ROINN COSANTA. BUREAU OF MILITARY HISTORY, 1913

ROINN
BUREAU
OF
COSANTA.
MILITARY
STATEMENT
DOCUMENT
HISTORY,
BY
WITNESS
...251...
W.S.
NO.
1913-21.
Witness
Mr. Richard
Balfe,
The Crean Road,
40,
Co. Dublin.
Blackrock,
Identity
Member
of
Fianna
'D'
Captain
and
I.R.B.
Company 1st
I.V's.
1916.
1911-16;
Battalion
Subject
(a)
National
(b)
Howth
(c)
Mendicity
activities
from
1911;
Gun Running;
Institution
Easter
Week
1916.
Conditions, if any, stipulated by Witness
Nil
File No.
..S.1302..
Form B.S.M.2
STATEMENT
Irish
Captain
was
Green
Road,
1911
along
with
a member
Mick
the
Meirleaca
revolutionary
club
in
Ringsend.
Gaelic
League
there
Fianna
were
Father
Costello
just
Freedom"
Fianna
got
been
and
Street.
Some
the
joined
3rd
under
the
about,
11
this
formed
of
left
and
they
of
from
Company
were
at
They
a surplus
members
ribbon.
green
which
the
Centre
in
had
were
of
City
the
in
yard
I.R.B.
was
Sheriff.
Castle
Sandymount
Battalion.
formed
time
that
the
the
of
the
all
"Freedom"
I
a Battalion
drilled
this
a number
took
in
part
1914.
July
protection.
About
3rd
they
and
in
the
into
Volunteers
out
when
sworn
present
the
them.
was
Circle
the
in
the
the
when
Freedom"
bound
I
to
removed
"Irish
a
visit
I
and
of
was
O'Flanagan,
Tom Clarke's
1914
at
"Split"
and
Ringsend.
was
or
the
running
to
others
attached
joined
King's
streets
Lawlor
Company
After
police
1913
joined
gun
Battalion
the
This
Father
I
the
issues
who is
I
5th
Howth
in
Fintan
1913
Company,
only
in
O'Connor
In
the
time
of
roof
These
on sale
afterwards
Seamus
the
under
the
and
Afterwards
Offices
copy
Grace
We were
surrounded,
Freedom
across
Club.
to
was
the
all
printed
Parnell
I
Office
the
Oga
O'Loughlin
previous
into
Jim
Naomh Padraigh.
Calm
Dublin.
County
Malone,
there
and
"Irish
machinery
-
established
1911
1916.
B1ackrock
of
In
BALFE,
Vo1unteers,
The
40,
In
RICHARD
BY Mr.
of
the
the
moved
"D"
800
there
Company
of
were
the
sea-front,
Sandymount,
afterwards
to
of
"A"
of the 1st Battalion
Vecas Trassfierld to it. Rob.
About 80% of
Company.
of
the
I.R.B.
"D"
Company
That
Company
was
/used
-2used
a good
of
dumping
time
the
used
used.
going
out
first
O.C.
Finucane
not
out
in
on
My home at
the
of
of
be
the
there
took
Murnane's
place
appointed
Commandant.
and
We furnished
Flying
was
regarded
headed
as
the
Battalion
1915
I
Company
were
ordered
we had
In
"D"
the
mark
uniform
in
first
We staged
drill
was
and
very
bayonet
to
for
responsible
prevent
extended
realistic
to
cover
Doctors
and had
from
Company
Battalion
and
always
in
which
Enda's
time
of
of
marks
in
the
1915
4th
with
only
for
each
given
I
thereby.
my Company.
and
for
Section
a bayonet
one
blood,
sheep's
interfering,
my
streets
second
got
was
We gave
arranged
some
mark
a number
of
the
Company
Army
Company
with
in
part
crowd.
As a half
of
took
Our
"A"
Citizen
movements.
himself
St.
training
Dawson
1915.
a hostile
place.
we lost
a display
also
clear
the
turn
he was
in
to
in
not
marches.
bayonets
each.
the
when
fix
by
the
afterwards
Company
1st
by
Finucane
did
Offices
Easter
the
retrieve
a man named
and
Limerick
third
my Company
the
by whom,
know.
to
held
and
between
at
on route
attacked
obtained
got
a half
was
been
to
and
I
at
also
Company
an excursion
competitions
Company
Battalion
remember
place
Our
of
when
1916
to
and
as
of
to
guard
scouts
far
"D"
Heuston's
Sean
Rathdrum
to
In
after
Murnane
week
was
know
used
Liam
Finucane's
finally
we
the
and other
don't
Of
occasions.
