26 Facts About Darrell Figgis

Darrell Edmund Figgis was an Irish writer, Sinn Fein activist and independent parliamentarian in the Irish Free State.

Darrell Figgis was born at Glen na Smoil, Palmerstown Park, Rathmines in Dublin, the son of Arthur William Figges, tea merchant, and Mary Anne Deane.

For much of his time with Dent, Darrell Figgis resided at 42 Asmuns Hill, Hampstead Gardens in London.

Darrell Figgis moved to Pollagh, Achill Island, in 1913 to write, learn Irish and gain an appreciation of Irish culture, as perceived by many of his contemporaries to uniquely exist on the western seaboard.

Darrell Figgis joined the Irish Volunteers in Dublin in 1913 and organised the original Battalion of Volunteers in Achill, where he had built a house.

Darrell Figgis travelled with Erskine Childers, initially to Belgium and from there to Germany to make the purchase of the army surplus Mauser rifles.

Darrell Figgis then chartered the tug Gladiator, from which the arms were transferred at sea to the Childers' yacht Asgard and Conor O'Brien's Kelpie.

Darrell Figgis, accompanied by Sean McGarry, watched Asgard helplessly from Howth pier until Erskine, with Molly at the helm, decided to take a calculated risk and sailed into the harbour.

Shortly after, Darrell Figgis was one of four recently released internees who travelled to the South Longford constituency to campaign for Joseph McGuinness in the by-election caused by the death of John Phillips.

In May 1918, Darrell Figgis was arrested for his alleged part in the spurious German Plot a second time and again deported to England.

From September 1919 to 1921 Darrell Figgis headed the Commission of Inquiry into the Resources and Industries of Ireland.

Darrell Figgis ordered rope for the purpose, but another officer intervened and Keaney and Figgis were set free.

Now Darrell Figgis started making some very detrimental remarks about the IRA.

On 13 June 1922, Dublin newspapers carried reports of an assault on Darrell Figgis which involved the cutting of his beard.

The Evening Herald reported that shortly before midnight, Millie Darrell Figgis had answered a knock at the door.

Mrs Darrell Figgis, fearing that they intended to shoot him, pushed into the room and attempted to lock it but was prevented from doing so by the intruders.

The paper went on to say that "Mrs Darrell Figgis is suffering severely from shock".

The animosity between Collins and Figgis remained an undercurrent of the project and in Collins' absence after the inaugural gathering, James G Douglas, a Collins nominee, kept him briefed of developments by detailed weekly meetings.

Darrell Figgis was co-opted onto the committee, and this decision led to a series of allegations resulting in the new State's first corruption scandal of which Darrell Figgis himself was the focus.

Walsh's own preferences for a private syndicate, which would include Belton and business acquaintances from Cork, together with his personal animosity towards Darrell Figgis, were evident from the outset.

The accusation resulted in Darrell Figgis resigning from the Broadcasting committee and a second enquiry being launched to investigate these new allegations.

Darrell Figgis strenuously denied any impropriety, claiming they were motivated by personal animosity when Belton's expectations of preferential treatment were unfulfilled.

Darrell Figgis was taken to the Meath Hospital and pronounced dead.

Darrell Figgis's body was brought back from London and she was buried by her family at Glasnevin Cemetery.

Darrell Figgis himself committed suicide in a London boarding-house, in Granville Street, Finsbury, on 26 October 1925, just a week after giving evidence at North's inquest.

Darrell Figgis had been staying at the Royal Automobile Club until the day before his death, as was usual when he visited London.