First hand account of gun battle in Dublin

GizAGoOfYerGee

The National Archives have some gripping witness statements of the 1916 Rising. Some of them read like a novel.

http://www.nationalarchives.ie/topics/1916/gallery.html

Below are extracts of the statement by Séamus De Brun. He was a soldier based in the Jacob’s Factory who took part in the bicycle sortie to relieve Boland’s Mills.

S&#233 wrote: »

Monday, 24 April 1916

The heavy guns of the British were in action, a red glare appeared in the sky, the GPO was on fire with incendiary shells. I could see the sky illuminated through the window whilst on night watch, the general attack was developing.

Watching the reflection of the burning city through that window, for by this time O´Connell Street was burning, listening to the constant booming of the Artillery, the smaller Howth gun, the sharp whisp-like report of the Winchester as snipers exchanged shots.

Of one thing we were sure, the Home Rule Bill was dead, an end had been made of Parliamentary humbug on the question of Irish National self government.

Gunfire has ceased for a while, with the exception of the interchange of a sniper, The Shelbourne Hotel had been occupied by the British troops and machine guns were spaying the College of Surgeons from the roof.

On Friday morning terrific fighting was taking place at Mount Street bridge where enormous losses were inflicted on the British.

We sped up Lesson Street. We passed a barricade at the Russel Hotel, Stephen´s Green, without interference from the Shelbourne Hotel and without mishap. We went through Pemroke Street, turned into Fitzwilliam Square and then into Fitzwilliam Street. At Baggot street corner one of the brother Walshes (Jack) was put in charge of a Red Cross man as a precaution. We heard a section of the Red Cross were assisting the British.

We cycled down Merrion Square when suddenly from the north end of Merrion Square we came under fire . Khaki clad men from Mount Street ran to the roadway, dropt on their knees and blazed away, others from round the corner of the Square fired through railings. O´Riordan yelled "take cover!". We jumped from our machines. There was little cover to take. I got possession of an electric tram standing in the middle of the road. Others got to railings and doorways, in fact there was precious little cover.

As we rounded the corner towards York Street, machine gun and rifles sounded with infernal din. We came under heavy fire from the top of Grafton Street. The Shelbourne Hotel and College of Surgeons came into direct action. Every post in the vicinity engaged. A breeze of bullets whizzed by us. I thought, and one thinks quickly in those situations, we would never turn York Street corner. Proud´s Lane is a near turn, I zig-zaged my bicycle to dodge snipers. Towards the lane someone comes up on my left. Someone is hit. It´s O´Grady. I think he came up on my left. We fall back as a rear-guard while he is taken to the factory. When we reach there he is lying wounded in the groin and shin, poor fellow the pallor of death is in his face. The Red Cross are attending him.

----

Have a read of the other witness statements. They really are the making of a good book or movie!

CrazyRabbit

For a moment there, I thought you had visited Finglas and wanted to give us details of your trip.

InTheTrees

GizAGoOfYerGee wrote: »

We came under heavy fire from the top of Grafton Street.

Amazing isnt it? I still get chills reading a sentence like that.

Mr Benevolent

Friggin' terrorists.

gurramok

Jesus, thought you were talking about a drug gang battle recently, not in 1916!

One thing is certain from our post, the southside is indeed dodgeville

kowloon

Once I got to the Jacobs actory part the entire story was overshadowed by a Fig-Roll craving. Otherwise a good story and interesting link. I think I'll wiki Fig-Rolls now.

danger mouse

Confab wrote: »

Friggin' terrorists.

Post= fail

starbelgrade

My Grandparents used to work on O'Connell Street in a place called Mackey's Seeds. I remember they had a photo of them standing outside the shop front and the glass was riddled with bullet holes!

Then a good few years ago, when I was in college, some friends of mine had rented a house near Broadstone in Dublin. One day, they discovered a small basement room hidden behind the kitchen cabinets & in there were some old guns. They called the police, who then handed them over to the museum as guns from the 1916 Rising... the hidden room was most likely a hideout for rebel soldiers at the time.

When you think about it, it really wasn't that long ago. Less than 100 years.

danger mouse

GizAGoOfYerGee wrote: »

The National Archives have some gripping witness statements of the 1916 Rising. Some of them read like a novel.

http://www.nationalarchives.ie/topics/1916/gallery.html

Below are extracts of the statement by Séamus De Brun. He was a soldier based in the Jacob’s Factory who took part in the bicycle sortie to relieve Boland’s Mills.

The heavy guns of the British were in action, a red glare appeared in the sky, the GPO was on fire with incendiary shells. I could see the sky illuminated through the window whilst on night watch, the general attack was developing.

Watching the reflection of the burning city through that window, for by this time O´Connell Street was burning, listening to the constant booming of the Artillery, the smaller Howth gun, the sharp whisp-like report of the Winchester as snipers exchanged shots.

Of one thing we were sure, the Home Rule Bill was dead, an end had been made of Parliamentary humbug on the question of Irish National self government.

Gunfire has ceased for a while, with the exception of the interchange of a sniper, The Shelbourne Hotel had been occupied by the British troops and machine guns were spaying the College of Surgeons from the roof.

On Friday morning terrific fighting was taking place at Mount Street bridge where enormous losses were inflicted on the British.

We sped up Lesson Street. We passed a barricade at the Russel Hotel, Stephen´s Green, without interference from the Shelbourne Hotel and without mishap. We went through Pemroke Street, turned into Fitzwilliam Square and then into Fitzwilliam Street. At Baggot street corner one of the brother Walshes (Jack) was put in charge of a Red Cross man as a precaution. We heard a section of the Red Cross were assisting the British.

We cycled down Merrion Square when suddenly from the north end of Merrion Square we came under fire . Khaki clad men from Mount Street ran to the roadway, dropt on their knees and blazed away, others from round the corner of the Square fired through railings. O´Riordan yelled "take cover!". We jumped from our machines. There was little cover to take. I got possession of an electric tram standing in the middle of the road. Others got to railings and doorways, in fact there was precious little cover.

As we rounded the corner towards York Street, machine gun and rifles sounded with infernal din. We came under heavy fire from the top of Grafton Street. The Shelbourne Hotel and College of Surgeons came into direct action. Every post in the vicinity engaged. A breeze of bullets whizzed by us. I thought, and one thinks quickly in those situations, we would never turn York Street corner. Proud´s Lane is a near turn, I zig-zaged my bicycle to dodge snipers. Towards the lane someone comes up on my left. Someone is hit. It´s O´Grady. I think he came up on my left. We fall back as a rear-guard while he is taken to the factory. When we reach there he is lying wounded in the groin and shin, poor fellow the pallor of death is in his face. The Red Cross are attending him.

----

Have a read of the other witness statements. They really are the making of a good book or movie!

Thanks for the post.. I love reading the first hand witness accounts from 1916.