My father was 18 years old when his father died suddenly of a heart attack. As we grew up we had no discussion about our grandfather. I can never remember a conversation that described him or saw a photograph of him or made any reference to his life . This might sound strange but that's the way it was . As it turned out there was much more going on than met the eye not only in my grandfather's life but in the lives of his brothers and friends and compatriots around Athenry.
We now know that Grandfather was a tough, effective, reliable, careful planner, a teacher, a tradesman very intelligent, committed, honest and of the highest integrity. He may not have been a great communicator and appears he may have been a loner and somewhat introverted but he was involved and committed .
He may have been a bit of a “Scarlet Pimpernel” He would move in do something and go without being seen her heard and this appears to have been the case for much of his active rebellious life in the 1910s and twenties
He was teaching volunteers about Munitions and explosives ( per his pension statement ) He was stealing supplies and raiding offices. He was on the run for long periods following the uprising. In 1926/7 he travelled to the UK and the USA for work and “ get out of town for a while “ Joe his brother was living in Manhattan and had set up a grocery shop and he had fathers siblings in the Philadelphia area . There were warrants issued for his arrest by the British and the free state but by all accounts avoided conviction on a few occasions .
According to his military pension statement Johnny was active in training at volunteer camps particularly in signalling but also in marksmanship during the period .
right from very early he was skilled in the use of explosives and arms and continued to train men well into the 1930s
He was a plasterer by trade and a roofer and used these skills to survive throughout his life he also became a skilled interior decorator .
Na Fianna Eireann - Irish National Boy Scouts
Stephen Jordan and Johnny were leaders of Na Fianna Eireann in Athenry . Johnny was captain of the group. This organisation expanded quickly around the country and turned into a training camp for future volunteers .The meetings took place at Paynes hall and the new Town Hall in Athenry ( built by Johnny and his father and owned by Richard Murphy )
In 1915 he was prosecuted under the Defense of the Realm act. Clearly the meetings were not all camping and Merit Badges !
The following is a transcription of the summons;-
“ the defendant did at Athenry County Galway on the 12th day of June 1915 did aid and abet Steven Jordan in having photos of his majesty King George and his allies crowned heads in the present …? ..shown in a cinematograph exhibition in Athenry Town Hall and cheering for the King's……? in contravention of the Defense of the Realm Consolidation regulation 1911 section 48 defendant is called upon to show the Court why he shall not be bound over in ……?....... parties to be of the peace and good behaviour towards his majesty and all his subjects……..
Well that could have been as good as a Red rag to a Bull !!
Steven Jordan was also prosecuted for the same offences and received six months imprisonment. I'm not aware of Johnny serving time but it does appear he contested the judgement successfully as the legal bill attached suggests.
Copy letter to Stephen Jordan From Headquarters Staff assisting/encouraging the setup of the group in Athenry
……………………………………………………………………………
I had not seen a photograph of my grandfather until we started digging into the documents that the family had in various places and magically photographs started to appear so we have included a variety of them here or maybe all of the ones that we actually have!
……………………………………………………………………………………
Pre 1916 Liam Mellows and Sinn Fein
The family had plenty of business activity happening . TB Cleary and all of his sons were involved in the building business of the family. Much of the activity of the family was in and around Athenry because the town was developing during this period, this allowed the family to have a great knowledge of the activities of the army and the RIC both of whom had a major presence in Athenry .
Johnny was active in so many different areas helping his father, helping his brothers, training The Boy Scouts. He was also involved in hiring a sewing machine probably for his mother or sisters to mend and maintain clothes for the family.( see attached )
In 1913 Johnny was 25. He was now the eldest surviving of the family as his youngest sister Bridget had died at two years of age and in a major shock his older Brother Patrick had died suddenly having returned from school at the age of 14.
The attached tickets show that Johnny had attended the Irish volunteer convention and the Sinn Fein Ard Feis during 1915 these events were a precursor to the development of the volunteers and obviously a strategic plan by the leaders to have a political follow-up for any potential uprising that may follow Johnny was also in contact during this time with Liam mellows and there was obviously a great rapport between the two men as the Christmas greeting cards reflect.
Johnny's pension application statement.
