Dáil elects de Valera as president following low-key return to Ireland

Dublin, 7 April 1919 - Dáil Éireann met earlier this week, on 1 - 4 April, for the first time since its initial meetings in January.

In the official report of those proceedings, published in both English and Irish, it is confirmed that an executive was elected with Éamon de Valera installed as president. Other members of the executive include Constance Markievicz, Eoin MacNeill, William Cosgrave, Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith, Cathal Brugha and Count Plunkett. In addition, Laurence Ginnell, Robert Barton and Ernest Blythe were made departmental directors.

Committees were appointed to consider and report on two questions: (a) the treatment of prisoners in Belfast and elsewhere and the cases of the Tipperary children at present in custody and (b) local government. Agriculture was also discussed, specifically the matter of land occupation and increased tillage.

It has been confirmed that the next meeting of Dáil Éireann will be held in public session.

De Valera’s return

Mr de Valera’s election as President of Dáil Éireann followed a low-key return to Ireland on 26 March after his escape from Lincoln Prison in February. He has made no major public appearance since his re-entry into the country; plans for a welcome reception were abandoned at his own request.

Mr de Valera did, however, pay a visit to the Mansion House to meet with the Lord Mayor of Dublin, after which he told members of the press that he did not intend to make any statements or address any meetings for a while: ‘I have other work on hands that will keep me occupied.’

Nor was Mr de Valera giving much away about his escape from prison, explaining that these were matters about which he ‘must keep silent about for the present’.

Asked if he feared for his liberty and if he thought the police would attempt to re-arrest him, the Sinn Fein leader laughed and replied: ‘I have no guarantees as to what they will do. If they kidnapped us before they may do so again.’

GAA at Croke Park

If Mr de Valera was concerned it didn’t show yesterday when he attended a Gaelic football match in Croke Park where Tipperary took on All-Ireland Champions Wexford in aid of the Irish Republican Prisoners’ Dependants’ Fund. Also in attendance were the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Sinn Féin MPs Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith.

An estimated 25,000 spectators turned out to watch a poor spectacle in which Wexford won by a mere 2 points to 1. The match was refereed by Harry Boland MP and was started by de Valera throwing in the ball.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]