“They are coming for me, boys” - de Valera dramatically arrested at Ennis election rally

Ennis, 16 August 1923 - There were dramatic scenes in Ennis yesterday where Eamon de Valera was arrested by soldiers of the National Army while he was addressing an election rally.

According to an official report issued by army headquarters, the arrest of the anti-Treaty leaders and former President of Sinn Fein took place after shots were fired at Free State (national) troops from the direction of the speakers’ platform. ‘A rifle was shot out of the hands of one of the soldiers’, the report claimed. ‘The troops fired in the air, following which the crowd dispersed, and the arrest was effected.’

The taking prisoner of Mr. de Valera, a candidate for the constituency of Clare where he came to political prominence in a by-election in 1917,  is certain to raise political temperatures in advance of the forthcoming election.

 Pathé newsreel footage of the arrest of Eamon de Valera in Ennis, 1923

Mr. de Valera had been speaking to an enthusiastic crowd from a platform erected on O’Connell Square at the time of his arrest. He had begun his address in Irish before switching to English and launching into a passionate refutation of some of the government claims that have leveled their anti-Treaty political opposition.

‘They spoke to you when we couldn’t come to you to tell you the truth. They spoke to you, and said that we were anarchists and that we were out for destruction. We come here, and I come here to tell you that I have never stood for destruction. I have never stood for brother’s hand being raised against brother’s hand.’

Mr. de Valera added, to loud cheers from the crowd, that if the people of Ireland stood together and were united, they could achieve ‘complete independence.’

Before he could proceed any further, Mr. de Valera saw the National army troops approach the platform, to which he declared: ‘The soldiers are coming....They are coming for me, boys.’

As they did, Mr. de Valera attempted to still the passions of the crowd, reassuring them as the soldiers gathered around him:  ‘I have to go, but I am glad it is in Clare that I am being taken.’

It was at this point that shots were fired and the crowds stampeded their way to safety. There were shouts and cries from women, children and men who rushed down side-streets or into houses; perhaps inevitably a number of people were injured and the Civic Guard helped convey the most serious cases to the county infirmary. Mr. de Valera, it is understood, has been taken to Limerick where he remains in custody.

[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.]