The Moore Street Flag of TruceA white linen Handkerchief, ap...

Estimate

€5,000 - €7,000

The Moore Street Flag of Truce
A white linen Handkerchief, approx 16" square, believed to be the original flag of truce shown by Capt. Michael William O'Reilly at Moore St. in Dublin to indicate that the Volunteers wished to surrender their final position there on Saturday afternoon, 29 April 1916. (1)
Capt. Michael William O'Reilly, from Dublin, joined the IRB in 1911 and the Volunteers on the night of their formation in 1913. On Easter Monday 1916 he was appointed Aide-de-Camp to Commandant Joseph Mary Plunkett. He commanded the Imperial Hotel garrison for a time, then returned to the GPO where he led a party of men onto the roof to try to extinguish the fire there. When this was not possible, he was put in charge of evacuating the wounded to the Coliseum Theatre, and then retreated with Pearse and Connolly to 16 Moore Street. When it became clear that the Volunteers there were hopelessly surrounded, Plunkett instructed Capt. O'Reilly to show a flag of truce so that talks could take place. He took a linen handkerchief from his pocket, tied it to a stick, and waved it from the door of No. 16.
His Military Archives witness statement says: 'I was immediately met by a burst of rifle and machine gun fire but fortunately I was able to jump back and take cover, meanwhile holding out my White Flag which had the effect of drawing a British Sergeant up to enquire what the idea was and, on being informed, he expressed his ignorance for any truce. He was then shortly afterwards joined by an Officer who instructed him that the matter was in order.' Comdt. Plunkett and Capt. O'Reilly then led the survivors into Henry Street and up to the Parnell Monument, where the formal surrender took place.
Afterwards Capt. O'Reilly was detained in Knutsford Jail and Frongoch, where his companions included Michael Collins. O'Reilly had been employed in the insurance business, and while in Frongoch there were discussions with Collins and others about forming an Irish national insurance company. This led in 1918 to the foundation of the New Ireland Assurance Co., with O'Reilly at its head, a position he held successfully for nearly 50 years. See also his full statement, Bureau of Military History Document no. W.S. 886.
16 Moore Street is now recognised as the 1916 Volunteers' final command post, and work is under way to preserve and commemorate the location.
Provenance: Given by Captain Michael William O'Reilly before his death to a colleague in New Ireland Assurance, Following his colleagues passing and the subsequently closure of New Ireland Assurance, the associated items were rescued by the present vendor.