Charles Stewart Parnell first caused a stir in the House of Commons when he said that the shooting of Sergeant Brett of the Manchester Police during the rescue of Fenian prisoners was NOT murder. (The rescuers, in smashing the prison van, shot the lock while the Sergeant was looking through the keyhole.)
Three Fenians, William Allen, Michae Larkin,and Michael O’Brien were publicly hanged in Manchester. Their cry from the Dock when sentenced ,”GOD SAVE IRELAND” was taken up wherever loyal Irishmen, women and their friends met, and they met annually on 23 November to commemorate the three Martyrs. My mother lived for a year in Manchester as a child and took part in the commemoration.
The song GOD SAVE IRELAND soon became our National Anthem and was sung even in the Imperial Parliament by Irish MPS. I’ve heard that a young David Lloyd George joined in the chorus.
Lloyd George was Prime Minister in 1919 when his regime banned the annual procession/parade in Cork. I don’t know whether the newspapers reported an incident there recalled by my father, which may reflect the spirit of the times. The procession went ahead, led by the Irish Volunteers. My father was a member of the UCC unit.
Their route was blocked by British troops with a machine gun and an open touring car where a Senior Royal Irish Constabulary Officer was standing. A youngster jumped up on the running-board and gave the Officer a slap in his kisser.
The procession broke up, looking for cover. My father saw an acquaintance of his, who had taken cover, with a revolver drawn, ready to shoot the officer if he or the troops opened fire on the crowd.
Lives were spared that day, including that of District Inspector Oswald Ross Swanzy
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