As the War of Independence escalated it
was recognised that a common military policy would be of benefit to both the Volunteers (now the official army of the Republic) and Na Fianna. Negotiations between the
Department of Defence and Fianna Headquarters Staff resulted in an
agreement between the two groups in December 1920.
As a result of this
agreement a Composite Council was set up comprising three G.H.Q. Officers of
the Fianna - Barney Mellows,
Adjutant-General, Garry Holohan, Q.M.G. 0/C. Brigade and Liam Langley,
Director of Organisation; and three G.H.Q.
Officers of the Irish Volunteers - Dermot
O’Hegarty, Gearóid O’Sullivan, and Bob Price. The function of the
Composite Council was to ensure smooth co-operation between the Volunteers and
Na Fianna. The meetings of the composite council were presided over by the Minister for Defence, Cathal Brugha, or someone nominated by him.
It also discussed in detail the practical implications of the partnership, agreeing procedures which were circulated to all companies by Fianna’s Adjutant General, Barney Mellows. Within a month of the companies receiving Mellows’ memorandum the British had captured documents of Collins that referred to the Council decisions and were aware of the imminent ‘linking up’ of the two organisations.
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| Account of Composite Council typed and signed by Liam Langley |
Witness statements Joseph Reynolds WS 0191 and Gearoid Ua h-Uallachain WS0336,
John Watts, A Case Study of a Political Youth Organisation Na Fianna Éireann, University of Glasgow.
