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Auction: 323 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 745

The 1916 Medal to Michael 'The Bishop' Donnelly, Irish Citizen Army, Who Served During the 1916 Easter Rising with the St. Stephen's Green Garrison. An Active Member of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union, He Subsequently Initiated the "Munition of War" Strike in May 1920
1916 Medal, reverse officially named '109 Michael Donnelly.', with General Service Medal 1917-21 top riband bar, extremely fine

Michael 'The Bishop' Donnelly, known as 'The Bishop' because of his habit, when advocating socialist theories, of supporting his arguments with scriptural quotations, was a dock-worker by profession and an active member of the Dock-worker's Section of No.1 Branch of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union. An early member of the Irish Citizen Army he played an active part in the Dublin Lockout of 1913, and served during the 1916 Easter Rising with the Irish Citizen Army as part of the St. Stephen's Green Garrison, where he was involved in the capture of the Royal College of Surgeons. Living at No.113 St. Stephen's Green West he used his own latchkey to gain entrance from the roof into the block of houses with McCormick and Michael Kelly. After the surrender Donnelly was recognised by Detective Barton, but managed to avoid being taken out of the crowd. Imprisoned first at Richmond Barracks, he was removed to Knutsford Detention Barracks on the 1st May 1916, where his cell was directly opposite that of Frank Robbins; upon his release he set about reconstructing the Irish Citizen Army. He played a prominent role in trying to get the Irish Citizen Army to play a greater part in the War of Independence and foster a closer relationship with the Irish Republican Army. Together with Frank Robbins and Michael Kelly he unofficially represented the Irish Citizen Army at meetings with the Irish Republican Army at Liberty Hall throughout 1918. However, he lost both his position as Secretary and his seat on the Army Council since the rapprochement with the Irish Republican Army was opposed by many of the senior members of the Irish Citizen Army.

"Munitions of War"
In May 1920 Donnelly gave notice to his superiors in the Irish Transport and General Workers Union that a ship bringing supplies for the British Army had arrived in Dublin, and would be ready for discharge the following morning. As a member of the Irish Citizen Army he had fought against the British, and as a dock-worker he might be picked as one of the gang to unload supplies to potentially be used against Irish people [in actual fact the ship was loaded with hay]. In the circumstances he thought that the Union ought to give a direction. After consultation the Union's two General Officers decided to prevent the ship being unloaded, and so began the strike against handling "Munitions of War" which lasted for over six months, involving large numbers of dock-workers and railwaymen. It was one of the highlights in the War of Independence.

Estimate
$4,000 to $6,000