The Dublin team of the day.
An anniversary that might pass you by….
It is very unusual for the anniversary of Bloody Sunday to fall on a Sunday. Sunday, November 21 was one of the most intense and horrific days of the Irish War of Independence.
Michael Hogan, Thomas Hogan, Jane Boyle, Joseph Traynor, Jeremiah O’Leary, Thomas Ryan, James Burke, Daniel Carroll, William Robinson, James Matthews, Michael Feery, John William Scott, James Teehan and Jeremiah O’Dowd were all gunned down at Croke Park in Dublin, while Dick McKee, Peadar Clancy and Conor Clune were killed at Dublin Castle. While Clune was not a member of the Volunteers, McKee and Clancy were leading members of IRA GHQ, and Ernie O’ Malley noted in his article Bloody Sunday how the organisation had developed owing to their leadership and influence.
“The four Dublin city battalions had a very intimate knowledge of the metropolis, its lanes, by-lanes, alleys and back yards, its enemy barracks and the habits of its opponents”
Of those killed in Croke Park, three were children. 10,14 and 11 years old.
Trade union leader William O’ Brien noted in Forth The Banners Go that intelligence efforts against republicans, trade unionists and the like intensified after Bloody Sunday. Following a raid on Liberty Hall, where copies of the Black and Tans internal The Weekly Summary were found, O’ Brien noted that those arrested at Liberty Hall were taken to Dublin Castle. “We were brought into the very room that had been occupied by McKee, Clancy and Clune and where they were killed the previous Sunday. The marks on the walls (…) were still there.”
The day had of course begun with the attacks by ‘The Squad’ of Michael Collins upon the intelligence services which attempted to combat republicans in the city. It was a calculated effort to remove the ‘Cairo Gang’ from the scene, a series of early morning raids for the most part in a small area of south Dublin.
The Irish Times of November 22 ran the below ‘Official Report’ into events at Croke Park.
“It is believed that a number of gunmen came to Dublin today under the guise of a wish to attend a Gaelic football match between Dublin and Tipperary, but that their real motive was to take part in a series of murderous outrages which took place in Dublin this morning. In this belief it was decided to make investigations at the match itself, and for this purpose a mixed party of military, R.I.C and Auxiliary Police were detailed”
Interestingly, Winston Churchill would tell a Cabinet meeting that no reprisals had taken place for the attacks upon the British intelligence machine in Dublin on the morning of Bloody Sunday. Those at Croke Park would no doubt disagree.
Today is a very important Dublin anniversary. Let us hope that in 2020, the day is marked with a game between Dublin and Tipperary perhaps. Great praise is due to John Campbell at the Croke Park Museum for marking the day so fittingly today with two walking tours of the stadium.
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Not an anniversary that I am likely to forget.
Today is my godmother’s 90th birthday, and testimony from her uncle Larry, who was in Croke Park on the day, recorded by his son in law on Larry’s 90th birthday in 1978 is here:
[audio src="http://www.photopol.com/larry/bloody_sunday.mp3" /]
Wasn’t it Churchill who authorised the Black and Tans?
I don’t think the Black and Tans were even at Croke Park. It was Auxies and/or ordinary police.
A combination of Auxiliaries and regular police forces I always thought.
William Robinson was my dads uncle i am looking for family related to him still in Ireland. Thanks. Niki Robinson
hi my name is Michael lynch grandson of james Matthews who was shot on the day on bloody sunday 1920…………..look forward hearing from you…………….michael
Hi Michael, my name is Michael Foley. I wrote a book published last year on the Bloody Sunday killings in Croke Pk. Do you have an email address I can contact you on? Thanks.
Hello do you have an email address?
Hi Niki. My name is Mary Robinson. Just wondering where did your granduncle William Robinson come from.
Hello Niki
If you have an email address I can give you more information on William Robinson who was shot in Croke Park.
Hi,is this link still active.My grandad Patrick Robinson was Williams brother.
Hello Mark
I assume you mean William “Perry” Robinson who was shot in Croke Park?
Hi FXR,yes.He was my granddads brother “Patrick” who married Margaret Crilly,my grandmother.I would be very grateful for any information you have on him.
All I had on William Perry Robinson’s family up to now were the names of his parents and their last know address. I was told they had 6 girls and three boys. I’ve also found his gravestone in Glasnevin.
My email address is dubusa@hotmail.com. Put “Robinson” in the subject line. Maybe we can meet up and fill out a bit more of the family tree. I’d like to find out as much as possible before the anniversary of Bloody Sunday comes up again.
Hi Niki, we are relatives and we are in Ireland. My father was from Dublin but the family all left in the 1950s. We are the first ones back. My grandmother was Brigid French. Her maiden name was Smith. Her great grandmother was Duan and she became Robinson through marriage. Originaly they were from Galway, but like everyone moved East for work. The little boys who died were my grandmother’s cousins, the Robinsons. Georgina Robinson had a shop in Exchange, Dublin West. We now live in Co. Roscommon.
The parents of William Robinson who was shot in Croke park were Patrick Robinson and Bridget Dwan. They lived in Little Britain St and later moved to Leix Rd in Cabra.
