Tag Archives: Clive Scoular

Larkin & Connolly.
Larkin-born 1879, Liverpool, to Armagh parents. Apprentice in fatherʼs firm. 1890s-became
ill, off work for ages & listened to socialst meetings; back at work as casual docker, earning
very little.
1893, stowaway to Soviet Union; when returned to England, joined Independent Labour
party; became foreman dock porter-had ambition.
1900-earned £3, 10 schillings/week.
1903-married; became an orator-spoke at open air meetings in Liverpool parks; joined
national Union of Dock Labourers. (unions a new phenomenon); became itʼs General
Organiser at age 23/4. He re-organised ports in England/Scotland/Ireland.
Arrived in Belfast & called for strike because of terrible pay & conditions.
1911-1914: he had people of Dublin on strike all the time; trade unionists then were very
powerful people.
1912-several trade unionists, but not Larkin as was a convicted felon, were elected to
Dublin corporation. His sister, Delia, set up first ever womenʼs workers union.
1913-widespread strikes- 30 strikes in Dublin, Jan-August.
Tramway men, Dublin, leader-William Martin Murphy, not allowed to join union, employers
locked out 25 workers.
Larkin -dressed as woman by Constance Markievc, sneaked to hotel (now Clearyʼs store),
addressed crowd from upstairs window-arrested.
relief gathered, sent to Dublin. Constance set up soup kitchen at Liberty Hall, 1913.
Strike a failure-back to work for less money.
Nov. 1913-Citizen Army formed to protect people from police.
Larkin, the “Chief”, disliked by hierarchy.
1914-war, Larkin against it. Went to US for 8 years, to gat funds for Ireland; didnʼt
understant easter Rising.
1917-arrested as pro German when US joined war.
1919-arrested again as “criminal anarchist” & “dangerous agitator”. Defends himself in
court. Convicted 5-10 years. Pardoned by New York Governor after 2 years.
1923-returned to Dublin & welcomed.
Foran & OʼBrien had increased membership of unions by thousands.
1924-in Russia; named a communist. returned to Dublin, set up “Workers Union of
Ireland”.
1947-Larkin died. His sons carried on.
Connolly-born Edinburgh, son of “night soiler” from Monaghan.
Joined British army at 14; married; listened to socialist views of K.Hardy.
Set up Scotish Socialist Federation; gat job in Dublin, £1/week.
Set up irish Socialist Republican Party. Was a political thinker; believed in an independent
republic & in socoalism; friendly with Maud Gonne & C. Markievc; writer in his own papers;
invited to give lecture tour in US.
1903-returned to US for 7 years-promoting socialism & help for Ireland.
1910-back to Derry; published “Labour in Irish History”; established reputation as a
socialist thinker.
1913-went to Belfast-there were anti home rule pogroms; because of attitude of Carson &
Craig, Connolly didnʼt make much progress.
Connolly often helped Larkin out of trouble! He returned to Dublin & was also in jail at
times.
Opposed to partition, Connolly was a militant; edited ʻIrish Worker”; erected banner on
Loberty Hall-”we serve neither king nor kaiser, but Ireland”.
P.Pearse decided Connolly would be a signatory on 1916 proclamation

Bellaghy Historical Society – February 2012

29/01/20152011 - 2012, Bellaghy Historical SocietyBellaghy Historical Society, Clive Scoular, SuffragismBellaghyHS

