CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION.
JOE DUFFY .
Remembering the 30 children who were killed in the Easter Rising, 1916 in Dublin.
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More than half of those who were killed during the week of the Easter Rising April 24th-30th 1916 ,were civilians.
Of the 450 who perished during six days of intense fighting , 224 were adult civilians,116 were British Soldiers, , 64 rebels, 30 children and 16 policemen.
Of these 254 civilians , I now believe that more than 10% were children - a total of 30.
Using death certificates,cemetery records, 1911 Census returns , newspaper reports,history books and previously published lists I have compiled the first fully comprehensive of list 30 confirmed violent deaths that week of young people aged 16 and under; 22 boys and 8 girls.
I am using age 16 and under as the definition of a child at that time.
When the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation approached me with the Easter Egg proposal I decided to link their mission -caring for children , with the timing of the display and decided to try to commemorate the children who died violently the Irish Easter Rising .
I discovered there were a number of incomplete lists already in existence -ranging from 26 to 28 names .These lists were a great starting point, but some names were incomplete,other names and addresses were absent or did not tally with their death certificates and some of those named were much older than 17.Using these lists and my own researches I believe I can now fully name -with addresses- 30 children who died as a result of the fighting in the Easter Rising.
Despite the large number of children killed, this is the first time that the 30 have been publicly listed and commemorated .
Seven of the children killed were 10 and under ; two were aged 2 .
Twenty three of the children killed were aged between 11-16.
The "Egg" is a temporary memorial. Perhaps, this will encourage others to flesh out the stories of these children, correct or add to the list, and ensure a permanent memorial to the children who were killed during the 1916 Rising where the Proclamation spoke of ' cherishing all the children of the nation equally '
If you have any information,queries, corrections or additions you can write to me at Liveline ,RTE Radio, Dublin 4 or email joe@rte.ie. ( Put Easter Rising in subject box )
THE CHILDREN KILLED DURING THE 1916 RISING.
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1.BRIDGET ALLEN, (16) 27 ARRAN QUAY. Gunshot wounds.( Glasnevin Cemetery)A "packer" who was killed on 27th april, Arran Quay, by a"bullet wound", there was "no medical attention".
Mary Allen , her mother ,a widow was present at the death.She had one other sibling, Edward aged 19.Lived in 128 Thomas street in 1911 census.Nineteen people lived in the house.
2,CHRISTOPHER ANDREWS (14) 8 Stephens Place,Mount Street. School boy. Killed by bullet wound to the thorax. Named in previous lists as J. Andrews .
Death certificate confirms christian name ; Christopher.(Glasnevin cemetery) In 1911 census , 3.1 Grattan court , off Mount Street; Father Patrick a labourer in Dublin Gas Company. Two sisters and one brother,Patrick , Maria and Esther.In their 5 roomed tenement, there were 9 separate families -37 people .
3.MARY ANNE BRUNSWICK.(15) 57 LOWER WELLINGTON QUAY. (Glasnevin cemetery)Killed on 28th april at " Wellington street " She suffered a fractured skull and ' laceration of the brain shock ", her father J. Brunswick , a boilerman was present at her death.Third youngest a family of 8. Siblings, Katie,John,Margaret , Elizabeth and Bridget.Mother also called Mary Anne. Six families lived in the 4 roomed house ,27 people. Census of 1911 says they lived in number 58 Lwr Wellington Quay.
4.CHRISTINA CAFFREY. 27 CORPORATION BUILDINGS (2 YRS and one third) (Glasnevin cemetery).25th april, 2.p.m in the "precincts of her own home .
Died in the North Dublin Union after she was shot while being held in her mothers arms-bullet went through her hand and then entered the childs back. Mother ,Sarah worked as charwoman in four houses,Mrs Ennis ( dairy)Prussia Street,Mrs Connor,Butcher,Manor street,Mrs Hunt 5 Rathdown Road and Mrs Gilligan ,Aughrim street and subsequently applied for £40 compensation for being unable to work due to hand injury .
5.CHRISTOPHER CATHCART.(10) 28 Charlemont street,Killed on Easter Monday,died at Portobello Barracks due to haemorrhage caused by "probably haemorrhage from gunshot wound" Father Patrick , a coachbuilder . In 1911 census his family of 11 shared the 6 roomed house with 3 other families , totalling 27 people.
