This is the only known photograph of the 1916 Clonmel

This is the only known photograph of the 1916 Clonmel volunteers after their release from various places of detention - taken in front of the
Boat Club premises in 1917. The old porch was only replaced this year 2007.
WORKMEN'S BOAT CLUB, 1»17—This photograph is t h e only known group of many of the Clonmel Volunteers. It Is. there­
f o r e , of h i s t o r i c
importance. Those in the picture are (from left): Front row—W. Byrne. T. O'Regan. W. Cleary. J. Keane. G.
Allen. D. Byrne. C . Rot he. M L OSulllvan. Second r o w — J . Hickey. P. Martin, 4 . Fitzgerald. P. Hickey, T. O'Brien, E. O'Dwy.er,
\V. Burke. I). Daly, P. O'Dwyer. Third row—I. Allen.
. T. Allen. E. Quinn, E. Moloney. J. Morrissey, M. Mt-Mahon, J.
Quirke. M. Tynan. Back row—J. Tynan. \V. Mackey, T. Barrett. I). Drohan.
4923
Proinsias 6 Druachain
(second term in office-previous 1912)
Ba dhuine mdr le rd £ i gConradh na Gaeilge, i mBrdithreachas na Poblachta, i
Sinn Fern agus in Oglaigh na h£ireann. Eisean a bhi i gceanas na hOglach i
gCluam Meala Seachtain na Cdsai agusddbharr sin cuircadh i bpriosun i.
Togkadh £ ina theachta don cbJad Ddil ach d 'txrigh si as i mi Eandir 1922 ttrisc
ndr aontaigh si le tearmaf an Chonartha. Rinne si srfr obair or son na Gaeilge.
Frank Drohan head centre I.R.B., member of Sinn Fein, Founder
of the Irish Volunteers in Clonmel, Commandant of the Irish
Volunteers Easter Week in Clonmel. Imprisoned in various places
including Cork, Richmond Barracks Dublin, Usk and Glasgow.
A member of the first Dail, resigned his position in 1922 as he disagreed
with the terms of the Treaty. He did sterling work to further the cause
of the Irish language.
WILLIAM GREENE, A.S.M., 1st Tipperaiy Troop
First S.M., 4th Tipperary Troop
William Greene member of the Workmens' Boat Club
was the man responsible for drawing the
illuminations, many of which still survive
in the Clubhouse.
°Rionsias O*OKU a c a i n
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The entrance to St. Patrick's
cemetery Clonmel
where the remains
of Frank Drohan lie.
1944
"In memory of
Frank Drohan, Irishtown
who died on the 5th March, 1953
and his parents....."
Frank Drohan Road
Ceannasai Oglaigh
Chluain Meala 1916
Teachta Dala (TD)
Maor Chluain Meala dha uair
Lifelong work to advance
the use of the Irish language
'He rekindled the living fire.
%
Droha
n R o 9 ( /
Pro;nsias 6 Druachain
(1879 - W53)
iOoiakihCMwin n * ^ " ,
^ T " ^ii at son CWV •>»-• ,.
- fed D M t o » « W
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Easter 1916, Frank Drohan commandant of the Irish Volunteers assembled the local volunteers in Drohan's yard in Irishtown
"On Easter Sunday morning I had all the officers in our yard, the coach building yard in Irishtown, arranging what we were going to do... The orders
I had got to rise gave no details as to what precisely we were to do. This was left entirely to ourselves." (Statement by witness Frank Drohan, 1952)
C '.al>i a
Four of the Men of 1916
Phibsboro
The Clonmel
Volunteers
Mm Wmtmrnt,•a—
— Holy Week, ( 9 f «
a! nwch. ind
p»OM
documcMi,
Htm VMtMMn Ituclnttly pr.of » F M * ' . It!*:—
VBtitaOt
FRANK DROHAN,
• im; JOHN
•ASRETT, THOMAS.
BARROH. THOMAS
BOWEN, II r.
