The first meeting of a provisional committee followed a few days later.

Support was asked from all sections of Nationalist opinion; but, as a whole, members of the United Irish League and of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, who constituted the bulk of Redmond's following, refused to act.

Still, about a third of the committee were supporters of the parliamentary party; they included Professor Kettle, who was from 1906 to 1910 among its most brilliant members.

It was, however, significant that the Lord Mayor, a prominent official Nationalist, refused the use of the Mansion House for a meeting at which it was proposed to start the enrolment of Irish Volunteers.

As a result, the venue was changed to the Rotunda, and so great enthusiasm was shown that the Rink was used for the assembly.
Even that did not suffice for half the gathering.