Thom's Irish Who's Who/O'Duffy, General Owen
O'DUFFY, General Owen, Chief Commissioner of Civic Guard, 1922. Born near Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, on 30th October, 1892; apprenticed to Engineering to Mr. Barry, A.M.I.C.E., County Surveyor, Wexford, and Mr. Hannigan, B.E., County Surveyor, Monaghan; appointed District Surveyor to Monaghan County Council in 1913; appointed Engineer and Architect to Cootehill Rural Council in 1918: appointed Engineer and Architect to Clones Rural Council in 1919; appointed Member of Institution of Municipal and County Engineers in 1919: became Auctioneer and Valuator in 1919; Chairman Monaghan County Board G.A.A. since 1916; Secretary Ulster Council G.A.A. since 1912; Vice-President Central Council G.A.A. since 1917: contributed several articles on our National Pastimes, Ethics of Hurling, etc., to Press: appointed First Secretary of North Monaghan Comhairle Ceanntair of Sinn Fein: First Chairman North Monaghan Republican District Court; called to London for Military Conferences in connection with Treaty; supported Treaty in Dail Debate; made attempt to discover ground for common agreement before final vote on Treaty. Got substantial agreement by representatives from both sides-agreement only honoured by principals on Treaty side; famous Armagh speech in August, 1921, so much commented on in Unionist Press: became a member I.R.A. in 1917; organised Clones Company and appointed Captain, 1917: organised Clones Battalion and appointed Battalion Commandant, 1918; organised Monaghan Brigade and appointed Brigadier, 1919; appointed Commandant-General of 2nd Northern Division (Tyrone and Derry Counties) in March, 1921: appointed Director of Organisation on G.H.Q. Staff May, 1921; appointed Deputy Chief of Staff G.H.Q. August, 1921; appointed Chief of Staff in succession to General Mulcahy, January, 1922. Took charge of several engagements in War against the British from 1918 to termination of hostilities in July, 1921, in County Monaghan and other Ulster Counties: acted as Liaison Officer in Belfast for nine Ulster Counties and Louth from 11th July to September, 1921; underwent terms of imprisonment in 1918, 1919, and 1920; Commandant Belfast Prison during hunger strike in 1920; Chief of Staff, I.R.A., 1921-22. Address: Ship Street Barracks, Dublin.