Irish Medals

Printers of the 1916 Proclamation.

William (Willie) O'Brien

Michael J. Molloy. Worked as a compositor for Independent Newspapers Limited, Irish Time and Sunday Time ECT, for 44 years, retiring in 1962. His father and son were involved in the newspaper industry in Ireland for many years.

Christopher Brady

There is no evidence that the Leaders signed a copy of the Proclamation. The Proclamation was printed in two halves. About 30 copies of the original Proclamation exist today.

Below is a list of people who fought or served in the Rising but were not part of a well known garrison.

Atkins Thomas R. Volunteer, C Company, 3rd Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1887 died on the 30th of November 1971, aged about 29 years old at the time of the Rising. He joined the Volunteers in 1914. On the Sunday before the Rising he was at 6 Harcourt Street when a gun belonging to Volunteer Joseph Clarke was accidently discharged, the bullet hit Thomas Atkins in the thigh. He sent what arms and ammunition he had to one of the outposts at Jacob’s and also reported information on British Forces to the Volunteers. He was arrested and imprisoned in 1917 for Illegal Parading and Military Drilling in the Dublin Mountains, he spent about a month in Mountjoy, eight days on hunger strike. He was again arrested in December 1919 and deported to Wormwood Scrubs he was released in June 1920 after a 21 day hunger strike. He served as Battalion and Brigade engineering staff officer and also as Brigade Police Officer from June to December 1920. He participated in a raid on Hayes, Conyngham & Robinsons, Grafton Street in 1918 and on the Irish Independent newspaper offices in 1919. He did not take part in the Civil War.

Brennan Michael. Brigade Staff Officer, Limerick Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1896 died on the 24th of November 1986, aged about 20 years old at the time of the Rising. Fought at Bunratty County Clare and County Limerick. As Limerick Brigade Staff Officer his orders for the Easter Rising were to mobilise East Clare Volunteers and detail men to assist the transportation of arms to be landed by the Aud through Ennis and North Clare up to Galway. He mobilised 100 men at Bunratty, County Clare before receiving the countermanding order. He attended a number of Limerick Irish Volunteer Brigade Staff meetings at which he and others including, Sean O Muirthuile, Johnny Sweeney and Tom McInerney attempted unsuccessfully to persuade Limerick Irish Volunteer leadership to either fight or give their arms to those wanting to fight. He also unsuccessfully attempted to make his way to Galway when he heard of rising in Galway and was arrested but released on a number of occasions by the R.I.C. during the week before finally being arrested by British Military on Saturday the 29th of April. He was subsequently interned until December 1916. He was deported to England in May 1917, imprisoned from July to December 1917 and also from February to December 1918. Appointed Officer Commanding the East Clare Brigade in January 1919 he served in that position and as Officer Commanding the Brigade Flying Column until the end of the War of Independence in July 1921 except for two months period recovering from wounding received in November 1920. He joined the National Army in February 1922 and during the subsequent Civil War he served for a time as Officer Commanding the 1st Western Division of the National Army, continuing to serve with the Defence Forces as Adjutant General from October 1925 to October 1928, as Inspector General from 1928 to 1931 and as Chief of Staff from October 1931 until January 1940. His brother Patrick also served see below.

Brennan Patrick. Carrigaholt Company, Limerick Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1892 died on the 27th of November 1986, aged 24 years old at the time of the Rising. Fought at Crusheen and Carrigaholt County Clare and Meelick County Limerick. He joined the I.R.B. in 1910. He joined the Irish Volunteers in London in 1914. On Friday the 21st of  April he carried despatches and relayed verbal orders intended for the Galway Brigade as well as the Crusheen and Ennis Battalions of the Irish Volunteers. His orders were to take the town of Listowel, County Kerry to allow the partial distribution there and further transportation by rail to Limerick of the arms to be landed from the Aud. Following this he was to hold Ennis in County Clare thereby allowing the further transportation by rail of arms to Galway. While in the process of mobilising Volunteers in Carrigaholt, County Clare, he received the countermanding order and returned to Limerick. Along with his brother Michael, he spent the remainder of the week endeavouring unsuccessfully to persuade Limerick Irish Volunteers leadership either to rise or to give their arms to them for use of Meelick, and Newmarket on Fergus, Irish Volunteers companies. He was detained after the Rising being released in December 1916. He served throughout the War of Independence and took the Pro-Treaty side in the Civil War. His brother Michael also served, see above.