BOY LAN, CHARLES.
SYRNfc. WILLIAM.
CULARY. WILLIAM.
COONEY. JOHN.
CRONIN. 10HN.
. CUNNINGHAM. PHILIP
1 . «.«." . . IAMBS
DONOVAN. THOMAS.
DROHAN. MICHAEL
DROHAN. RORERT.
FORRISTAU IAMBI
HAI PIN, THOMAS.
HAHRAHAN. MICHAEL.
HICXEY, PATRICK
HURLEY. SEAN.
KfcNNEOY. IAMES
MACK BY. DOMTNKtK.
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MACKEY. JOHN
MACKEY. WILLIAM.
MOLONEY. E D W A R D .
UORRISSCY. JOHN.
MORRLWFY; CIMFFRIY: ',
MORRI5SGY, SEAN.
.
MY1J!I. W I L L I A M
O'BRIEN. THOMAS
OTJWYKR, EDWARD.
O-DWYER. PATRICK
O M E A R A . FRANK.
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..'.in: S E A M U S
O'NEILL, S E A N .
0*RPOAN. THOMAS
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oAftLIVAN, MICHAEL.
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i i ' B . n i . IF.REM 1 A H .
RYAN, I A M B S .
SKEHAN, DENIS. ~\
TYNAN. JOHN.
" TYNAN, MATTHEW
WHITE, MICHAEL
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Richmond Barracks, Inchicore was the centre to which all the Clonmel volunteers were
eventually held prior to deportation to centres in Great Britain.
The barracks had been one of the main recruiting barracks for Irishmen participating
in the Great War 1914- 1918.
It was in this barracks that all the courtmartials of the 1916 leaders took place.
Frank Drohan in his account to the Bureau of Military Intelligence spoke of "them being crowded
in groups of 25 to a room meant for 11 men."
This Barracks, known as Keogh Barracks was among the first Barracks to be vacated by the
Irish army after the Civil War.
The Christian Brothers then opened a school there in 1928, a case of "the Muse supplanting Mars"
The school will close this June and the remaining Barrack buildings school included will revert to
the control of Dublin Corporation.
The above is a copy of the Sinn Fein constitution and Frank Drohan's
own membership. Frank Drohan was an Irish Irelander all his life
and this was seen particularly in his purchase of Irish goods, even
where the quality was inferior.
[nchicon
To the right can be seen a copy of the original order to intern
Frank Drohan in Frongoch in Wales in the aftermath of the 1916
Rising.
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fciuuifci
1,11Mb U« J.B
CU I I U H V U H ttbSOO l * t 1QI1B
ana
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8
prominent aenber of an crjtanlsation oallod the I r i s h Vo]unteers or of an
c r i m i n a t i o n oalled tr.e C i t i t c n Army, which hove prono^ed armed Insurrection
agaJDat Hie Majesty.
dtfyt
I f w i t h i n seven
from the datt" of his reoeivlngt,tnis notioe the abovenaaed prisoner eubmita t o the Seoretary of State any representatlona a ^ i n a t the
proviaiona of the said DrUar, suoh representations w i l l " l « referred to the Advisory
CoBmittee appointed for.the purpose of advising the (teorttary of State with respeat
t o the InternoMnt and deportation ->f aliens and presided over by a Judge of the
High Oourt, and w i l l u duly considered by the Committee,
I f the Secretary of
:u-.e im a a t i i f U4 r j fee report of the aalJ Coaatlttew that t h * M a r naj, so f a r
s i i t affects the abovt toasted prisoner, be revoked or varied without Injury t o the
public safety .or the defence of the r e a l s , he w i l l revoke or vary the Order
accordingly by a f u r t h J Order I n w r i t i n g under his hand.
Palling suoh
revocation or v a r i a t i o n the Order w i l l remain i n force.
