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| Back Row L to R: Mary Rynne, Michael Rynne, Eamon De Valera, Richard Mulcahy Front Row L to R: Stephen O'Meara, Cathal Brugha. Rynne Family Archive, NUI Galway Library Archives |
The Strand Hotel in Limerick city, near the river Shannon, was the site of a significant moment at the heart of the Treaty negotiations of 1921. Then known as Strand House, home of the O’Meara's, a prominent political and business family in the city, a photograph was taken of a group of visitors to the house who would all play prominent roles in the lead up to and in the aftermath of the signing of the Treaty in December 1921.
As the Treaty negotiations were drawing to a close, and on
the night the Treaty was being signed in London, Eamon De Valera was at Strand
House in Limerick. Along with De Valera, Richard Mulcahy and Cathal Brugha also
stayed at Strand House on the night of the 5th and 6th of December as guests of
Stephen O’Meara and family.
A phone call from the Irish delegation in London reached
Strand House so as to inform De Valera on the outcome of the negotiations. The phone
call updated De Valera that the Treaty had been signed in London in the early
hours of 6th December 1921.
The photograph is included as part of the recently opened “The
Treaty, 1921: Records from the Archives” exhibition, located at Dublin Castle
and led by the National Archives of Ireland. The photograph is part of the
Rynne Family archive at NUI Galway Library Archives. Comprising records of
various members of the family, including playwright Mary Rynne, diplomat
Michael Rynne, and later archaeologist and professor at NUI Galway, Etienne
Rynne (grandson of Michael Rynne).
Michael Rynne (1899–1981) was a legal scholar, civil servant
and diplomat. He was born on 12 September 1899 in Hampshire, England, before
moving to Limerick in 1907. He studied at University College Dublin before joining
the Volunteers in 1917. In 1921, Rynne was in charge of the flying column of
Blessington, Co. Wicklow. He later served as ADC to Richard Mulcahy. A close
associate of Michael Collins, Rynne was later appointed officer in charge of
the military training camp at Dunboyne, Co. Meath, of which detailed records of
training and drilling regimes devised by Rynne are present within his papers.
Rynne received his doctorate in legal studies from the University
of Munich in 1929. In 1936, he was appointed legal advisor to the Department of
External Affairs, soon becoming head of the department's League of Nations section
from 1936 to 1940, part of a small group of close advisors to Eamon De Valera. In
1955, Rynne was appointed Irish Ambassador to Spain, before later retiring from
the civil service in 1961. Rynne died in Dublin on the 8th February
1981.
For the full catalogue of papers from the Rynne Family
Archive, including the Michael Rynne papers, click on this link
For more information on “The Treaty, 1921: Records from the
Archive” exhibition see the
National Archives for details.
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| Michael Rynne Rynne Family Archive, NUI Galway Library Archives |