Browne James. (Séamus de Brúin).  Volunteer, Knockavella Company, 3rd Battalion, Tipperary Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1899 died on the 21st of March 1980, aged about 17 years old at the time of the Rising. Fought in Cappanurra and Newpark County Tipperary areas. During the Rising he, along with Thomas Kearney, carried a despatch to Pierce McCann District Officer, Irish Volunteers and helped to cut telephone and telegraph lines, they were fired on by members of the R.I.C. outside Cashel, County Tipperary. He was   imprisoned from March to July 1918 and from January 1919 to early 1920 for possession of ammunition following the Solohead Beg ambush.

Bushell Ellen Sarah. Fianna Eireann attached F Company 4th Battalion Dublin Brigade. Born in 1884, aged about 32 years old at the time of the Rising. She was a Silk Weaver and employed as a Clerk at the Abbey Theatre box office. She served at Watkin’s Brewery in Ardee Street, Jacob’s Biscuit Factory, Jameson Distillery and the Royal College of Surgeons. She made kilts for the Fianna from 1910 and was a member of the Fianna executive in 1916. Her main activities were acting as a currier for Con Colbert. Her house was also used for meetings prior to the Rising and again for a period between 1920 and 1921 when she helped in the raid on the Abbey Theatre and her house was also used repeatedly as an arm dump, a safe house and was raided frequently. Before the Rising she made bandoliers for F Company using old Post Office mailbags. She served throughout the War of Independence providing for men on the run, collecting for the Prisoners Relief Fund and delivering and collecting dispatches. She did not take part in the Civil War.

Byrne Lillie. (Elizabeth Byrne) Inghinidhe na hÉireann Branch, Cumann na mBan. Born in 1887 died on the 1st of August 1975, aged about 29 years old during the Rising. Served at Mount Street, North King Street, Church Street, the G.P.O. and Father Matthew Hall. She joined Cumann na mBan in 1914. He house in Portland Row was used as an arms dump and during Easter Week she and her sister delivered arms and ammunition to King Street, Church Street and the G.P.O., while delivering arms they also delivered dispatches and reported British Military movements to the various posts they were visiting. She was not arrested after the surrender. She continued to serve up to the Truce. During the War of Independence her house was used as a drop for dispatches and to store first aid supplies. She did not serve during the Civil War.

Claffey Joseph. Not a member of any organisation. Born in 1882 died on the 7th of March 1943, aged about 34 years old at the time of the Rising. Employed as a guard on the Midland Great Western Railway he used his position to report troop movements to the Volunteers. He was not arrested or detained after the Rising. During the War of Independence he used his position as a railway employee to carry despatches and arms between Dublin and Sligo. Arrested in November 1920 he was interned until December 1921. In October 1922 he joined the National Army and served throughout the remainder of the Civil War. He was demobilised at the rank of Captain on the 7th of March 1924. He re-joined the Defence Forces as a Private in August 1924 and left again at the rank of Sergeant on the 16 August 1926. Two of his sons were killed during the Civil War one in Bandon the other in Dublin.

Clarke Kathleen. (nee Daly, wife of executed leader Tom Clarke). Member of the Executive, Ard Craobh Branch (Central Branch), Cumann na mBan. Born in 1878 died on the 29th of September 1972, aged about 38 years old during the Rising. Served at 10 Richmond Avenue, Dublin.