Some of the points made in the statement by Johnny and by the Barrett's and Sean Brodrick all of whom Johnny was in constant contact with during this period not to mention his links with Liam Mellows and the pieces of correspondence that he received from various parties during the period reflect the depth of commitment that Johnny made to the Uprising.
Compared to other statements the replies are scant and almost appear redacted in a way that reflects the man's personality whereby he reluctantly gave information about his activity and locations throughout the period. This attitude was certainly reflected in the absolute silence that we experienced as kids growing up, about this history. Now we know as many of our generation have come to learn that there was such a variety of emotion attached to everything that happened during the period. It was like families battened down the hatches and there was a universal lack of discussion in Ireland for the first hundred years after the uprising. There was embarrassment certainly about the way the agreement with the British came about and the split that was experienced throughout the country at political level but also at street level.
In hindsight the very interesting thing to reflect on is that people who were fighting an adversary with massive power - were trying to make a living in their own environment and their own country and their own town - and found themselves having achieved a level of success in their aims - ended up tripping over themselves and their compatriots and brothers and sisters not knowing what to do with this success or how to run the country necessarily or how to adopt the new regime and get on with everything.
The Civil War became a significant embarrassment or at least blockage in so many ways that it had an effect on one if not two generations going forward. As you will see from some of the stories that we have in this book the effect of this actually continued for a hundred years and Ireland continues to be a set of really complex and complicated interconnections, relationships and circumstances.
Here are some of the extracts from Johnny's pension statement which give a great insight into what he was going through physically and emotionally and financially and politically .In hindsight I think the journey taken by these people is awesome and Fearless.
Transcription of Sean Broderick's statement dated 2nd of April 1937
Monday evening April 24th 1916 myself and two others received orders from commendants larger to prepare for a journey our instructions were to arm ourselves with small arms and given a quantity of Jett ignite we were to go to Athlone via Muller and down the slow get the Muller company active dispatch to a professor Gaffney in Ballinasloe get to Athlone and find out the movements of the military if their movements threatened Galway by rail we were to do as much damage as possible to the railway line to get back travelling parallel with the railway establishing contact with companies and getting them to complete the destruction arrived back about 10 parity Tuesday night and reported to commodent melons and lardner at department of Agriculture statement whether men have taken a position
wednesday ordered by commandant mellows To scout the west side of our position later in the day broke camp and merged to my old Castle I with others the companies mellows on a reconnoitring tour during which he decided to attack a police Barracks or we drove up fast and rush the barracks late that night
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Johnnys statement Introduction
file relates to John Cleary's receipt of a military service pension in respect of his service with the Irish volunteers prior to and during the week of 23rd to the 29th of April 1916 Lawrence lardner assigned John Cleary and John Walsh and James Barrett to mobilise Mullagh Irish volunteer company carried dispatches to a professor Gaffney in Ballinasloe and make preparations for destruction of rail link between Athlone and Galway is subsequent arrest and determined until December and same year and service with the IRA or the War of Independence between April 1920 and March 1921 subject also claimed unsuccessfully for service with the Irish volunteers and IRA from 1917 to April 1920 and from April 21 to 23 through the truth period and civil war. subject further claims to have been captain of the local Theater Aaron prior to 1916 and to have attended the Irish volunteer convention of October 1915 in that capacity. file includes copy of extract from Irish independent of 8th of July 1921 reporting attack on subjects' family and parental home by unidentified Raiders following the Burning of Athenry cricket pavilion the reporting that Mr TB Cleary subjects father and his Three Sons had all been interned in Frongoch of in 1916. sign statements regarding subjects service from claimant certified by Sean Broderick TD Steven Jordan TD Christopher Barrett and James Barrett typed transcript of sworn evidence given by subject sixth of April 1937 before the Advisory committee military service pensions act 1934 R15 form outlining details relating to company IRA relevant to subjects case as provided by southwest Galway Brigade Athenry committee and Steven Jordan and written notes related to discussion held with kneeland and Jordan and Joseph Stanford regarding claimant typed copy of document belonging into Stephen Jordan dated 24th of March 1916 addressed to akara signed B stating that Liam will be arrested on arrival of Athenry reference to his employment as a building contractor and material relating to the subject's wife and sister-in-law.
