Dublin Fire Brigade Piper Bernard Mulhall at Liberty Hall
Would we could see you where you’re missed
Step airy on the Abbey stage
Play there ‘The Revolutionist’
Or fill with laughter pit and stalls
With Bartley Fallon’s croak and cry
What led you to those castle walls?
We mourn you Sean Connolly”
Lady Gregory.
Another plaque in place, another important part of working class Dublin history marked.
The home of the Connolly siblings, at 58/59 Sean McDermott Street Lower, now boasts a new plaque from the North Inner City Folklore Project. Captain Sean Connolly and his siblings Katie, Joseph, George, Eddie and Mattie all fought with the Irish Citizen Army during the Easter rebellion. The plaque also pays tribute to young Molly O’ Reilly, who raised the green flag over Liberty Hall in 1916.
Among the crowd were historians, trade unionists, activists,relatives of members of the City Hall Garrison and members of the local community. The Dublin Fire Brigade were represented too, due to Joseph and George Connolly serving within its ranks. Joseph was a firefighter at the time of the insurrection. The Fire Brigade can therefore boast something very few others in the city can, in the form of a real connection to the Easter Rising.
Conor McCabe at Dublin Opinion has some more images worth a look over at their blog.
Speeches and audio
James Connolly Heron speaks at the site of the plaque. His speech covers not alone Sean Connolly and his siblings, but the campaign to save 16 Moore Street.
Las Fallon, of the Dublin Fire Brigade Museum, speaks of Joseph and George Connolly.
Dublin Fire Brigade piper plays outside 58/59 Sean McDermott Street Lower.
Wind, coughing, and all the other things nature/people can whip up when you’re trying to record something, but still….
Images
Dublin Fire Brigade members at Liberty Hall
Fittingly, a relative of James Connolly presents a relative of Molly O' Reilly with the green flag to raise.
The raising of the flag
The flag is raised.
Dublin Fire Brigade colour party
Citizen Army uniforms today, spot on right down to the red hand!
Dublin Brigade- Irish Republican Army
Las Fallon, Dublin Fire Brigade, speaks of George and Joseph Connolly.
Banner marking the role of women in the revolutionary years
A poem is read prior to the unveiling
A small selection of the fantastic collection of images from the period on display afterwards
The Starry Plough blows in the wind with the new plaque behind it.
Dublin Fire Brigade trade unionists pay respect. Firefighter Russ McCobb laid this on behalf of Impact workers.
Another snap of the brief talk on the Connolly connection to the Dublin Fire Brigade
The plaque itself
After the ceremony, we decided to visit Glasnevin Cemetery. There, we thought it only fitting to undertake a search for a particular grave with the day that was in it.
The grave was that of Captain Sean Connolly, Irish Citizen Army.
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Thanks for this, fantastic. Now more than ever we need to remember and learn from the workers army, the Citizen Army.
Excellent report, GRMA.
Thanks for the images and well done to all those involved.
Lets hope there are more plaques like it on the way. there are even some key battlesites from the rising unmarked today.
well done on a great report, and to your da on a good speech.
Here is a bit from a decade ago now,2000.
“The Dublin North Inner City Folklore Project last Saturday (18 November) unveiled a plaque in memory of Dublin Brigade IRA Commandant Dick McKee and Vice Commandant Peadar Clancy.
The plaque was unveiled at 36 Lower Gloucester Street, now Seán Mac Dermott Street, at the house at which McKee and Clancy were arrested by Black and Tans on Saturday, 20 November 1920. Seán Fitzpatrick, whose father of the same name was an IRA Intelligence Officer, carried out the unveiling. Now in his 80s, Fitzpatrick remembers his father being arrested with McKee and Clancy when he was just five years old”
Cheers Sean.
Something I’m meaning to do is get in touch with the NGA, 1916-21 Club, North Inner City Folklore Project and even the Corpo and try collect a near full list of plaques in the city dealing with the period.
Hi all,
Please be advised that “Save 16 Moore Street” are staging a laying of lillies event at Moore Street.Meeting on Sunday, May 16th at 2:45pm side entrance to GPO Henry Street.This is a non-political event supported by 16-21 club, National Graves Association, North Inner city folklore project etc…
Please come and support, everybody is welcome.
Time to show we care about our culture and heritage, and demand this historical terrace be preserved for future generations.
For more information contact: hq16moorest@gmail.com
Thank you.
Hey, who was the relative of molly o reilly? She was my great grand fathers, sister. I’d love to learn more about them, as both sides of my family were huge during 1916. thanks 😛 x
Hi Rachel,
My mothers (Mary O’Reilly) father was Martin who was Molly’s brother, who is your grand father and great grand father?
Hi Jo-Ann
My father James was Molly O’reilly’s nephew! His mothers name was Kathleen, who was Molly’s sister… and I guess Martin’s sister? It was so great coming across your post! I’d love to hear from you. 🙂 Jane x
[…] Our report from the unveiling of the Connolly siblings plaque in 2010 can be read here. […]
molly o reilly was my granda’s mothers auntie and he told me that she was a gun runner for the ira and rose the flag on easter sunday at the request of james connoly i need to know am i really related some how
Good work, Lads. A worthy cause.
[…] this one to be told too. In 2010, members of the Dublin Fire Brigade participated in a commemoration that honoured the Connolly family in the north inner-city community they knew as […]