| Life in Prison Cleary Family |
| Frongoch Prison 'University of Revolution' |
 Thomas B. Cleary confirms in a statement that he had his first encounter with prison around 1880. He was caught and convicted of 'cattle driving' and imprisoned In Mullingar Jail. He goes on to state that this is where he was first exposed to the I.R.B. which, he joined, while in prison. In July 1880 he was also charged with a breach of public peace for attending a party (etc!), fined two shillings and sixpence plus costs and sentenced to one week in Galway Goal.On November the 6th 1915 he received a notice of conscription to the British Army from Viscount Wimborne which he duly ignored. Just over six months later, following the Easter Rising, on the 19th June 1916 he received a further notice of conviction from the same Government department and was arrested. In many ways this defined his and his family's future in the war of independence that followed.
Fifteen men, the leaders of the 1916 Rising, were court martialed and executed between the 3rd and 12th of May including the seven signatories of the Proclamation. Thomas B. was one of approximately 3,340 men and 79 women arrested from all over Ireland and interned under the Defense of the Realm Act Section 14B in prisons mainly throughout Ireland and Frangoch Prison Camp in Wales.
 An abandoned distillery it had been used primarily to house German prisoners of war but became a fertile training ground for the Irish prisoners organising against the British rule of Ireland. Able leaders, including Michael Collins, gave lessons in guerrilla tactics and the camp became known as ollscoil na réabhlóide, the ‘University of Revolution’.
.
|
| Arrests following the 1916 Uprising |
|
Thomas B Joseph Tommy and Johnny We're all arrested and interned at various locations soon after the 1916 uprising. (Jimmy was probably too young to be arrested at this time) Thomas B and Joseph We're arrested in Galway moved to Richmond Barracks in Dublin - on May the 12th They removed from Dublin To Stafford detention barracks. later We believe they were moved to Wormwood scrubs and subsequently to FronGoch . Both were released In December 1916.
Thomas B wrote a wonderful letter to his wife Mary from Stafford prison The 12th of June 1916.
This photograph shows a group taken at Wormwood Scrubs Prison support for the Irish cause
Over the years The family had many involvements with the RIC and the army and later with the Black and Tans and auxiliaries. Other instances of difficulties with authorities continued As can be seen from the arrest and conviction of Thomas B for assault in 1917. It's easy to forget that in the midst of a war against an oppressor a family has to Continue To survive financially and this means maintaining an income which not have been extremely difficult in a small town in the west of Ireland Particularly by the families who are not established farmers and prevented from building Any assets in the family over a period of many many years. the Cleary's essentially were builders and small farmers. Thomas B had learnt his trade as a plasterer and was moving into general building contracting and his sons were following suit. Clearly it's impossible to maintain a business from a prison cell and supporting one's family depends on a war effort by the whole community.
|
| Letter requesting support from Irish National Army |
 Thomas B in his earlier letter mentioned support from the church which appeared to be very limited to say the least. The following letter written by Thomas Junior refers to his claim for support from the National Committee Of the Irish National Army.March 7th 1917
Dear Sir
about one month ago my brother and I made a joint claim for some money to start us in business after an release from prison last Christmas The committee of the INAA very preciously never replied since then my brother has been to Dublin and explained his and my case but apparently his explanation has fallen on deaf ears Before I resort to further methods To show The way we have been treated by the inaa I would like to ask you to have an impartial investigation of our case before all the volunteers who have been in the camp and then you will be able to decide who was in the volunteers movement and who suffered owing to their participation in the rebellion. The committee of the INAA worked on reports from men in Athenry who could not think of any name bad enough to call the volunteers who jeered them at street corners going to prison and later when a respectable lady offered money for the relief of the volunteers dependence those very people some of whom were members of the committee afterwards Actually booed The women and refused to have anything to do with German gold These are the people now That the headquarters committee. except reports from and what's more work upon them
I have refused recommendations from money from a lot of these people knowing what they are capable of doing behind my back there was a man sent down to interview every man who was arrested owing to the rebellion his business must have been perfectly bona fide Still he allowed a few self styled officers to put their arms around him and swell his head False Romances I think the following will suffice to show how things were worked.
Mr Clark first stayed in the railway hotel And the Porter Apps The hotel who was never a volunteer but spent about three months in prison got a handsome sum of money to start him (a hotel porter) In his old job again
Mr Richard Murphy's Hotel was the next place Mr Clark stayed and the proprietors stepson Richard Murphy Got another sum of money to start him in business again this man who has done no work for the past 6 or 7 years he is practically living on the interests of his money Steven Jordan a boot and Shoemaker by trade and working in his own house regardless of weather or competition got another handsome sum of money to start him again. Another man Michael Kennedy who was not a volunteer and who only spent three weeks in prison got £15 and on the receipt of which he wrote and said there must be some mistake in his case as he suffered nothing at all over the rebellion.
A reply came back to him saying that the INAA would be obliged to him if he was cash in check and said no more about this I wonder how whose recommendation was the above or performed?
