21/1/1919 Dáil Éireann and the Soloheadbeg ambush: political and military blows for Irish freedom

Sinn Féin won 73 of 105 Irish seats in the recent general election. True to their pre-election promises, they have not travelled to London to take their seats in the House of Commons. Instead those of them who are not in prison or on the run assemble today in Dublin, proclaiming themselves to be Dáil Éireann, the sovereign parliament of an independent Irish nation (the other 32 men elected from Irish constituencies are also invited to attend, but none of them choose to do so).

The first meeting of Dáil Éireann is an event of political theatre. Proceedings take place in the Irish language. As the roll is read, members absent because they are in jail are recorded as being “fé ghlas ag Gallaibh” (imprisoned by the foreigners). Two key documents are read out in French and English as well as Irish: a Declaration of Independence