Every Clime, Class and Colour

Before the official outbreak of hostilities in 1919, County Clare was an ethnically and religiously homogeneous County, with a population of around 200,000 people. Over 98% were Catholic with the remaining 2 per cent or 2,000 people being Protestant as of 1911.[1] The County was predominantly rural, with 90% of its population living in rural areas, not towns. As is the case in many rural areas during this period, most of the workforce was set in agriculture. In fact, high grain prices during the 1910’s saw somewhat of a renaissance for owners of farms who benefited from the Great War’s demand for food. Still much of the population lived in poverty as labourers. Those who could not find work emigrated, usually to the United States of America. Incredibly, during this period, over 1/3 of County Clare was able to speak Irish, meaning that many people would have had a bilingual life. Very few would have spoken Irish as their sole language.

The County had a long tradition of nationalist politics, with the Home Rulers drawing much support. In Fact, Willie Redmond, brother of John Redmond, represented the East Clare constituency, until he was killed in action in 1917. Michael Brennan was considered as a candidate for the following by-election, but Eamon De Velera was chosen instead and won by a landslide. His victory was totalled at 5,000 votes compared to the IPP’s (Irish Parliamentary Party) only 2,000 votes.[2] This signalled a large shift in Clare politics, from parliamentary nationalism to a more radical form, represented by De Valera. What had long been a solid seat for Redmondite had now been roundly rejected by the public sentiment. The people of the county became more militant gradually towards the British administration. This usually expressed itself in the form of cattle drives, and illegal re distribution of land to poor farmers. The practice became increasingly common in the years between 1916-1919 and helped keep militant nationalism active in the County.

When the official conflict began, County Clare proved to be an important theatre during the War of Independence for the British, but also, especially for the Republican movement. The County was one of the first to see a Guerrilla campaign begin against the RIC, and later against the British Army. The first attack on police occurred as early as March 1917, just weeks after the Clare Brigades of the Irish Volunteers (later the IRA) was established. The first fatality however, occurred a year later, in February of 1918, when police opened fire on cattle run, and killed an IRA volunteer named John Ryan. On the centenary of his death, Ryan was recognised as the first Clare casualty of the War of Independence.[3] This further escalated in the 1918-1919 period, when the East Clare Brigade launched several attacks on police huts and on RUC patrols. The first fatality inflicted by the emerging Guerrilla campaign occurred in August of 1919, in which an RIC member was killed. These attacks while usually limited in its success, were significant enough for Piaras Beaslai to remark “it was really in Co. Clare that the guerrilla war may be said to have started.”[4]

County Clare was also the first County to use the flying column patrols, that have become notorious within that period of history. The Flying columns were bands of IRA fighters, numbering no more than a few dozen, who ate, slept, and fought together. They were continually mobile, never staying in the same place for a long period of time and launching attacks where possible. According to Michael Brennan, the tactic developed organically in County Clare, with men who on the run from the authorities decided to group together.[5] This started with a group of 3-4 fugitives, before ballooning to over 20 people in the East Clare Brigade area. This tactic was success for the Clare IRA as well, and it was soon adopted in surrounding counties. The leadership in Dublin would go on to officially recommended the creation of a Flying Column in each Brigade area, throughout the country, in August of 1920.[6]

The IRA in County Clare was at first incredibly disorganized. This was due in large part to the constant bickering within the organization. The three families of the Barrett’s, Brennans and O’Donnell’s all fought for control of the IRA within the County. Their ambitiousness led to frequent arguments, resulting in Headquarters in Dublin getting involved. They eventually agreed on splitting the IRA into 3 Brigades giving 1 Brigade to each family. This was not universally appreciated by those in East Clare, such as Patrick and Michael Brennan, who wanted a divisional command over the entire County. In Fact, Michael Collins believed that Patrick specifically held a “hell of a grievance” towards him for the move.[7] But it was eventually accepted by all families and provided stability of leadership in the County in which a Guerilla campaign was able to be launched. The East Clare Brigade were particularly active in the fight against informers, carrying out 6 out of 7 executions against spies in the whole of County Clare during the period. The six men executed were a mixture of British soldiers, Black and Tans, as well as two civilians. The execution came over a year after the Brigades August 1919, declaration that all informers will be “shot on sight.”[8]

[1] David Fitzpatrick, Politics and Irish Life 1913-21: Provincial Experiences of War and Revolution, prologue xii.

[2] The Irish Times (12 July 1917).

[3] Mc Gann, Colin. ‘Commemoration for Volunteer John Ryan.’ (https://clarechampion.ie/commemoration-for-volunteer-john-ryan/) (February 23, 2018).

[4] Fitzpatrick, Politics, and Irish Life 1913-21: Provincial Experiences of War and Revolution p 225.

[5] Brennan, Michael., The War in Clare 1913-1921 (Four Courts, 1980) p 70.

[6]  Fitzpatrick, Politics, and Irish Life 1913-21: Provincial Experiences of War and Revolution p 217.

[7] Fitzpatrick, Politics, and Irish Life 1913-21: Provincial Experiences of War and Revolution p 207.

[8] Clare Museum, Proclamation from the Clare IRA against informers, 8 August 1919.