Tony D'Arcy (died 1940) was anIrish Republican militant and activist. A senior leader in theIrish Republican Army (IRA), he died on 16 April 1940 after a 52-dayhunger strike, at the age of 32.
D'Arcy was from north Galway and became a member of the IRA during the 1930s. Tonys cousinLouis Darcy, was Commandant of North Galway Brigade IRA during theIrish War of Independence and was killed by British forces in March 1921 at the age of 23.
In 1938 the IRA'sChief of StaffSeán Russell appointedIRA Volunteer Tony D’Arcy to the IRAs Army Council and the Officer Commanding (O/C) of the IRAs Western Command.[1] By 1938 D'Arcy had already become a key target for the Irish policeSpecial Branch.[2] In 1939 he was assigned to the IRA's Headquarters staff. D'Arcy and the younger members of the Headquarters –Michael Traynor andJack McNeela proposed the launching of raids from the Free State across the border into Northern Ireland. This proposal eventually became the 1959–62Border campaign.[3]
On 17 February 1940 D'Arcy (and 15 other high ranking IRA men) were arrested at a meeting in a Dublin hotel. The topic of the meeting was planning for the upcomingNorthern Campaign (September 1942 – December 1944), these arrests were a severe blow to the IRA organization. The men arrested were imprisoned inMountjoy Prison during what was calledThe Emergency in Ireland.[4] D'Arcy was sentenced to three months for refusing to account for his movements and for not giving his name and address when arrested.[5] On Sunday 25 February 1940, six republican prisoners embarked on ahunger strike demanding free association and to have two prisoners (IRA Volunteers Nicky Doherty of County Meath and John Dwyer) moved from the criminal wing to the republican area within the prison (Mountjoy Jail).[6]
Joining D’Arcy in the hunger strike were his cell mateJack McNeela, Tomás Mac Curtain Jr. (the son of the assassinated Lord Mayor of Cork)Tomás Mac Curtain, Jack Plunkett of Dublin, son ofCount Plunkett and brother ofJoseph Mary Plunkett (executed for his roles in theEaster Rising of 1916), Tommy Grogan of Drogheda and Michael Traynor of Belfast (later named Ard-Rúnaí (Secretary General) ofSinn Féin).[7] Close to the annual commemoration of the Easter Rising of 1916, a letter of protest was published which criticized the government's policy towards the hunger strikers from relatives of participants in the Easter Rising and the Lord Mayor of DublinKathleen Clarke, the wife ofTom Clarke and sister ofEdward Daly (both executed in the Easter Rising of 1916).
After seven days of hunger strike the six strikers were told they would have to stand trial. They were to be represented by the well known Irish Republican and futureNobel Peace Prize winnerSeán MacBride.[8] The hunger strikers refused to appear in court and fought off attempts to bring them into court. D'Arcy, McNeela and Tom Grogan were very badly beaten.[9] On 5 March 1940 D'Arcy was sentenced to three months in prison, he, Grogan and McNeela decided to continue their hunger strike.[10] While Grogan survived, Tony D'Arcy and Jack McNeela died over a month later (within three days of each other) inSt Bricin's Military Hospital, Dublin.[11]
The IRA responded to the death of two of its officers with an attack on the seat of the Irish Government –Dublin Castle. In the early morning hours of 25 April 1940, a large land mine was detonated in the Lower Castle Yard which was housed the Detective Division (orSpecial Branch). Five Detectives reported injury and windows were blown out in the Chapel Royal and State Apartments.[12]
At the time of his death D'Arcy was married with three young children. An owner of a garage and aundertaker by profession, his body was carried in his own hearse, driven by neighbor Joe Glynn ofHeadford. He was buried at Donaghpatrick Cemetery, Headford (his hometown),County Galway.[13]
Between 1917 and 1981 a total of 22Irish Republicans have died on Hunger-Strike.[14] The largest hunger strike in Irish history was the1923 Irish Hunger Strikes. The most Irish Republican deaths due to hunger strike was during the1981 Irish hunger strike (March–October) in which ten men died.