Column
the
the
an armed
on numerous
the
to
I
as
for
was
rifles
in.
officers
also
Islandbridge
Mauser
which
and
and
Irishtown
buoys,
Heuston.
first
I
at
river
previous
1916.
Street
left
and bringing
Sean
were
receipt
the
boats
was
at
place
Fahy's
a dump.
to
arms
of
obtaining
Frank
as
'bar'
the
was
the
a dump for
which
near
for
them.
used
as
stuff
deal
it
was
ordinary
that
charge
man with
a French
we had
so realistic,
/in
-3-
in
order
to
allow
erected
were
by
ordinary
and
morse.
within
as
Trinity
a
the
"G.Rs."
the
Lord
of
with
equipped.
and
best
Lee
Lieutenant
foot
ordinary
Trinity
and
took
up Dame Street
straight
the
despite
order
Company
Manoeuvres
in
the
which
was
the
1st
Battalion
and
and
4th
Battalions.
3rd
and
they
Cloghran
Battalion
2nd
Battalion
were
We were
haversacks
Lord.
Lieutenant.
complimented
by
which
was
it
going
the
Lord
consisted
of
over
we left
to
direct
Parliament
the
Trinity
We marched
other
Beggars
members
of
Street
I
this
gave
did.
promptly
when
present
Finglas
whole
in
to
the
from
Arriving
"Scatter"
"D"
of
and
there
turning.
appeals
We went
to
When
instead
with
Barracks
display.
a wrong
frantic
organisation.
captured
drill.
a display
Company,
with
before
and
hold
it.
Bush
our
equipped
together
We were
arms
in
in
Through
"D"
sent
us
Beggars
efficiency
and
College
of
a display
Commander.
on our
we were
was
a display
"G.R."
marked
up
semaphore
that
to
Fianna,
Enfields
from
in
part
the
20
opened
by
Knew.
were
they
of
said
was
gave
College.
armlets
the
Section
"G.R"
and
about
took
that
Tents
an association
people
Trinity
were
and
few
members
Aid.
and
audible,
We also
very
We marched
College
Bush
Dublin.
There
and belts.
I was
the
Barracks
with
equipped
in
at
First
communication
interest
we heard
caps
Bush
Beggars
and
and
which
Wimbourne
assistance
ourselves
the
of
out
carry
visual
in
system
intelligence
to
a minute
special
College
before
men
telegraphy
We took
known
our
1st
Battalion
Our
areas.
staff.
were
In
the
opposed
/On
had
Company
Manoeuvres
to
the
3rd
-4Good
On the
I
for.
arms
as
instructed.
bombs
from
night
we had
St.
Enda's
be
where
the
arches.
the
I
was about
-
Hall.
to'
MacDermott
and
and
slowly
orders
about
orders
to
come all
These
were
called
where
take
going
around
she was
11.25
a.m.
was
take
enter
by
and
were
the
by
Connolly.
with
so
small
inside
the
and
side-door
take
before
my men
out
and
Institution
get
the
of
of
I
was
there.
businesslike
very
Madame
night.
also
I
got
my
without
Irish
Republic".
the
building.
Sean
Heuston
Heuston
how I
he
I
said
At 20
and
Connolly
to
all
Sean
in O'Connell
Office
Post
in Henry
to overStreet,
asked
men.
to
others.
to me from
a Company
'standing
paper
possession
I
Larkfield
Mendicity
me with
General
Liberty
she was
the
Army
It
up all
drinks;
like
"The
brought
signed
Kimmage
with
the
to
been
Liberty
Heuston.
Army
were
the
under
talking
was
in
to
in
Citizen
on a type-written
headed
to
I
had
tired
with
40
ease"
arrived
They
they
as
guards
orders
manage
the
as
about
at
the
Staines.
of
"standing
I
off
Church,
Hall
Then
Manoeuvres
Street
when
we saw
the
Gardiner
Liberty
a.m.
entered
Mick
It
envelope.
left
we
and
mobilisation
that
up out
of
We were
the
George's
via
Connolly.
was
moving
into
we got
small
Good Friday
Street
morning.
turned
were
11.20
slow-moving
Markievicz
Street,
or
When we
Sean
got
went
11.15
under
at
we proceeded
Company
On the
10 o'clock
12
About'
Then
Hall
at
mobilised
Street.
Company.
and
sent
a load
escort
Blackhall
on Sunday
was
with
armed
Street.
in
Sunday
morning
We were
on.
