In Memory of a Rebel. On the 10th July 1886 at number 10 upper Kevin St in the heart of Dublins Liberties Henry Cassidy was born to Patrick Cassidy and his wife Ann Thornberry. Patrick and Ann had plenty of company for baby Henry, they had 5 other children when young Henry arrived into the world, 3 boys and two girls ,from records I found Patrick earned a living as a Cooper in one of the many breweries in the area. It seems the Cassidys never ventured far from the Liberties, as all the children were born in the general vicinity of Bride st, the addresss used by Henrys grandparents when they married in 1868, No 9 Bride St, No 34 Bride St.I tracedhis maternal side the Thornberrys back to the 1700s in the area,they have a rich history (but thats another story) As a Young man Henry found work as a casual labourer, just like many more young men like him he took note of the social depravation around him,the living and working conditions in and around the slums of the Liberties at the time were among the worst in the British Isles. He would have witnessed and probably been part of the many riots that took place in the city before during and after the 1913 lock-outs, he would also have grown up and known many of the young men who were left with no option but to take the Queens Shilling, falling for the spin from the Recruiting Sergeants of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who would promise single men adventure, and married men the security of separation money for their wives and families. Henry may have been tempted to join the ranks, but he didnt, in fact he went in the opposite direction, I would love to know exactly why Henry Cassidy decided to join the Irish Citizen army on their formation, but he did just that as he became a fully fledged member from the High St sect, at some stage circa 1915 Henry would meet a young Girl from nearby Ardee Row, her name was Christina Handley and they would soon become inseparable. Christina had a brother Edward who was a Sargent In the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, he had spent time in France and had been wounded in the leg, it must have been serious enough however as his was shipped home to recover. Again I would loved to have been a fly on the wall listening to the conversation between a N.C.O from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and a Member of the Citizen army, better still i would loved to have listened to Christinas input.? Easter Monday morning 1916 Henry left his address at number 36 the Coombe,its possible he was in the company of 40yr old John Adams from nearby Cork St, Philip Clarke also from Cork St,18yr old James Fox would have been in their company that morning,Fredrick Ryan who joined the I.C.A in 1914 would have known all the others. John Owens would have probably left his address at No 1 The Coombe around the same time as Henry left No 36, the sad fact of the matter is that all above named never returned to the Liberties, they were to die during the fighting that took place during Easter week, John Owens been one of the first at the Sth Dublin Union. Henry would find himself at St Stephens Green, one of the worst defended garrisons in the City, the British raked the Green with machine gun fire and I wonder was Henry witness to the scene of a truce been called so the ducks could be fed twice a day by Jim Kearney the Park-Keeper (yes this really occured) Following the surrender order been issued Henry was among those who was led away, he was first taken to Richmond barracks and then to Knutsford prison on the 3rd of May, he was then transfered Frongoch interment camp until his release around December 1916. Henry returned to Dublin and to Christina, they married a year later on 18th November 1917, her brother Edward The British soldier was his best man. The story doesnt end here. Henry must have had a strong bond with Edward Handley, as i stated above he was a Sgt in the RDF and this Statement from the Bureau of Military History from 1951 tells his remarkable story, these are his own words. At the outbreak of 1914-18 war I was serving with 4th batt Dublin Fusiliers. Prior to that I worked in Whites public house on 79 The Coombe, where Andy Redmond later a member of the Volunteers was manager.I knew a number of men who were or were later to become members of the Citizens army. In 1916 I was on sick leave having been wounded in France as a matter of fact on Easter sunday night i was in Liberty Hall with a comrade in uniform and didnt notice anything unusual. When my leave was up i went Awol, was arrested courtmartialled and reduced in Rank.After spells in hospital I was sent to Portobello barracks as a storeman, 3 men I knew as James Skiver Keogh, James O Shea, Matt Burke, asked what were the chances of getting revolvers and Rifles, I told them I could get them but needed a turnscrew to take them to pieces, keogh worked in the railway yard and made one for me. I was able to take them apart and smuggle them through the fences to Citizen army men at Mount Thomand ave Harolds cross...to do this I had to hide on 2 sentries at the sports field.James o Shea and Barney Craven was the drivers of cabs they took them away in. The authorities knew the guns were going missing but didnt suspect me, I was later transfered to the Labour corp and then I passed the guns at the back gate near Harolds X bridge, A military policeman who I knew was sympthatic and knew what was going on. I always chose to pass them out when he was on duty. In Wellington barracks there were huts were men went for lectures, they would leave their Rifles outside and it was easy to take a few, been the storeman it wasnt unusual for me to walk around with Rifles. In 1920 soldiers coming home on leave sold their rifles, other would have them taken at the North wall by the authorities, they would be sent to Ship st barracks. Later Rifles were taken from men home on leave it was my job to inspect them and take damaged one to Islandbridge from Kingstown, I would arrange for Citizen army men to meet me a short distance from Westlannd row and hand them over, I normally had 4 rifles and would hand 2 over at a time to different men. If it was the case that no one was there to meet me I would take them to Liberty Hall where my sister who was then engaged to a Citizen army man named Henry Cassidy who had taken part in the Rising would have them taken. It was extraordinary that i was allowed take them to Islandbridge unescorted, when the Sgt Major was out I would mark out the Rifles as re-issued, I wasnt once held up by the IRA which led me to believe they aware of what was going on.We also had an offcer in charge and he didnt seem concerned about collection or return of rifles. AT one stage we had so many rifles a train carriage was filled, I told the Citizen Army men and a riad was planned but that night a heavy guard was placed. My home was raided once a Volunteer named Tuohy lived nearby and was on the run, when he was in the district his home was normally raided, it was suspected that it was his neighbour, when my home was raided I had 4 rifles in the chimney which my wife had hidden the soldiers didnt find them, this made me suspect that it was the same neighbour who was given info on Tuohy..Its my belief that I got well over a hundred Rifles -Revolvers and ammunition for The Citizen army at this time...signed EDWARD HANDLEY. Henry Cassidy died a young man from Pneumonia on the 4th January 1924 at 47 Newmarket St. It was his Granddaughter who now lives in the USA who asked me would it be possible to find any Info on him, Henrys daughter is alive and kicking aged 91, she was only a baby when her dad Henry passed away too soon, Im not surprised at her long life as you can see from above she is from Good-Stock. May all the un-named heros from the Irish struggle from whatever decade, rest in peace.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 17:04:34 +0000
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