Con Collins, soon after his release from Lewes Jail

Collins Cornelius. (Con). Irish Volunteers and I.R.B. Born on the 13th of November 1881 died on the 23rd of November 1937, aged 34 years old after the Rising. With Austin Stack he was on his way to Meet Roger Casement at Banna Strand when they were arrested on Easter Saturday. He was deported and detained until about April 1917 at Lewes Prison. He was involved in political work during the War of Independence and took the Anti-Treaty side in the Civil War, he did not take part in any military actions during the Civil War.

Connolly-Heron Ina. Belfast Branch, Cumann na mBan. Born in 1896 died on the 9th of April 1980, aged about 20 years old at the time of the Rising. Served at Liberty Hall, Coalisland, Sixmilecross, Omagh and Clogher County Tyrone. She carried despatches from her father, James Connolly, to other leaders of the 1916 Rising, from Patrick Pearse to Irish Volunteers in County Tyrone and between officers of the Irish Volunteers based in Tyrone. She also assisted in First Aid in O’Connell Street at the outbreak of the Civil War.

Connolly-O'Brien Nora. Belfast Branch, Cumann na mBan. Born in 1896 died on the 17th of June 1981, aged about 20 years old during the Rising. Served at Liberty Hall, Coalisland and Clogher County Tyrone. assisted in the escape of Liam Mellows following his deportation from Ireland to Britain in 1916. She was heavily involved in the preparations among Cumann na mBan and Irish Volunteer units in Belfast in preparation for the Easter Rising travelling with them to Coalisland, County Tyrone on Saturday the 22nd of April for projected action. On receipt of news of the countermanding order she travelled to Dublin on Sunday the 23rd of April returning the next day to County Tyrone with despatches from her father James Connolly for Irish Volunteer officers there. She spent most of the week endeavouring unsuccessfully to ensure Irish Volunteer mobilisation in Tyrone. Following the outbreak of the Civil War in Dublin on the 28th of June 1922 she was active in providing first aid and medical assistance to the IRA in the O' Connell Street area of the city and later that year was active during fighting in County Tipperary.

Corr Elizabeth.  A Company, Belfast Branch, Cumann na mBan. Born in 1894 died on the 4thof March 1987, aged about 22 years old at the time of the Rising. Served at Liberty Hall and Coalisland County Tyrone. She joined Cumann na mBan early in 1915. She was not arrested or captured after the surrender. She was one of a party of six Cumann na mBan members who left Belfast on Easter Saturday with a company of Volunteers for Tyrone. She went to Liberty Hall with Nora Connolly and from there that she was sent by James Connolly to McDonagh to report the position in the North. Connolly gave them a dispatch that her sister Nell took to Tyrone. She lost her employment as a public library assistant as a result of her 1916 Rising activities. Following the Rising she was appointed Secretary and later Captain of the Belfast branch when Nora Connolly left for Dublin. She also formed a new branch of the Cumann na mBan in North Queen Street. She served throughout the War of Independence. She did not take part in the Civil War.

Deere Cornelius. Volunteer (Company Commander), Kilnamanagh Company, Tipperary Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born on the 8th of April 1882 died on the 30th of November 1961, aged 33 years old at the time of the Rising. Fought in County Tipperary. He returned from America in the winter of 1915 with a message from John Devoy, on his return he formed a Company of Volunteers in Kilnamanagh, there was about 15 men in the Company. His Company mobilised on the Monday night of the Rising. Other men of the Company who mobilised with him were Eamonn O’Dwyer, Michael Sheehan, Tadg Dwyer, Michael Kearney and James Browne. On the Tuesday or Wednesday Eamonn O’Dwyer cycled to Limerick to attempt to raise the Battalion at the same time another Volunteer Sean Treacy went to Cork. O’Dwyer returned to inform them that Limerick had refused to mobilise, O’Dwyer attempted to get to Dublin but was arrested near Killenaule County Tipperary. Deere and Michael Sheehan remained on Kilnamara Mountain until the Sunday and then returned home, he was arrested at home on the 3rd of May. He was deported and released on the 23rd of November 1916, he was detained for a time in Wormwood Scrubs. He remained a member of the Volunteers throughout the War of Independence working mainly with the Republican Courts and was also involved in the transport and storage of ammunition. He was imprisoned from April 1921 until early 1922. He did not take part in the Civil War.

