An Cosantóir

The Birth of an Army: 30 | The Formation of Óglaigh na hÉireann 1913-1915 (Part II) (In the first part of this reprinted article relating to the establishment and early years of Óglaigh na hÉireann we saw how the movement came into being and we ended with the smuggling of weapons for the Volunteers into Howth and Wicklow.) by CQMS Gerry White and Lt Col Brendan O'Shea P rogrammes of training were drawn up to bring new recruits up to a reasonable proficiency in drill, discipline, basic field-craft and marksmanship. A general instruction was issued in the spring of 1914 advocating that every effort should be made to recruit Volunteers who had previously seen service in the British Army and who could be quickly utilised as instructors. Regular weeknight training soon got underway and on Sundays the new Volunteers were expected to partake in route marches and tactical exercises designed to improve fitness, develop individual field-craft skills, and foster group cohesion. But there were also significant problems. John Redmond, leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP), was reluctant to become involved, initially viewing the movement with deep suspicion. Aware of this, MacNeill set out to secure Redmond's support without the authority or approval of his own executive, who feared that once Redmond came on board his supporters would attempt to exercise outright control. In a move to preempt this possibility the Provisional Committee called a national convention for June 14th to create a national executive on their terms. Redmond responded by issuing an ultimatum in the press on June 9th demanding that they recognise the preeminent position of the IPP and augment the committee with 25 additional IPP members from different parts of the country. As predicted, this would give Redmond de facto control of the Volunteer movement and a meeting of the Provisional Committee was An Cosantóir Dec 2013/Jan 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie convened to discuss this demand on June 15th. After a heated debate MacNeill finally proposed acceptance of the demand to avoid splitting the movement: eighteen voted in favour with nine against. To have done otherwise would have fragmented the movement even before it had become fully established and Hobson was correct in his view that the committee had been left with no alternative. "In the interest of national unity, and in that interest only," he said, "the Provisional Committee now declares that, pending the creation of an elective governing body by a duly constituted Irish Volunteer convention, and in view of the situation clearly forced upon them, they accede to Mr Redmond's demand to add to their number twenty-five persons nominated at the instance of the Irish Party." On the positive side the addition of Redmond's nominees to the committee brought in many new recruits, and by the end of August 1914 the movement could legitimately claim an active membership of just over 180,000. However, this arrangement was not destined to last and it evaporated completely at the outbreak of World War I when Redmond, in response to the signing and placement of the third Home Rule Bill on the statute books (suspended until termination of the war), made an impassioned plea on September 20th to a unit of Volunteers at the village of Woodenbridge, Co Wicklow, to enlist in the British Army. "I say to you, therefore, your duty is twofold", he said. "I am glad to see such magnificent material for soldiers around me, and I say to you, 'Go on drilling and make yourselves efficient for the work, and then account yourselves as men not only in Ireland itself, but wherever the

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