Irish Citizen Army Uniforms and Equipment 1916

[danielsamson]

I'm on the case of the Wicklow man as we speak !

Interestingly, the reason I remember the book so well was that I was using it for reference when researching the battle of Ashbourne a number of years ago ( in my opinion a very underrated and glossed over event). In fact a man I know, a number of years ago, acting on information from the last surviving participant of the battle, "Stash" Farrell, dredged a pond for 3 days to find two handguns that were disposed of when the word came from Dublin to lay down arms and return home. They are still in great condition hanging above a range in a farmhouse in North Dublin.

[the_power]

Aye, I've seen the revolvers, they are an amazing piece of history. The wonderful thing is, that the woman who knew where they had been hidden could still remember huge amounts of detail about the event, despite being only 15 at the time (and probably over ninety when describing where the guns were!).

John

[euryalus]

According to Anne Marreco, in her book The Rebel Countess (1967), Countess Markievicz thought that the suggested brassards would indentify the wearers as belligerents under International law, and thereby give them a degree of legal protection if captured. The same argument would have applied in relation to the wearing of full uniforms, though Captain White was more concerned with instilling a sense of pride and esprit de corps.

[thepremier]

I don't know if anyone saw the Vincent Browne show last night on TV3, which is being guest hosted for a few days by Kevin Myers. During a discussion about Arnott's he said that, on the eve of the 1916 Rising, the Irish Citizen Army got a supply of boy scout uniforms, Myers's implication being that that's what the ICA wore during the Rising. From reading this topic I get the impression that the boy scout unit of the ICA may have used elements of the boy scout uniform (shirts, for example). Would this be correct?

Interestingly, the reason I remember the book so well was that I was using it for reference when researching the battle of Ashbourne a number of years ago ( in my opinion a very underrated and glossed over event). In fact a man I know, a number of years ago, acting on information from the last surviving participant of the battle, "Stash" Farrell, dredged a pond for 3 days to find two handguns that were disposed of when the word came from Dublin to lay down arms and return home. They are still in great condition hanging above a range in a farmhouse in North Dublin.

That's fascinating! I have a secret hope of finding my grandfather's buried revolver one day.

[Saoirse22]

I have heard conflicting reports that the ICA either recieved only 1871s or may have recieved those mixed with some 71/84s (an almost identical rifle in appearance save the magazine cap protrusion). Does anybody know if it was specifically only 1871s they would have carried? either weapon would have been obsolete enough by the time for the Germans to sent either during the Howth gunrunning or during smaller deliveries. Essentially most accounts i've read mention simply obsolete German rifles, and for the most part I cannot see the nosecaps of rifles in photographs clearly so I have always wondered about this aspect of the ICA.

Thanks.

[Na Fianna Éireann]

I have heard conflicting reports that the ICA either recieved only 1871s or may have recieved those mixed with some 71/84s (an almost identical rifle in appearance save the magazine cap protrusion). Does anybody know if it was specifically only 1871s they would have carried? either weapon would have been obsolete enough by the time for the Germans to sent either during the Howth gunrunning or during smaller deliveries. Essentially most accounts i've read mention simply obsolete German rifles, and for the most part I cannot see the nosecaps of rifles in photographs clearly so I have always wondered about this aspect of the ICA.

Thanks.

1871's are better known as howth guns lol .. they are single shot mausers and were shipped by the Germans to Ireland .

[EireNoob]

Hi,
im new to these forums and im a bit confused, anyone know where i can purchase ica/iv military gear? or proper military gear used by the ira in the war of independence?
thanks

[Na Fianna Éireann]

pm me and I will give you advice and guidance