Flanagan Mary (Mary Perolz). Irish Citizen Army. Born in 1877 died on the 1st of December 1950, aged about 39 years old during the Rising. She was mainly involved in intelligence work. She joined the Irish Citizen Army in 1914 and remained a member until the Civil War. She was mobilised on Easter Sunday 1916 at Liberty Hall to be told the orders had been changed. She was told to remain there and was sent to look for Sean McDermott. Following this, she was sent to Cork by Pearse and McDermott and secured six dispatch carriers. She brought the dispatches to Cork City, Mallow, Tralee, Dungarvan and Waterford. In Cork, her contact was the McCurtain's brother. She got back to Dublin on the Friday. She was arrested on 2 May 1916 and was interned in Kilmainham, Mountjoy and Lewes Prison until August or September 1916. Following Easter Week, she continued her involvement and did some work in connection with the Longford and Clare Sinn Fein elections, with Dr Lynn, and was sent to Cork to interview Bishop O'Dwyer regarding the Casement case. She was also involved in the import of arms, especially from Glasgow and intelligence work for Frank Thornton and Countess Markievicz.

Fleming Eamon C. Company Officer Commanding, Portlaoise Company, Laois Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1891 died on the 15th of April 1938, aged about 25 years old during the Rising. Fought in the Colt Wood, Portlaoise, County Laois Maganey, County Kildare areas. Eamon C. Fleming was appointed by Sean Mac Dermott to take command of operations to disrupt rail and telegraph links between Rosslare, Cork and Dublin and was in charge of Portlaoise Company Irish Volunteers who cut rail lines at Colt Wood, Portlaoise and obstructed rail lines at Maganey, County Kildare. He worked nationwide as an organiser for the General Headquarters of the Irish Volunteers and IRA from late 1916 onwards and during the War of Independence served on Michael Collins's personal staff working in the finance and intelligence sections and, was also in charge of Dan Breen's escape from Dublin to Tipperary following Breen's wounding in October 1920.

John Higgins

Higgins John. A native of Boyle County Roscommon. He was not a member of any of the Rebel Groups. He was educated at Saint Mary’s College Sligo and studied medicine in Dublin, he was forced to abandon his studies due to ill health. He wrote for the Catholic Bulletin with some notable articles criticising WW1. During the Rising he was engaged in ambulance and put his medical knowledge to good use in administering First Aid. He died from illness in 1917. 

Kerr Elizabeth. Bootle Branch, Liverpool Branch, Cumann na mBan. Born in 1882 died on the 25th of February 1955, aged about 34 during the Rising. She joined Cumann na mBan in Liverpool in 1912. She was sent to Dublin on Good Friday , 1916. Her husband, Neil Kerr, had given her clothes and money to take to 11 Emerald Street Kimmage. She remained there, the house was owned by Mrs Roche and was involved with delivering dispatches . Her husband received letters, dispatches, arms and ammunition from America, South America, Scotland and London and she was involved and carrying arms to certain places. Following the Rising she returned to Liverpool and visited jails mostly Knutsford and Frongoch while still dealing with ammunition and sending it to Ireland. Arms were stored in her house. Until the Truce, she was involved in distributing food, clothes and performed first aid care. Her  house was raided to search for deserters and absentees from the British army and men on the run. A lot of Irishmen used to hide there, avoiding conscription, until they were shipped to Dublin, Sam Reilly, Tommie O'Connor and Thomas Pughe were a few she helped. In 1919 her house was still used as a distributing centre for arms, ammunition and dispatches from different parts of Ireland and to and from America. Early in 1920 she was sent to Dublin to Vaughan's Hotel to deliver messages. Harry Boland and Liam Mellows stayed at her house for a week and ten days until they were shipped to Ireland. She then distributed food in Walton Jail where Crotty and McCaughey were jailed. De Valera also stayed in her house before he shipped to America. Her husband Thomas Kerr was involved with the Volunteers and I.R.A. in Liverpool and two sons John Patrick and Neil Kerr both fought in the Rising.

