Irish President Eamon DeValera Holds Rallies in Fall River & New Bedford in February, 1920

Eamon deValera barnstormed into Fall River and New Bedford MA on February 9-10, 1920, part of his American tour to build up support and recognition for the Irish Republic.

He arrived in Fall River on Monday, February 9, around 3:30 and addressed a large gather of Irish-Americans who had waited patiently for his arrival. Music was furnished by the Finneran’s orchestra and Irish airs made up the program.

The Fall River Globe described the scene, “His utterances, especially when he made reference to the fact that Ireland would never surrender to British rule, evoked a wild manifestation of enthusiasm. His every word was followed with the closest attention.”

His opening remarks were in Irish, then he said, “I expected to find people here as I have found them everywhere who talk the Celtic tongue. I was addressed in that language as I entered the hall here. You see the fact that I was greeted here and in many other places in the Irish language shows that this language is known, and the few words I have spoken convey a message to those who understand it that I could next express with the same feeling in English."

In his speech, DeValera made the argument of Ireland being “separate and distinct as we are claiming her to be. Ireland is not part of the British empire and never has been.”

He equated British rule with imperialism and Irish independence with nationalism.

“Are you for nationalism or imperialism,” DeValera asked the crowd. “Fundamentally it is right against might. Ireland is an ancient nation. For 700 years we have been struggling to secure commend of our own destinies and not to have them guided by outside influence and dominance. We never surrendered our sovereign rights. There never has been a voluntary pact to make us a part of that empire….We do not want to be a part of an imperial system. Ireland naturally never ran in imperial channels.”

He compared talk of succession of Ulster to parts of Massachusetts.

“I point out that if you were to attempt to solve the Irish question by cutting off that northeast corner, you would be guilty of succession of the Irish republic. It would be like cutting off Bunker Hill and Lexington."

After Fall River, DeValera was escorted to nearby New Bedford, where he met Mayor Ashley, dined at the Parker House and addressed two meetings, including a large assembly in the high school. He finished up at 11:30 p.m. and retired to his hotel.

Bark Catalpa of New Bedford, 1876

In New Bedford, DeValera laid a wreath at the gravesite of George S Anthony, captain of the Catalpa ship that famously helped six Irish prisoners escape from a British penal colony in Australia in 1876.

Summing up the visit to Massachusetts, the Fall River Daily Evening News reported, “He came to plead the cause of the republic of Ireland, of which he is the accredited president and the spokesman in this country, seeking to convince Americans that the republic exists and that it has a logical claim to recognition.”