Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Sighle Humphreys,
Revolutionary in 1916-21:
Sighle, like her mother and all her family, became a revolutionary in the
1916-23 period.
Her brother
Dick
fought in the
1916 Rising,
in which their uncle
The O'Rahilly,
one of the leaders,
was killed.
Dick went to prison, as did Dick and Sighle's mother Nell.
Sighle was
educ
in 1917-18
at
Scoil Bhríde
(or St.Brigid's High School, the oldest Gaelscoil in Ireland,
founded 1917).
Scoil Bhríde
was
then at 70 Stephen's Green, Dublin.
Principal was
Louise Gavan Duffy.
She was
on committee of Irish Volunteer Dependants' Fund after 1916 Rising
(support for dependants of those killed or imprisoned)
[Ward, 1983].
She
joined
Cumann na mBan 1919.
She and her brother
Dick
studied in Paris
in late 1919 - early 1920.
She studied French civilisation at the University of Paris.
Sighle did work for Cumann na mBan during the
War of Independence 1919-21.
[McCoole, 2003]
says she worked as a courier in
Michael Collins'
network.
She was never arrested under the British.
Anti-Treaty in Civil War 1922-23:
She was on the
Executive of Cumann na mBan at the
meeting at which Cumann na mBan voted to reject the Treaty,
5 Feb 1922.
She took
Republican side in Civil War 1922-23.
Republican leader
Ernie O'Malley
made his HQ at her family home, Ailesbury Rd, Dublin.
[McCoole, 2003]
describes Sighle as one of the most active
Cumann na mBan
in Dublin in the early Civil War in 1922 -
carrying messages, finding safe houses for isolated Republican fighters.
She was first arrested by the Free State
in Oct 1922,
for painting slogans with other Cumann na mBan in Dublin city centre.
Released the same day.
See
[P106/978(1)]
and
[O'Malley, 1978, Ch.10].
Ernie O'Malley
was captured in the
Free State raid on Ailesbury Rd in the Civil War, 4 Nov 1922,
in which a Free State soldier was shot dead,
supposedly by Ernie O'Malley.
Sighle had also shot at the Free Staters,
and there were always rumours that she shot the soldier,
but she always denied it.
In prison, 1922-23:
She was jailed by the Free State for a year after the raid.
In jail until after Civil War.
See account of early stages in
[P106/979(1)].
She was at some of those times
in jail with
her mother
Nell
and her aunt
Anno.
Republican diehard,
Anti-Free State, in 1920s and 1930s:
After the
Civil War,
as the
Free State under W.T. Cosgrave
was established,
most republicans gave up,
but Sighle
stuck with the diehard republicans and the
IRA
who regarded the Free State as illegitimate.
She was an officer of
Cumann na mBan,
now ever more isolated in its anti-partition Republican policy.
She was Secretary.
She became Director of Publicity in 1926.
[DIB]
describes her as
"its leading Dublin activist for a decade thereafter".
She was Vice-President of Cumann na mBan in 1920s [her death notice].
They staged protests against the play
The Plough and the Stars
(premiered Feb 1926),
which they felt belittled the men of 1916.
Easter Lily:
In March 1926 Sighle originated the idea of the Easter Lily badge.
Sighle and other Cumann na mBan
started a campaign of intimidating juries to acquit Republicans brought before
the courts.
They sent anonymous leaflets to soldiers, gardai and jury members,
signed from "Ghosts",
asking them not to serve the state.
They threatened death to members of juries which convicted Republicans.
1926-27 jailing:
Sighle was arrested in Oct 1926 (apparently NOT 3 Dec 1926)
in a raid on an office in Dawson St.
See report on her trial for jury intimidation,
Evening Herald, 9 Dec 1926,
p.1 and
p.3.
She refused to recognise the court.
She was
jailed in
Mountjoy prison,
freed Apr 1927.
[P106/1067]
apparently says freed 11 Apr 1927.
She continued the campaign of intimidating juries
and support for IRA.
Ailesbury Rd was raided many times in 1927-31.
In 1928 Sighle smashed the windows of shopkeepers who flew Union Jack flags during the
Tailteann Games.
1928 jailing:
Ailesbury Rd raided 11 Apr 1928.
Thousands of the "Ghosts" leaflets were found there.
Sighle was found with an IRA letter.
She was charged on 10 May 1928 with influencing juries,
and membership of an illegal organisation.
See item from
Evening Herald,
10 May 1928,
printed in
[Mac Eoin, 1980].
See
Irish Freedom, June 1928.
She was jailed in
Mountjoy prison
until around Nov 1928.
She went on 6 day hunger strike for political status.
Opposition leader
De Valera
defended her right to political status,
pointing out that the Republican cabinet used meet in her home.
Apparently freed 3 Nov 1928.
See
[P106/1068].
Saor Éire, 1931:
Despite living on ultra-wealthy Ailesbury Rd as a result of
Richard Rahilly's
capitalism,
Sighle and her radical aunt Anno were
socialist/communist.
In 1931 Sighle supported the founding of the
socialist/communist IRA organisation,
Saor Éire
(see here
and search).
The National Executive included Sighle.
She was co-treasurer
[Ernie O'Malley letters, 1991].
Saor Éire was meant to be an engagement by the IRA in politics,
but using revolutionary means rather than parliamentary means.
Its program was
"to overthrow British imperialism and Irish capitalism"
so that
"Industry shall be made to serve the community, not to make profit for individuals".
[Irish Independent,
28 September 1931]
reports on congress of Saor Éire.
Sean MacBride
presided, saying he
hoped the organisation would overthrow Imperialism and Capitalism in Ireland,
and lead to a Republican Ireland, controlled by the working-class people.
