- Conn Colbert
-
Cornelius Colbert 
Conn Colbert
Born 19 October 1888
Moanleana, Castlemahon, County Limerick, IrelandDied 8 May 1916
Kilmainham Jail, Dublin City, IrelandAllegiance Irish Volunteers Years of service 1913 - 1916 Rank Captain Commands held F Company fourth Battalion Battles/wars Easter Rising Cornelius "Conn" Colbert (Conchúir Ó Colbáird;[1] Irish: Conchúir Ó Colbáird; 19 October 1888 – May 8, 1916)[2] was an Irish rebel and pioneer of Fianna Éireann. For his part in the 1916 Easter Rising, he was shot by firing squad in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, on 8 May 1916.
Contents
Early life
Born in Moanleana, Castlemahon, County Limerick he was the fourth youngest of thirteen children.,[3] The family moved to the village of Athea when Con was three years old. He was educated at the local national school. He left Athea at the age of sixteen and went to live with his sister Catherine in Ranelagh Co. Dublin. Con continued his education at a Christian Brothers school in North Richmond street. Colbert was employed as a clerk in the offices of Kennedy's Bakery in Dublin.[4]Colbert was a deeply religious Catholic, and refrained from smoking or drinking.
Fianna Éireann
Conn became a drill instructor at St. Enda's School, founded by Pádraig Pearse, while a member of Fianna Éireann. In 1913 he was an early member of the Irish Volunteers.[6] He also joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
Easter Rising
In the weeks leading up to the Rising, he acted as bodyguard for Thomas Clarke.[7]
Colbert (left) giving drill instruction to Enda boysDuring Easter Week, he fought at Watkin's Brewery, Jameson's Distillery and Marrowbone Lane.[8] Thomas MacDonagh at 3.15 p.m. Sunday, 30 April surrendered to Brigadier-General Lowe. He was then allowed to return to the other garrisons to arrange for their surrender.
Colbert surrendered with the Marrowbone Lane Garrison along with the South Dublin Union Garrison, which had been led by Eamonn Ceannt.[9] When the order to surrender was issued, he assumed the command of his unit to save the life of his superior officer, who was a married man.[10]
They were marched to Richmond Barracks, where Colbert would later be court-martialled. Transferred to Kilmainham Gaol, he was told on Sunday 7 May that he was to be shot the following morning. He wrote no fewer than ten letters during his time in prison. During this time in detention, he did not allow any visits from his family; writing to his sister, he said a visit "would grieve us both too much." [11]
Execution
The night before his execution he sent for Mrs. Ó Murchadha who was also being held prisoner. He told her he was "proud to die for such a cause. I will be passing away at the dawning of the day." Holding his bible, he told her he was leaving it to his sister. He handed her three buttons from his volunteer uniform, telling her "They left me nothing else," before asking her when she heard the volleys of shots in the morning for Eamonn Ceannt, Michael Mallin and himself would she say a Hail Mary for the souls of the departed.The soldier who was guarding the prisoner began crying according to Mrs. Ó Murchadha, and recorded him saying "If only we could die such deaths."[12]
Colbert was shot by firing squad the next morning on 8 May 1916.
Legacy
- Colbert Railway Station in Limerick City is named after him.
- Con Colbert Road in Dublin is named in his honour.
- Fianna Fáil Cumann in University of Limerick is named after him.
- Colbert Street in his native Athea, Co Limerick is named after him as is the local community hall.
Notes
- ^ Piaras F. Mac Lochlainn, Last Words, The Stationery Office (Dublin), ISBN 0-7076-0101-0, pg.147
- ^ D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), ISBN 0-7171-2520-3, Pg.75
- ^ Michael Madden Captain Con Colbert Defender Watkins Brewery Marrowbone Lane Distillery Area Easter 1916 (Limerick,1983)
- ^ D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), ISBN 0-7171-2520-3, Pg.75
- ^ http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/index.asp?docID=2518
- ^ D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), ISBN 0-7171-2520-3, Pg.75
- ^ D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), ISBN 0-7171-2520-3, Pg.75
- ^ D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), ISBN 0-7171-2520-3, Pg.75
- ^ Piaras F. Mac Lochlainn, Last Words, The Stationery Office (Dublin), ISBN 0-7076-0101-0, pg.145
- ^ D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), ISBN 0-7171-2520-3, Pg.75
- ^ Piaras F. Mac Lochlainn, Last Words, The Stationery Office (Dublin), ISBN 0-7076-0101-0, pg.146
- ^ Piaras F. Mac Lochlainn, Last Words, The Stationery Office (Dublin), ISBN 0-7076-0101-0, pg.151
External links
Easter Rising Signatories of the Proclamation of the Republic
(executed after the Rising)Also executed for their role in the Rising Ned Daly · Willie Pearse · Michael O'Hanrahan · John MacBride · Michael Mallin · Conn Colbert · Seán Heuston · Thomas Kent · Roger CasementOther Irish figures British figures Categories:- 1888 births
- 1916 deaths
- People from County Limerick
- Members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood
- Executed participants in the Easter Rising
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