Dorset
I
day
to
I
Rising
College
Church
out
going
on Monday
were
to
the
used
preparations
all
to'
'standing
Enda's
We were
all
to
expected
order
St.
to
proceeded
to
previous
Friday
was
to
asked
did
and how long
He
told
could
would
minutes
and
take
12 I
I
it
me that
all
was
know
would
the
/person
-5person
who was
assigned
He was
0.C.
"G"
there
proceed
it
at
all
the
City
this
for
in
of
the
from
not
in
both
into
to
Lee
rounds
each.
a case
of
a
the
time
the
towards
it.
dead.
off.
themselves
streets
came along
of
rifles.
and
were
I
the
one
were
been
putting
the
firing
Some of
the
the
against
in
to
250
continuous
British
so1diers
through
houses.
came
officers.
least
500
the
that
shots
least
sword
he
column
The
and it
were
column
in
was
the
column,
and
Flag
and
pointing
immediately
and
tried
eventually
The
100
had
a Tri-colour
became
a.
route
at
The
his
o'clock
a few
and
who was
officer
Quay wall
of
two
a
in
In
heart.
at
12
of
afterwards
miss.
drawing
and
We
We occupied
some others
the
out
so.
along.
the
not
200
front
was
This
The
from
in
officer
could
to do
We allowed
man had
heard
in
have
stroke
rapidly
us after
to
opposite
we had
ànd
eyes
would
including
fired
entered.
We did
in).
column.
Every
dropped.
and
in
Myself
and
unarmed.
coming
troops
Two shots
and
On the
up
the
building
feet
16 men altogether
Enfield
fire
50
was
it
do
Street
reached
material
stone
Quays.
what
body
the
(about
Sappers
main
not
two-storey
road
knowing
There
we saw
side
of
between
right
eased
main
Officer
halted
shot
was
It
as
thoroughly
we had
and
the
it
ammunition.
Commanding
found
barricade
facing
of
the
When we
us.
taken
O'Connell
empty.
rounds
At
and
to
been appointed
place
We had
4 deep.
had
to
try
be
the
pass
shot,
Heuston
G.P.O.
come with
recollect
view.
was
to
we
the
had
positions
Sean
the
to
I
party
minutes
of
told
door
storeys
to
the
passing
small
from
these
enable
was
to
hold
from
one
it.
a small
I
told
and
building
troops
Barracks.
Although
impossible,
recess
the
all
failed.
I was
we broke
as
occupied
to
to
Battalion.
prevent
Royal
had
place
to take
to
charge
this
Institution
attempt
All
the
he elected
been
1st
area.
City
As far
Company,
and
two hours
Mendicity
take
immediately,
costs
Commandant
area
to
and
rapid
to
protect
ran
up
casualties
/were
it
-6were
numerous
the
removing
8 deep.
had
and
must
They
come from
as
were
at
nearly
the
as
rapidly
up and
ran
Queen
Street
Bridge.
to
dispatch
Sean
the
do.
were
would
have
us and
well"
and
On
us and
rifled
tactics
went
shouted
out
"One
Tuesday
and
These
they
out
a
as
we
to what
and brought
the
G.P.O.
stand
a
we
we
thought
We received
time.
from
took
one
of
no
the
Royal
and
bayonets
had
then
used
up Queen
Street
guns
from
up position
British
with
all
concentrating
across
but
the
returned
column.
as
Benburb
the
The
they
Lane.
Charges.
same
on the
We believe
bridge.
to
opposite
regimental
on Monday
the
daybreak.
Bayonet
We used
of
all
and machine
swords.
the head
men got
at
houses
in
machine
Barracks
right
Two o'clock,
withdrawn
famous
the
sentries
o'clock;
position
with
place
these
of
past
and
us on
the
also
Stephenson
day
posted
were
took
also
They
as we
first
that
by
British
the
fixed
flags,
next
in
the
Tuesday
down
came
Paddy
returned
out
column
we sent
information
night
So on.
grenades.
On the
two men,
everybody
wiped
This
time
congratulating
that
as
firing
No man got
this
for
The
column.
of
directions.
by
As
suddenly
the
body.
and
evacuate.
