Witness Statements
A.S.U. attack on General Tudor's Car:
Witness: James Carrigan
Member of Fianna Eireann, 1913-1916; Member of 'C' Company let Battalion, Dublin Brigade, 1916 ; Member of A.S.U. Dublin, 1920-1921.
One of my first engagements with the Active Service Unit was an attack on the car of General Tudor at Charlemont Street Bridge, early in January, 1921. Frank Flood knew beforehand that the car was expected at Charlemont Bridge at a certain time in or around 10 a.m.
Four of us took up -10- positions at McQuilian's public house at the junction of the canal and Charlemont Street. Frank Flood was on Charlemont Bridge, opposite me.
Christy Fitzsimons was in a shop on the corner of Charlemont Mall and Siney was positioned near a G.H.Q. Intelligence Officer that accompanied us on the crown of the bridge. After about 10 minutes delay I heard a. shot fired at touring car by the late Frank Flood. The car headed towards me, turning towards the canal and I opened fire on it.
Simultaneously the other two men opened fire on it. The driver swung his car left, and right away from me, upsetting a milk van. I fired again into the car and kept on firing as I followed it. I cannot say who was in the car. I saw two passengers in the back; one was a tall gentleman and the other was a tall lady. Neither can I say if we caused any casualties.
G.H.Q. Intelligence 1920:
Witness: James Francis Hughes,
Member of 'A' Company, 3rd Battalion, Dublin Brigade, 1917 Company Intelligence Officer, 1918
It was decided, however, that the ambush would take place at Charlemont Street Bridge. On the morning the operation was to take place the Squad were engaged on another job at Exchequer Street at St. Andrew's Hotel; consequently, the A.S.U., under Paddy Flanagan, were deputed for the ambush of Major Fitz3on.
I did, however, identify it before it crossed Charlemont Street Bridge and fired the first shot, as a signal, which immediately started off the ambush. The car went so fast, however, that it was not 9. known at the time if Major FiLtzjohn was wounded or not, and I never learned the facts. Judging from the intensity of the attack, he should have been wounded.
Frank flood, who was arrested a short time later and executed, was on that operation. On that morning I had to come from Clonskeagh, go to the office in Crow Street, get the gun from the press there, bring it to the scene of the ambush and return it to Crow Street. This, notwithstanding the unexpected activity in Exchequer Street, caused a certain amount of tension, as we expected much activity and holds-up from Grown Forces
G.H.Q. Intelligence 1920:
Witness: George White
Member of 'C' Company 3rd Batt'n Dublin Bgde, Quartermaster A.S.U., Dublin
There was an attack on Major Fitzjohn, an officer on General Tudor's staff, at Charlemont St. Bridge, as he was proceeding from Clonskea Castle to Dublin Castle. We were placed in position by Captain Flanagan about 9.45 a.m.
Hughes of the Intelligence Department changed our positions, with the result that when the car came up Flood and Doyle opened fire. They missed the d river and the car swerved coming to the top of the bridge. Mick and I threw two bombs at the car and these rebounded back on the street. Carroll and McPhilips were on the city side of the bridge and they fired at the car as it proceeded at a terrific pace down Charlemont St. It struck a milkcart on its way. The Major's wife was with him at the time and the Irish Times made much of this incident, accusing us of attacking women, Of course, we did not know that he would be a ccompanied by his wife. It was believed that the Major was wounded in the attack.
First meeting with Michael Collins:
Colonel Eamon Broy
I.R.A. Intelligence Agent, Dublin Castle; Escort and Private Secretary to General Michael Collins, 1921; Commissioner Garda Siochana, 1933-1938
We crossed the canal at Charlemont Bridge, with Bill Tobin shouting: "Up the rebels". We all parted from the car in the St. Stephen's Green area. I returned to the Detective Headquarter to find several respectable detectives there complaining that they had been insulted by the Auxiliaries at various canal bridges. Apparently, Charlemont St. Bridge was the only one on the south side that was not held up by the time.
Reorganisation of third Battalion Irish Volunteers:
Seamus Kavanagh
Signal Officer 3rd Batt'n. Dublin Brigade, Captain 'C' Company, 1921.
"C" Company met in the Phoenix Park, Milltown Golf Links and sometimes out on the mountains on Sundays. 23. But as it was dangerous to use the sane place too often they used the following places from time to time - Turf Bank, Charlemont Street Bridge; Canal Bank, Leeson Street Bridge; rere of Millar & Beatty'a, Long Lane; William's Place, Long Lane Gas Company yard, sir John Rogerson's Quay; Kevin Barry Memorial Hall, Parnell Square; small hall opposite Harold's Cross Park.
Account of the Rising in 1916:
Witness Rev. Fr. Aloysius, O.F.M. Cap., Capuchin Friary,
Chaplain to Irish Volunteer Leaders, 1916.
I had just gone to bed - fairly exhausted and expecting a good rest - when I was called to learn that a military car was at the gate and a letter was handed to me, telling me that the Prisoner Pearse desired to see me and I had permission to see him, and that, failing me, he could see any other Capuchin Father. With that I accompanied the military and we drowe in the direction of Charlemont Bridge. The sniping from the roofs was so fierce that the car did not venture to proceed further, and turning back, we went direct to Kilmainham. The soldiers had told us that they had a couple of calls to make. Later we heard that the proposed calls were to Mrs. McDonagh and Mrs. Pearse, whom they had intended bringing to the prison before the executions.
National activities 1913-1921;
Witness Mrs. MacDowell (Maeve Cavanag)
Member of Irish Citizen Army 1913-1921.
"My brother, Ernest Cavanagh, was the cartoonist for Connolly's paper, the "Workers' Republic", all voluntary work, as mine and my husband's were. Connolly paid a high tribute to him. He advised him not to. sign the last sketch he did for the paper, as it was getting dangerous and he might be arrested. Ernest did not want to agree to this, but Connolly insisted.
When Redmond held his big recruiting meeting in 1914. in the Mansion House, Larkin got Ernest a ticket and he drew cartoons of all the speakers, Dillon, Redmond, etc., and they were in the paper the next week. Connolly who was in Belfast at the time, wrote to Larkin and said the cartoon was dandy.
On Easter Tuesday morning Ernest went down town and went up the steps of Liberty Rail thinking some of the Citizen Army might be there. On his way. down he had called to Mrs. Doyle of Charlemont Street and said he would try to get in somewhere. He made for Liberty Hall, and as he went up the steps he was killed - riddled with bullets fired by soldiers in the Custom House. He had told. my sister that morning at breakfast that he could not sleep all night. He had not
been a member of the Volunteers or Citizen Army."
South Dublin Union, Easter Week 1916.
Witness Mr. James Foran,
Member of Irish Volunteers 'A' Company 4th Batta1ion, Dublin Brigade from 1915.
I joined the Volunteers in 1915. I went up to Larkfield and saw MacDonagh and Seamus Murphy, and I asked them did they intend to fight. They told me that they did intend to fight and that they probably would. I said in that case I wanted to join. I said that I did not want to attend parades, that I had a big family, but that I would come up an odd time.
I was in "A" Company of the 4th Battalion, and I kept going to an odd parade. I think Seamus Murphy was over us at that time. Seamus Murphy and Harry Murray were the only officers in it.
I had a shop and business down in Charlemont Street. I was after shifting from Aungier Street. I had five or six fellows working for me in the painting line. I was living in a big house at the corner of Rutland Avenue, which was convenient to Larkfield. There was a big shed in the yard.