Ogegg-lahh-nahhh -erinnnn
( The Volunteers of Ireland, pronounced with a New York accent)
This AH is inspired by two things. Firstly, a mention of a small Irish American group, the Hibernian rifles. whom took part in the Easter rising. They were few, and subsumed to Connolly’s Irish volunteers, but they were there. See Michael Foy's and Brian Barton's the Easter rising. A google search, will reveal that members of said organisation are entitled to a Pension from the Irish Government.
Secondly my readings of Mr Palter's (Sorry Scott's) Numerous AH's such as the eagle and St George. Dark America, and the 2nd AEF, in which Volunteer units from the US. Allow the USA to intervene in foreign wars
I was wondering whether I could create a scenario where the US intervenes in Irish affairs. The short answer is No. It's not going to happen. Even if we assume absurd Anglophobia on behalf of the USA. The RN is not going to go away. So I cannot have Pershing save Pearse.
More over there is the point that the USA, and Americans, may accept that the UK is doing or has done bad things in Ireland. At the end of the day they are not going to fight a war over it,
Now there is an Irish ethnic association in the US, and actually throughout the Anglosphere, called the Ancient order of Hibernians. On there website they claim to have had five thousand riflemen ready to go to the aid of the Easter rising had it lasted longer.
Reading this, the thought crossed my mind where were you in 1918? if nothing else you could have sent your rifles. Though in fairness, nothing could be done to break the RN Blockade. I then remembered that the last war that my Government fought was not what is called the War of Independence here, or the Anglo-Irish war/Troubles in the UK. ( I do not mean the events across the border after 1969) Rather it was the Civil war.
The civil war, the fight between the pro and anti treaty in Ireland. Still colours Irish politics to this day. Fianna Fiall, the Anti treaty side, Dev's party. The largest political party in Ireland. Are the descendents of the losing side. While FG, are the descendents of the pro treaty side. WITH some other influences. (This point is sometimes forgotten) Hence FF, describe themselves as the Republican party, the name that Sean Lemass originally wanted to use, for the party. While FG have favoured retaining some link with the UK, membership of the Commonwealth. Ironically it was FG that formally left the commonwealth in 1949, with the declaration of the Republic. Though this is beyond, the limits of my discussion.
Though the Irish civil war was brief, less then a year. It should not be overlooked. It caused 20 millions pounds worth of damage. It was also particularly brutal, with atrocities committed on both sides. Men were strapped to landmines. Men were tortured until they lost their minds. There is even a reference to one or two prisoners being castrated. At one point the Irish government considered leasing the Island of St Helena to dump it's Republican prisoners.
It also had a terrible cost on the nascent Irish state. It killed Collins. Later O'Higgins would die. Imagine how the USA, would have turned out if Washington, and Jefferson, Hamilton and Adams, had fought amongst themselves.
Although the war was brief. Many observers in the UK, and indeed in Ireland, believed that the Civil war would be the dose of whooping cough, that killed the new born Irish state. The fear was that the war, would drag on for years. Note in a sense it did. It has. The IRA, are still with us. The fear was that the Irish government would hold the towns, while the country side remained lawless. Neither side being strong enough to finish the other.
In OTL, A man called Collins, had a different opinion. As he tended to. In OTl, after procuring artillery from Churchill, at some considerable political cost. Collins was able to drive the die hards, from Dublin, and despatch his lieutenants to sweep Cork, Waterford. After that it was mopping up.
Now let us turn out attention to the gilded shores of the USA
The Irish American link, has not been the ace in Irelands sleeve that it could have been.
Firstly its too oppositional. It means a division with the place that Americans call the Mother Country. Buffys Mentor is English, and where did Joey Rachel, and Chandler, go to make an outside broadcast? Secondly. The Irish were too fractious. There were too many Irish organisations, with differing agendas. Historically Ireland did not want to make too much of its links with the USA. The fact that thousands of people were emigrating was just too embarrassing. The Irish government was herding Cats, and trying to sell their milk.
