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From: "conaught" <>
Subject: [MAYO] Easter Week Series #24
Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2001 14:08:23 -0700


Constance Markievicz -Countess Constance Markievicz (nee Gore-Booth;
1868-1927);
born in London, was raised at Lissadel House, County Sligo, married Count
Casimir Markievicz, 1900. She joined Sinn Fein, and launched Fianna
Eireann, 1909; joined Inghinidhe na hEireann, wrote A Call to the Women of
Ireland; became an officer of the Irish Citizen Army, which resulted in the
resignation of Sean O'Casey She was second in command at St. Stephen's Green
under Commandant Michael Mallin
during the Easter Rising. She was sentenced to death for her roll in the
Easter Uprising, but the sentence was commuted because of her sex.
President of Cumann na mBan, the women's auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers,
1917. Sinn Fein MP for St Patrick's Dublin, 1918, being the first woman to
be elected to the Commons, but did not take her seat - establishing a
Republican tradition. Sinn Fein TD for South Dublin, 1923-1927. In March
1919 when de Valera returned to Ireland after his prison escape planned and
executed by Micahel Collins and Harry Boland. de Valera appointed his
cabinet members, he appointed Constance as Minister for Labor. She wrote
to de Valera telling him that she could give all her time for Ireland. The
Viceroy banned the annual Cumann na mBan conference in 1919, it was to held
at the Mansion House. Nothing got in the way of Constance Markeivicz, so
while the British soldiers were guarding the Mansion House, Constance and
her companions held their conference in the Gaelic League Hall. Dublin
Castle even attempted to have her deported to Poland because she was married
to a Polish count. The government attempted to destroy Dail Eireann by
arresting the leaders. Upon her release from one of her many imprisonment's
the Viceroy declared Dail Eireann an illegal association. She never missed a
meeting of the Dail except when she was in prison. In 1920 she lived in
Dublin with the O'Carroll family for several months. She was known as the
children's auntie and was heavily disguised as an elderly woman which
allowed her to move around Dublin undetected. She had received death
threats as did the other leaders. Dublin Castle wanted the Countess very
badly. The following is a police directive dated January 14, 1920

"Superintendent D. Division

The Countess Markievicz has, according to the newspapers, made two
appearances at unannounced meetings in the City. One last night, the other
a few days. Ago. I must again impress on all who superintend the grave
importance of securing this woman's arrest, and to this end, force
sufficiently strong to secure her arrest must be held in reserve at each
Divisional Headquarters tonight and tomorrow night. The moment an
unannounced meeting is discovered a message must be sent by the quickest
method available to the nearest Divisional headquarters and to the G.
Division, Dublin Castle. The police on the spot must act firmly and
promptly as the Countess never remains at a meeting for more than a few
minutes and may possibly be heavily veiled, and therefore, difficult to
recognize. A motor van will be kept in waiting at the Castle and will be
sent out promptly if her arrest is reported.

Superintendents will have at least three cyclists on duty in their Divisions
to look out for suddenly convened meetings and the presence of the Countess
or other suspects. They will report at once to their Divisional
Headquarters and the Castle any information obtained
Signed W.E. Johnstone
Chief Commissioner
Janurary 14, 1920"(1)

In May of 1920 Constance wrote to a friend that she had received another
death threat and that there wasn't any doubt that Dublin Castle was
plotting to murder all the cabinet members and leaders of the I.R.A. The
Lord Mayor Tomas MacCurtain had already been killed in Cork City.

Shortly after this Colonel Smyth, Divisional Commissioner of Police for the
Munster Area (Munster:Counties Cork,Kerry,Limerick,Clare,Tipperary and
Waterford) gave his appalling infamous speech which caused 14 RIC (Royal
Irish Constabulary) to resign on the spot. Symth was visiting the
Listowel, County Kerry barracks with General Tudor, Inspector General of
Police and the Black and Tans, along with other police officials. The speech
was later to be published in the Freeman's Journal.

"Well, men I have something of interest to tell you, something that I am
sure you would not wish your wives and families to hear. I am going to lay
all my cards on the table, but I must reserve one card for myself. Now, men
Sinn Fein has had all the sport up to the present (side note by MK. Michael
Collins war against the Crown forces was proving successful) and we are
going to have sport now. We must take the offensive and beat Sinn Fein with
hits own tactics.Martial law applying to Ireland is coming into operations
shortly. I am promised as many troops from England as I require; thousands
are coming daily. I am getting 700 police from England. what I wish to
explain to you is that you are to strengthen your comrades in the
out-stations. If a police barracks is burned, or if the barracks are
already occupied is not suitable, then the best house in the locality is to
be commandeered, the occupants thrown out in the gutter. Let them die
there, the more the merrier.Police and military will patrol the country
roads at least five nights a week. They are not to confine themselves to
the main roads but make across the country, lie in ambush, take cover behind
fences near roads, and when civilians are seen approaching shout: 'Hands
up!' Should the order be not obeyed, shoot, and shoot with effect. If the
persons approaching carry their hands in their pockets or are in any way
suspicious looking, shoot them down. You may make mistakes occasionally and
innocent persons may be shot, but that cannot be helped and you are bound to
get the right persons sometimes. The more you shoot the better I will like
you; and I assure you that no policeman will get into trouble for shooting
any man and I will guarantee that your names will not be given at the
inquest. Hunger strikers will be allowed to die in jail, the more the
merrier.An emigrant ship will be leaving an Irish port with lots of Sinn
Feiners on board. I assure you, men it will never land. That is nearly all
I have to say to you.." (2)

There had been rumors of what Smyth was going to say and Constable Mee had
been selected as spokesman for the group.Mee objected to Symth and called
him a murderer and then resigned as did 13 others. Mee went onto to become
assistant to Constance Markevicz in the Ministery Department.

The times were very dangerous for Irish patriots. The War of Independence
continued until the British government worked out a truce with Dail Eireann
of the Irish Republic.

At the Dail Eireann session, where the Treaty was narrowly passed, Constance
Markievicz denounced the Treaty. All the women members of the Dail
supported de Valera in the vote against the Treaty. The women deputies
included, Mary MacSwiney sister of Terence MacSwiney who spoke eloquently
against the Treaty, the Countess,Kathleen Clarke and Mrs. Margaret Pearse.
The Countess continued her fight for Irish Independence on the side of the
Republican Army during the tragic Civil War that was to follow When she
was relected to the Dail in 1927 she was in failing health and died the
same year. She was a remarkable force in the history of Ireland and was
known as the Rebel Countess as well as respectful title of Madame.

© 2001
Margaret Kristich

All rights reserved

References:

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

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

Michael Collins, The Man Who Made Ireland by Tim Pat Coogan; p 124; Roberts
Rinehart Publishers; 1992; Boulder, Colorado

The Rebel Countess by Anne Marreco;Corgi Books, London 1969
Quotes 1 & 2 taken from The Rebel Countess by Anne Marreco (1) - page 246;
(2) page 250

The Anglo-Irish Treaty by Frank Gallagher;Hutchinson of London,1965







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