Dublin City M a p
E a s t e r W e e k 1*) 16
.11 =
M O D E L O F RICHMOND B A R R A C K S , I N C H I C O R E W H E R E A L L T H E D E T A I N E E S
W E R E H E L D IN T H E A F T E R M A T H O F T H E 1916 RISING.
Frank Drohan...detainee
The Gentle Revolutionary " ... Figures in a Clonmel Landscape, M. Ahern 2006 Chapter 23
"All he wanted was to get the young people to learn the language "... ibid
•
I
"the infamous Frank Drohan" ... from the records of the R . L C . 1917
i
1
"an Irish Irelander".... Lieut. Col. T. Halpin, statement to Bureau of Military Intelligence
w
"a man of deep sincerity"...
"a man of sterling honesty"... Figures in a Clonmel Landscape 2006
"a fearless and outspoke protagonist of patriotic ideals" ... Nationalist 1953
FRANK DROHAN 1916 EXHIBITION
As from Tuesday June 5th, 2007, the Main Guard, O'Connell Street Clonmel hosts an exhibition
on Frank Drohan, the leader of the Clonmel Volunteers, 1916.
The exhibition introduces the general public to the man and his times, and attempts to
evaluate his contribution against the backdrop of the fight for Irish freedom.
The exhibition is organised by the Workmens' Boat Club as part of their commitment to
commemorate in a fitting way the emergence of the new state in the years 1900 - 1925, and
those driving that emergence.
Equally the WBC strives to build and conserve the record of that time in paper, photograph,
poster and by every other means to hand for future reference.
The exhibition runs in the foyer of the Main Guard until June 22nd.
Our thanks to the OPW for the use of the premises and to the County Museum and the
Town Library for the use of exhibition panels and display case.
Open to schools and the general public daily 09.30 - 5.00, seven days a week
Thanks also to Clonmel Borough Council for funding towards the exhibition.
th
Committee Meeting 5 March 1916
The president presided. Also present - Messrs Thos. Halpin, P. Hickey, W. Mackey,
John Purcell, D. Drohan, Thos O Regan, George Allen and Thos. Allen.
An application was received from Mr R. Drohan (sec. of The Gaelic League) for the
use of the club for St. Patricks Night for the purpose of holding a dance. After a
discussion Mr P Hickey proposed and Mr Cleary seconded that the club be granted.
This was unanimously agreed to. It was decided to charge 5/- for the night and they to
be held accountable for any damage done.
It was decided to order 200cwt. of coal.
An application was received from Mr P Martin (through the sec.) for the old boat
lying in the yard and his willingness to pay 5/- for same. The matter was left over to
next meeting. Messrs T. Halpin, T O Regan, W. Cleary and D. Drohan to inspect and
report.
An order was made to have the oars inspected and reported on.
A discussion took place with reference to paying of The Volunteer Society.
Meeting adj.
Committee Meeting 30 March.
Mr James Keane president presided and there were also present - Messrs Thos
Halpin, Thos Allen, William Mackey, Thomas O Regan, Patrick Hickey, and George
Allen.
The following letter addressed to secretary was ordered to be inserted on the minutes:-
49 Irishtown,
Clonmel.
Dear Georgie,
Allow me to thank the Chairman and committee for their kind message of sympathy on
the death of my dear sister.
I remain yours very sincerely,
J. Rawlins.
Mr Thos O Regan reported that he inspected the boat in yard and that it was not worth
repairing. It was decided not to dispose of the boat unless 10/- was got for it.
Mr O Regan was ordered to get all the necessary requirements for the doing up of the
boats and oars, and to start work immediately.
The secretary was ordered to furnish a bill of 61- to Gaelic Hall and to make out
volunteer bill.
An order was made to pay 3/- for washing of tablecloth.
Some members having made statements with reference to remarks they made at last
committee meeting and which was told outside, the meeting adj.
nd
General Meeting 2 April 1916
Mr James Keane President presided.
Roll call and subscriptions of £1-7-0 was received and entered.
The minutes of previous meetings were read and signed.