Reports from July 1945

The following extracts are taken from the Irish Independent in July, 1945:

July 13, 1945:

The first Orange demo held in Derry since 1939 was unique by virtue of the fact that it was held in a Gaelic sports ground. The organisers, unable to find another ground in the Waterside area, were granted the use of a 10-acre field in Irish Street rented by St. Patrick's Gaelic football club.

July 20, 1945:

Dealing with his visit to the German Minister on the occasion of Herr Hitler's death, Mr De Valera said that he knew his action would be open to misrepresentation. What he had done was his duty. The envoy came here as a representative of his people, not of a particular government.

King George and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Princess Elizabeth, arrived on a visit to the North of Ireland yesterday. They flew from Lisburn to Lisahally, and after boarding the patrol yacht, Hiniesta, sailed up the Foyle to Derry.

The death has occured of Ald. Richard Corish T.D., Mayor of Wexford. He was a leading member of the Labour Party, and had an unbroken record as mayor of his native town since 1920.

Kevin O'Higgins Assassination

Ninety years ago today the then Minister for Justice, Kevin O'Higgins, was assassinated while walking to mass near his home at Booterstown, Co. Dublin. This was in revenge for the execution of four leaders of the irregulars on December 8, 1922 after their group had shot two deputies on their way to the Dail the previous day.

O'Higgins had told the Dail that it was the only way "representative government and democratic institutions" could be maintained.

As Kevin O'Higgins lay dying he referred to Eamon de Valera: "Tell my colleagues that they must beware of him; in future life he will play down to the weakness of the people".

The culture of violence in those years has been glorified in song and story in which we were all participants until some of us saw the light. It spawned thousands of needless deaths and injuries in this country and outside. The most glaring and tragic was in recent years, when a group calling itself the "Provisional IRA", and other equally sinister elements, engaged in a killing campaign for more than 30 years.

Unfortunately there is still an attitude prevalent in this country that their political outlook should be accepted by others who differ and the latter should be pressurised to do so. Though the number who believe that force is acceptable to achieve their aims is diminishing, it is still there.

Fine Win by Tipp Footballers

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Qualifiers:

Cavan 0-18; Tipperary 2-15

Tipperary Senior Footballers made the long trek to Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan yesterday evening to take on the home side in the senior football championship qualifiers. Tipperary have been hard hit by the loss of players in recent times: a number due to various injuries; one notable retirement in Ciaran McDonald; and all-star nominee, Peter Achinson, working in Dubai. Tipperary seemed to give Cavan too much respect in the first half by adapting an overly defensive mode and found themselves trailing by 12 points to 6 at half-time. In the second half they began to express themselves and dominated Cavan scoring 2-09 to their opponents 6 points. The points came early in the second half, and a goal each from rangy corner forward, Conor Sweeney, and another from lion-hearted half-back, Robbie Kiely, enabled them to forge a memorable victory. Maybe the Ghosts of  '35 can rest more easily.