if the U.S. joined
the League of Nations to secure America's assistance in the League. de
Valera went to the U.S. in June 1920 and traveled around the U.S. raising
funds until December 1920. He was successful in raising funds because of
the suppression of Dail Eireann by the British government. The violence
against the Irish people was on the rise and this all made it easier for de
Valera to gain support for the Irish cause for freedom.
By April 1921 England was proposing a cease to hostilities but they were not
willing to offer much, in fact Lloyd George said that members of the Dail
would be granted safe conduct with the exception of 3 or 4 who were accused
of serious crimes. This was obviously aimed at Collins and a few others.
This was totally unacceptable to the Dail.
After a truce was called in July 1921 representatives were selected to go
to London to work out a treaty. de Valera insisted that Collins head the
delegation. Collins did not wish to negotiate a treaty. He felt it was an
impossible situation

When Collins and the delegation agreed to a treaty this led to the bitter
split between de Valera and Collins. de Valera headed the Republican cause
and Collins the Free Stater cause.. Dail Eireann accepted the treaty after a
bitter debate, it passed by a vote of 64-57 on January 7, 1922. After the
vote de Valera stood, visibly shaken and said: The Republic still goes on
until the nation itself has disestablished it, before we rise, I should like
to say my last word. Up to this we have had the record of four glorious
years, years of magnificent discipline in the nation. The world is looking
on at us now."** His voice faltered and he could not continue. The chamber
was filled with young soldiers who had fought side by side for Ireland's
freedom and now both sides the Republicans and the Free Staters realized
the magnitude and horrible ramifications of the vote. Member after member
broke down in tears at the thought of the horrors to come as a result of the
vote.

Arthur Griffith was elected President to replace de Valera and a
Provisional Government was selected to establish the Irish Free State.

During the next year de Valera lead the Republican side in the Civil War.
At the close of the Civil War and for years to come de Valera was a strong
force in Ireland's politics. He served in many positions in the government
of Ireland including president for many years. His accomplishments are too
numerous to mention.He also founded the political of Fianna Fail in 1926
Eamon de Valera died at the age of 92 on August 29, 1975. His wife preceded
him in death two years previously. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
after receiving a state funeral. ( This is a very brief outline of de
Valera's contributions, just a few of the highlights in his long career are
mentioned. He made many contributions to Ireland).

© 2001
Margaret Kristich

All rights reserved

References:
**The Anglo-Irish Treaty by Frank Gallagher;Hutchinson & Co., London 1965
p.187

The Irish Republic by Dorothy Macardle;Corgi Books 1968; London

A Dictionary of Irish Biograghpy by Henry Boylan;Roberts Rinehart;
1998;Niwot, Colorado

Green Tears for Hecuba, Ireland's Fight for Freedom by Patrick J.
Twohig;Tower Books,County Cork, 1994

Michael Collins The Man Who Won the War by T. Ryle Dwyer;Mercier Press,
County Cork, 1990

The Green Flag Volume III Oursleves Alone by Robert Kee,Penguin Books, 1972



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