6. MOSES DOYLE (9) 7 WHITEFRIAR STREET. (Buried;Glasnevin) Named in Freemans Journal May 12 ,1916.Census 1911 lists the family of 6 living in 50a New street. Three families in two roomed house,12 people. Glasnevin archive records that this labourers son was shot at his home on 24th april. Buried St Pauls KA 37.5
7. CHARLES DARCY (15) 4 MURPHYS COTTAGES, GLOUCESTER DIAMOND, SUMMERHILL. (Buried;Glasnevin) Member of Irish Citizen Army.On P. 231 of "The History of the Irish Citizen army " by R.M Fox listed him as part of an ICA group holding the" Henry and James Clothiers" Store,1-3 Parliament Street,opposite City Hall. P.54 states; " Here - on the roof- Charles Darcy was shot dead and " he had given his days and nights to guard duty at Liberty Hall" His body was brought into "Castle grounds dead on 25th april". His father James was a labourer. One report states that he died in Parliament street another at Liberty Hall.1911 census says 6 children, Thomas, James,Charles,Edith,Patrick and Agnus living in 4 Kanes Court. His father had told him to choose "between Liberty Hall and his family " ( McGarry p.125)
8.PATRICK FETHERSTONE . (12) 1 LONG LANE DORSET STREET ( Buried;Glasnevin ) Hit by bullet in thigh on Easter Monday,died in Jervis
Street hospital from " shock and haemorrhage" Two Fethersone families lived together (10 people ) in 48.5 north Brunswick street in 1911
So six families in in number 45, 3 rooms,- 30 people.
9.JOHN FRANCIS FOSTER.(2 years 10 months) 18 MANOR PLACE STONEYBATTER. (Buried;Glasnevin) Shot in his pram near Father Mathew Hall, Church street .Killed on Easter Monday morning , one of the first victims of the Rising, and one of the first to be buried in Glasnevin, on Thursday 27th april."Shot through the head at level of ears"-Catherine Foster his mother was present at death.The leader of the volunteers Piaras Beaslai wrote: A second Lancer galloped up Church street and was shot down after he killed a child" ( Dublins Fighting Story )
10.JAMES FOX (16) 74 THOMAS STREET. (Buried;Glasnevin ) Member of Na Fianna, Killed in a trench in St Stephens Green , Near Royal College of Surgeons.Family lived in 6 James street in 1911,youngest of family of 6-Laurence,John,Margaret,Catherine , Elizabeth ,James and Thomas Walshe a servant.Elizabeth and Laurence ,parents.
11.JOHN GIBNEY (5) 16 HENRIETTA PLACE ( Buried;Glasnevin ) Died of shock as a result of "cannonading" , according to the Glasnevin records.
12.JOHN HEALY (14) 188 PHIBSBOROUGH ROAD ( Buried; Glasnevin). Messenger Boy for na Fianna.One of 10 children- Mary ,Kathleen , James,Teresa , Christopher,Helena,John,Lillie ,Joseph,Bridget and father,Christopher a plumber ,mother Helena.Shared house with 2 other families -18 persons in total.He was sent home by Thomas McDonogh for being too young ! Hit by ricochet near home on Easter Monday. Died in the Mater hospital two days later- one nun described " his brain hanging out all over his forehead when he was brought in , he died two days later ."
13. CHRISTOPHER HICKEY. (16) 168 NORTH KING STREET ( Buried;Deans Grange ) Shot dead with his father Thomas in North King Street Massacre. His father owned a butchers shop-where his sons worked as a shop assistant . They and 12 other civilians were shot or bayonetted on North king Street on saturday 29th april, by members of the South Staffordshire Regiment under the command of Lt Colonel Henry Taylor.Bith are buried in an unmarked grave in Deans Grange cemetery , Dublin. British Official papers relating to the killings were only released on 10th january 2001. Christopher's death , along with his father and a neighbour Peter Connolly, were witnessed by Kate Kelly -'Christopher pleaded for his fathers life- "oh, please don't kill father " ( Irish Times ) They were killed in 170 King Street North having been taken from their butchers shop in 168.
14.JAMES JESSOP. (12) 3 UPPER GLOUCESTER STREET . (Buried;Glasnevin )
His younger brother Christopher died of Gastritis the following week and was buried with him in Glasnevin .
15 CHARLES KAVANAGH.(15) 4 NORTH KING STREET . GUNFIRE . (Buried ;Glasnevin ) Glasnevin archive says this labourers sons died of "effects of bullet wound " in St Josephs hospital.Grave St. Paul's Glasnevin TA 37.5
Listed as living ( family of 5 ) in 10.5 Great Britain street 1911.Father Denis,mother, Mary,Sisters Elizabeth and Bridget.
