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18 April 2014

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The Irish Volunteer – Volume 1 - Number 11

New online – Cumann na mBan and battallions of Volunteers

The 18th April 1914 edition of The Irish Volunteer – Óglach na hÉireann (An t-Óglác) is confident in its outlook with particular attention given to the spread of the movement, noting that "every county in Ireland is now provided with its battallions of Volunteers" with recruits being "enrolled at a rate of 1,000 per week".

The edition includes a number of pieces praising the newly formed women's organistion Cumann na mBan, saying the "initiation of the movement was not a moment too soon." A full page is dedicated to a speech by Agnes O'Farrelly on the necessity of women taking part in the national movement.

As well as Cumann na mBan, another idea was being floated in April 1914 – the possibility of creating an Irish Naval Volunteers. An inaugral meeting was held in Derry with 180 people joining and promises of a training ship to be based in the Foyle.

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Updates on the progress of the Irish Volunteers in local communities across the country demonstrates the growth of the movement – the latest addition being the the formtion of a corps in Columbkille, Longford.


Finally, a writer under the name 'Donegal Vindicator' has a fiery piece on the rear inside page slating the Ulster Volunteers for a provocative display in Letterkenny and also the failure of the Irish Volunteers to prevent it – due to the small amount of recruits in the area. The writer points to the "three thousand strong and growing daily" Irish Volunteers of Derry as something to be emulated. "It is not yet too late, we are prepared to give the latest recruit a welcome" says the Vindicator.

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Uncomfortable Conversations 

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An initiative for dialogue 

for reconciliation 

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Contributions from key figures in the churches, academia and wider civic society as well as senior republican figures

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