This article aims to provide a brief overview of the Pearse Street Fire of 1936. It is by no means a complete overview of events and I recommend anyone seeking more information on the incident consult ‘A Triple Tragedy in Dublin, The Pearse Street Fire, 1936’, by A.P Behan. That paper was published in the Dublin Historical Record (ISSN 0012-6861, Spring 1997). I have relied on it, and newspapers of the period, for much of the information below.
Men fight the blaze, image taken from Independent. This image was taken moments before an explosion in the premises.
Writing in the Irish Independent in the immediate aftermath of the event , Anthony Flynn wrote of the risks men in the Dublin Fire Brigade faced in the line of work.
The fireman himself thinks only of duty. That duty is clear and defined. And our Dublin firemen do not hesitate. In Pearse Street, as on countless other occasions, these men faced death. Three of them died, displaying a courage equal, if indeed, it does not transcend, that of the battlefield.
The premises of Exide Batteries, at 164 Pearse Street, had been the site of a horrific blaze on the night of Monday October 5th. Due to the proximity of Tara Street Fire Station, it took less than two minutes for the men to arrive on scene. The fire had been detected by the tenants above Exide Batteries at 10.50 p.m. In the definitive history of the Dublin Fire Brigade (The Dublin Fire Brigade: A History of the Brigade, the Fires and the Emergencies, by Trevor Whitehead and Tom Geraghty)they note that
Number 163 housed a barber’s shop at ground level and a private hotel occupying the upper floors. Number 164 had a retail shop belonging to Exide Batteries Ltd. on the front ground floor, vacant offices on the first floor and a family of seven living on the top floor. The basements, although not connected,were the location of a factory in which Exide batteries were assembled….
The fire was fought in terrible conditions. The water supply in the area was nowhere near adequate, for example. A.P Behan stated in his paper ‘A Triple Tragedy in Dublin, The Pearse Street Fire, 1936’ that
There was practically no volume of water and no pressure. Onlookers were incensed at the firemen having to fight such fire in these conditions, and the absence of adequate water supply had the result that the firemen had to get so close to the fire that their uniforms were scorched
Two explosions ripped the premises apart. Initially, two firemen were thought missing in the premises, but quickly it became apparent a third was missing. It was not until about 10 in the morning the next day that the third body was found. The three Dublin firefighters killed in the line of duty were:
Fireman Robert Malone– a veteran of the 1916 Rising who had served as a Lieutenant with “D” Company 3rd Battalion at Bolands Mills Garrison, under Eamon de Valera. He left a wife and child behind.
Fireman Thomas Nugent– who was engaged to be married.
Fireman Peter McArdle– who left a wife and seven children (His funeral mass card is shown below)
The mass card of Firefighter Peter McArdle (Dublin Fire Brigade Museum)
Several firefighters were wounded in the blast, including Tommy Potts, the famous fiddler. In his article ‘Buckingham Street Firefighters of the Past’ Terry Potts wrote that
Thomas Potts, as a firefighter, was commended for his efforts at the North Strand Bombing. He was blown from the roof of Exide Batteries in Pearse Street in 1936…
Tommy Potts on the front of The Liffey Banks- Claddagh Records
The bodies of the three Dublin firefighters were taken to City Hall, where there would be an offical lying-in-state. A.P Byrne noted in his article that:
The Lord Mayor Alfie Byrne, called a special meeting of the corporation for the purpose of expression of sympathy and to offer a public funeral. The municipal flag over the Mansion House and City Hall flew at half mast, and many public bodies and organisations passed votes of sympathy.
The coffin of Robert Malone was draped with a tricolour, owing to his service within the Irish Volunteers. The other two coffins had the municipal flag of the city draped over them. The coffins of Nugent and McArdle had guards of honour comprised of firemen from Tara Street Station, while Malones was given a Guard of Honour of Bolands Mills veterans. From here the remains were taken on Friday to the Church of St. Andrew on Westland Row, before Requiem Mass there on the Saturday.
