unique collection of rare historical documents, books and artifacts, including arms from Ireland’s revolutionary period donated by former pupils.
James F. Dalton, Activist and Organizer
After setting up home in Dublin, Emmet’s father, James F. Dalton, threw himself into the political and business life of his adopted city. He became active in nationalist organizations such as the United Irish League and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He demonstrated his devotion to Irish history by picking shamrock from the tomb of Daniel O’Connell in Glasnevin Cemetery and sending it back to his home town of Fall River. Close on a half century later shamrock based on that original plant was still being grown in Fall River, in a munici-pal greenhouse.9 Politically, James was a constitutional nationalist, supporting the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP) led by John Redmond, which was campaigning for Home Rule and which had made some progress towards that goal through its activities in the parliament at Westminster. Yet it was still under the cloud of its spectacular split in 1890–91 following the marriage of party leader Charles Stewart Parnell to a divorcee. But party unity was re-established in 1900 under John Redmond, who came from a noted County Wexford family of Catholic gentry.
James F. Dalton kept a large picture of party leader John Redmond over the mantelpiece in the sitting room of his Drumcondra home. As an extremely hardworking activist for the IPP, James F. made a considerable impact in nationalist circles in Dublin. Perhaps because of his experiences with the Democratic Party in America, he took an active part in committees and fund-raising work linked to the nationalist cause. He proved an extremely good events organizer. Likeable and energetic, he had the ability to win friends. He became friendly with luminaries of the party such as the Belfast-born MP Joe Devlin, a noted orator and skilled political organizer; Willie Redmond MP, a brother of the party leader; and Tom Kettle, poet, journalist, barrister and academic, who had served as an MP up to 1910. Devlin and Kettle would visit the Dalton home to socialize and sometimes play cards. While still a schoolboy, Emmet came to know some of the prominent people in the Home Rule movement.
James F. Dalton was held in such high esteem by those involved in the Home Rule movement that he was the guest of honour at a banquet given for him at the Gresham Hotel on 21 December 1911. The dinner sold out, and senior figures in the IPP were present, including Willie Redmond and Tom Kettle. Though Joe Devlin was unwell, he still made sure to turn up at the Gresham to pay tribute to his friend. Dalton was presented with an illuminated address by an Irish Party activist, Lawrence Wickham, a member of Blackrock Urban Council, in recognition of his work for the ‘National Cause’. The address referred to the ‘sacrifices’ made by Dalton, his ‘unselfish patriotism’ and the ‘great personal regard in which he is held’. The address also referred to his ‘almost unique faculty of attracting universal friendship’.
During his address, Tom Kettle said that the most brilliant student that he knew in their Dublin College was a son – Martin J. Dalton – of their guest that night. Joe Devlin said of James F. Dalton, that ‘no more loyal friend, no more affectionate comrade’ had ever appeared in Ireland. Touched by the occasion, James F. warmly thanked the attendees. ‘It has often been told to you by our leaders and others who have visited this great Republic of the West, of the love that is borne not only by the exiles, but also by the children of the exiles, for Ireland. I am proud to say, as the son of an exile, that I intensely love this dear old land…’
It was not surprising that Martin Dalton had come to the notice of Tom Kettle. Apart from being a ‘brilliant student’ at UCD, Martin was also active in the college’s renowned debating society, the Literary and Historical Society, known as the L&H. Kettle had once held the prestigious position of auditor of the society. Martin helped Arthur Cox secure election for auditor in 1913 over the future Taoiseach, John A. Costello. Cox later became a prominent solicitor and ultimately a Jesuit priest. He recalled that Martin ‘learned much of his politics from his father, organizer of the Irish Parliamentary Party’, and ‘steered me to victory’.10
James F. Dalton helped to organize a massive Home Rule rally held in Dublin on 31 March 1912, with son Martin coordinating the attendance of university students.11 Dalton senior also played a key role in organizing the elaborate welcome given by the IPP to British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith when he visited Dublin in July 1912 to support Home Rule. The Liberal leader was shepherding a Home Rule Bill through Parliament, and was given a rapturous reception in Dublin, driving through the city in an open-topped carriage with John Redmond. As Organizing Secretary of the Reception Committee, James F. attended a reception for Asquith in the Gresham Hotel. Through his father’s activities, Emmet would have gained some understanding of the Home Rule politics of the day.
As he became a citizen of some prominence in Dublin, James F. Dalton became a Justice of the Peace (JP), and went into the insurance business. In 1913 he helped launch the Catholic and General Assurance Association Limited, becoming a director along with luminaries such as the Earl of Orkney.12 An office was set up at 22 Westmoreland Street and Dalton was on a very good salary of £500 a year. Unfortunately this arrangement ended in acrimony. In early 1916 he launched a legal action in the Dublin courts against his former employer for unfair dismissal, though in April the company settled the case.13
Cistercian College, Roscrea
After primary education at O’Connell’s, it might have been expected that young Emmet would continue his secondary education at the school. However, in 1912, he was sent away to a boarding school run by monks in County Tipperary. In his retirement, Brother Allen told a story to a friend about the background to Emmet’s change of school.14 The Brothers had installed a new instrument at O’Connell’s – a telephone. The Superior of the community, Brother John A. O’Mahony, a man in his sixties, wanted to test the instrument and decided to make a telephone call. One of the few families he knew with a telephone was Emmet Dalton’s family. He called the Dalton home in nearby Drumcondra and Mrs Dalton answered. He introduced himself and said he was sorry to hear that influenza had invaded her home. There was a pause, and Mrs Dalton asked, ‘Do you have the right family, Brother? There is no influenza in my house. Both Emmet and Charlie went to school this morning.’ It was now the Brother’s turn to be taken aback. He said only one boy, Charlie arrived at school and this boy apologized for Emmet’s absence due to influenza. Alarmed by this information, Emmet’s parents carried out inquiries. It emerged that Emmet had been regularly indulging in truancy from school, or ‘mitching’ as he described it himself in later life, using a traditional Dublin expression.15 As a result, his parents decided to send him away to boarding school. Looking back on his school days, he said he was not a brilliant student, but was able to pass examinations. He was mainly inclined towards sport and athletics, implying that he was not enormously interested in academic subjects. Referring to his ‘mitching’, he reckoned he was a ‘difficult pupil’.
Emmet was sent for secondary education to the Cistercian College, Roscrea, set in countryside more than 80 miles from Dublin. It was a more exclusive establishment than O’Connell’s, and perhaps more exotic as well. The college had been set up a few years earlier, in 1905. Travel to the school entailed a lengthy train journey from Dublin. The extra expense involved in sending 14-year-old Emmet to such a school would suggest a certain affluence on the part of his father at this period. The boarding school, which is still in operation, is run by the monks of Mount St. Joseph Abbey. They belong to the contemplative Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCSO). The school, located in an imposing, grey stone building set in green, wooded countryside, provided a striking contrast to the urban environment which Dalton had hitherto experienced. In later life, Dalton talked with affection of his days at O’Connell’s, where he said he had received ‘brilliant’ teaching. But he was also taken with Roscrea, where he felt inspired by the Cistercian monks he encountered. In old age, he would talk of the many happy days he had at Roscrea, and his pride at being associated with the various people he met there, and the example set by the monks’ life of ‘unselfish devotion’.16
Irish Volunteers
