Laurence O'Neill Papers,
1917-1924.
Papers of Laurence O’Neill, 1917-1924; Letters to Laurence O’Neill as Lord Mayor of Dublin, correspondents include Ian Macpherson, James MacMahon, Diarmuid Ó hEigeartaigh, Richard Mulcahy and Michael Collins. Includes letters from Andrew Bonar Law regarding the condition of Hunger Strikers in Mountjoy Prison and from David Lloyd George regarding the business of Dublin Corporation being impeded by detention of its Sinn Féin members, 1917-1922; Letters and documents relating to the War of Independence and Treaty negotiations, 1918-1924; Documents relating to O’Neill’s visit to London to present an address to President Woodrow Wilson at the U.S. Embassy in London, June 1918; Notes written by O’Neill relating to business of Mansion House Conference, 1918; Order issued by Eamonn De Valera to Irish Republican Army, 1921; Miscellaneous documents relating to the War of Independence, 1921.
| Main Creator: | |
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| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects: | |
| Notes: | Letters to Laurence O'Neill while serving as Lord Mayor of Dublin. Physical description: 19 folders (163 items). more |
| Arrangement: | Fonds |
Laurence O'Neill Papers,
1917-1924.
| In Collection: | Laurence O'Neill Papers, 1917-1924. |
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| Description: | Papers of Laurence O’Neill, 1917-1924; Letters to Laurence O’Neill as Lord Mayor of Dublin, correspondents include Ian Macpherson, James MacMahon, Diarmuid Ó hEigeartaigh, Richard Mulcahy and Michael Collins. Includes letters from Andrew Bonar Law regarding the condition of Hunger Strikers in Mountjoy Prison and from David Lloyd George regarding the business of Dublin Corporation being impeded by detention of its Sinn Féin members, 1917-1922; Letters and documents relating to the War of Independence and Treaty negotiations, 1918-1924; Documents relating to O’Neill’s visit to London to present an address to President Woodrow Wilson at the U.S. Embassy in London, June 1918; Notes written by O’Neill relating to business of Mansion House Conference, 1918; Order issued by Eamonn De Valera to Irish Republican Army, 1921; Miscellaneous documents relating to the War of Independence, 1921. Laurence O’Neill was born on 4 March 1864 at 7 King’s Inns street, Dublin. He was an avid cyclist and became an administrator of the Irish Cycling Association and represented it at international gatherings throughout Europe. O’Neill was elected to the Dublin Corporation in 1910 and in 1913 he won the gratitude of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union for supporting them. He was wrongfully imprisoned in 1916 and was later elected as the Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1917. In July 1917 he participated in the Irish Convention arranged by British prime minister David Lloyd George and negotiated on behalf of Thomas Ashe and Austin Stack who were on hunger strike. In 1918 O’Neill opposed the government’s policy of conscription and chaired the Mansion House Conference against conscription in April 1918. He supported women’s rights and women in public office and was instrumental in bringing about the release of Hannah Sheehy-Skeffington and Dr Kathleen Lynn from prison. In 1920 he acted as a negotiator for the life of Terence MacSwiney and travelled to England to interview with Lloyd George in an attempt to save the life of Kevin Barry. On 8 January 1921, O’Neill established the Irish White Cross as a means of gaining assistance from the American White Cross and he made a personal visit to the United states. Following the signing of the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty, O’Neill, with Archbishop Edward Byrne, made a number of efforts to prevent Civil War. He supported the provisional Irish government and the fulfillment of the treaty and in the election of the new Dáil in 1922 he topped the poll in his Dublin Mid constituency. He was absent from office between 1922 and 1923 and did not seek re-election and O’Neill subsequently faced years of financial difficulties. In 1929 was elected to the Seanad and remained a senator until 1943. He died while sitting in his garden in Portmarnock on 26 July 1943. |
| Main Creator: | |
| Language: | English |
| Extent: | 19 folders (163 items). |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Call Number: |
MS 35,294
(Manuscripts Reading Room) |
| Rights: | Reproduction rights owned by the National Library of Ireland. |