Cumann na Saoirse re-commits support for Government and army
Dublin, 12 February 1923 - Cumann na Saoirse will continue to devote its energies to supporting the Government and the National army in its efforts to restore peace and suppress the ongoing ‘armed revolt.’
The organisation, founded in March 1922 as a pro-Treaty breakaway from Cumann na mBan held its convention in Dublin yesterday, with Senator Jenny Wyse Power presiding. A report supplied to the Convention describes Cumann na Saoirse as an ‘independent body of Irishwomen, pledged to work for the securing and maintaining of Ireland’s right as an autonomous and sovereign State to determine freely her form of government.’
Membership is open to citizens of Saorstat Éireann who are aged 18 years or over and those looking to join must be proposed and seconded by existing members. Yesterday’s Convention saw the election of an Executive Council which includes Senators Wyse Power and Stopford Green, as well as the wives and widows of senior pro-Treaty TDs including Mrs. Blythe, Mrs. Griffith and Mrs. Mac Neill. Also on the Executive Council is Miss Mary Spring Rice, the historian who was involved in the importation into Howth of arms for the Irish Volunteers in July 1914.
The work of the organisation since its inception was outlined in a report to the Convention from Secretary, Mrs. Blythe. Members of Cumann na Saoirse worked for the return of pro-Treaty candidates at last year’s general election (though they were not precluded from working for other panel candidates). Once the fighting had commenced in Dublin, they began helping the army and government with the distribution of propaganda and supplying troops on active service with meals and other forms of assistance.
In July 1922, the Army asked that Cumann na Saoirse help in looking after the comfort of wounded soldiers in hospitals and this was immediately arranged, with funding raised through the staging of ceilidhes, dances, whist drives and other events. It was on the initiative of Cumann na Saoirse, that recreation and refreshment rooms for troops have been opened in various centres, the latest just last week at Portobello Barracks in Dublin.
[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]
