Letter from General John Grenfell Maxwell to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 6 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 John Grenfell Maxwell

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This letter was written by Sir General John Grenfell Maxwell (1859 – 1929), to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer (1842-1917), who served as the Bishop of Limerick from 1888 until his death. In this letter Maxwell is requesting that O’Dwyer remove two priests in his diocese so that they cannot interact with the general population. According to Maxwell the presence of these priests is a dangerous menace to the peace and safety of the realm and had they been laymen both would already be under arrest. The priests concerned are Fr Thomas Wall (1877 – 1956), and Fr Michael Hayes (1873 – 1934). Maxwell reportedly called for the pair’s removal because they were providing moral support to the rebels of Easter Week 1916.Maxwell had been appointed commander in chief of the British forces in Ireland after the outbreak of the Easter Rising. He arrived in Ireland on Friday 28 April, the fifth day of the insurrection. As acting military governor of Ireland, Maxwell dealt with the rebellion according to his understanding of martial law which had been earlier declared by the Lord Lieutenant.

 Limerick Diocesan Archive LDA/BI/ET/239/1/1, LDA/BI/ET/239/1/1 https://letters1916.ie/item/638 English John Grenfell Maxwell 1916-05-06 Irish Command Headquarters, Parkgate, Dublin, Ireland Edward Thomas O'Dwyer Limerick, Ireland Male Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Faith

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 No. O.B.7. (57). Head Quarters, Irish Command, Parkgate, DUBLIN, 6th May, 1916. My Lord, I have the honour to request your Lordship's co-operation in a matter connected with the present deplorable situation in Ireland the settlement of which I am confident you desire no less keenly than I do. There are two Priests in your Diocese, the Reverend Father Thomas Wall, of Drumcollogher, Co.Limerick, and the Reverend Father M. Hayes, of Newcastle West, County Limerick, whose presence in that neighbourhood I consider to be a dangerous menace to the peace and safety of the Realm, and had these priests been lay men they would have already been placed under arrest. In this case I would be glad if your Lordship could obviate the necessity for such action by moving these Priests to such employment as will deny their having intercourse with the people, and inform me of your decision. I have the honour to be, Your obedient servant, J. G. Maxwell General, Commander-in-Chief, The Forces in Ireland. The Most Reverend Dr. O'Dwyer, Bishop of LIMERICK, LIMERICK Limerick, Ireland Letter from Stephen Purcell to Anna O'Rahilly, 24 December 1916Letter from C. Moran to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 15 August 1916Letter from W. H. Grattan Flood to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 15 September 1916Letter from General John Grenfell Maxwell to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 6 May 1916Letter from General Sir John Grenfell Maxwell to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 12 May 1916Letter from William M. Nolan to Robert Chalmers, 2 June 1916Letter from Kate O'Donnell to Dr Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 10 June 1916Letter from the Limerick City Regiment of the Irish Volunteers to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 14 September 1916Letter from G. Craig to J. S. Gaffney, 20 June 1916 Irish Command Headquarters, Parkgate, Dublin, Ireland Letter from Colonel F. M. Taylor to Alderman Thomas Kelly, 13 June 1916Letter from Captain T. C. R. Moore to Alderman Thomas Kelly, 15 July 1916Letter from General John Grenfell Maxwell to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 6 May 1916Letter from James O'Shea to John Grenfell Maxwell, 9 May 1916Letter from General Sir John Grenfell Maxwell to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 12 May 1916Letter from Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer to General John Grenfell Maxwell, 17 May 1916 John Grenfell Maxwell Letter from General John Grenfell Maxwell to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 6 May 1916Letter from James O'Shea to John Grenfell Maxwell, 9 May 1916Letter from General Sir John Grenfell Maxwell to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 12 May 1916Letter from Lord French to Sir John Maxwell, 3 May 1916Letter from Lord Wimborne to Sir John Maxwell, 1 May 1916.Letter from Lord Wimborne to Sir John Maxwell, 1 May 1916Letter from Robert John Lynn to Sir John Maxwell, 2 May 1916Letter from Lord Wimborne to Sir John Maxwell, 3 May 1916Letter from Sir John Maxwell to Lord French, 4 May, 1916Letter from John Dillon to Sir John Maxwell, 8 May 1916.Letter from Sir John Maxwell to Herbert Henry Asquith, 12 May 1916.Letter from Lord French to Sir John Maxwell, 19 May 1916Letter from Sir John Maxwell to Lord French, 16 May 1916Letter from Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer to General John Grenfell Maxwell, 17 May 1916Letter from Lord French to Sir John Maxwell, 29 April 1916Letter from Lord French to Sir John Maxwell, 1 May 1916Letter from Lord Wimborne to Sir John Maxwell, 29 April 1916 Edward Thomas O'Dwyer Letter from Michael O'Riordan to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 12 May 1916Letter from Eoin McNeill to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 18 April 1916Letter from C. Moran to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 15 August 1916Letter from W. H. Grattan Flood to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 15 September 1916Letter from R. Barry O'Brien to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 12 February 1916Letter from General John Grenfell Maxwell to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 6 May 1916Letter from General Sir John Grenfell Maxwell to Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer, 12 May 1916Letter from Arthur to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 14 January 1916Letter from Fr. C. F. Maher to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 16 April 1916Letter from Fr. Peter C. Yorke to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 26 June 1916Letter from Michael O'Riordan to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 27 May 1916Letter from Michael O'Riordan to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 10 June 1916Letter from Michael O'Riordan to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 23 October 1916Letter from M. M. Carroll to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 1 June 1916Letter from the Limerick City Regiment of the Irish Volunteers to Bishop E. T. O'Dwyer, 14 September 1916Letter from Bishop Edward Thomas O'Dwyer to General John Grenfell Maxwell, 17 May 1916Letter from Patrick Carey to Edward O'Dwyer, D.D., 29 November 1915