Custom House Burning - Part 1 / John Wilson

[seanod]

I think we can assume the man who is beside Frank Carberry in two of the pictures and standing behind him in the other is probably the other inseperable, Frank Brennan.

[Private 1st class]

Hi Lads,Just found the site. Don't know how I was looking for information on Portobello. A few bits on the lines I have read might be of help to people.
The Hendersons were Frank and Leo,
The Ward chap was called John and sean.It would depend on who you were talking to. also what group.

HI SMOKESTOMUCH, People who never got pensions. A man taking part in the war of Independence and the Civil war, Who continued on serving  up to 1926. He could not get the pension because he was already getting state pay. He could take the pension or the pay but could not take both, To-day its different. I gave a case to the Dept of Defence to copy and put on their files some years ago. Also this person re applied in the 1935/36 to be told that his application had arrived after the closing date and the Dept could do nothing for him,

SEANOD.  Oscar Traynor never got caught at the Custom House. A sore point with one of the men who came down from the second floor on hearing what he though was the signal to clear the building.Oscar forced him back up the stairs at the point of a gun. Our man went, Some time later in the Civil War the score was almost made even. As Oscar came out of the building to surrender Our man put the rifle to shoulder and before he squeezed the trigger. His Sgt something along the lines. "Don't you will regret it all your life and you will have to deal with me"

F

[Private 1st class]

SEANOD.The memorial committee of 1962. The man from Holland who cast the thing. He done a lot of the work for nothing. There was not enough cash at the time. He is on the stand on the day of the unveiling. Paddy Buttnier was in charge of the colours. and firing party. Ned Lane of F Coy 2nd Bn and a member of the ASU was a member of the committee. They had special flag days and ran sales of work in the Mansion House to pay for it.

Frank Flood was hung in Mountjoy, One of his tasks was to train Capt Teresa McDowell of the Dromcondra Bch Cumman na mBan in the use of the weapons of the 2nd Battalion. She in turn trained the girls in the branch in how to load, unload and make safe. They often brought the weapons to the attack site and collected them afterwards. At times they would get them back jamed, or half cocked. They needed to know how to make them safe. They were good at their job. Maggie Jordan, Marsella Crimmins, Josephene McDowell. Theresa McDowell. Rose Mulligan, Kathleen Lane Sara Kealy those last two from Fairview Bch. and were out in 1916 at Jacobs.

[Ms. Smokestoomuch]

Hi Private
Welcome to the site. And one of the most informative treads.

My grandfather managed to get a pension but at the time he was working as a messenger for the Presidents Dept. (that would now be dept. of Taoiseach). I wonder was it defense forces that were turned down on the basis of being on state pay.  (Hope it wasn't strings being pulled.) Of course maybe that job wasn't considered permanent. When Dev was out of power he was out of a job.

Sounds like a harsh rule.

(I see another message pop up as i type)  Have you come across Mary or May leech (married name Nicholson) in Cumman Na Mban. Sorry I've decided to drop her name wherever I can. She in some autograph book, but I know nothing more.

[Private 1st class]

The man called Green. His first name was Gilly, I don't know if thats the correct way to spell it.

That first photo front line from the left number 2 and 3 I may have there names . It  will take a while to dig out.
Second photo front line first on the right should have his as well. I'll try to put up a photo after I post these few words. Don't want to lose them. Back in a while with a photo I hope.

[Private 1st class]

Hi  Smoketomuch. Ithink the rule on state pay ran across the board. You could only get one wage or pay from the state. You of course took the higest one. so it always looked like the pension was been hit. Without saying to much I knew the man that started the process of where you can have a state pension for service in a state job. and at the same time get a state wage. and if you had a job were you paid stamps you can have another pension. Not bad for a lucky few.

Sorry I have nothing on a Mary Leech. What Bch was she in do you know.
Good to here from you.

[Ms. Smokestoomuch]

Thanks for trying.
She came from Ballybough North Dublin, Her address was given on the autograph as Charleville mall.
The autograph book was from Kilmainham in the civil war.

Edit; Sorry North william street in Ballybough.

[Private 1st class]

Hi again my try at putting a photo up failed. Loaded to slow or was to big. I'll Keep trying. that Miss Leech would have been known by the McDowells. They lived on summerhill Parade and their Gran lived at 24 North William St. She would have gone to the school on the other side of the road and gone to mass in St Aghtas Church. If she was born between the years 1900 to 1916 she would have been in one of the McDowells class. There was six sisters in the school.

[Private 1st class]

Hi some of the men who were on the Custom House Job.
Frank Bolster
Paddy Cadwell
Frank Flood
Tom Flood
Michael Joe Gilhooly
Joe Gilfoyle
Joe Leonard
Tom Lillis
Gus Murphy
George Nolan
Frank Saurin
Bill Stapleton
Frank Thornton
Liam Tobin
Oscar Traynor
James Tully
Mick Lane
Edward Lane  These names you can add to your list.