The priests in Westland Row parish spent a lot of time in Holles Street Remembering 1916 Maternity Hospital. Fr O’Reilly and Fr Fleming ran errands of mercy in various parts of the parish and all ministered to those who had been wounded during the battle at Mount Street Bridge. Fr O’Reilly also spent time at Boland’s Mills, going there under cross-fire to attend to dying volunteers. Holles Street opened its doors to all casualties during the Rising and after the surrender, the Irish Automobile Club ambulances transferred patients to St Vincent’s Hospital. These ambulances also brought bread and flour from Boland’s Mills over a four-day period, thus ensuring people did not starve. The church tower in Haddington Road was occupied by military, dressed in civilian clothing. They told the clergy they believed volunteers were hiding there and once there, they used it for their own purposes. One of the Curates, uring Easter Week 1916, priests of Another Curate, Fr John Flanagan, Fr James Doyle, was summonsed to the Archdiocese of Dublin made spent most of Easter Week in the GPO. He minister to a Lieutenant Hawkins. He was Dthemselves available to minister was actively involved in ensuring the brought to No. 72 Haddington Road and to all those in need, even if it meant wounded were transported safely to had to cross the road under heavy putting their own lives in danger. Jervis Street Hospital. gunfire. After receiving the sacraments, Mgr Michael Curran, secretary to Over 40 people sought refuge in the Lieutenant Hawkins died. The fighting Archbishop William Walsh, went to the Pro-Cathedral on Marlborough Street was incessant by this time and Fr Doyle GPO as soon as he heard the Rising had from burning buildings and shell and rifle had to leave by the back entrance and ran started. The first person he met was fire. Many stayed there for three days but at great risk back to the church. James Connolly, who informed him that as the week progressed food became Almost every street around the Four all priests were free to enter. Mgr Curran scarce. Towards the end of the week, the Courts was occupied by snipers, both asked for Padraig Pearse as he knew him. building was in danger of burning to the military and volunteer. Fr Patrick O’Byrne, He told him he had come down after ground. Fire had spread from O’Connell Curate, attended to wounded people who seeing the Archbishop and wondered if Street and the fire brigade had been came to the presbytery. He also went there was anything that he could do but ordered not to go out. Fire raged in under heavy gunfire to 31 East Arran Pearse simply replied, ‘ No, we are going to Cathedral Street and pieces of burning Street to attend to an unarmed civilian see it out’ . paper and showers of sparks were carried who had been shot in the back. He Pearse also told him some of the by strong winds over the roof of the Pro- attended to two others, one of whom was Volunteers would like to go to Cathedral. The building was saved by a a Protestant. The family later thanked Fr Confession and Mgr Curran arranged this miracle – the wind changed direction and O’Byrne for what he had done. On the with Fr O’Reilly and Fr Flanagan of the shifted towards North Earl Street. Ten Friday he attended to two men on Capel Pro-Cathedral. people lost their lives on Marlborough Street but both died. Another, Fr O’Reilly, at a later stage, had to go Street during Easter Week, all from Christopher Lawlor, was attended to at 6 to Wynn’s Hotel to attend a wounded gunshot wounds. Halston Street but he too was mortally and dying man. He wore his soutane and One of the priest’s from Francis Street wounded. Fr Patrick Kennedy, another biretta and had to pass through an area parish offered his assistance at Jacob’s Curate in Halston Street, received a raked with fire on both sides. During the factory where he met with Fr Aloysius gunshot wound in the hand while saying conflict, he was on call both day and OFM Cap. While there, they heard a Mass on 28 April. A bullet smashed night and ministered to the dying sound similar to a bomb exploding. In through a stained glass window of the whenever asked. fact a crowd had broken into the office on church but Fr Kennedy continued to say Fr Richard Bowden, Administrator of Bishop’s Street and had begun looting. Mass as if nothing had occurred. the Pro-Cathedral, ensured a priest was Both priests went through the factory to