The funeral was to be a huge affair. The Irish Press, of Monday , October 12th, noted that
Church, state, representatives of the Dublin Corporation, the Gardai, Old I.R.A, and almost all workers organisations, were represented at the civic funeral accorded in Dublin on Saturday to Firemen Robert Malone, Thomas Nugent and Peter MacArdle
The coffin of Robert Malone is draped with a tricolour, and veterans of the 1916 Rising march alongside it.
The news-report estimated that up to 100,000 Dubliners had lined the route,and noted that
Mr. de Valera, President of the Executive Council, sent to Capt. “Joe.”, Dublin’s Fire Chief, a message of sympathy on behalf of the Government
The “Joe” mentioned above was Captain Joseph Connolly, chief of the Dublin Fire Brigade who had also served in the 1916 Rising, as a member of the Irish Citizen Army under Michael Mallin at the Royal College of Surgeon’s.
Incredible footage of the funeral can be viewed at the British Pathe site, here. The extent of the public outpouring of grief is clear.
Stills from the British Pathe footage of the funeral
The three men were taken to Glasnevin Cemetery, where they were buried side by side. The Irish Post noted that
A firing party of 1916 men, some of whom fought in Boland’s Mill with Fireman Malone, fired three volleys over the grave, and the “Last Post” was sounded by Mr. Peadar Brennan, of “L” Company, Old Dublin Brigade, I.R.A.
Although the other fireman had not been members of the I.R.A they were also accorded military honours.
Mr. Oscar Trayor T.D, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence and a 1916 man, was present at the graveside.
Also in attendance at the funeral were several representatives of English Fire Brigades, including the London Fire Chief decorated with the the highest award available to a firefighter for bravery. Many politicians and other public figures were in attendance, including Dan Breen T.D ,Senator Margaret Pearse and councillor Jim Larkin.
Robert Malone. Photograph from Dublin Fire Brigade Museum.
A Dublin Fire Brigade brass helmet, the typical model worn by men in the Brigade at the time of the Pearse Street fire. (L.Fallon collection)
I will not go into the Tribunal which followed the disaster here, beyond stating a fine account is given in the A.P Behan article mentioned above. Rather, I will focus on commemoration of the men. Today a plaque to the memory of the three firefighters stands at the site of the blaze. A report on the launch of that plaque can be read here. Along with this plaque, a memorial is also situated by the entrance to the Dublin Fire Brigade Training Centre and Museum.
A beautiful tribute to the men is the marble fire helmet which sits upon the graves at Glasnevin Cemetery.
Firemen Nugent, McArdle and Malone. All three perished in the Pearse Street Fire. Photo credit: Dublin Fire Brigade Museum
Notice in the image above, two of the three men are wearing Pembroke Fire Brigade cap badges (On the right of this image). These photographs were taken prior to the amalgamation of the two township Brigades of Rathmines and Pembroke with the main Brigade in 1931. (L.Fallon Collection)
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Although bravery is only a term that others put upon a scene after the tragedy, the rest of the time they are only doing their job.
One of the buildings destroyed in the fire was ‘MacDonough’s’ barbers. The proprietor was William Mac or Mc Donough who went on to enlist with the merchant navy and was last heard off in Brooklyn, New York before mysteriously disappearing. Does anyone have information on him.
Not sure about William MacDonough, but my grandfather Michael MacDonough ended up owning the thirteen MacDonough barber shops. Unfortunately, this post seems to be the only reference to the barber shops on the internet. I’d also be interested in finding out what happened to William. Are you related to him?
I have some further information on William MacDonough if you’re still interested? Michael MacDonough was my grandfather, and he inherited all 13 barber shops at one stage.