Lambert James. Battalion Armourer, 3 Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Before moving to Dublin he was an Employee of the B.S.A. Armoury Factory, Birmingham, England, while in Dublin he worked as an Instrument Maker, Royal College of Science, Merrion Street and used equipment as his place of employment to repair fire arms for the Battalion. During the Rising he was repairing fire arms in a workshop on Heytesbury Street in Dublin. He continued working as an Armourer throughout the War of Independence and took the Anti-Treaty side in the Civil War continuing to repair arms for the Anti-Treaty side.

McDowell Maeve. (Cavanagh Maud, MacDowell). Irish Citizen Army, South County Dublin. Born in 1878, aged about 38 at the time of the Rising. Served at Liberty Hall in Beresford Place Dublin, County Waterford and County Kilkenny. She joined the Citizen Army in 1913. She was sent by James Connolly with dispatches to Sean Matthews in Waterford, she delivered some dispatches on the Thursday before Easter Monday and more on Easter Monday, on the Wednesday or Thursday she travelled with more dispatches to Kilkenny. Her brother, Ernest, was shot dead outside Liberty Hall while she was in Waterford. She was arrested on two occasions immediately after Easter Week and was brought before three British Army officers in Ballsbridge, she was not detained. She went to London in connection with Roger Casement’s defence, she remained in London for about two weeks. She served throughout the War of Independence and took the Anti-Treaty side in the Civil War.  

Murphy Cait. (Foley). Ard Craobh, Dublin Brigade, Cumann na mBan. Born on the 19th of June 1892 died on the 5th of October 1976, aged 23 years old at the time of the Rising. Served at the Hibernian Bank on O'Connell Street and County Cork. She was not arrested after the surrender. On Sunday the 23rd of April she went to Cork with her sister Breeid Martin with a despatch from Sean McDermott for Tomas MacCurtain. Five members of the Foley family were involved in the Rising. She served throughout the War of Independence during which she transported arms and carried despatches, looked after I.R.A. members on the run and carried out prisoner welfare work. She took the Anti-Treaty side in the Civil War she was arrested on the 28th of February 1923 and interned until the 28th of September 1923.

O'Callaghan Michael. Volunteer, Galtee Battalion, Tipperary Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1887 died in 1962, aged about 29 years old at the time of the Rising. Served at Galbally in County Limerick, Clanwilliam in Clonbeg, Monour in Kilross, County Tipperary. He joined the Volunteers in Tipperary in 1913 and was President of the Tipperary Volunteers Committee. He was one of the Tipperary Irish Volunteers who mobilised on the Sunday and the Monday, as nothing was happening and it was not possible to contact Dublin the Tipperary Volunteers decided at a meeting on the Tuesday night that they would resists arrest by arms if an attempt was made to round them up. That Tuesday night the RIC surrounded the home of Michael O'Callaghan during which several shots were exchanged. He escaped his home and went to the farm of a friend, Peter Hennessy, at Monour in Kilross County Tipperary. Between 11am and noon on the Wednesday two RIC men arrived at the farm and attempted to arrest him, he fired on both of them, the two RIC men were killed, one instantly and one died later from wounds received, the two RIC men were Sergeant Thomas F Rourke and Constable John Hurley.  Michael O'Callaghan was on-the-run in Ireland until about the 25th of August 1916 before escaping to America with the help of the IRB of which he was a member. He returned to Ireland in March 1922.

