Old IRA Dublin Brigade

[gaisgeach]

I have recently received a copy of my grandfather's papers which include a list of the members of A company, 3rd Battalion. This was made for his application for pension in the 30s and looks like it was working document at the time with lots of marks and names crossed out on the list. It also gives the current address of each person at the time.

He was in the Fianna in Boland's Mill with Dev. All his papers relate to his activities during the civil war. Would love to know more about his involvement in the war of independence. His name was William Roe.

[dermo]

Two of my granduncles - Peadar and Eoghan O Briain - were 4th Battalion men in 1916 (Peadar, a vice-commandant, was in Marrowbone Lane while Eoghan was in the GPO garrison; both ended up in Frongogh).  Where can I find out what company/companies of the Battalion they belonged to?

Dermo

[genseacher]

Hi dermo
my grandfather Michael Whelan was attached to the following (Marrowbone lane)
4th Dublin City Battalion I.V.
Commandant E. Céannt
Vice-Commandant, C Brugha
Muster Point, Emerald Square, Dolphin’s Barn
Muster, 100.

He was interned in frongoch as well. Would love to find pics of the above battalion
Regards
Genseacher

[dermo]

Hi Genseacher

Your grandfather and my granduncle Peadar must surely have known one another.  I had a look in Sean O'Mahony's book, "Frongogh: University of Revolution".  Among the Dublin men in the camp it lists "Whelan, Michael, 9 Emerald Square, Dolphin's Barn".   If that is your Grandad, he didn't have far to go for the 1916 muster.

Regards

Dermo

[genseacher]

Hi Dermo

Great news
Yes Dermo that is my grand dad Michael Whelan. Do you have any more information.
My mother seems to think that he was pretty high up in the IRB. Emerald Square is where my grand dad lived. He also had to flee to England for a while (this would have been sometime after frongoch)
Also I find it strange that the muster point was at Emerald Square where my grand dad lived. I cannot seem to get much more information on my grand dad and his role in the IRB.

Where did your grand uncle Peadar live.

Regards
Genseacher

[dermo]

Hi Genseacher

i don't have much more information, I'm afraid.  The O'Mahony book lists six other Whelans among the Dublin men in Frongogh - maybe some are related.  They are:
George Whelan, 19 Russell St
James Whelan, 17 Upper Ormond Quay
John Whelan, 50 Marlboro Street
John Whelan, 9 John's Lane
Richard Whelan, Herberton Buildings, 23 Rialto Street
William Whelan, 31 Ballybough Road
The lists of Frongogh internees are in an appendix to the O'Mahony book.  The only Whelan referenced in the book's index appears in a section on the arrangements for visits to the camp.  Apparently prisoners were permitted one visit per month.  The visits occurred on Tuesdays and Thursdays but were restricted to 15 minutes and were held in the presence of the camp censor, who ensured there were no complaints made and no mention of camp conditions .  It seems, in spite of this, the prisoners used these visits for clandestine communications, getting Tuesday visitors to stay on in the locality to brief the Thursday visitors and with camp officers picking special prisoners for the visits to ensure these communications were most effective.  The Whelan mentioned in the index is on a list of such priority prisoners.  Unfortunately no first name is mentioned.  Perhaps it was your grandad.  My granduncles both lived at 7 Bessborough Parade, Rathmines.

Dermo
 

[genseacher]

Dermo
thanks for the info

William Whelan could be a relative of my grand dad. My mother thought my grand dad Michael had a brother William (willie). Dont' know much about him. He is not on the census in 1901 or 1911 living at home in Thomas Street (1901) or Emerald Sq (1911)
Regards
Genseacher

[Gary Deering]

There was also a Joseph Whelan in Bolands Mills,I have seen his medals 1916 & War of Independence (with Bar),the family have pictures of him during the Civil War with the Free State Army & have newspaper articles of him with his old 1916 company.When I asked about his 1916 armband they dug that up too.Yet I cant find anything on him anywhere,he was also in Frongogh,he lived in the north inner city. He was given a full military funeral when he died.

[dermo]

Gary

The only possibility for Joesph Whelan I can find in Sean O'Mahony's Frongogh book is "Whelan, J, Kinvara".  He is among 322 Galway men listed. 
The list of 1916 participants on the Irishmedals.org website has a Joseph Whelan in the GPO garrison. The only Whelan listed in Boland's Mills is Patrick Whelan. 
I don't think either of these sources claims to be absolutely comprehensive.
If you haven't heard of it already, another book with extensive lists of participants in 1916 and the war of independence is "Dublin in Rebellion:A Directory 1913-1923" by Joesph E.A. Connell Jnr published in 2009 by Lilliput Press.