Organisation : | Waterford County Museum |
Article Title : | The Struggle For Freedom In West Waterford |
Page Title : | Republican Courts And Income Tax Collection |
Page Number : | 7 |
Publication Date : | 11 October 2010 |
Expiry Date : | Never Expires |
Category : | Irish War of Independence 1919 - 1921 |
URL : | https://www.waterfordmuseum.ie/exhibit/web?task=Display&art_id=316&pagenum=7&lang=en |
Republican Courts Volunteers had taken over many of the ordinary duties from the R.I.C. In the General Election 1918, they took over the guarding of the Ballot Boxes and protecting voters. In this 1918 Election, in almost every constituency, except Ulster, Sinn Fein deputies were elected. These elected Deputies, chose Cathal Brugha……who was a member for County Waterford, and at the time Chief-of-Staff of the Volunteers, as President, and it was at that time that the Volunteers, officially came under the authority of Dail Eireann, and became the Arm of the Irish Republic. Some time later De Valera was elected President and he appointed Cathal Brugha as Minister for Defence. Due to the R.I.C. inactivities as a police force, and as they ceased to function, the Republican Courts took over. Some people thought that no law or order existed and tried to take advantage of the situation, but found themselves in difficulties with the Republican Administration. The big problem was that in dealing with offenders, there were no jails to contain them. This gave rise to the following little song which was popular at the time. Leamybrien Income Tax The Volunteers Organisation in West Waterford had grown from Company to Battalion strength, and from Battalion strength to Brigade, [all] Brigades being subject to G.H.Q. in Dublin. Later on divisions were formed and the brigade was part of [1st] Southern of which Liam Lynch was O.C. |
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