FXR that is right, the boys were cousins. I spelled Dwan wrong because the family itself has three different spellings..it is a West of Ireland surname originating in the Aran Islands. The two boys were cousins to Brigit xx
And just to add another twist Stephen: Williams father was James Robinson. His brother, also William Robinson, who is listed as being a soldie,r was shot on the 16th of October 1920, a month before Bloody Sunday, on the Corner of Capel St and Mary St by men claiming to be IRA police. William Croke Park Robinson’s mother was Bridget Dwan, Her mother and father were Joseph (1865 to 1925) and Mary Dwan (1867 to 1940). Do you have anything on them I can stick it in the family tree? It’s mentioned in a book about Croke Park on Bloody Sunday called the Bloodied Field by Michael Foley.
That is amazing FXR, It was my husband’s grandmother who was their cousin so we all grew up knowing about this. I have information but it hasnt been in order. Now I have this we will put it all together and post it here next week. Interestingly, My gran-in-laws house is now owned by the Civic Trust in Dublin, on Castle Street. The family was huge and they were spread around the quays as well. I will try to put it all up in order and sort it out for you over the weekend
Another twist: William Robinson who was shot in Capel St lived in Stafford St (now Wolfe Tone St and played soccer for Jacobs. At the South end of the street in Upper Abbey St the Squad had a place which they operated under the guise of a joinery business. William’s (the soldier) cousin Jeremiah Sam Robinson (1904 to 1985) was their lookout and later a member of the Squad. It’s ironic that in retaliation for the actions of the Squad the first shot fired into the crowd in Croke park killed Sam’s second cousin while a month before his cousin had been shot by men claiming to be Republican police. Sam went on to play soccer for Bohemians football club and Ireland. Sam was born in 31 East Arran St joins Little Britain St and which is a very short distance from Stafford St. William’s grave in Glasnevin is marked by only a small discoloured white headstone. There is no mention of how he died. In the aftermath of the shooting in Croke park Perry (as he was known) Robinson was carried to Drumcondra hospital with a bullet hole in his 11 year old chest. He died on Tuesday morning.
my name is martin feery as far as i know michael feery was my grand uncle killed in croke park 1920 i would love any information on him if possible. Thanks.
Hi, Martin. My name is Niall Feery and I am led to believe that Michael Feery is my great-grandfather. I am trying to patch together some history on Michael and came across this story. Like you, I would love some more information.
Hi Niall, my name is Michael Foley. I’ve written a book on the Bloody Sunday killings in Croke Pk, if you drop me a line at michael.foley@sunday-times.ie I can provide you with a lot of information about Michael Feery. Hope to hear from you. All the best.
Not sure what happened to link above.
This may be easier to get:
[audio src="http://www.photopol.com/larry/bloody_sunday.mp3" /]
I lost the link. Found you now so can share what we have on the Robinson’s and family of the two little boys from our side of the family
Hello G.
My email address is dubusa@hotmail.com. Put Robinson in the subject line. What was your Gran-in-laws last name when she owned the house in Castle stree?
Hello Donal
The GAA is planning a new hurliing competiton for under 17s this summer.
It involves 38 teams from 31 counties. Over the course of 7 weeks, a total of 110 games will be played by over 1,000 players. The competition culminates in a Finals Day which will be held in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny on Saturday 18th June.
Of the 5 Finals on the day the Divisional trophies are named after victims of Bloody Sunday. While one of the trophies is named after Michael Hogan, a decision was made to recognise the younger and lesser-known victims of Bloody Sunday including William Robinson.
I’ll have ta get me suit out of the pawn…
Hi All – I have never had any notifications to say people have commented here and now I see all of these comments – I hope this is still active – My Dad was Christopher Robinson, His dad was Joseph Robinson – I have now been connected with lots of family in Ireland through Michael Foley – My grandads brother was William Robinson.
Your grandfather Joseph Robinson was married to Mary Heron. I have photos of them.
Your Great Grandfather was Patrick Robinson, his wife was Mary Moran, and your Gr Gr Grandfather was William Robinson who lived in No 9 Boot lane which is now East Arran St.
Hi – My grandfather – Joseph Robinson was married to Bridget Hayden, They moved to London where both my dad Chris and his brother Joseph were born…..Joseph was William (Perry)Robinsons brother making him my great uncle
Hello. Sorry I missed a generation. I think your Grandfather was Patrick Robinson married to Mary Moran. His father was the William Robinson of Boot lane. Like a lot of families, they passed the same names down over and over again.
I meant Great grandfather. This thing won’t allow editing posts.
I think so – My Grandad also has a brother called Patrick (Whack) – What is your relation to me then? Are you still based in Ireland?
I’m in Dublin, not far from the Fruit and Veg market. Where are you?
I am born in London with my grandparents being Joseph Robinson and Bridget Robinson (Hayden)
Are you on other social medias as it might be easier to chat on that.
No, Niki, I’m not on anything else as regards social media. I don’t have a Bridget Hayden but often the women’s maiden names are hard to find. Do you know who your Grandfather Josephs’s parents were. I suspect they were Patrick Robinson and Mary Moron of Little Mary Street.
There is another book out by Michael Foley The Children of Croke Park, Bloody Sunday 1920.
It’s fiction so, in terms of history, does not add anything to what is already know about the events.
Are you on other social media? Are you related to me?
We are related but I can’t work out the exact lineage. My Grandfather was Joseph Robinson married to Mary Heron. The same names were passed on over and over again.
Where are you located now?
Hello Niki
I think we are related through our grandparents. My email is dubusa@hotmail.com. Where are you located?
Send me an email at dubusa@hotmail.com and I’ll send you my What’sApp number.