Welcome to the Cleary Family Website   

Cleary Crest copy
 
This website is about two generations of the Cleary family starting with an eviction from their home at the Pollack Estate in east Galway in the 1880's. They lived through a period in the country, shortly after the 'Great Famine', of extreme poverty, misery and hardship. Committed to a United Ireland all members of the family were involved in the Easter Rising and War of Independence resulting at one stage in five of them, a father and his four sons, being imprisoned in British jails.  


Using letters, statements and documents, some recently discovered, it is now possible to piece together the story of their lives full of adventure, tragedy, love and war. They include the remarkable account in a letter written by a British soldier to his Grandchildren about how, while stationed at Athenry, he met and later married Ciss Cleary a member of Cumann na mBan and from a strong republican family.

Many members of the family went on to be successful in business some as builders at home and abroad. But tragedy struck when Tommy fell from the roof during the construction of Gurteen Church and passed away a few days later from his injuries.

 HOW I MET YOUR GRANNY Letter from Sidney Byrne to his grandchildren Susan & Simon