Extracts from Johnnys statement;
Q What did you do then on Sunday
A I went to mass Returned under arms a dispatch had arrived and we disbanded
Q Were you able to do anything in connection with the Destruction of the railway line
A our advice from Gaffney was that there were no military in Athlone and we got out the OCA company to break the railway lines on the way back
Q where was this company
A Killimordaly
Q You got back to the farm yard at 10:30 on Tuesday night and you spent the night there
A Yes
Q Did you sleep
A No not until the following Saturday night
Q On Wednesday what happened you were ordered by commandant mellows to scout the west side of position later in the day broke camp and marched to Moyode Castle
A that is correct
Q You arrived at my old on Wednesday where you spent Wednesday night and Thursday accompanied mellows on the reconnoitring tour he decided to attack the police Barracks where was this Barracks
A New Inn Barracks
Q You rushed New Inn Barracks did you take part in the rush
A Yes
Q Where you are armed
A Yes with the rifle
Q Did you use it
A No
Q Did you capture the police
A We took the barracks anyway
Q Late that night as a result of an alarming report you were sent by commodent Mellows and Lardner to a certain place get information re-military and return as quickly as possible did you get the intelligence
A Yes
Q Where were you sent to
A A particular point
Q You were out scouting was it
A Yes in order that enemy forces should not come in
Q after reporting you were sent out again
A Yes
Q You spent the whole night out then
A Yes
Q On Friday morning you came back and on Friday evening you left for lime Park
A Yes
Q Disbanded then at lime Park early on Saturday morning
A Yes
Q Did you go back home when you were disbanded
A No I went on the run
Q For how long
A I was arrested some time early in may I do not know exactly the date
Q Were you interned
A yes in Frongoch
Q When did you get out
A At Christmas
Q What rank had you in Easter week
A An ordinary volunteer
Q Had you any rank when the truce came
A No I do not claim it whether I could or not I do not know
Q Do you claim any rank for the Civil War
A No
Q You claim rank as lieutenant on your form
A I do I was appointed as such
Q You were engaged in protection work previous to or during general election preventing jury men from attending course general routine work of the company
A Yes
Q Obstructing the armed forces of the Crown and raiding Revenue offices was the revenue Raided in April 1920
A Yes
Q You were raiding Revenue offices you also say you were raiding military supplies protecting party attacking booking barracks mobilised for attacking on Moyvilla Barracks protecting party attacking lock lough George Barracks raiding Mail train at a time and station and removing explosives you appear to have been more or less engaged on guard work you did not take any shooting part in these attacks
A Bookeen would have been about five miles away and Moyvilla three miles away there were men picked from the Athenry company and they considered that it was my duty to protect the men who were attacking these Barracks and in all these I was detailed for that job
Q Removing explosives was that a dangerous job
A I do not know
Q Had you to take them far
A Something like five miles
Q Was there much stuff
A two or three stones it was taken from one place to another it was gelignite and ammunition the quartermaster of the Battalion and I were together on the job we had to pass the police Barracks
Q Had you a car
A Yes a sidecar
Q Raiding military supplies
A Yes
Q That was from the railway station did you get any stuff there
A Yes
Q How long were you on the run
A From October 1920 until the truce
Q What caused you to go on the run
A Because I would be arrested
Q Were they raiding your home for you
A Yes
Q Was it after the burning of the cricket pavilion you went on the run
A no I was well on the run then- they raided my father's house that time I was on the run from October of 1920
Q During the truce you say you were ordered to the training camps mentioned above Derrybryan MountShannon and Kiltartan
A Yes
Q Three training camps
A Yes
Q was there one in your company area
A No
Q How long did you spend in these
A I was a fortnight and Derrybryan and moved into MountShannon where I was about three weeks
Q and Kiltartan
A there was an examination held on the men who were in Mount Shannon and I took first place amongst the Galway men I was ordered to take charge of the Kiltarton camp and I was in charge of it for something like a fortnight
Q What did you do after the camps
A I was home again
Q You were able to do any work at home
A Yes
Q What were you working at
A I am a tradesman
Q Where were you when the Civil War started
A I was in Athenry at home
Q Did you do anything during the civil war
A I was active with the OCA company during that time
Q Road blocking and doing intelligence work
A Yes there was no actual fighting
Q You were with Stephen Jordan's crowd were you
A Yes
Q What did the Intelligence work consist of I presume you were watching the enemy forces
A I would not claim that
Q Did you go on the run during the civil war
A I did the free Status were looking for me
Q How long were you on the run
A About two months until the cease fire
Q Did they raid your home
A they did
Q Were you able to go home before the ceasefire
A No
Q You are more than two months on the run then
A I mean from the time they were looking for me
Q Was it during the civil war this incident happened
A no the tan War
…………………………………………………………………………
These questions and answers albeit very specific and detailed do give an insight into Johnny's reluctance to disclose any of his actions even though it appears it was in his interest to do so i.e. the pension payment to follow.
