Desmond Ryan

Desmond Ryan was an author, historian, and in his earlier life a revolutionary in Sinn Féin.

Ryan was born in Dublin. He studied under Padraig Pearse at St Enda's School, Rathfarnham. He is famous for his proud boast the leader of the Easter Rising, "Give me one hundred men and I will free Ireland!" They used to meet in a safe house at Rathfarnham in 1911. The men took the tram from Rathfarnham to Nelson's Pillar in Central Dublin. During the wars the pillar was destroyed as a symbol of British imperialism. Pearse once told his friend, "Let them talk! I am the most dangerous revolutionary of the whole lot of them!" In 1911, the Dungannon Clubs would revive the Volunteers Militia movement. These clubs were not initially successful in Dublin, but more so in Belfast amongst Catholic nationalists. One of the northern members was the Celtic footballer, Oscar Traynor.

Pearse discussed the leadership of Eoin MacNeill with Ryan. The latter was "too tactful" - Pearse was a risk-taker, and idealist. He was an implacable opponent of the Redmondites, whom MacNeill was prepared to entertain with negotiations. Pearse voiced his concerns:

He has the reputation of being tactful, but his tact consists in bowing to the will of the Redmondites every time. He never makes a fight except when they assail his personal honour, when he bridles up at once...very delicate position...he is weak, hopelessly weak. I knew that all along,

He told Ryan, MacNeill was "a Grattan come to life again". Henry Grattan was the constitutional orator and MP who signed the Union Act 1801, making Ireland part of the United Kingdom. MacNeill's moderate position contrasted to the militant confederate desire for open warfare. Moreover MacNeill was an "inconclusive ditherer", he wanted Volunteers to be apolitical.

According to Ryan, the 'Castle Document' was a forgery. It was concocted by Joseph Plunkett with the implicit approval of Catholic Archbishop Cullen of Dublin, a sympathizer with Dublin Castle, and Redmond's war stratagem. "Forgery is a strong word", he opined, "but that its final form the document was a forgery no doubt can exist whatever".^[1] Modern interpretation from Charles Townshend has adjudged it to be a genuine document, and the contrariwise attributed to the Archbishop's palace as circumstantial. Grace Gifford, Plunkett's fiancée had claimed to have deciphered it at Larkfield House. Prior to his execution, Sean Mac Dermott had been met by a priest, and so made the assumptive response that it was a fraudulent document.

Writings

• James Connolly (Dublin 1924)
• Remembering Sion (London 1934)
• Sean Treacy and the Third Tipperary Brigade, IRA (Tralee 1945)
• The Rising: The Complete Story of Easter Week (Dublin 1949)

References