REVOLUTION A Sinn Féin protest in the Market Square, Dundalk, 17 May 1910, on the occasion of George V being proclaimed King of Great Britain and Ireland. A handful of Sinn Féin protesters asserted their belief in Ireland’s right to independence by counter-demonstrating and interrupting the ceremony. When the British flag was raised as part of the ceremony, the Sinn Féin group raised a green flag. When ‘God save the King’ was sung the protesters sang ‘God Save Ireland’ and shouted ‘Go hifreann leis an Rí’. The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) were apparently unable to interfere with the demonstrators because the 1798 memorial they were gathered at was considered private property. The protest was led by Patrick Hughes and the other protesters included Jason and Barney Kelly, Ned Ryan, Paddy Hughes, James Jennings, Ned Callaghan and Mr Fitzgerald. The photographs show how little support Arthur Griffith’s Sinn Féin party, the IRB and militant Irish Republicanism had before the Home Rule crisis and the 1916 Rising. Courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Museum 13 PC IA21 20
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