The Scrubbers - The Dungarvan Town Commissioners
Sep 1914
They will mow down the Germans
The Chairman said that they did not want to be under German rule anyhow.
Michael J.Casey - Oh, by God no.
Michael Brenmock - This was a war made by a big bully upon Belgium - a gallant little people who were being crushed and persecuted by this vast horde of savages. It was time to stop it and Ireland's place was at the front.
M.J. Casey - They will mow down the Germans.
Jan 1916
Dungarvan men at front
The Clerk of Dungarvan Urban Council says 6 or 7 hundred Dungarvan men have joined the forces.
Jan 1916
The "Corner Boys" Controversy
Captain Hunter had bought 30 tons of hay from James Foley of Mapstown for the Government. The hay had then been set on fire at Foley's farm. The Crown had then claimed against the County Council for the cost of the hay, claiming the burning had been malicious. Mr Tweedy, the Crown Solicitor, Dublin, suggested it had been the work of Sinn Fein. There had been Sinn Fein posters in Dungarvan urging young men not to volunteer. Patrick Ryan, Mapstown, giving evidence as an interested ratepayer, said he could not name a single Sein Fein member in the whole of Dungarvan. He said the fire had been started by tramps. E.A.Ryan, appearing on behalf of the ratepayers, questioned Sergent O'Neill, who had been stationed in Dungarvan for 3 years. O'Neill said he had seen Sein Fein posters in Dungarvan. Ryan suggested strangers had put them up. O'Neill replied that they had been freshly gummed.
Arthur Ryan - Don't you know Dungarvan has sent more recruits to the army then any other town.
O'Neill - I have ascertained that the labouring classes and what are termed "the corner boys" have joined the army very largely. The shopkeeper's sons have not joined and the farmer's sons have not joined and these are the men that might be likely to carry a bottle of gum and a brush around. Judge D.Fitzgerald KC decided the cost of the hay should be levied on the urban and rural councils.
O'Neill's evidence caused a storm at the next meeting of Dungarvan Urban Council.
Michael Brennock - Another nice statement was made regarding some of the poor fellows whose blood is now in Gallipoli and Flanders. They were simply called "corner boys". It was the most scandalous and uncalled for remark ever made by an ignorant policeman.
Thomas Power - 19 or 20 of the men who went were in his employment and they were all industrious and truly respectable young men.
Brennock - Men who were saving the British Army from defeat while that fellow was giving evidence to mulct their people at home.
William Stack - You must pass a resolution condemning this. The sergeant and the old Head ( Head Constable Dennehy) are a pair of villains.
Michael J.Casey - If I had been in court I would have challenged his statement.
John Curran - Why didn't the Government insure their hay ? We are already overburdened with rates.
Mar 1916
The people are already gone
Claude Anson wrote to the Dungarvan Urban Council asking them to recruit men personally.
Michael Brennock - I don't see the utility of a personal canvas at present. The town is well drained
John Curran - There is Charlie Humble with thousands of acres and he evicted the people from his lands and sent them to foreign shores; and there is Sir John Keene and others of his Cromwellian spawn.
Michael Byrne - They closed up all the minerals long ago - some of the finest minerals in the world. Mr Curran never reared a family like me, but these people closed up the minerals -
Michael J.Casey - Hammer them, hammer them.
Byrne - It is good enough for them. There are fathers and mothers who reared families in Dungarvan and when Mr Curran goes for election they should not place him on a public board.
Patrick Sexton - You are getting personal now.
Curran - Whatever have I done to you ?
Byrne - You never went to the labour of raising sons, the same as other men in Dungarvan.
Curran - It is cheaper not to.
Michael J.Casey said there are no people to recruit. The people are already gone.
Byrne - I care for no Government, even the Government I am ruled by. I don't care that much (snapping his fingers). They were a persecuting Government for centuries.
Casey - Even since the days of Cromwell.
Mar 1916
The German Government is far superior to it
Discussion of a resolution passed at Mansion House, Dublin against further increases in taxation.
Thomas Power said they were all in agreement with the resolution but an attempt was being made to usurp the function of the Irish Parliamentary Party. An agitation of this kind would be absolutely useless at this time. It was the most inopportune time that could be chosen. The Party was elected by the people, and they elected a leader, and so they were the direct representatives of the people of Ireland today. Having regard to that, the resolution should be rejected.
Michael J.Casey - I have great pleasure in moving that we adopt it. I am firmly convinced that Ireland is robbed of its youth, its industry and its wealth. The English have been grinding down Ireland since the days of Cromwell.
Patrick Sexton - The resolution is a slap in the face at Mr Redmond and the Irish Party.
Thomas Power - Sinn Fein are undoubtably good Irishmen in their own estimation, but they go to extremes. They are not men who are suitable for the present generation. They may be good, faithful Irishmen in their own way, but they are not wise Irishmen who look to the future.
Michael Byrne - Ireland would be a nation today but for the rotten British Government - the dirty action they took against poor Ireland - and it is no harm to have them well beaten down. No harm to have them beaten down as we are. The German Government is far superior to it and -
Patrick Sexton - All right now. We can't hear that.
Byrne - Can't hear it? I am not under a compliment to any Government.
Sexton - Take care and don't get us into trouble.
May 1916
ESCAPED BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH
A resolution was passed by the Dungarvan Urban Council demanding the release of Daniel Fraher and Philip Walsh of Dungarvan who were visiting Dublin at the time of the Easter Rising. They were both arrested.
Michael J.Casey - I was spending a few days in Drogheda when the rebellion broke out and I escaped by the skin of my teeth.
William Stack - What a pity (laughter).
John Curran - You couldn't shoot a crow. A dummy gun would frighten you (laughter).
Michael Brennock's resolution condemned the actions of his misguided fellow countrymen and asked the Government for mercy and magnanimity.
Jul 1916
DO YOU LIKE TO BE IN THE LIMELIGHT ?
Michael Curran, 26,a Dungarvan railway porter, who was now a private in the Irish Guards, had written to the DUC thanking them for their resolution attacking Sergeant O'Neill's comments about "corner boys" in the Army. After being wounded in France he returned to Dungarvan in his uniform. After references to events in Dublin he was attacked by Daniel Roynane. He cross examined in court by E.A.Ryan.
Ryan - Do you like to be in the limelight ?
Curran - I don't quite understand you.
Ryan - Would you like to be in public life ?
Curran - I would.
Ryan - Did you go for the Urban Council in Dungarvan ?
Curran - I did.
Ryan - And you were defeated ?
Curran - I was, like yourself when you went for it.
Roynane got one month in jail.
Jul 1916
ROGER CASEMENT
Michael J.Casey proposed resolution that the King remit the sentence of death on Roger Casement. Seconded by John Curran. Copy was sent to the Prime Minister.
Jan1918
I AM THE PIONEER OF HOUSING IN DUNGARVAN
Regarding the shortage of housing in Dungarvan, William Stack said if Mr Power had not vetoed Mr Curran's proposals there would be 100 extra houses in Dungarvan.
Thomas Power - I am very slow during my public experience to take notice of every flimsy attack upon me.
Stack - There's no attack.
Power - I don't want to boast about the past, but I take credit for saying that I am the pioneer of housing in Dungarvan.
Stack - Oh, my God ! I did not know that.
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