Amongst the resolutions was one sending
"fraternal greetings to the U.S.S.R.".
The Catholic bishops in Oct 1931 accused Saor Éire of wanting
"to set up a Communist state. That is to impose upon the Catholic soil of Ireland the same materialistic regime,
with its fanatical hatred of God, as now dominates Russia".
They said it was sinful
for any Catholic
to be a member of Saor Éire or the IRA.
1931 jailing:
Saor Éire, the IRA and Cumann na mBan
were all made illegal in a crackdown by the
Free State under W.T. Cosgrave
in Oct 1931.
Ailesbury Rd was raided again,
Sighle arrested, 2 Nov 1931
[Mac Eoin, 1980].
Held in
Mountjoy prison.
[Evening Mail, 23 Nov 1931]
says she is charged with having
Saor Éire
and
Cumann na mBan documents, and
implies she is out of prison at that point.
Military trial Dec 1931.
Sentence 29 days imprisonment, back-dated to arrest, released
[Ward, 1983].
Dublin Evening Mail, 15 Jan 1932, reports that Sighle was charged with membership of Cumann na mBan,
refused to recognise the court.
See
[P106/1102].
At her trial she said:
"I am charged with being a member of Cumann na mBan and I admit it.
You are very foolish to try and suppress that organisation, for we thrive on suppression".
In 1932-33 she was a leading member of the Boycott British League,
which organised boycotts of British goods,
and attacked premises which sold Bass beer.
Her future husband Domhnall
directed the campaign.
In April 1934 she was a founder member of the
socialist/communist
Republican Congress,
and was on its Organising Bureau.
But she
soon left the organisation
because it was critical of the IRA.
She resigned July 1934
(see
[P106]
1489 and 1490),
NOT Aug or Sept.
Still living Ailesbury Rd at marriage 1935.
Sighle said that
Nell and Anno were very protective of her when young, thought no one was good enough for her.
They finally eased off, thought better allow her get married!
Cróine in
The Struggle
said it took Domhnall about 5 years to get Sighle to marry him,
"because she was married to Ireland!"
Sighle
mar 28 Feb 1935 [her age 36, him age 38] to Domhnall O'Donoghue
[born May 1897]
and had issue.
They mar at Donnybrook Church, Dublin
[GROI].
NOT 1937.
He was member of IRA Army Council and editor of An Phoblacht.
(todo) See newspaper notice in
[P106/896].
(todo) See
[P106/900]
which apparently says it was 19 Feb.
Sighle after marriage went as
"Sighle Bean Domhnaill O Donnchadha"
or "Sighle Bean Uí Dhonnchadha".
"you could go to confession alright ... but you only had a sporting chance of receiving absolution. ... the priest asked you what you were in jail for? ... in nearly every case a long discussion followed and ended by the Priest saying that unless you were willing to obey the Bishops ruling - through their Pastoral - he couldn't give absolution. ... I never could feel antagonistic towards the priests for their action that time, as they had to obey the Bishops. ...
Of course I do think there was no need for the priests to ask a person what they were in jail for; if they mentioned something political, then they brought it on themselves, and if they considered it a sin well then, they shouldn't be in the movement and should give it up. But if I sent all the F.S. Cabinet to glory during hostilities, I believe it would be a meritorious action."
-
Sighle in
[P106/979(1)]
describes
being in prison in 1922 in the Civil War.
She says
the prison chaplains would not give them
absolution
unless they renounced the Republican cause.
She
has no moral doubts about the cause,
e.g. about the Free State Cabinet being a legitimate target.
"'Hope springs eternal,' and until the prison gate is finally closed behind one, one never despairs. ...
Usually one almost prays for an accident or break-down or any miracle which might offer some means of escape. One envies the passers-by and wonders at the many who look so gloomy, one feels like asking them what they are so sad about when they have the most precious thing in the world - freedom.
But then again have they freedom? Under this rotten government and rotten social system, who has freedom? A handful of capitalists!"
- Sighle writing in 1928 or more likely in 1931
about jail and freedom.
From
[P106/978(1)].
On the other hand, Sighle amusingly recalls that at one point in early 1923 in Mountjoy, prison was not so bad:
"As to service, we lived in a state of luxury that we shall probably never again enjoy in this world. Everything was done for us. The only exertion of our day was lifting the fork to our mouths at dinner ... Our mornings are worth describing. ... the wardress unlocked the door .. to tell us that our baths were ready.
All my life while I enjoyed the pleasures of home and freedom I had to begin the day, summer and winter, with a dreaded cold bath. Now that I was "suffering in prison", I began the day with a full hot bath - too hot very often.
After our baths we found our breakfasts waiting for us on a table before a blazing fire. ... by 9.30 a.m. we were absolutely and entirely free to do nothing for the rest of the day.
If physical comfort is all that is necessary to constitute happiness we should have been the happiest individuals on the face of the earth. But instead of enjoying our state of luxury, as sensible individuals would have done, we looked around for and sought out causes to grouse about."
- Sighle in
[P106/979(1)].
"I've long ago forgiven Cosgrave
and Co. for all their murders (I'm sure they appreciate my forgiveness!!)
I might be able to make myself forget that 8th December morning;
but is one expected to forget that "Ireland" no longer exists, we are now a Dominion styled "Irish Free State", forget that Ulster, with its Benburb, its Cave Hill is no longer ours; forget that the Gaeltacht is all but dead; that the youth of the country have become wild geese, that - and exaggerated as this may seem its true - outside a very small band of Republicans who are living rebels to the existing ruling government (the I.R. Government exists but chiefly in our hearts) there is no one left in the country except those who are dependent in some way on the F.S. Government, the aged, and the very young.
Are we honestly expected to forget these things?"
- Sighle in
[P106/979(1)].
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