In my very young childhood days, the Irish Party in the British Parliament in London were the
only political group, and the Party was organised by an association called the United Irish League, who arranged elections
when held. The sitting member for the Swords district, Mr. J.J. Clancy, was always returned unopposed at a general election,
so we never had the excitement of a Parliamentary Election. We had, however, regular elections for County Council, which provided
plenty of excitement. Swords nearly always favoured a different candidate than Malahide, our nearest neighbouring town.
The Swords Fife and Drum band in one election backed the Malahide candidate, and the Swords Brass
and Reed band favoured the local candidate, so there was great excitement at the meetings, particularly with marching and
counter marching of the two bands. Malahide had a Fife and Drum band and Yellow Walls, a small village adjoining Malahide,
also had a Fife and Drum band, which usually was on a different side to the Malahide electors.
Metings were usually held in the main Street, beside the Old Castle and Tyrells public house, where
there was a vacant space. The platform was usually made with empty porter barrels and planks laid across them. We occasionally
had torch-light processions with the bands. The torches were made with sods of turf soaked in paraffin oil, stuck on . top
of pitchforks. when the free election beer was distributed there were often free fights.
The United Irish League held meetings from time to time to keep the organisation in the public eye.
Their platform was more elaborate but in the saire place beside the Old Castle, with the platform decorated with evergreens
and a green flag with the harp. A great saying at these meetings was"The day is not far distant when the Green Flag will fly
over an Irish Parliament in College Green, Dublin".
This wish never came to pass, the Green Flag was replaced by the Tricolour, and the old Parliament
House was not acceptable to the new Government when it carte.
About the turn of the century, a change in politics appeared
like a tiny cloud on the horizon. The Gaelic League started and spread all over the country. The Irish language, support for
Home Industries, study of Irish History, were the new Gospels; Sinn Fein was born.
The members of the Gaelic League were the first members of Sinn Fein. They were often distinguised
by their dress in homespun tweed hate, Irish made boots and even Irish made bicycles, the Pierce Wexford cycles and Lucania
Dublin cycles. About 1906, the first public Sinn Fein meeting was held in the old meeting place beside the Castle.
I remember some of the notable figures appearing on the platform, Sean McDermott, Joseph M3Donagh,
Frank Lawless, Dominic Healy, Arthur Griffith; pamphlets about Sinn Fein and the Resurrection of Hungary were distributed.
The new policy was support for Irish Manufacturers, speak Irish, don't send members of Parliament to London. The programme
was so different to the United Irish League policy.
The meeting was well received, and Sinn Fein became a force in the district with the subsequent
success in the course of history. About this time, a branch of the Gaelic League was formed. Frank Lawless (later out in 1910
Rising), and his family, were the first organisers of the Swords branch - Connrad na Gaeilge Sord CoLa Cille.
There was an old disused forge in North Street, once the workshop of coach builders named Cannon.
This was a long slated roofed building with its gable end to the street. It had no windows but was fairly well ventilated.
It was often used as a meeting place for football clubs and other small meetings, and this was the only meeting place available
for the Irish Classes. It was known locally as the "Forge". The place was rennovated and artificial light, oil lamps, were
procured and a travelling Irish Teacher from Connaught taught the language.
There was plenty of space for Irish dancing, and Ceilidhes were held when the Branch got going. The
refreshments were usually barn Brack (made in Dames local bakery nearby), and plenty of tea. The old forge fireplace was useful
for boiling the kettles. It was in the outer part of the house, near the entrance. The room for classes and dancing was further
back. Great fun and airrasement was created in this old hall, and many learned Irish.
The Fingal Feis was established about this time. The towns of Lusk, St. Margarets, and Swords were
the chief organisers at first, and Skerries and Donabate came in later. Malahide and Rush did not do much in the League's
work until later on. The members of the Gaelic League were all Sinn Feiners. Many of the grown ups wore Irish homespun clothes,
and they were easily recognised as Sinn Feiners. A feature of the Gaelic League Movement was the holding of open air concerts
-Aeriocht as they were called; - when Irish dancing, singing and instrumental music were performed in a local field on a wooden
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platform. The admission was usually 1/- or 6d., and the collection went towards the running of the local branch of the Gaelic
League.