16 .MARY KELLY. (12) 128 TOWNSEND STREET. Died april 30th.Died at Lombard street of gunshot wound. ( Buried;Deans Grange) Grave no. 9 A2 west. She was the child of Pte. Kelly A.S.P
17. PATRICK KELLY. (12) 24 BUCKINGHAM BUILDINGS .Gunshot wounds . Does not appear on any previous list but death cert shows he was killed on april 28. Gunshot wound to neck , fractured lower jaw.
Mentioned in Irish Times saturday april 29 p.8 under heading;Military and police casualties over 500 " Listed for the Dublin University V.A.D Hospital, 19 Mountjoy Square East- a voluntary hospital set up by women graduates and students of Trinity College Dublin.
18. BRIDGET MC KANE (15) 10 HENRY PLACE. ( Buried;Glasnevin )On friday eve april 29th the rebels retreated towards Moore Street from the GPO. Bedlam ensued , they tried to take shelter in homes and broke open the door of number 10 Henry Place , in the confusion Bridget McKane, a labourers daughter was accidentally shot in the head when a rebels rifle discharged Her death is recorded for april 29th, bullet wound through the skull? Her mother ,Margaret was present at her death- "x" marks her name on the death cert . This incident was mentioned in the 1966 Witness statements of three rebels including Joe Goode of the Kimmage Garrison. The rebels involved were deeply traumatised by the incident.
Family, 9 children,Alice,Mary,Thomas,Bridget,Michael,Annie, Elizabeth,Ellen, Rosie ,Patrick. 1911 Census gives address 11 Henry Place.
19. JOHN H. MCNAMARA (12) 45 YORK STREET ( Buried Mount Jerome) Died 28th april,Mercers Hospital. Som of a boliermaker. Cause of death ; "gun shot wound to the head, lacerated brain.
His father, henry was present at his death.
20. WILLIAM MULLEN (9) 8 or 5 MOORE PLACE ( Buried;Glasnevin) Died in his home on April 28th as rebels retreated, shot accidentally in thorax and died in his home, no medical attention.His mother Lizzie Mullen was present at his death - home was about 500 yards from GPO.
21.WILLIAM O'NEILL. (16) 93 CHURCH STREET .(Buried ;Glasnevin) Labourer.
Double listed as William " Neill " in previous list . Death cert confirms 'O 'Neill "
22.MARY REDMOND. (16) 4 MARYS ABBEY . (Buried;Glasnevin) Listed as "Mary Raymond" in a previous list .Death cert confirms Redmond. Four siblings, Richard,Alicia, Thomas and Magret.Her mother , Alice - "a fowl dealer" was a widow in 1911. The family lived with their grandfather John Sullivan and his brother Richard. 1911 census records the family in 8.3 Mary's Abbey- 43 people lived in the house of 4 rooms,7 families.
23 PATRICK RYAN (13) 2 SITRIC PLACE . (Buried ; Glasnevin)
Family of five ( 1911 census ) His father James-from Kildare- listed as "Labourer" ,2 siblings Mary and Frances ( 2 other children pre- deceased him)
24.GEORGE PERCY SAINSBURY. (9) 54 SOUTH CIRCULAR ROAD .(Buried ;Mount Jerome ) Son of Arthur D ,a managing clerk in a solicitors firm,who was born in Melbourne ,Australia.Died at 54 Haroldville Terrace , 27th april.Grave number c 130 Mount Jerome. Cause of death; gun shot wound, no medical attention.Mother , Edith Annie-from Kildare-, siblings , Edith Eva and Arthur M.Listed as "protestant C of I in 1911 census.George was born in "Dublin city ",his siblings born in "Dublin county".
25. WALTER SCOTT. (8) 16 IRVINE CRESCENT (north Dock) (Buried ;Glasnevin )Possibly the last child to die because of Rising , died in Mercers Hospital on July 5th 1916 , gunshot wound to the head.Father -from Scotland - was a "dredging master. Five siblings, William ,James ,Hilda,Evelyn, Patricia.
Wife Annie and eldest child William born in Scotland.