The statement also shows the intensity of the commitment made by him and the volunteers at the time. It must have been a serious challenge to consider a future life with any normality when you are so committed to a war with an enemy that was so powerful and could replace people with the click of a finger and of course conscription. For people to try to have a family, run a family, earn a living maintain a house keep the finances going and have the “choice” to involve themselves in a war or not and at this particular time be on the radical side of the political spectrum and then maintain that position right through the Tan War but particularly the Civil War period is no joke.
We in hindsight can see the correctness of the principled political position that the volunteers had adopted but it may not have been so visible or easy to maintain with your peers, your neighbours, your friends or your employers during such a politically charged time .
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Attached Internment Order For Johnny Cleary 1916
Johnny married Mary Fagan in Streete Co westmeath In 1921 Ena was born in Westmeath 1922
When things were ready and room was made Johnny and Mary and Ena moved to Abbey row c 1924. There were now 12 people living between Nos 3 & 4 Abbey Row.
Things continued to be challenging for Johnny . Lack of work meant no income . Avoiding arrest may also have been a problem . In 1926 he decided to go to work in New York . Post cards attached show his journey to meet his brother via Southampton sailing on the Leviathon. He worked as a plasterer in the city getting work easily with Joe's contacts . He also visited Philadelphia where Elizabeth ,Mary and Patrick - his aunts and uncle - were now living .
2 years later he returned to Athenry. Things may have been changing in New York by then . Joes business closed soon after, probably due to and in the Great Depression . Johnny had more work to do when he returned to Athenry . His brother Jimmy and Tommy now becoming more established and his fathers contacts constantly producing enquiries from the office of public works , churches and garda stations and of course private building .
1932 became a momentous year - Tom was born 28th february
Tommy (his brother ) fell from a scaffold while working on ceilings in Gurteen church and died on …./April . This had a major effect on the family. Tommy was a very popular guy but also a critical part of the family business . The change would have affected relations between the remaining brothers Johnny was 13 years older than Jimmy and clearly at best had a stop start working relationship . I dont know why but around this time Jimmy (now c 31years old ) moved to London to make some money .
The attached is a “Lease document” witnessed by Mr H Leonard for annual rent of land called River Green which the Clearys subsequently owned . The ownership continued for generations and the ground was eventually bought by Rooneys Monuments who remain there today.
Johnny worked on many projects around Athenry and became a tradesman in much demand around the county . He maintained contacts with the Board of works and carried out much work on sites like the Agricultural college in Athenry .
His pension application like many others was put through much scrutiny eventually being granted at an amount of £ 18 .8.11. Pa on 16 november 1937
Prior to this he had occasion to appeal the decision to grant and wrote a detailed letter about his activities to the Referee on August 16 1937 . Attached also see the referees document referring to enquiries regarding the case to Mr Nielan and also Stephen Jordan (now a TD )
The building business continued through times that were far from financially secure in Ireland and indeed europe with WW11 now impacting everything .
See headed paper for Johnny Cleary Building Contractor .
See Mcdonaghs invoice for 1950
Jimmy had returned to Ireland from :London in 1940 ( he couldn't keep a visa without conscription - no choice there !!) In 1946 TB died at the age of 87 (still a big event in the family ) In 1949 Joe had a Brain Hemorrhage and Died soon thereafter . And to add to all of this carnage Johnny had a heart attack at home in bed on 18-december 1950 and died . This was a tragedy for his 18 year old son and his wife mary who survived him untill March 1970 ( almost 20 years )
See Death Certificate for Johnny
Photograph Johnny and Tom in london 1949
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..