The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-12-23


Organized the Irish Volunteers, He
was Appointed Clerk at National
Headquarters, Dawson Street, Dub
lin.
BY Eileen Moore, Special Correspond
ent, Irish Press and News Service.
Irish Press and News Service.)
Dublin, Nov. 8, 1916.
There was something sad but digni-
fled in the appearance of Mrs. O'Han-
rahan, the mother of Michael O'Han-
rahan, executed May in Kilmainham
gaol, for completely in the Irish Revo-
luton. l met her by appointment at
her home, 67 Connaught Street, Dub
lin. She was dressed in deep mourn.
ing which contrasted with her white
hair and sad care-lined face. She put
her frail hands in mine and held them
tightly-the dumb agony in her eyes
betrayed her feelings-here was grief,
subdued. silent but poignant-a moth
er's grief for the loss of her children,
She is a small. slender woman, who
looks as if breath might watt her
away.
You came to talk to me about my
boy, by Michael" said the aged wo-
man. after that first heart-breaking
pause. MY daughters tell me that you
~
travel. Were you not afraid?"
told her that travelled under the
protection of the Stars. and Stripes,
that no harm could befall me except
by accident, such as a mine or ship
wreck. ...
Then England is no longer mistress
Of the seas?' she remarked. Britain
rules the mains no longer"
so it seems" l said-"the ship l
sailed on was filled with English-Ca-
nadians, travelling for safety" An
other strange thing, one English wo-
man who had been living in Canada
with her husband and family for five
years, informed me that Canada was
one of the most disloyal possessions
of the British Empire-she said that
Canadians had actually gone to the
length of advertising that no English
need apply for good position. She
was highly incensed over this state OF
affairs.
II suppose there will be a risin'
there too," said Mrs. O'Hanrahan, land
not with half as much cause as we
have mad here. You would like me to
tell you how the people in Ireland arc
being treated by the English Govern
ment? You wish the American people
to know and judge for themselves the
true state of affairs here. Well, they
couldn't be worse"
"They have murdered Ireland's best
and bravest. shot them like dogs, with
out trial, thrown hundreds of other
brave men into prison where they are
treated like the scum of the earth.
Russia couldn't be worse-bad food
and little of it, dirty cells with the
rats jumping over them at night-foul
air. How can the prisoners survive?
all comfortable Mothers sons"
They don't care whether they die
or not" said the aged woman. Our
young Irish girls were treated just the
same-not a woman was allowed near
them for weeks--the horror of it was.
some of them took sick-delicate
young creatures. they were left to the
mercy of the soldiers. but God was
with them. One of them told me that
when John Boyle O'Reilly's daughter,
the renegade, visited the prison, she
was surprised when Miss Nellie Gift.
ford, a rebel prisoner told her that
the Catholic prisoners recited the no.
sary every night. Miss O'Reilly is
the unworthy daughter of worthy
father" said Mrs. O'Hanrahan.
Il am surprised that the Government
allowed Miss O'Reilly to visit the pris.
oners." said 1.
You needn't be-" said the aged wo.
man-"they knew we'll her mission.
They were not afraid of what Miss
O'Reilly would say. If her father
knew it he would turn in his grave
she writes for England, you know"
my boys were in the thick of the
fight" said the little Irish Mother
1--WE came from Wexford-Rebel WEEK
ford" For moment her eyes lost
their dumb suffering look and glowed
with pride.