A Countryman (Lawrence Fahy) Who lived within a quarter of a mile of the volunteers headquarters ( Moyode castle ) On Easter week refused to go
near us but is now drawing 60 shillings per week. I wonder of whose recommendation? In face of the above facts is it any wonder that we who have did more And suffered more( And invite your personal investigation to prove it) Than any others in Connet should suspect petty smite From one party or wanton negligence from another regarding our case. There is a contract going here shortly and my brothers and I will get the preference of it but unless we get some money to finance it the job must go to another. We have not earned a shilling since Christmas and if this job should go from us there is nothing left but The labor exchange which is nothing less than a recruiting officer present
You are as I have reason to believe a man who has worked and is working in the interests of justice and fair play and it is on that account I invite you to have this (our) Case looked into and sincerely hoped that you will give the matter your earliest attention thanking you in anticipation of 8 to remain
yours sincerely
Thomas Cleary Junior
 NB should you decide to investigate our case here in Athenrye I will guarantee to have the volunteers that were in the camp in the town hall without any undue publicity and then you will know How things stand Or I would refer you to the following people who will justify our case
Mr Thomas Mona had billed in contractor
Mr John Broderick Build a contractor Athenry
Mr FJ Finnerty General merchant
Mr RP Nolan
Mr P mcdonough
Reverend father daily CC
|
This letter May suggest a level of begrudgery Thomass arguments Appear to be backed up with facts. The letter is written as a time that could not be considered normal in the midst of a war, In the midst of poverty, with an exposure to Immediate imprisonment without trial (as subsequent events prove ) . This is a plea for help from the powers that be and it seems no help is coming. The uprising Was organized and conducted In a secret fashion As was the mantra of the IRB- The left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing! So perhaps The letter is naive in the circumstances but maybe this is a reflection and a satire Of the national situation in Ireland throughout this time. The lack of resources, the lack of money, the lack of control of one's business and work, the lack of a national structure To run the country, the lack of guns to fight the enemy. And yet the family, the town, the county and the country were all prepared to fight against The British - who had A fully resourced army In every town in the country And who had full control of all the resources of the country And were taking them by force.
In 1918 Joseph Cleary was forced to emigrate to New York City to join Liam Mellows in order to avoid prosecution for attempted murder of an RIC officer
In or about 1920 Jimmy Cleary was interned in Portloaise prison And possibly Tin town The Curragh And joined the hunger strike During his time in prison
Tommy Cleary spent most of 1920 and part of 21 In Ballykinler Internment camp in Northern Ireland . This camp housed approximately 2000 Irish men during this period . Conditions were notoriously difficult And well documented. The carving in our photograph Of An Irish harp Is done in bone by Tommy while in Prison. He also used a clay pipe also photographed
Johnny Cleary spent many years away from Athenry Involved in training camps for volunteers around the country - He specialized in signaling marksmanship and explosives . He also spent many years on the run and avoiding capture. This impacted on his business and his family life and displayed his ongoing commitment to the uprising.
Letter
Thpmas B to Jimmy (in Prison ) August 1920
Dear Jimmy
When I wired you I was on my way to Galway I know full well that you missed The letter that I said was following well it didn't go, and therefore you didn't get it. But I think you were not neglected by the others at least I heard so
I was making a dive from my patron saint that day but he was not at home. He was on his first holiday in 12 years. He was not back yet and that means a lot. but of course there is no reason why things shouldn't not be alright. There is great work about the release of the prisoners. I don't think I will take part in the forthcoming election by way of speaking because there is a reason and many reasons why I should not I have accepted a ballot box from Larry and it is a pity you are not out to do the clerk. I think you done it once before.
There are great changes since you people were interned You will scarcely know the country when you come out. You asked me one time about certain girls who were shot or wounded in CastleLambert Well I think there is a trial about it this week but I ought not to say more. Jack is I think working on the engineering section of the army. He has the two walshes somewhere Around Tuam or in Tuam We will be at his house the moment Johnny comes. I have a very fine design for it I think Johnny is to be down next week He is trying to square with the Longford County Council for the next meeting.
Joe looks all right But he shows up a bit thin and very quiet. In fact he has a serious air about him it seems the big responsibility of his job has told upon him. I christened 10 children you are the youngest when he has alike number I'm afraid his step wont be as light as his fathers. However he is alright The three of us were at the races the first day Joe did not come home he met friends from Eyrecourt I went the second day but did not meet him either day and came home stony broke. So did everybody
You need not be sorry for the races the second day was wet and stormy I was in the tent getting a drink Myself and Michael when the whole canvas "went west" . When we looked out several others were in different stages of destruction Barrett the Tumbler Was doing his bit trying to save out just by us He was up on a rafter trying to loosen a nail A squall came and he was very appropriately found in a bath of Porter.
The evening cleared and the all sold out without a roof. Joe is very anxious to see you but he must wait. Things must find their level . Jordan and a few others are trying to reorganize the GAA. But there is no heart in it and the gate does not pay. Johnny Whelan got stuck £8 at the sports bought off in June.
They are trying to get some sort of Races in September But I think that will finish athletic sports here for a while Tommy has Clancy's advanced Towards completion Mr Glynn's son is home from Rome and A fine young fellow he is. There is nothing extraordinary to tell you things are quite normal. There are no fairs owing to the post strike Pat and his misses are quite well .Michael was with me all the first day of the races. Thank God we performed 12 stations between the bookies at the tents.
There is none of them like him yet. Did I tell you that Larry Cohen was married to a girl named Shaughnessy from BallyLynn Above Craughwell I think I told you that it is Jack that has the hill this year and Mike Hession has Gurteen acre I have not heard a word of the Dublin business since but II know well That I have friends in the works office and that nothing will be done without I being made aware of it and I know I offered a big price. If any man gets it I will. So I have strong hopes for you because if it comes to yours..........
The Office of works sent Thomas B An inquiry about the RIC barracks at Athenry and its condition. Who occupies it And could he repair it !! ??
I'm sure he could and I'm sure he did - His office contacts that the office of works subsequently the border works includes strong and he got many enquiries for repairs and building works as the years passed
| Life in Prison Photo Gallery |
