which, however, did not produce any concrete results, was held in the Exchange Hotel on the night preceding the June I.R.A. Convention. The I.R.A. Convention was held and Sean Moylan was elected Chairman. The entire Convention was a most disturbing and upsetting event; flamboyant speeches and appeals rang out mostly from I.R.A. sections whose previous record did not live up to the revolutionary policies and republican ideals; speakers of other equally insignificant sections were responsible for much unnecessary harangues and tiring debates on some long drawn out matters of totally minor importance. Inwardly, many of us felt that the whole Convention left much to be desired and was really nothing but a waste of time. It certainly did not inspire much confidence as to future actions. There was more excitement, however, when quite unexpectedly, a motion "to declare war" was proposed and a heated discussion followed. Finally, and if memory serves me right, the motion for war won, then came a cry for a recount. General Tom Barry, who put the motion forward had, if I am correct, just one more vote to support his own, and that was the vote of Jacky O'Neill of Kilbrittan. All delegates from Munster voted against war. The recount led to still more confusion and more heated remarks [83] and discussions followed. Once the recount was completed it became clear that the motion to declare war was defeated. Some short time later, to my utter consternation, as also that of Sean Hegarty and other members of Cork 1 Brigade - we were all sitting together - we suddenly noticed that Rory O'Connor, Liam Mellows, and a number of other delegates, got up and left the Convention. It did not help a bit when somewhat later, and while most of the delegates just sat there dumbfounded, Sean McBride appeared at the back of the Hall and shouted, "All those in favour of the Republic, come to the Four Courts." This, as anyone will understand, was a most insulting remark to make, and it was never forgotten, even though many of us knew that McBride was acting on instructions. The Convention broke up and the delegates, with what can only be termed, disappointment and dejection went back to their homes and hotels. Most of the delegates of Cork 1 Brigade set out for home by road on the Monday, following the disappointing Convention. The rather hasty departure was due to a big and important undertaking that was in the offing, and we did not wish to be late arriving back in Cork. On our way home, our armoured car had a minor break-down, and we waited for it in Clogheen, Tipperary. Sean Hegarty was one in our party. Some hours later, the armoured car finally crept in but Joe Power, the driver, was not able to cope with the problem. Riding in the car were, among others, Tom Crofts and Sean McSwiney. Joe Power then started working on the carburettor trying to clean it and he asked me for a tin of petrol so that he could pour out some of it for cleaning. Night had fallen, in the meantime, and Joe was working away with a lighted candle. So, I suggested to him that he should better pour a small amount of petrol out of the tin, thinking, of course, of the obvious danger of working with that tin of petrol near an open flame. Joe did start draining the petrol but, unfortunately, he still came too close to the candle; the petrol ignited and, suddenly, human beings, machine guns, ammunition, all seemed to leave the armoured car at the same time. Seeing that Joe suffered some burns on his face and hands, I raced over and threw my overcoat over him, rolled him to and fro on the road, thus extinguishing the flames and [84] preventing him from sustaining still more severe burns. As it was, poor Joe was in quite bad pain but the Brown family, in whose house we sheltered that night, did everything in their power to make him, and all of us, comfortable. We received all the food and care we wanted, their hospitality knew no bounds, and after we had all finished eating, we sat around the fire - it being a rather "nippy" night - spiritedly discussing the happenings at the Convention and, then, just chatting away amiably for the rest of the night. Early next morning we got back on the road once again, do continuing our journey, this time followed by the meanwhile, repaired armoured car that was now running smoothly. Sean Hegarty was quite incensed about all this delay; the previous afternoon, on leaving Dublin, he had refused to even drink a cup of tea as it might waste precious time. I could not help grinning to myself because, here we had been stuck for the whole night with nothing else to do but chat away and drink innumerable cups of tea. Prior to our visit to Dublin a member of C. Company, 1st Battalion, who worked in Haulbowline, had provided us with regular reports of British military movements; these included the returning to England of a sloop, its holds allegedly filled with Machine Guns, Rifles, Revolvers, plenty of ammunition to match, plus some Bombs and other assorted
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