Bennett's of Ballinacurra Descriptive List (Ref. B609)

B609/

here’. On 15 July, after a truce was called, he returned home from Clyde ‘after the most enjoyable & successful yachting cruise of my life’. On 10 October Bennett ‘gave a gratuity to Volunteers for protection of property and preservation of order’. On 22 November he saw Chaplin’s ‘The Kid’ at Cork cinema, which he found ‘a good cinema but sketchy & low comedy’. On 6 December he expresses relief at reports of a peace agreement for Ireland. B609/9/A/42 Diary, 1922. Throughout the year Bennett follows political developments and the ongoing unrest. On 14 January Bennett hears that Tom Hallinan has been kidnapped by the IRA. He was released after 24 hours. On 28 January he notes ‘The Irish Free State is encountering grave trouble from Labour disturbances at the very start’. On 9 February he notes that the IRA have turned workers out of Mallow Mills and sold some £700 worth of flour. On 14 February a month-long strike at Hallinan’s distillery, Midleton, ended. On 27 April he notes the murder of eight protestant farmers and others in Bandon, writing ‘these crimes attributed as reprisals for shooting of R.C.s in Belfast probably some of same influenced by greed for land. Many Protestants fled as refugees’. On 28 July he records that Desmond Smith is not up to management or partnership in his business. On 5 August he hears irregulars are extracting taxation from city merchants in Cork, under threat of destroying buildings. On 30 September Bennett suffered a collapse at Cork station, in consequence deciding ‘to almost give up smoking’. B609/9/A/43 Diary, 1923. On 16 March, Bennett records his shock at hearing that Willie Beale was shot as reprisal for a recent execution in Cork. At his funeral on 22 nd , Bennett experienced ‘sad memories of the happy days spent together shooting and horror at his assassination’ [see also B609/9/A/57]. On 12 April Bennett was elected commodore of the Royal Munster Yacht Club, newly amalgamated with Crosshaven. On 3 July Bennett’s step mother, Carrie, died. On 26 October he attended the Grand Jury for criminal business, ‘probably last of such Grand Juries’. On 3 December he purchased shares in Midleton Gas Company. At year’s end Bennett expresses ‘great joy’ at being able to shoot again. B609/9/A/44 Diary, 1924. On 22 April Bennett attended a meeting of governors of Midleton College to discuss changing its standard to ‘a mixed school or on lines which would take in children of better class R.C.’s’. On 28 May he finished an historical sketch of the maltings, which he posted to AGS. At Clyde week in early July Bennett won a number of prizes aboard his yacht ‘Verve’. On 24 September he notes that high super tax and building costs have absorbed reserves, creating ‘the highly probable need of giving up Verve and reducing all expenditure’. On 23 December he notes that farmers in Ballymacoda claim shootings rights and object to the Coursing Club letting shooters over their ground for payment.

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