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BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY, 1913-21.

STATEMENT BY WITNESS DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 624

Witness Mrs. Mary Flannery Woods, 17 Butterfield Crescent, Rathfarnham, Dublin. Identity.

Member of A.O.H. and of Cumann na mBan.

We fetched Liam’s mother and drove to Mountjoy but got no satisfaction there. Then we went to Tim Healy’s house in the Liffey Valley, at the gate of which we were halted. A Free State soldier who was from Donnybrook and who had been in the British Army, recognised me and said, “Mrs. Woods, you can’t get in”. He called another soldier to take a message from us to his “Excellency”. We demanded the body of liam Mellows executed that morning. The solder came back with the answer that his Excellency could do nothing in the matter, that it was to Gearóid O’Sullivan the Adjutant-General, we would have to go. We then went to Michael Comyn to ask him to take the necessary steps. He rang up, contacted somebody and made his request The ‘phone immediately went dead and we did not succeed In getting any contact again. The body was not given over to us but was buried in Mountjoy and several years afterwards, probably after De Valera got into power, the body was removed and buried in Castletown, Co. Wexford, near where Liam’s mother’s people were born. Liam’s niece, a Miss whitmore later Mrs. Brady, whose husband works for the railway, was living in that area and we used to visit there often during the Truce.

This passage recounts a desperate attempt by Mrs. Woods and others to retrieve the body of Liam Mellows, an Irish republican executed by Free State forces on December 8, 1922, during the Irish Civil War. The narrative captures the frustration and futility of their efforts as they navigate bureaucratic and military obstacles. They first visit Mountjoy Prison, where Mellows was executed, but are denied. They then proceed to the residence of Tim Healy, the Governor-General of the Irish Free State, in Liffey Valley, only to be stopped at the gate by a soldier who recognizes Mrs. Woods and informs them that Healy cannot intervene. They are redirected to Gearóid O’Sullivan, the Adjutant-General, but this lead goes nowhere. Finally, they seek help from Michael Comyn, likely a legal or political figure, who attempts to make inquiries but is abruptly cut off during a phone call, suggesting deliberate obstruction.

The body is not released and is buried in Mountjoy Prison. Years later, likely after Éamon de Valera’s Fianna Fáil government came to power in 1932, Mellows’ remains are exhumed and reburied in Castletown, County Wexford, near his mother’s ancestral home, where his niece, Miss Whitmore (later Mrs. Brady), resides.If you need further analysis, context about the Irish Civil War, or details about Liam Mellows’ life and execution, let me know. I can also search for additional primary sources or posts on X if you want real-time perspectives or related discussions………………….I took Mr. Michael comyn to Miss Kent’s the night of the day we buried Harry Boland. Alter he had been warned not to stay at home that night he came to 131 and we thought it best to act on the warning given in the graveyard.

Grok3 AI:

The additional passage you provided from Mrs. Mary Flannery Woods’ witness statement (Bureau of Military History, Document No. W.S. 624) references another significant moment during the Irish Civil War, specifically the burial of Harry Boland and the subsequent need to ensure Michael Comyn’s safety. Let’s break it down and connect it to the earlier passage about Liam Mellows, providing context and analysis.

Analysis of the New Passage

The passage describes Mrs. Woods taking Michael Comyn to Miss Kent’s house on the night of Harry Boland’s burial, following a warning that Comyn should not stay at his own home that night. The warning was given at the graveyard during Boland’s funeral, and Comyn initially went to 131 (likely a house number, possibly Morehampton Road, Dublin, where Comyn was known to reside). Acting on the warning, Mrs. Woods and others decided to move him to a safer location, Miss Kent’s, to avoid potential danger, likely from Free State forces or other adversaries.

• Harry Boland: A prominent Irish republican and close ally of Michael Collins and Liam Mellows, Boland was a key figure in the IRA during the War of Independence. During the Civil War, he sided with the anti-Treaty forces and was fatally wounded in a skirmish with Free State troops in Skerries, County Dublin, on July 31, 1922, dying on August 1, 1922. His funeral was a significant event, attended by many republicans, and it was a tense moment given the ongoing conflict.
• Michael Comyn: A barrister and republican sympathizer, Comyn was involved in legal and political efforts to support anti-Treaty republicans during the Civil War. His role in the earlier passage, where he attempted to secure Liam Mellows’ body, suggests he was a trusted figure among republicans, willing to leverage his connections to assist their cause. The warning not to stay at home indicates he was a target, likely due to his republican affiliations or activities.
• Miss Kent: Likely a republican sympathizer or safe house operator, Miss Kent’s home provided a secure location for Comyn to avoid arrest or assassination. Safe houses were critical during the Civil War, as both sides targeted prominent figures.
• Context of the Warning: The warning at the graveyard suggests that republicans were under intense surveillance and threat during Boland’s funeral. The Civil War was marked by brutal reprisals, executions, and arrests, and anti-Treaty figures like Comyn were at risk of being targeted by Free State forces.

