Boston College collection of Emmet Dalton

Collection

Identifier: BC-2023-144

Staff Only

Dates

Creation: 1916-1953
Creation: Majority of material found within 1916-1922

Scope and Contents

Collection from a variety of sources pertaining to Emmet Dalton.

The collection contains correspondence commending Dalton's participation in World War I, including his actions at the Battle of Ginchy in 1916, awarding of the Military Cross, potential for the Victoria Cross, and injuries sustained. Most letters were sent to his father, James Francis Dalton, from members of the Ministry of Munitions of War.

Also included are versions of an article by anti-Irish contributor to the Irish Times Cyril Bretherton. The article features disparaging remarks about Eamon de Valera and a contentious story about Harry Boland, who served as President of the Irish Republican Brotherhood from 1919 to 1920. Boland was a close friend of Michael Collins, which may explain why the article was in the possession of Emmet Dalton.

Additional materials include an account of the assassination of G-Division of Dublin Metropolitan Police members; “An Appreciation of Michael Collins” by Dalton; reports of the Óglaigh na hÉireann (Irish Republican Army); and correspondence and an account by Dalton of the attempt to rescue Sean McKeon (Seán Mac Eoin) from Mountjoy Prison.

Creator

Dalton, Emmet, 1898-1978 (Person)

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.

Biographical note: Emmet Dalton

(James) Emmet Dalton was born on March 4, 1898 in Fall River, Massachusetts, to Irish-American parents James Francis and Katharine Lee (Riley) Dalton. The family moved back to Ireland when he was two, and he was raised Catholic in North Dublin. In 1913, Dalton joined the nationalist militia, the Irish Volunteers, and then joined the British Army in 1915 for the duration of World War I.

Dalton joined the 7th Battalion of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (RDF) as a 2nd Lieutenant. By 1916, he was attached to the 9th Battalion, RDF, 16th Division under Major-General William Hickie, which contained many Irish nationalist recruits. In September 1916, Dalton fought during the Battle of Ginchy, in which over 4,000 Irishmen were killed or wounded. Dalton was awarded the Military Cross for his conduct in the battle. Later he was transferred and sent to Greece, then Palestine, where he commanded a company and supervised a sniper school. In 1918, Dalton was redeployed again to France and promoted to captain.

On demobilization in April 1919, Dalton returned to Ireland. Dalton followed his younger brother Charles F. Dalton in joining the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He quickly became close to Michael Collins, who at the time was Director of Intelligence for the IRA. Dalton succeeded Collins as the IRA Director of Intelligence, and became involved in the Squad, the Dublin-based assassination unit. Dalton accepted the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1922 and was one of the first officers, a Major General, in the new National Army established by the Irish Provisional Government of the Irish Free State. He was in command of troops in the Battle of Dublin which marked the start of the Irish Civil War in June 1922, and became commander of the Free State Army under Richard Mulcahy's direction.

Dalton married Alice Shannon on October 9, 1922 in Cork's Imperial Hotel. They had five children, including actress Audrey Dalton. By December 1922, Dalton had resigned his command in the Army after the death of Michael Collins. He did not agree with the treatment of republican prisoners that marked the later stages of the Irish Civil War. After briefly working as clerk of the Irish Senate, he left this job to work in the movie industry. Over the next forty years, he worked in Ireland and the United States in film production. In 1958, he founded Irish Ardmore Studios. His company produced many films, all of which were filmed in Ireland. Emmet Dalton died in Dublin in 1978 on March 4, his 80th birthday.

Sources:

Dempsey, Pauric J., Shaun Boylan. "Dalton, (James) Emmet." Dictionary of Irish Biography. October 2009, https://www.dib.ie/biography/dalton-james-emmet-a2369

Harrison, Shane. "Emmet Dalton: From Michael Collins' right hand man to movie producer." BBC. August 22, 2022, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62549024

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 container)

Language of Materials

English

Irish

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection consists of correspondence commending Irish revolutionary, soldier, and film producer Emmet Dalton, as well as accounts written by Dalton and others regarding Irish revolutionaries Michael Collins and Sean McKeon (Seán Mac Eoin). Newspaper editorials and official reports concerning nationalist politics in Ireland and the Irish Republican Army are also included.

Arrangement

Alphabetical.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from Kennys Bookshop & Art Galleries, 2023.

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