Pearse urges nationalists to arm themselves

At a meeting to found a branch of the Irish Volunteers in Gorey, Co. Wexford, Patrick Pearse urged Irish nationalists to arm themselves.

Mr. Pearse, the schoolteacher and Gaelic League activist, said that English politicians were whittling down the Home Rule Bill in deference to armed north-east Ulster, but if the rest of Ireland were armed, nationalists would dominate the situation.

A confidential report from the County Inspector for Wexford notes the establishment of a branch of the Irish National Volunteers in New Ross, January 1914 (Image: National Archives UK, CO 904/92)

A second speaker, M.J. Judge, supported Mr. Pearse, saying that it was up to the Irish people to place their leader, Mr. Redmond, in a position where he had 200,000 disciplined men to back up his demands.

The meeting in Gorey pledged its allegiance to the Irish Volunteer movement and more than 250 men enrolled in its ranks. A similar story has been repeated in towns and cities across Ireland.

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In Mayo, for example, companies of Volunteers have been formed in Ballina, Westport and Castlebar. In Dublin, four companies of Volunteers met this week for drill in their respective halls.

Great enthusiasm was manifested by the men and new recruits are joining the Volunteers on a daily basis.