The priests at James’s Street were the always on duty at Jervis Street Hospital. the office area where they saw many official clergy to Kilmainham Jail. Fr He spent time there, as did Fr Joseph looters leaving. They addressed the Eugene McCarthy attended each McArdle and Fr Edward Byrne, who people and told them to go home, execution. His duty was to anoint each became Archbishop of Dublin in 1921. pointing out their scandalous behaviour. victim where he fell. On the morning of They could not leave the hospital on Many left what they had taken, which Joseph Plunkett’s execution, Fr McCarthy account of the danger of passing included rounds of ammunition, was taken to the Jail earlier than usual to through the streets. revolvers and clothing. perform the marriage ceremony. Fr 8 Intercom • April 2016 Back two (left to right) Rev. John G. O’Reilly, Adm Pro- Cathedral and Rev. Augustine Farrell, CC Donnybrook Remembering 1916 with a vision for a Front seated (left to right) Rev. Michael Cronin, PP Rathgar; Rev. Edward Byrne, Archbishop of Dublin; Rev. just and compassionate society James P. Nolan, PP St Columbas and Rev. Arthur Moore, CC Remembrance Greystones. The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference We remember them, reflect on the 1916 centenaries the men, the women, the children, the Irish, of the North and of the The Easter Rising of April 1916, and the McCarthy spoke about James Connolly’s South, Battle of the Somme, which began the execution, stating that Connolly was in a the British, following July, had a profound impact on bad condition and had tried to stand like who were injured, national identity and shaped the political the others but was unable to do so. He or who died landscape in ways that can still be felt was tied to a chair but slumped so much in, one hundred years later. The he overbalanced. Finally he was strapped or as a result of, commemorations of these events thus to a stretcher and placed in a reclining the Easter Rising of 1916. have the potential to stimulate much- position against the wall. The sight left needed reflection on where we are as a an indelible mark on Fr McCarthy. We remember them, society and what we want to achieve for After the executions, the bodies were of thirty nations of the world the future. brought to Arbour Hill Prison for burial. including of Britain, Historians, archivists and local Fr Francis Farrington, chaplain to Arbour and of Ireland, North and South, historical societies have been working to Hill and was one of the curates at who were injured, make heard the voices of the past. An Aughrim Street parish, was present at or who died. important theme emerging is the the funerals of Pearse, McDonagh and in the Battle of the Somme. centrality of Christian faith in shaping Clarke. The military sent a lorry to Fr people’s vision for society and what it Farrington’s house in Aughrim Street at We remember the living sacrifice. means to be a citizen. A related issue is 3.00 am and brought him back to the We remember the lost descendants. the prominence of social justice in that barracks. He described hearing the volley We remember the courage. vision – the values of freedom, human of shots at Kilmainham and the arrival of rights, solidarity and the common good the remains ‘in pools of blood, still warm Eternal rest grant unto them, O were espoused by people from different and limp, eyes bandaged and mouths Lord, traditions and identity. open.’ Fr Farrington read the burial and may perpetual light shine upon These centenaries coincide with the service at 4 o’clock and they were buried, them. Holy Year of Mercy. The challenges before uncoffined, in a trench, 60 feet long. May they rest in peace! us as a society today in 2016 – addressing violence and injustice, combatting From the service of Evening Prayer poverty and social exclusion, adopting a to mark the centenaries of the fair and sustainable approach to the From ‘Dublin Diocesan Priests Easter Rising , 1916 consumption of goods and resources, and the 1916 Rising’ by Noelle Dowling Archivist, Archdiocese of Dublin. and the Battle of the Somme , welcoming refugees and promoting Thanks also to Annette O’Donnell, July 1-November 18, 1916 respect for religious faith, culture and Director of Communications, identity – will require generosity of spirit Archdiocese of Dublin. and an openness to new relationships. Intercom • April 2016 9.