BELLAGHY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Tuesday, FEBRUARY 14th, 2012.
CLIVE SCOULAR: SUFFRAGISM
Hannah Sheehy Skeffington, b.1877. Educated St. Maryʼs College, Belfast, BA and MA.
Her father, david Sheehy, MP, member IRB; her uncle Fr. Eugene Sheehy, involved with
Michael Davitt, Land League. Visitors to family home included Parnell.
Married Francis Skeffington 1903-both took both names!
Became involved with Irish Womenʼs Franchise League along with Constance Marcievik
and maud Gonne, and became more militant as rime progressed.
Suffragist-one promotes by constitutional means;
Suffragette-more violent means.
HSS-arrested and imprisoned and on hunger strike many times. She met James Connolly,
socialist, who helped her-the only man to do so.
1909-gives birth to son, Eoghan.
1913-the Dublin Lockout.
1916-Easter Rising. FSS, anti- looter campaigner; on day two of rising, arrested, brought
to Portobello barracks, met Capt. Coldhurst and shot along with two journalists.
HSSʼs fight for vote put on hold til she fought Dublin Castle and English Government over
FSSʼs execution. She met the PM and eventually, Coldhurst was court marshalled,
declared insane and found guilty of the unlawful death of the three.
1918-HSS went to USA to give lectures/fundraise for womenʼs rights. Stayed several
years; met US president. Returned to Ireland after WW1. Women over 30 allowed vote.
Before WW1, 700,000 on electoral register (population 5.5million); after WW1, 2 million on
register.
Emily Pankhurst died day before vote over 30 for women announced.
HSS became involved with families of prisoners.
1927-Constance Marcievik dies;HSS executor of her will.
1930s-travelled to Russia for international womenʼs conference. Met maud Gonne &
C.Dispard there.
After WW2, dies, aged 68.
Charlotte French Dispard, b. 1844, Kent, England.
Brother of John French, last Viceroy of Ireland.
Interested in Garibaldiʼs politics.
Married Despard, Laois-self made, wealthy(tea), 1870-had never previously been to
Ireland. Travels world with husband & sees what women are not entitled to. Despard dies
after 17 years marriage-no children.
CD back in London & starts good work.
1890s-Battersea-opened community centres for poor, elderly, disadvantaged.
Charlie Chaplin, his mother & brother were helped by CD in this way.
She pushed the needs of women in every organisation/socoety she was in.
1909/10- CD bombarded PM about the situation. She realised constitutional means not
enough. Was imprisoned several times, where she met Maud Gonne and Constance
Marcievik.Met Connolly in Dublin during lockout.
After WW1, people more pacified.
1918-stood for Battersea seat and lost by few thousand votes.
1921 (aged77)-moved back to live in Ireland-met M. Gonne again-they set up Roebuck
House together, a co-operative, food growing/sales, very successful.
1927-de Valera wanted CD and MG in Westminster for announcement of womenʼs vote.
At 86, CD went to Russia for womenʼs conference & met HSS there.
1934, aged 90, left Dublin for Belfast, Newtownards Rd., and became involved with
women/children of East Belfast.
1935, built house at Whitehead, Co. Antrim (house still there).
Died aged 95.

Bellaghy Historical Society – May 2010

29/01/20152009 - 2010, Bellaghy Historical SocietyBellaghy Historical Society, Clive Scoular, Mary Breslin, Patricia Lowry, Theft of The Irish Crown JewelsBellaghyHS

A.G.M. of Bellaghy Historical Society, Tuesday, May 11th, 2010.
The minutes of last yearʼs A.G.M. were read by the secretary, Ciara Nic
Gabhann. They were passed and signed.
The treasurer, Pat Henry, presented the Financial Statement.
The chairman, Séamas Mc Erlean, reminded members of the upcoming
outing on June 17th to Belfast City Hall and to the Titanic Quarter. He asked
those interested in going to register their interest with the outing organisers,
Patricia Lowry and Mary Breslin.
Election of Officers facilitated by the nightʼs speaker, Clive Scoular.

Chairman Séamas Mc Erlean proposed by Mary Breslin
seconded by Patricia Lowry
Vice-Chairman Pat Brennan proposed by Margaret Evans
seconded by Séamas Mc Erlean
Secretary Ciara Nic Gabhann proposed by Séamas Mc Erlean
seconded by Mary Breslin
Treasurer Pat Henry proposed by Patricia Lowry
seconded by Margaret Evans
Committee Members re-elected en block: Sam Overend, Ena Hammond,
Margaret Evans, Dermot Keenan proposed by Séamas Mc Erlean
seconded by Ciara Nic Gabhann
Lifetime Honorary Members Patricia Lowry and Mary Breslin
Clive Scoular then gave a talk on The Theft of The Irish Crown Jewels from
Dublin Castle 1907. Or, to be more accurate, the star and badge consisting of
rubies, emeralds and diamonds mounted in silver, belonging to the Order of
St. Patrick. They had been given to the Order by King William IV in 1831.
Very expensive -valued in the 1830s at £65,000. There followed a story of
intrigue told in Cliveʼs most entertaining manner, involving Sir Arthur Vicars,
Keeper of Jewels and Herald of Ireland-based at Dublin Castle; Frank
Shackelton (brother of Earnest); Lord Aberdeen, Chancellor in Dublin Castle.
The jewels have never been found.
At end of the evening, the Chairman asked all committee members to remain
for a short meeting after the tea.