On Monday
under
solid
then
column.
we
of
attack
us was
the
a matter
About
Connolly
been
to
message
all.
couriers
and
making
head
just
a
asking
The
from
message
was
of
down
first
tactics
Bridge
on the
G.P.O
McLoughlin,
should
two
in
saw
our
rere
Street
into
broke
the
Queen
possible
who first
the
time
came
they
where
We altered
on
It
p.m.
known
officer
firing
stopped.
a considerable
4 o'clock
have
firing
concentrated
column
not
dead.
concentrated
they
At
the
shot
was
ambulance
wounded.
immediately
we
the
were
that
remainder
attacked
/by
rere
-7-
and
from
troops
by our
it
that
took
escaped
did
little
very
On the
fire
Our
We came
then
put
out
Peter
to
interval
use
of
or
and
had, been
V.
George
later
familiar
Fusilier
time
this
by
I
able
his
Frongoch.
removed
I
was
I
in
until
an armed
removed
was
in
then
after
with
was
use
R.A.M.C.
there
to
King
received
rescued.
Although
ambulance
at
no
to
removed
to
to Wakefield
afterwards
released
had
that
I
an
fixed
whether
the
the
two
up but
where
Bricins)
was
thought
late
saying
I
was
with,
of
prisoner
Army Orderlies
was
and
deciding
Officer
I
time
subsequently
sit
to
work.
dirty
(now, St.
this
arrived
were
they
me as
namely
armed
appeared
and
process,
as I
in
but
the
what
breaking
end. legs
immediately
Some time
on me an
claimed
of
with
in
accepted
at
injured
Institute.
a bullet
the
wounded
surrender
we were
surrendered
Company
While
the
men in
came
wounded
my arms
British
Being
this
Barracks.
to
the
British
at
Hospital
recovered
the
of
of
but
and
fire.
were
who was
ordered
as a flag
a Dublin
enough
use
a
was
gun
myself
Staines
complete
Officer
was
handling
Richmond
and
the
my legs.
in
rough
the
also
a bayonet
came
and
bandaged
gun
now exhausted.
Staines
the
a British
were
Willie
am not
heard
I
few
machine
no reply
and machine
Swords.
I
but
grenade
one
when
bayonet.
time
us but
by Stephenson
retreat
Heuston
shot
of
automatics;
on
guns
severe
lost
outside
I
a
and. the
There
word
supplies
Eventually
be dead.
evening
for
up with
opened
out
could
and
sheet
but
happened
not
had
again.
behind
left
we
if
Heuston
Wilson
machine
surrounded.
We sent
attack
a white
it
morning
conscious.
Surrender
a lull
sniping
used
They
completely
under
I
attacked
was
damage.
a bomb.
fully
individual
ammunition
this
was
into
to know
back.
head.
then
escape.
McLoughlin
the
There
Wednesday
of
During
end
cover.
we were
and
laneway
by
out
opened
that
end
of
July,
1916
/Every
-8-
man in
Every
Court
Military
had
casualties
As far
as
of
Garrison
the
and
sentenced
to death.
been
inflicted
on the
I
the
Liam
Staines,
Liam
Derrington,
Thomas
Sean
McLoughlin,
Patrick
Frank
O'Dea,
we were
reinforced
Clarke,
-
four
Swords
Meehan,
or
July
were
-
Joe
Edward
Levins.
Byrne,
Roche,
On
Tuesday
Joe
Norton,
Marks,
_
two men named
Balfe,
Derrington,
Brennan,
Coleman,
and
or
Carroll.
over
Joe
been
notified
were
more
very
first
that
meeting
under
evenin
John.
Crinnigan,
all
Kelly
the
of
than
the
of
on with
go ahead
the
was
present
would
in
we would
whether
not
It
recruit
think
there, also
was
meeting
the
that
he had
say
That
present.
meeting.
and
in
house
when
annoyed
I
officers
reorganisation
his
then
remember
and
officers
I
open again.
the
Leo Henderson
was
meeting.
a dozen
to
in
distinctly
in
to
Brugha
there.
came
McGrath
available
discussion
come out
was
I
any
Cathal
by
was
O'Hegarty
Liam
1916
August
It
go underground
carry
J.
Peppard,
-
called
Rathmines.
Dermot
by Dick
J.
John
the
Richard
Heuston,
of
them.
by
constituted
Stephenson,
Brookes,
number
Company.
In
Dublin
Fred
by
A great
James
Kelly,
tried
British
Sean
Cullen,
J.
was
following
-
(John)
named Wilson,
men
the
remember
Mendicity:
William
Garrison
Mendicity
that
was
was decided
likely
men and
training.
Signed:
Richard
Date:
19.
may
J.
Witness:
Comdt
R.
Feeley
19th
Date:
1949
may
Balfe
1949
not
there
the
at
to