O'Dwyer Eamon. (Éamon Ó Duibhir). Battalion Officer Commanding, West Tipperary Battalion (Kilnamanagh Battalion), Tipperary Brigade, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1883 died on the 2nd of June 1963, aged about 33 years old at the time of the Rising. He was a member of the Gaelic League, Sinn Fein and the I.R.B. He joined the Irish Volunteers at their inception in 1913. During the Easter Rising Ó Duibhir attempted to mobilise Irish Volunteer units in County Tipperary, ordered the cutting of communication links in his area and travelled to Limerick in an unsuccessful attempt to affect link up with Volunteer forces there. On Saturday the 29th of April 1916 he was captured by a party of R.I.C. at Killenaule, County Tipperary while attempting to make his way to Dublin. He was first taken to Cork then to Richmond Barracks Dublin from where he was deported, first to Wakefield then to Reading Jail, he was released in December 1916.  He served throughout the War of Independence. Following an I.R.A. court martial in October 1920, due to an unspecified disagreement between him and the I.R.A. over I.R.A. policy, he was reduced to the ranks and moved to Dublin. He continued to serve with the I.R.A., Sometime between April and July 1921 he was approached by Seamus Robinson, Roddy Connolly and Sean O' Meara to assist in plans to secure arms for the IRA in Germany and travelled to Scotland to assist the IRA in Glasgow returning to Dublin in the days immediately following the Truce with plans of Barlinnie Prison where a number of IRA prisoners were held. Between 1917 and 1921 he was arrested and imprisoned in Ireland and England on a number of occasions, taking part in several hunger strikes while in British custody. He took no part in the Civil War.

Reader Seamus. Lieutenant, A Company, Glasgow Battalion, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1898 died on the 31st of October 1969, aged about 18 years old during the Rising. Served in Scotland. In January 1916 he was arrested in Glasgow having returned from Dublin with despatches from Sean MacDermott for Irish Volunteer and IRB leaders there. He was subsequently imprisoned and interned until December 1916. He joined Fianna Éireann in 1911 and joined the Irish Volunteers and IRB in late 1913 or early 1914.

Ryan Maureen. (Mairin Bean Ni Riain, Cregan). Cumann na mBan. She carried despatches for Sean MacDermott and Gearoid O'Sullivan containing information on the landing of the 'Aud'. She went to Tralee and delivered the messages to Austin Stack and Patrick Cahill. She also brought automatic revolvers and ammunition with her. She was arrested on the 16th of February 1921 and was tried by Court-martial. She was sentenced to three-months hard labour in Waterford jail, but she was released against £50. Following this, she escaped arrest several times and in February 1920, she was sent to the Office of Foreign Affairs to report to Arthur Griffith. She carried dispatches to London and Paris up to the end of June 1922. She worked with de Valera, Oscar Traynor and Austin Stack, carrying dispatches to various places in Dublin and in the summer 1922, she was sent officially to Berlin to meet Mr J.T.Ryan to bring back money in his possession, the money was acquired in the United States. She was sent by de Valera to announce the cease fire to all the foreign legations namely London and Paris and the Pope.

Sutton Thomas. Bray and Shankill Unit, Irish Volunteers. Born in 1887 died on the 5th of February 1953, aged about 29 years old during the Rising. Fought in the Enniscorthy, County Wexford and Railway Station, Harcourt Street, Dublin. He worked for the Dublin & South Eastern Railway at the time of the Rising. On Tuesday the 25th of April 1916 Thomas Sutton used his position as a fireman on the Dublin and South Eastern Railway line to carry a despatch from Dublin to Enniscorthy, County Wexford. On that morning he fired on a party of British soldiers, including Captain J. C. Bowen Colthurst, accompanying a party of three prisoners, from his position at the end of the platform at the Harcourt Street, Railway Station in Dublin. From 1917 to 1920 he was engaged in the transportation of despatches, mainly for Robert Brennan, Commandant Wexford Battalion, Irish Volunteers and also of arms via the railway. During 1921 he took part in a number of IRA operations including an attack on Bray Barracks on the 18th April. Thomas Sutton was arrested and interned from May to December 1921 at Collinstown and the Curragh. In 1922, during the Civil War, Thomas Sutton took part in a large number of engagements against National Army forces between July and October of that year particularly in County Wicklow including Crooksling, Blessington, Ballinascorney, Enniskerry, Glen of the Downs and Bray. His service largely ceased after October 1922 due to ill health.