Then there was Dev.
(Notice as soon as that name comes up things start going badly) Anyway Dev went to America, as President of the Irish republic, in an effort to raise support for the Irish cause. His main achievement, was to split the Irish community. As well as to ``acquire'' funding for what would become the Irish press. Another word for acquire in this case is steal.
(Amusingly this kept Dev from visiting the USA. As he was afraid that he would face charges should he ever return to the country of his birth. Rather more interesting was that one of his co defendants would have been a Franklin Delano...)
Now remembering that this an Alternate History essay. I return to the Hibernian rifles.
Hearing about this Collins decides to organise a few thousand Irish American volunteers for his cause. Hoping that it would help with fund raising, it would mobilise greater Irish American support and keep Dev out of trouble. In a last resort, it would be a barging counter with the British.
The man I nominate for this task is Harry Boland. Collins right hand man, the Aiden Quinn character in the movie.
So the call goes out. From New York Boston, and Chicago. A few thousand men volunteer for the Old country.
Now the US, and the UK notice. The UK has a cow, but our volunteers haven't done anything yet. Aside march up on down Fifth avenue in March, in green uniforms. The US government decides to quietly deal with the matter.
The US government. after quietly sounding out the RC Hierarchy. Co opts. a reliable man to keep the Volunteers out of trouble. A Colonel William Donovan known as Bill to his friends. Donovan has the cache to reassure the East coast Anglophiles.
Collins accepts this. He has a war to fight. So the Volunteers in the USA, are cleansed of the wilder elements. Rifles keep getting lost though! Realising this might be easier said then done. Donovan. Fills his ranks, with policemen, soldiers, WW1 veterans. Perhaps he has an eye on using them as strike-breakers. There is also the Kudos. Standing next to the Cardinal on the Steps of St Patrick and taking a salute. However Boland, keeps them in contact with Ireland, and the group still is Republican in theory.
Across the sea. Mr Collins has out thought if not out fought the UK. The British government calls for a truce. The negotiations that became the Anglo Irish treaty begin. Collins goes to London, while Dev, lurks and plans.
There was going to be a problem with the Treaty. London would not give a republic. It was too much of a leap. Nor were the Irish side anymore forthcoming. Barry had announced that should the worst happen he was willing to take the war into the West, but not before despatching men to deal with any Irish men who were ready to make peace. Liam Lynch the leader of the Cork Brigade said ``they had declared for an Irish republic and wouldn’t live under any other law’’
So we have on the 7, 1, 22 the vote in the Dial for the treaty, it passes. 64-57. Days Afterward Dev, tried again, In a vote on his leadership. A de facto vote on the treaty it passed 60-58. Dev left the Dial.
Collins established the Irish free state, a week or so later.
The treaty was endorsed by the Irish people. In a popular vote.
On the 14 April Rory O'Connor,) seizes the 4 courts in Dublin. setting up the Republican executive, and claiming to be the legal government of Ireland.( You see this in the film Michael Collins)
This is seen as the beginning of the civil war. However it wasn't until the 28th June 1922. That the national army open fire on the 4 courts. With Artillery borrowed from the British. In the meantime. Collins had tried desperately to find a compromise. Sounding out the leaders of various Brigades of The IRA, trying to do a deal with Dev. Whilst trying to aid the Northern Catholics. Small wonder in a moment of frustration Collins once told the British government he was willing to give Ireland back as a present.
``Sharper then a serpents tooth…’’
(For those of you who are wondering Edward, sorry Eamon de Valeria , took this opportunity to travel up and down Ireland and make speeches:
``would have to wade through Irish blood through the blood of Irish soldiers'' Whilst Collins
Now this were are Gallant Yankees come into the picture. This needs Collins to do something radical. Collins flaw was that he was too loyal, to willing to go that extra mile for people he had worked with. If he could have only had let Mulcachy or Boland, do the things he couldn’t stomach. I don't recall either of them stepping up to the plate either. Collins sends the Telegram to New York.