26 . BRIDGET STEWART. (11) 3 PEMBROKE COTTAGES . Gunshot. ( Buried ;Deans Grange) Died 28th april , Royal City Hospital , Dublin.Gunshot wound of chest,shock and haemorrhage .Previously lived 10 Turners Cottages.Father , Charles was a "general labourer".Her sister " Mary Connolly" was with her when she died.( death cert )
Another casualty Margaret McGuinness 54 killed in Rising,also had her address 3 Pembroke Cottages.
27.MARGARET Mary VEALE. (13) 103 HADDINGTON ROAD . Irish Times ,4th may,P. 3 . " City of Dublin Hospital dead." Three siblings,John Joseph,Maurice,and Joseph Mary. Father ,John-Commercial Clerk- and mother Mary Jane'. Killed "because she used binoculars to look out the window of her house" ( MCGarry p 184)
28.PHILIP WALSH (11) 10 HACKETTS COURT . ( Buried ;Glasnevin) Gun shot wound to abdomen, died of haemorrhage in Mercers hospital.
29. ELEANOR WARBROOK.. (15) 7 FUMBALLY LANE. ( Buried ;Mount Jerome )
1911 Census , resident at 5 Malpas Terrace.Killed on 24th april , died in the Meath Hospital, shot through the jaw Father,Thomas ,from Wicklow, ( Church of Ireland ) listed as van driver and Iron merchant. Eleanor had 6 siblings,Anne Jane, Eva Kathleen,Thomas, John,Mabel Louisa and Beatrice May. Mother Bridget from Kildare.
30. CHRISTOPHER WHELAN. (15). 30 Nth Great George's Street. ( buried Glasnevin )An only child -census 1911 . His father Lawrence was a " hotel proprietor. One of 28 people living in the house.
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Dates of Death;
Monday April 24; 6 children killed. Reference; 5,6,8,9,12,29.
Tuesday April 25; 2 children Killed; Referecne 4,7,
Wednesday April 26th. none recorded.
Thursday April 27th; 2 children reference 1,24.
Friday April 28th; 7 children killed; reference; 3,13,17,18,19,20,26.
Saturday April 29 th. None recorded.
Three children died in the days immediately afterwards from their wounds.
Dates are unavailable or unclear for 2,10,11,14,15,21,22,23,28,30.
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SOURCES;CENSUS 1911. GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE (DUBLIN AND ROSCOMMON ). DUBLIN CITY LIBRARIES.(GILBERT LIBRARY ,PEARSE STREET ) ARCHIVE OF GLASNEVIN TRUST. SINN FEIN REBELLION HANDBOOK ( 1917) , IRISH TIMES.IRISH INDEPENDENT, FREEMANS JOURNAL. 1916 COMMITTEE ( SAVE MOORE STREET) IRISHMEDALS.COM;
BOOKS CONSULTED;
"RENEGADES" BY DR. ANN MATTHEWS.
THE IRISH TIMES BOOK OF THE 1916 RISING; SHANE HEGARTY AND FINTAN O TOOLE.
DUBLINS FIGHTING STORY; 1916-1921. MERCIER PRESS.
5O THINGS YOU DIDNT KNOW ABOUT 1916 ; MICK O'FARRELL.
1916 REBELLION HANDBOOK ; INTRODUCED BY DECLAN KIBERD
THE RISING IRELAND; EASTER 1916; FEARGHAL MCGARRY.
DUBLIN 1916 ;THE SIEGE OF THE GPO; CLAIR WILLIS.
DUBLIN IN REBELLION; A DIRECTORY 1913-1923.
WITH THANKS TO DR ANN MATTHEWS; SHANE MAC THOMAIS,GLASNEVIN TRUST; JANE ALGER,HUGH COMERFORD AND TARA DOYLE OF DUBLIN CITY LIBRARIES AND ARTISTS BRIAN MCCARTHY,JACK KIRWAN.
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THE ' EGG'
FRONT COVER
PAINTED ACRYLICS AND VARNISED . INTENDED FOR OUTDOOR DISPLAY WITH 30 MULTICOLOURED ROUND HELIUM FILLED BALLOONS TO BE TIED TO THE BASE POLE BY A SINGLE STRING , WIITH A THREE FOOT CLEARANCE FROM THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE EGG.
THERE ARE 30 CHILDRENS BALLOONS PAINTED , EACH WITH A NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS OF THE DECEASED CHILD.
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TITLE OF WORK; CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION.
JOE DUFFY ; joe@rte.ie Joe Duffy,Liveline , RTE Radio Dublin 4.
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