A communiqu� was received from the John Mitchel Club, seeking a subscription towards dependants of Sinn Feiners, who had been jailed. It was decided to make an appropriate donation. And a grant was made to St Brigid�s Irish College at Omeath, with the comment: �No cause could be more prize-worthy than one that propagates the making of Ireland once more an Irish-speaking nation.�

The Newry INF Branch Secretary was instructed to contact the Newry Branch, Ancient Order of Hibernians, to arrange for a special train to Dublin, so that members of both societies could take part in the public funeral of Fenian leader, O�Donovan Rossa. In a graveside oration, Padraig Pearse castigated the British, declaring: �The fools, the fools; they have left us our patriot dead. And while we hold these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.�

As an aside, the Newry Branch was presented with a spoke of the wheel from the prison van, from which Colonel Kelly and Captain Kelly were rescued, while being conveyed to stand trial for the attack, which led to Allen, Larkin and O�Brien were hanged. It was decided that the item should be put on display, at a suitable location on the branch�s premises.

In 1920, The British Home Office in London wrote to the John Mitchel Branch, stating: �The Secretary of State acknowledges your letter on behalf of Terence McSwiney. This has been passed to the King.� Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence McSwiney later died on hunger-strike in prison. A Branch meeting was adjourned �as a mark of respect of the late Lord Mayor of Cork.�

Next year the Newry Branch stated: �We adhere to the decision, taken at the Annual Convention, to pledge our allegiance to the Dail and the Irish Republic. And we have called on the General Secretary to withdraw all funds from the Belfast Bank, transferring them to the Munster and Leinster Bank.�

During sectarian attacks in 1920, the home and property of a Newry-born Forester, Brian Monaghan at Banbridge were badly damaged. Denouncing the heavy loss of homes and stock, the John Mitchel Branch condemned the expulsion of Catholic people because of their religion as �a shame and disgrace.�

Responding from Crumlin Road Prison, Brian Monaghan stated: �It was a terrible experience for my wife and young children, who never knew what hardship, was to be subjected to this treatment at the hands of so-called lovers of civil and religious liberty.

�While my house was burning, there also perished two certificates from the Royal Humane Society, presented to me by the Urban Council for saving the life of two Protestant boys in the River Bann. Their co-religionists, plenty of whom were there, would not risk their skins. Burning the houses of Catholics is not risky.

�I trust God will reward members of the Newry Branch, delegates to the Annual Convention, who took so seriously the plight of persecuted Catholics, driven from their homes and places of employment by bigoted employers, who will one day reap the harvest they have sown,� stated Brian Monaghan.

In 1925, the John Mitchel Branch passed the resolution: �Being non-sectarian and non-political, and with a membership of over 400, we announce that we are in favour of this area being retained within the Free State, and excluded from the jurisdiction of the Northern Ireland Government.�

Meanwhile, a `refreshment room` and bar for members was opened; and it was stated that �this department has enabled a lot of good to be done in helping older members� pensions.� Two years later, all members over 70 got ten shillings per week pension, - �for as long as the branch is fit to pay it.�

During an Annual Convention in Newry, delegates were taken by pleasure craft `up the tidal river as far as the Abbatoir,` accompanied by the famous St Joseph�s prize-winning band. They also visited Warrenpoint and Carlingford, �to enjoy the scenic beauty of one of Ireland�s most beautiful places.�

The Golden Jubilee in 1935 was an occasion for the John Mitchel Branch to reflect with satisfaction on what had been achieved, and look forward with confidence to the future. A Boys Brigade had been formed, inspired by Chief Ranger Thomas Price and secretary, John McCourt, assisted by James Fitzpatrick and Bernard Larkin, who had military training.

Also the St Bridget�s Ladies Branch was also in operation, under its Chief Ranger, Sister Fox, supplemented by a juvenile wing. This encouraged younger girls to get involved in separate companies, later amalgamated into the adult section.

Meanwhile, at the annual meeting in January, 1935, a letter from the Provincial Bank stated: �I have pleasure to inform you that the advance, obtained from the bank in connection with your Picture Palace has been paid off and, accordingly, there is now no charge on your premises. The mortgage, held by the bank, is being formally released.�

As Past Chief Ranger and historian, Thomas Price commented: �No more fitting communication could come in the Golden Jubilee year than the above. We have seen the John Mitchel Branch commence its career in 1885, while the Mitchel Memorial Hall is a splendid testimony to our self-sacrificing patriot. Also our fine Social Club, Picture Palace and other facilities have been an impressive achievement.

�We have every reason to hope that, under wise guidance, the Newry Branch will continue to uphold the principles on which it was founded, - Unity, Nationality and Benevolence.

Certainly the Foresters of Golden Jubilee Year would have been reassured with successors of the calibre of General Secretaries Joe McCrudden, Joe McConville and Hugh McKenna, along with Chief Rangers Jim Rowntree, Michael McAteer, Charles McGreevy, Dan Lennon, Pat McMahon, Barney McShane, Adrian Finnerty, Vincent McCormack, Paul Braham, John Kennedy, Patrick McManus, John Kennedy and Patrick McManus, etc., would follow in their illustrious footsteps.

< Previous Page