ABSTRACT
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) had turned its attention to Barry's Northern campaign. The IRA in the North was highly enthusiastic against the prime enemy instead of the endless discussions about de Valera's treachery. At the last minute a representative from Cumann na mBan had arrived at General Headquarters and announced that a resolution had passed requesting the IRA to allow their members to participate in the operation. However de Valera regretted the continuing blindness of the IRA wedded to the gun, the police had taken the position that the IRA, banned in June 1936 and without friends in the Cabinet, were fair game. Even though the IRA had been outmanoeuvred by de Valera since 1932, weakened by schism and resignation, and were unable to find a clear direction or a worthy strategy, the organization remained intact.