[…] The Pearse Street Fire Disaster. This article includes some previously unpublished images. Volunteer Robert Malone died in this fire in 1936. […]
[…] I’ve this piece on the Pearse Street fire disaster. Firefighters Nugent, Malone and MacArdle are all buried in Glasnevin. […]
Peter McArdle is my great grandfather. Just read this article for the first time and never knew much about it until now. It was his 75th anniversary of his death on October 5th (2 weeks ago)
My name is Peter charles McArdle andmy uncle peter was the fireman who died in the fire my fathers name was Charles Josepth McArdle Peter was his brother and i am named after him We visited the family in 1948 and it was a wonderful time.since then i have lost touch with everybody in eireanmd hope that some way i can get in touch with any of them STephanie was a bit older than me
Hello Peter, Stephanie here. It’s lovely to hear from you and Muriel, Kay, Betty and myself would love to get in touch with you. Please email asap
Thomas Nugent was my father’s brother and my uncle. He was known as Gerard to the family. I never met him but heard so many positive stories about him from my father.
Bernadette MacBean
Bernadette, my name is Mary Larkin. My mother was May Craddock who was engaged to your uncle when he was killed. Her best friend was May, his sister. I met her son, Jim Doyle in Cork many years ago. He was charming and your aunt was very nice to me, telling me tales of my mother who died when I was 21.I didn’t pay enough attention to her stories of her fiancee as kids dont but it must have been a terrible tragedy for the whole family.Regards,mary larkin
Hello Mary, yes my Dad told me that Uncle Gerard was engaged to you mother, May Craddock. I didn’t know that she was best friends with my aunt May. I am now wondering if your mother is in any of these pictures/stills? My father is standing right beside my grandmother – they are directly behind Gerard’s coffin.
regards, Bernadette
Good to hear from you Bernadette! Yes in the picture when the coffin is in the street, my mother is the woman to the left of it,linking arms with her brother Bill.The couple to her right are your grandparents I assume and the woman with the hat on her left maybe is your Aunt May? Its all clear in the newsreel which I have played. Its very moving and so sad to think of these young men losing their lives so young and dreadful for their parents and siblings. I am in NY at the moment but when i am next in Dublin it would be lovely to meet. I remember your brother in Cork being very sweet to me. regards,mary
Yes , you can see our mother, May Craddock, behind the 3rd coffin as it comes out of Westland Row Church – both in the Still Photographs and in the Film itself.
I have met Tony Behan on a few occasions, and we have promised to keep in touch.
I live in Dublin, would like to meet up some day.
Noel Larkin.
I’m Noel Larkin, Marys brother.
In the past 2 weeks, there has been a talk on “Pearse St Disaster 1936” held in Dublin City Hall and another talk on “150 years of Dublin Firebrigade, held in Pearse St Library.
At both talks, I met Anthony Behan, a nephew of Robert Malone.
If you google up britishpathe.com/video/dublinfiremensfuneral you will be able to view the funerals coming out of Westland Rd Church, and then driving up past Pearse St Fire Station.
As the 3rd coffin came out of the church, I was able to identify my mother.
Regards,
Noel.
The Anthony Behan above, is the A P Behan, who wrote “A Triple Tragedy in Dublin, The Pearse St Fire 1936” and was published in the Dublin Historic Record (ISSN 0012-6861, Spring 1997)
Noel
My name is Stephanie McArdle now Nolan and my father was Fireman
Peter McArdle who lost his life in the Pearse St Fire on 5th Oct 1936 I
was born 3 months after my father was killed I am in touch with Anthony
Behan and have attended many functions at the Invitation of Dublin Fire
Brigade. Noel if you would like to contact me by email I would be glad
regards Stephanie
Stefaniemcardle@hotmail.com
Hi Stephanie, I emailed you last week & trust you received it. I saw the note from Robert Nolan of earlier today, and hope to meet up with A Behan tomorrow in City Hall.
Noel.
I had the honour of visiting the fire brigade museum and Glasnevin a few years ago to visit my grandfather’s grave. With me was my mother Betty Nolan (nee McArdle) daughter of the late Peter McArdle, my wife Karen and our children Briana and Patrick Nolan. Suzanne, my cousin and her daughter Daira who live in Ireland were our tour guides. Suzanne is Stephanie Nolan’s (nee McArdle’s) daughter. When the fire captain realized who my mother was we were given a private and very special tour. What is most amazing to our family is that the memory of these brave firefighters are remembered and honoured after so many years. It is awesome that we can now connect with family members we haven’t been in touch with for many,many years.
