| Continued from previous page On April 20th Thomas Fennell and Fitzpatrick were removed to Ennis to stand trial. The former on a treason felony charge, the latter on a “Whiteboy” offence. (23) The judge was William Keogh, who had sentenced the Fenian leader O’Donovan Rossa. (24) Fitzpatrick was sentenced to eighteen months with hard labour but was released in May 1868 on condition that he emigrated to America. (25) Fennell was sentenced to ten years penal servitude and transported to Western Australia. (26) He was aboard the “Hougoumont” at anchor near Portland Prison when he first heard the news of the execution of the Manchester Martyrs. (27) When Kilrush decided in 1897 to erect a memorial to these men Thomas McCarthy Fennell was contacted. Fennell had long since left the convict settlement and was now the owner of a saloon in Elmira. “It is gratifying,” he wrote to Thomas Mahony, Kilrush “that the national sentiment, for which the old country has been always noted, still lives and that her sturdy sons are as ready and willing as ever to maintain it.” (28) Fennell was instrumental in having a generous subscription sent from America towards the cost of the memorial. (29) Nor did Fennell forget to return the compliment to Father White, who later became parish priest of Nenagh in County Tipperary. Father White sent his curate the Rev. M. B.Corry to America at the turn of the nineteenth century to collect funds to build a new church in that North Tipperary town, which like Kilbaha was in the Diocese of Killaloe. “I got a considerable share of money for him,” wrote Fennell. (30) Fennell was released from captivity with eight other prisoners in March 1871 and went to America. (31) He still maintained an interest in Irish affairs and he was the person who gave to John Devoy the idea, which resulted in the rescue from Fremantle some years later of the soldier prisoners. These were Irishmen serving in the British army, who were discovered to be either members of the Fenian Brotherhood or active sympathisers with the movement. Because they had proved unfaithful to the Crown they were subjected to the vilest tortures during their years of detention and their rescue was consequently of paramount concern to Fenians everywhere. (32) The only West Clare man to give his life at that time was Patrick Keating, a soldier of the Fifth Dragoon Guards, who was arrested in 1866 and sentenced to penal servitude in Fremantle for “concealing mutiny”. He died of a heart attack, brought on no doubt by the rigours of his imprisonment, before the arrival of the rescue-ship “Catalpa” and is buried in an unmarked grave far from his native Corca Baiscinn. (33) Fenian actions in Kerry, Cork and Dublin receive prominence in history books. No mention is made of the action in Kilbaha, in which the Irish Republic - all thirty-two counties – was declared in armed rebellion by the leader John Deloughery and baptised in the blood of Thomas Mc Carthy Fennell. It is hoped that in some small way this article will redress the slight to Kilbaha and give to the men of Kilballyowen the place in history they have won for themselves. Sources: (1) “Clare Journal” (CJ), March 25th 1867. (2) Thom’s Directory 1867. (3) Chief Secretary’s Office (CSO) Registered Paper (RP) 7641/1867 (4) CSO RP 13503/1867 (Const. J Murphy). (5) CSO RP 7641/1867 (6) CSO RP7641/1867 (Hehir, Wilmott, Lloyd, Stanford, Stephen Brennan) (7) CJ March 11th, CJ July 18th ,1867 (8) Anraoi de Blác, Cill Bheathach (9) Anraoi de Blác (10) CSO RP 764/1867 (Lloyd) (11) CSO RP7641/1867 (Wilmott) (12) CSO RP 7641/1867 (Wilmott, Lloyd, Stanford) (13) CSO RP 7641/1867 (Joseph Rockett) (14) CSO RP 7641/1867 (Dr John Keogh) (15) CSO RP 7641/1867 (Mc Cullagh RM) (16) CSO RP 5706/1867 (Sub.Inspector Kennedy to Inspector General (IG) (17) CSO RP 7641/1867 ( Sgt. Cronin to IG) (18) CSO RP 7641/1867 (Sub. Insp. Kennedy to IG) (19) John Kelly, Capel Street, Dublin and Anraoi de Blác. (20) CSO RP 13503/1867 (Const. O’Brien to IG) (21) CSO RP 13503/1867 (Const. Murphy to IG) (22) CSO RP 5246R/1869 (23) CSO RP 7641/1867 (24) CJ July 18th, 1867 (25) Fenian Papers 5246/1869 (26) Fenian Papers 5246/1869. CJ, July 18th 1867. (27) Máiréad Ní Dhuibhir Cearnóg na Mairtíreach, Cill Ruis (Letter from Thomas Mc Carthy Fennell to Thomas Mahoney, June 1st 1867. (28) Ibid. (29) Máiréad Ní Dhuibhir. (Manchester Martyrs Memorial Committee, Minutes of Meetings 1897). (30) Máiréad Ní Dhuibhir. (Letter from Thomas Mc Carthy Fennell to Thomas Mahoney , July 12th 1897) (31) O’Brien & Ryan, “Devoy’s Postbag”, Vol. 1, P. 71. (32) Ibid. (33) Devoy, John, “Recollections of an Irish Rebel”. P.143. Buíochas B. Mac Giolla Choille, Keeper of State Papers (for permission to publish extracts from State Papers); Iníon Mhic Ghiolla Phádraig, State Papers Office; An tAthair S. Ó Deá, Stiúrthóir Fhoras Uí Chomhraí (for access to Foras Archives); Anraoi de Blác, Kilbaha; John Kelly, Capel Street Dublin and Rehy, Kilballyowen; Máiread Ní Dhuibhir, Kilrush; Mago Carmody (RIP), Kilballyowen; Johnsie Keane, Ross, Kilbaha; Mártan Mór Ó Fionnaíl (RIP), Ross, Kilbaha. © Mathúin Mac Fheorais/Matthew Bermingham 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 To Readers of this Article: The author would welcome information on John Deloughery/Delohery who lived in Danbury Connecticut after his escape from Ireland in 1867. He would also welcome information about the killing of a Crown Witness from Ennis County Clare named Simon Navin or Nevin in Ballarat Australia in 1870. Navin had betrayed his Fenian comrades for what he thought was the safety of Australia. Information to clonard@eircom.net Previous Page HOME Return to Article List |
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