Brian Dillon

Brian Dillon (1830 - ca. 1872) was an Irish Republican leader. He was born into a family of seven children. His birthplace was a small house on the Rathcooney Road, Cork. When the family moved to Dillons Cross, the old house was demolished and some of the bricks were later used to form Brian Dillon's tomb in Rathcooney.

At an early age, Dillon became a leader of the Fenian organisation and gained widespread support among the Irish at home and abroad. Under his supervision, recruits drilled on the fair field and at Rathpeacon. The movement reached a position of great strength and waited for word to come through on a rising. Before they could do so, the Fenian leaders were arrested in Cork. When brought to trial, Dillon was found guilty of conspiracy to depose the Queen and establish a republic in Ireland. He and his colleagues were sentenced to ten years penal servitude. He was to spend five years of that sentence in Pentonville prison in England, and the remainder in Woking prison. There, he lost considerable weight and eventually was allowed to return home "on account of his health". His prospects of living much longer were now very slight. He died at his home just over a year following his release, aged 42. He was buried in Rathcooney.

The Gaelic football and Hurling Club near Dillons Cross in Cork City, Brian Dillons is named after him.