To begin with I too am a grandson of Peter Mc Ardle, I am the son of Stephanie Nolan (nee Mc Ardle). For most of my life I have grown up listening to my aunts and uncles tell stories (I thought) which were in reality the truth. From my uncle Ned (Edward Mc Ardle) telling me he received money from his father the day before he died, the money was a present for Ned’s birthday. My uncle Larry told me once that his father patted him on his head the day of his death and said look after your mother (as he was the oldest boy). To my Mother sharing the fact that when my grandfather died that the family only had days (3-5 days) to vacate the only home they had to live in Donnybrook. Other memories of having to share her birthday present which was one single egg between all of her siblings. I have fond memories of my grandmother (Peter’s wife) who kept the memory alive in the family and more importantly my mother who in turn passed it on to me and now I can pass it along to my children Tadhg and Emer (13 and 11 years). Even though my mother never knew her father she had a family who never for got the true meaning of the word family. What it means to be apart of that important culture and ones history and back round. Alot of my aunts and uncles have left the home land to distant shores as I have as well but we keep intouch through our mother’s keeping in touch with the remaining family in and outside Dublin. I think Peter would be proud of his children Aunty Muriel, Aunty Bet, Aunty Kay and my mother Stephanie and not to mention the departed Uncle Larry, Uncle Ned, Aunty Martha and Aunty Joan. God Knows all the family are proud of them. W/r Christopher.
Only for the 3 of them.. i would not have been born.. they saved my grandparents and my dad.. who went on to have 14 children.. we never forget them.. we grew up with all the histroy of what happened that night.. xxxrr
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Hi Mary and Noel
Only responding now as the last year has been busy and we have relocated to the UK. However when I am in Dublin again,it would be lovely to meet up with you. The man that you met in cork is my cousin. He is May’s son who was my dad’s sister. Thank you for pointing out your mother in the photo – cannot even contemplate the loss that she felt .I have this picture framed on my wall – so much going on behind the sad expressions on their faces. All the best for now,
Bernadette
Hi Bernadette, It was lovely to get your message. where are you in the UK? We are in London. We actually have a video taken from the Pathe news of that funeral. Its heart wrenching and I am sure you will recognize some of your family..its amazing to see such clear pictures of the past. I don’t know how to get my email address to you but it would be terrific to get in touch..regards,Mary
Hi Mary, we are living in Wales now. My email is bernamacbean@yahoo.co.uk
all the best
Bernadette
Noel Larkin here, one of Mary’s 2 brothers. I’m living in Dublin, and my email address is: noel.e.larkin@gmail.com
Kind regards,
Noel.
Hi Noel, thats great and thank you, Bernadette
[…] Brigade occurred in 1936, when three firemen perished during a fire at Pearse Street, previously discussed on the blog. One of those who died was Michael Malone, another veteran of the Easter Rising who had fought at […]
Hi. I am the great niece of Robert Malone. My father John Malone now 81 has never seen the memorial to his uncle. I am taking him November 17 to Dublin from his home in Kilkenny. I live in the UK. my email address is samsky1961@gmail.com. I would appreciate any advice on how easy it is to get to see all the memorials the simplest way. As we also have to visit memorials to his other uncle Lt Micheal Malone whom died at Northumberland Avenue
My Dad had an involvement in that tragic fire. It had a profound affect on him throughout his life. RIP Dad
These 3 brave wonderfull men saved my grand parents and my dad and aunts and uncles.. never forget them. X. Rita kelly.. xxx.
My name is Jim Doyle and only today have I seen this amazing article which has come to me via my nephew Gerard Doyle, son of my younger brother Kevin. I also have a sister Ann and my second sister Dolores has passed away on August 20th 2002. We are the children of Mary (May) and Jimmy Doyle, both deceased. I have a lot of information on this terrible tragedy and all of this information just adds to it. My mother as correctly stated was Gerard Nugget’s sister. My Mum always found it difficult to talk about the tragedy in our home, therefore it was rarely mentioned unless her brothers and sister were present for a get together or celebration.
