RARE BOOK AND COLLECTOR'S SALE July 30th & 31st, 2024

86 IMPERFECTIONS NOT STATED Fonsie Mealy’s Est. 1934 642. O’Duffy’s Appointment as Garda Commissioner, 1922 A typescript copy of Kevin O’Higgins’ Letter (as Minister of Home Affairs) to Gen. Mulcahy, Commander-in-Chief, making his ‘astonishing’ request for Gen. Owen O’Duffy to be released from his Army position to take up the Chief Commissionership of the Civic Guard (An Garda Siochana), 1.9.22, with a signed typescript copy of O’Duffy’s letter, also to the Commander-in-Chief, 4 Sept. 1922, from Field HQ in Limerick, leaving the decision to Gen. Mulcahy and the Government. ‘I am prepared to serve in any capacity that I can be of most value.’ O’Higgins letter outlines in graphic terms the difficulties with the Garda force to date. ‘Conspirators working from the outside with a few Agents within, vanity and jealousy on the part of some Officers, and an absence of tact and coolness on the part of others have combined to create a situation which calls for firm handling by some outstanding personality whose National record is of the highest.’ Astonishing it may have seemed, but it was an inspired choice. Within a few years O’Duffy had succeeded in establishing the Gardai as a respected and unarmed force. (1) €600 - €800 644. Rare Ladies Blue Shirt Uniform Fine Gael [Army Comrades]. A woman’s Blue Shirt with elasticated waist, bearing Fine Gael badge with Army Comrades insignia, with separate buckled belt, said to have belonged to a Mrs. Punch. (1) A very rare item, possibly unique. There were no women in the 1930s Army, so the original Army Comrades were by definition male. Membership was later opened to persons who had not served in the armed forces, but there certainly were very few female members. €3,000 - €4,000 643. Removal from Commissionership A very good T.L.S. fromWilliamT. Cosgrave, on his headed personal notepaper, 25 Feb. 1933, to General O’Duffy, ‘I find it difficult to express in words my regret that your Office as Commissioner of the Garda Siohana has been terminated. The splendid traditions which distinguished your association with that disciplined, efficient and brave body of men will ever be remembered with affection, gratitude and satisfaction by the patriotic citizens of this State, You were father, guardian, counsellor and confidant of the officers and men under your charge.’ With the printed report of the Dail debates on 14-16 March 1933, concerning O’Duffy’s removal (by the Fianna Fail government headed by De Valera), some sections underlined by O’Duffy; also a page from O’Duffy’s desk diary for February 1933, with a note of his meeting with President (de Valera), when he was informed of the decision to remove him from the Commissionership; seven pages of manuscript notes in O’Duffy’s hand concerning his removal; correspondence about the seizure of Gen. O’Duffy’s revolver, 1934, etc; and a collection of related press cuttings. (1) €350 - €450