So Donovan mobilises his Volunteers. However it will be after a spectacular send off in New York. In front of the Cardinal, The commissioner of the NYPD. the Mayor, The Volunteers led by brass bands, bagpipes, and green flags. Set off for pastures green..
After promising the UK, He will not march on Ulster, he will not engage crown forces. He will act as if needs be a guarantor of The Irish state. Five thousand Americans will not drive Carson into the sea. If needs be Donovan puts his men in civilian clothes, and his men are sailing for Ireland under the US flag.
There ships are stocked with rifles, mortars, trucks, motorcycles, tents, and food. Paid for by the American Diaspora. As indeed are the Volunteers wages. A sprinkling of US Officers, is co opted into the Volunteers, again to act as a Guarantee for the UK, also to provide combat testing for the American army. Devers may have gone. IIRC he was of Irish blood,
Will give our Americans 6 weeks to cross the sea, and establish themselves in Ireland. There in the field ready to move by June. Collins has his men, to act as the spear head of his national army. With American interest, in Ireland piqued. The UK is a bit more conciliatory.
So O' Connor is told to leave the courts a month Early. He refuses. The reply is an exercise in gunnery, by our Yankees. Using his Americans as a spear head. Collins sweeps Dublin. US Trucks and Armoured Cars. Sweep across Ireland. A certain American Colonel, waving an Ivory pistol leads the Government attack on the Republican forces at Newmarket.
Using the Diaspora, the Irish are able to find local men with local knowledge. On another level, our American cousins won't have the personal sense of betrayal that the Free State Soldiers often felt toward their former comrades in the IRA. So to make an absurd statement, hopefully this leads to a kindler gentler civil war.
(Ironically, I may have killed myself off in this TL, as my Maternal grandfather was out with Dev!)
Now across the waters. In New York. The Irish American and catholic papers, carry stories of how Gallant Sean O’ Brian of the NYPD. Gave his life, in the fighting to take Dublin. His two wee daughters, make a sad picture at there fathers ``good funeral'' The US Diaspora gets a taste of the consequences of funding war in Ireland. Remember at this point Clann na Gael in OTL Supports the Treaty. Now its more so.
It also lessens the burden that calling 40 000 men to the colours, forced Ireland to shoulder. The Americans full of dollars, and Nostalgia, will spend freely, and then GO Home. In OTL, many former republicans were unable to find work after the civil war. This meant that men who would have settled down and devoted their lives to children and mortgages. Drifted.
To get an idea of just how poor the Irish were. Barry’s West Cork Brigade. used to steal the boots of British Soldiers. Then carry them around there necks, to save them from wear. Collins after the Easter rising, spent his time, rounding up second hand clothing and shoes for Volunteers.
Hopefully, the American intervention prevents a young man from Cork, taking that final journey back to the county of his birth.
With the Civil war over quickly. with Irish American support squarely behind Irelands fighting chief. Collins is able to do something about the North. One suspects a few crates of American Tommy guns, will be lost in transit. Stationing a few Hundred Americans close to the border. May remind the British Government that the eyes of the US is upon it. Ulster may not be maimed but it can be restrained. After that, is in the speech of fierce Glasgow `` Beyond ma Ken''
The loser of this war is physical force element of Irish republicanism. It dies in Ireland and the US.
De Valeria, reputation is ruined. In the US, and Ireland. More importantly, Irish America, has paid a price in blood for its victory. Dev retreats to the Vatican, and is remembered for his speech denouncing Irelands entry in WW2, on the 8/12/41.
More then a Few American officers, now have a working knowledge of Ireland. Colonel William Donovan and General Michael Collins have a beautiful friendship. Imagine the fun!. Ireland owes the US a favour. It also looks to the USA for security.