I was the Jim Doyle that met Mary Larkin in Cork during the ’70’s but I am not sure of the date. It was at the Cork Film Festival and Mary was a guest at the time. I was there with Guinness who were the main sponsors in those years of the Festival. I knew Mary was due to be a guest and I sought her out one evening purely on the basis the my Mum had told me that she was Mary Larkins God mother. We chatted about her Mum May Craddock who my Mum often mentioned during her lifetime, and it was she who told that May and Gerard were engaged at the time of the tragedy.
Finally I am now going to source the video clip of the funeral but from the still on this article I can confirm the following with confidence. I am sure my mother May Doyle is beside Mary’s mother May. Alongside May is the man I believe to be my Uncle Paddy, followed by a small lady who I suspect is my Aunt Kathleen and finally by my Uncle Jim. All of whom are part of the Nugent Family and siblings of Gerard,
In conclusion I would love to confirm where in the family tree does Bernadette McBean fit in? Maybe I am having a senior moment but I am at a loss. I know much of the above information was posted in 2012/13 but I would love to hears from Mary, Bill or Bernadette. I will also follow up on the listed e-mail addresses.
Jim, lovely to hear from you . I don’t know if you live in Ireland or England. I am in London but going to Dublin late August. I have a video of the funeral which I bought from Pathe News. If you go to their website and enter Pearse St Fire funeral, you can play it through and buy it too. Its very moving. I know Noel met a niece of yours and she had a photo of our mother which was taken by your uncle. If I get an address for you, I can download and email it to you. Regards,Mary
Mary, I am delighted to hear from you and I appreciate your interest and information on this tragedy. I will follow up your suggestion regarding the video of the funeral from Pathe News. We now live in Galway where I am enjoying an active retirement. However our family all live in Dublin, our daughter Gráinne, son Ciarán, their spouses and our four Grandchildren. So we are in Dublin regularly and if you are over in late August I would love to meet up with you if it suits your plans.My e-mail address is: jimjoan4@gmail.com and I would be very pleased if you e-mailed that photo to me.
In the meantime thank you once again and look forward to hearing from you and I will keep in touch. Best Wishes Jim
Hi Mary, also Jim Doyle. I met Don Nugent, who lives in Malahide, Co Dublin, and Sally Butler nee Nugent who lives in Celbridge, Co Kildare.
A P Behan, (Tony) who wrote of the Pearse St Fire, had organised a “meet” in Dundrum last year, attended by others connected with the Fire.
Tony’s mother Annie, was Robert Malones sister.
There was also an event in Glasnevin Cemetery last year, which I found very moving.
Both events were attended by Stephanie Nolan, nee McArdle, daughter of Peter McArdle and she was born 3 months after he died in the Fire.
Noel.
Hello Jim, just to explain how I fit in to all of this. Your mother and my dad were brother and sister. My dad Michael, was the youngest brother in the family. He is standing directly behind Uncle Gerard’s coffin with his mother (our grandmother). Watching the video stirred up emotions for me on many levels as I suspect it has for you too. I have a framed picture of one of the stills on my wall which I cherish. Really grateful that Pathe News captured what was and still remains such an important part of who we are.
Regards
Bee (Bernadette MacBean)
Hi Bee – Bernadette, thank you so much, it now fits all into place. You are Michael and Bridie’s youngest child, a side of the Nugent family that has slipped away from my memory. I am thrilled to have caught up with you and assume from some of the comments above you are living in the UK. As you have seen we are living in Galway now for over thirty years, though I did work in South Africa for nearly four years during that time. It was great to receive all the comments and details above which are based around the tragedy of the Pearse St., fire and Gerard’s death. I have met and now caught up on a number of people associated with this sad event and hope and plan to stay in touch with all. I will also be passing on all this information to my sister Ann and brother Kevin.
Kind regards Bee …………………Jim