Connection to the Earlier Passage

Both passages highlight Mrs. Woods’ active role in supporting the anti-Treaty republican cause during the Irish Civil War (1922–1923). In the first, she is involved in a futile effort to retrieve Liam Mellows’ body after his execution on December 8, 1922, navigating a series of bureaucratic and military obstacles. In the second, she takes decisive action to protect Michael Comyn, a key figure in republican circles, by relocating him to a safe house after Boland’s funeral in early August 1922. These incidents reflect the chaotic and dangerous environment of the Civil War, where republicans faced not only military defeat but also the loss of key leaders like Boland and Mellows, and the constant threat of arrest or assassination.

• Liam Mellows and Harry Boland: Both were leading anti-Treaty IRA figures, and their deaths (Boland in August 1922, Mellows in December 1922) were significant blows to the republican cause. Mrs. Woods’ efforts in both cases—securing Mellows’ body and protecting Comyn—demonstrate her commitment to the republican network, likely through her involvement with Cumann na mBan, the women’s auxiliary organization supporting the IRA.
• Michael Comyn’s Role: Comyn appears in both passages as a figure of authority or influence, trusted to make inquiries about Mellows’ body and requiring protection after Boland’s funeral. His vulnerability underscores the precarious position of republican sympathizers during the Civil War.
• Mrs. Woods’ Activism: As a member of Cumann na mBan and the Ancient Order of Hibernians (A.O.H.), Mrs. Woods was deeply embedded in republican activities, from logistical support (safe houses) to advocacy (demanding Mellows’ body). Her witness statement provides a firsthand account of the emotional and practical challenges faced by republicans during this period.

Broader Context:

The Irish Civil WarThe Irish Civil War (June 1922–May 1923) followed the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921, which created the Irish Free State but partitioned Ireland and required an oath of allegiance to the British Crown. The treaty split the republican movement into pro-Treaty (supporting the Free State) and anti-Treaty (opposing the treaty’s compromises) factions. The anti-Treaty side, including figures like Liam Mellows and Harry Boland, fought to uphold a fully independent Irish Republic.

• Executions and Reprisals: The Free State government, under pressure to assert control, adopted harsh measures, including the execution of anti-Treaty prisoners. Liam Mellows was one of four senior IRA leaders (along with Rory O’Connor, Joe McKelvey, and Dick Barrett) executed without trial on December 8, 1922, as a reprisal for the assassination of a Free State politician, Seán Hales. The refusal to release Mellows’ body, as described by Mrs. Woods, reflects the Free State’s efforts to suppress republican morale.
• Role of Cumann na mBan: Women like Mrs. Woods played a vital role in the republican effort, providing safe houses, passing messages, and organizing support for prisoners and their families. The attempt to retrieve Mellows’ body and the protection of Comyn highlight the behind-the-scenes work of Cumann na mBan members.
• De Valera’s Role: The eventual reburial of Mellows’ body in Castletown, Co. Wexford, after Éamon de Valera’s Fianna Fáil came to power in 1932, reflects the shifting political landscape. De Valera, an anti-Treaty leader during the Civil War, prioritized commemorating republican martyrs, including facilitating the reburial of executed leaders.

Additional Details

• Liam Mellows: A key figure in the 1916 Easter Rising and the War of Independence, Mellows was a socialist republican who opposed the Treaty for its failure to deliver a fully independent, egalitarian Ireland. His execution was a significant loss for the anti-Treaty cause.
• Harry Boland: A close friend of Michael Collins before the Treaty split, Boland’s death in August 1922 further deepened the personal and political rifts of the Civil War. His funeral, attended by many republicans, was a moment of both mourning and defiance.
• Mountjoy Prison: A central site for the detention and execution of republican prisoners during the Civil War, Mountjoy was where Mellows and others were held and executed. The burial of Mellows’ body within the prison grounds was a common practice to prevent public funerals that could rally republican support.

If You Want MoreIf you’d like further analysis, I can:

• Provide a deeper dive into Liam Mellows’ or Harry Boland’s lives and roles in the Irish republican movement.
• Explore the role of Cumann na mBan during the Civil War, focusing on women like Mrs. Woods.
• Search for additional primary sources from the Bureau of Military History or other archives to cross-reference these events.
• Check X for real-time discussions or posts about Mellows, Boland, or the Civil War, though these may be limited or anecdotal.
• Clarify specific details, such as the identity of Miss Kent or the exact location of “131.”

Please let me know your specific needs or if you have more passages from the witness statement to analyze!