Tuesday, 22 March 2016

Poem ~ Irish Volunteers Antagonised - Wednesday, 22 March 1916



















Impression sketch for Irish Volunteers Antagonised - by Jamie. Based on an image of William St, Tullamore (King’s Co.) Co. Offaly that can be seen at : <https://www.offalyhistory.com/shop/digital-media/william-st-tullamore-street-life-1914> [Accessed: 22 March 2016]

On William street of Tullamore,
In a town of the King's county,
A crowd gathered in the evening,
Tuesday night 21 March 1916.

Rooms occupied by Sinn Fein
Volunteers overlooked the street,
Where antagonists started to chant
Out words, prompting struggles.

There, a crowd of youths and men
Clashed with the Irish volunteers -
Police intervened to separate two
Groups - events were not yet over.

The antagonists remained close
To the Sinn Fein meeting place -
With police protection volunteers
Appeared, to walk across street.

With shouts from the lingering
Crowd, stones were then thrown
To hit Sinn Fein windows - a volley
Of gunshots made their reply.

Royal Irish Constabulary saw
Back up from Sergeant Ahern
And Inspector Crane, who was
To receive a wound to the face.

The collective police dispersed
The crowd and entered the house -
Aided with Head Constable Stuart
Searching all occupants for arms.

Making refusal to be searched
Sinn Feiners let fire, to hit Ahern
In his side and arm  - Inspector
Crane received a blow to cheek.

Three revolvers were seized
And four arrests carried out
Amid the Sin Fein volunteers,
As more police were drafted in.

Further arrested were predicted;
Perpetrators were to be handed
To military authorities, subjected
To the Defence of the Realm Act.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. Fight With Sinn Feiners - Inspector and Sergeant Shot. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 22 March 1916. P.9. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12200312/Daily-Telegraph-March-22-1916.html [Accessed: 22 March 2016].

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 22 March 2016). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Ireland

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