Ard Fheis

Ard Fheis (or the Sinn Fein Convention) was held at the Mansion House, Dublin. Mary MacSwiney, sister of the former Lord Mayor of Dublin who starved himself to death, was elected Chairwoman of the Convention in the absence of Eamon de Valera, imprisoned. More than 1,200 Republicans attended. Mary MacSwiney urged members of Ard Fheis to give up alcoholic drinks and smoking as first measures of passive resistance to the Free State Government. This, she said, would work injury to the Free State and help to save money for prisoners in jail.

The following day Ard Fheis ordered a strike of workmen and a cessation of public entertainments as a means of forcing the Free State Government to release 400 Republican prisoners, who were on hunger strike. Grave apprehension was expressed at the states of health of the prisoners, who were declared not strong enough to withstand the torture of hunger. The Free State Government was accused of drenching them with water and exposing them to the night air. The Government denied these charges.

In the evening of the same day the Republican campaign started and was repeated nightly. All places of amusement in Dublin were picketed. Crowds of Republicans assembled outside Arbour Hill and Mountjoy Prisons and remained all night singing hymns and praying. The first night it poured heavily with rain. By these means the Republicans hope to enlist public sympathy on their side and thus secure the release of the prisoners.