Adam's The Irish Library Wednesday 17th April 2019

54 70 A ‘BLOODY SUNDAY’ 1920 G.A.A. ORIGINAL TICKET, Cumann na gcleas Luith n Gaedhealach (Gaelic Athletic Association) Great Challenge Match (Football) Tipperary V. Dublin at Croke Park, on Sunday November 21, 1920. Match at 2.45p.m. Admission 1/- , 8 x 11cm (A very rare original admission ticket) € 4,000 - 5,000 21st November 1920. The date hung in the air. Sitting in their beds that night, the inhabitants of Dublin stared mo- rosely ahead of them, their eyes unfocussed. Some were numb, shocked into a speechless submission. Some were heartbroken, their minds unable to fathom the cruelty and the chaos. And some, some were angry. Their muscles tensed, their blood pulsed and their mind raged. They were consumed by the fury, the adrenaline for vengeance crashing through their body. For nearly two years, Irish and British troops had been engaging in guerrilla warfare throughout the country, with the prize being Ireland’s keenly contested independence. At the midst of this was the Irish Republican Army, spear- headed by Michael Collins. In November 1920, in an attempt to gain the upper hand over the Crown forces, Collins RUGHUHG WKH H[HFXWLRQ RI WKLUW\ ȴYH VXVSHFWHG %ULWLVK ΖQWHOOLJHQFH 2ɝFHUV D KLW WKDW ZRXOG FULSSOH RSHUDWLRQV DW Dublin Castle and leave their opponent vulnerable. The attack was planned for Sunday 21st November. That morn- ing, as commanded, a group of IRA members spread out across the city and forcefully entered the homes of their WDUJHWV 7KH UHVXOW ZDV ȴIWHHQ PHQ GHDG DQG D ELWWHU DIURQW WR WKH %ULWLVK Against this backdrop, and unaware of the violence being carried out, thousands of people were preparing to support Dublin and Tipperary in a fundraising match at Croke Park, the match being held in aid of Republican Pris- RQHUV 'HVSLWH EHLQJ RɝFLDOO\ LQQRFHQW RI FROOXGLQJ ZLWK WKH Ζ5$ WKH *$$ ZDV FXUUHQWO\ XQGHU ȴUH DV D 1DWLRQDOLVW LQVWLWXWLRQ 0DQ\ RI LWV VHQLRU PHPEHUV ZHUH VWURQJO\ DɝOLDWHG ZLWK WKH Ζ5$ DQG LW ZDV WKRXJKW WKDW *$$ PHHWLQJV were being used as a cover for more nefarious activities. This feeling was enhanced when 1919 saw a ban on mem- bers who had sworn an oath of allegiance to the Crown. Although the implementation of this was not particularly strong, a clear message had been sent to the British. As the time of the match drew near, throngs of people swarmed into Croke Park, jostling good naturedly against HDFK RWKHU WR ȴOO WKH VHDWV %HKLQG WKH JHQHUDO FKDWWHU ZKLVSHUV RI WKH PRUQLQJȇV HYHQWV EHJDQ WR VSUHDG EXW GHVSLWH WKH DGYLFH RI VRPH WR FDOO R΍ WKH JDPH WKH PDWFK VWXEERUQO\ ZHQW DKHDG 6KRUWO\ DIWHU NLFN R΍ WKH ȴUVW shot was heard. Believing the GAA crowd to contain members of the IRA, British forces had arrived at the stadium, reportedly with the intention of searching everyone present. Instead, what followed was to become one of the War’s most memo- UDEOH HYHQWV :KLOVW LW LV XQNQRZQ ZKR ȴUHG ȴUVW UHSRUWV FODLP WKDW WKH LQLWLDO DWWDFN FDPH IURP ZLWKLQ WKH VWDGLXP on sighting the British forces pulling up outside. The reply was swift, with frenzied shots being released at random into the crowd. No account was taken of age or gender, with a child as young as ten being among the fatalities. In total, eleven civilians died on the day itself, with more later passing from injuries sustained at Croke Park. The innocent lives lost during the match that day fuelled the resentment held by the Irish towards their British rulers. Whilst the event itself did nothing towards directly advancing either side, it strongly swung public support in favour of the Nationalists, the British being charged as the bringers of Bloody Sunday.