The Moore Street Block that is under contention should be acquired in its totality by the Government of Ireland by compulsory purchase or by designated National Monument devices, on behalf of the Irish People and developed as The Irish Republic Memorial Battle Site.
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Prionsias O Rahilly, (fourth from left) grandson of The O Rahilly, the only leader of the 1916 Insurrection who died on the corner of this block with some of the citizens who are occupying the Moore Street site to prevent it from being demolished. Apart from my wish, as a citizen of this Republic, to honour the soldiers and civilians who died on the street at this block, I have a personal interest in seeing the last remaining intact remnant of this street survive.
My extended family (Richardson, Killeen, Ward, McDonogh, O Leary, Hart, Halpin, Carney Dodrill, et al) involvement with Moore Street starts from the late 1700s. From the early 1800s they lived or traded from No.
2, 17, 31, 32, 41, 42, 45, 47, 48, 51 54, 58 and 62 Moore Street. They also lived and traded in the adjacent streets, Coles s Lane, Norfolk Market, Moore Street Market, Anglesea Market, Riddles Row etc.
It was into the Abattoirs (known as the lime yard) owned by my Great Grandfather Edward Richardson that the O Rahilly s men escaped after the charge on the barricade. In 1832 My Great, Great grandmother Mary Killeen was born at No.
17 Moore Street where her father was a shoemaker. This premises was variously occupied by Gerald Richardson and his family from the 1840s until the 1880s.
The Richardson, McDonagh, Halpin families continued to trade in this street up to its near demolition in the 1960s when Dominick McDonagh s shop at 32. still had a presence. All of these families mainly involved in the meat supply trade were inter-married or inter-traded with each other and some had outlying shops in other parts of the city.
Some like the Richardsons were guild masters and also controlled the meat trade from the Dublin Corporation Abattoir on the North Circular Road. Here is a list of those butchers trading in Moore Street (some with outlying shops) in 1935 (you will see from the addresses, many of which were occupied by my extended family, the kind of inter-relationships between many of these trading families. Those marked * were related to my family the Richardsons and traded here from the mid 1840s)
Plunkett, Joseph 28 Moore Street,
(Plunkett, Joseph 122 Upper Drumcondra Road)
Plunkett, Joseph 6 Moore Street,
Plunkett, Patrick 16 Moore Street, Dublin
(Plunkett, Patrick 46 Summerhill)
Oregano, Cielia Savino 3 Moore Street,
Oregano, Clelia Savino 58 Moore Street,
* McDonagh, Mrs.
Margaret.
32 Moore Street,
(same family as above) McDonough, Michael, and Co.11 & 12 Chatham St.,
* O’Donnell, Christopher 62 Moore Street,
Buckley, F. X.
61 Moore Street,
Caffrey, Eugene 51 Moore Street
* Carney, James 43 Moore Street
Corcoran, Timothy 28A Moore Street
* Dodrill, George 41 Moore Street
* O Donnell, Christopher 62 Moore Street
* Dowling, John, 15 Moore Street
* Hart, Edward, 53 Parnell Street,
* Hart, Patrick 56 Moore Street
McKeogh, Peter 55 Moore Street
Martin, James F.
40 Moore Street
Ryan, William 44 Moore Street
Simmonson, Oliver 39 Moore Street
Turner, John 53 Moore Street
Wallace, Joseph Henry, 45 Moore Street
Wallace Joseph Henry, 47 Moore Street
Walsh, Thomas 54 Moore Street
(Formerly of Moore Street Richardson, Gerald 16 Francis Street, Dublin
Flynn, John & Co.
24 Moore Street,
(also 60 Upper Dorset Street, and 41 Meath Street. Image may be NSFW.
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No.
16 Moore Street- Family residence of the Plunkett Family
during the 1916 Easter Rising Written by Brendan Plunkett, son of John Plunkett. The Easter Rising commenced at midday on the Monday 24th April 1916 and undoubtedly had a profound effect to the residents of Moore Street.
The Rebels occupied the GPO up until Friday 28th April, but re-enforcements from the British Forces, including the Sherwood Foresters arrived, and a gunboat, the Helga, commenced heavy shelling upon the roof of the GPO. Incendiary devices were causing extensive fires within the building so a decision to evacuate was agreed. In the subsequent 2 days the Rebels had made their way through the back lanes of Moore Street and burrowed their way to finally settle in No.16.
James Connolly had been taken on a stretcher and was carried to an upstairs bedroom. At the early outbreak of the Rising, my father, with his two sisters, their mother Mary and a woman servant, were taken back to Pat s mother, (the Granny) , in Crossmacole on a horse and carriage to avoid the dangers of the shelling and shootings that ensued. Pat, it is understood possibly remained in Moore St.
for a brief period during the Rising as he had livestock, pigs /horses, to attend.
Sheets from the house were torn up to dress the wounds of the injured. Connolly was badly nursing a bullet wound in the ankle. He was also shot in the shoulder.
Despite his pain, it is documented, that he continued to be the most influential military strategist of the Irish Rebels. Padhraig Pearse wrote;
He, Connolly, lies wounded, but is still is the guiding brain of our resistance . (The Easter Rising, Conor Kostick- Lorcan Collins) Pat spoke very little of this period in his life but it must have been a terrifying time for the family.
He would have witnessed a lot of the shootings and attacks on the adjoining streets and it is understandable that it was a period of terrible destruction and violence for a young married man to experience, especially with a very young family. It was from this residence that a decision to surrender was agreed. On Saturday 29th April 1916 the Commandant of the Irish Republican Army, P draic Pearse, and others met and their decision to enter negotiations was recorded on a sheet of cardboard.
It is our understanding that the piece of cardboard in question was most likely the backing to a photograph of Mary Plunkett. This, apparently, was a draught copy and not the original surrender document that was given to the Commandant of the British Forces, General Lowe. He insisted on unconditional surrender .
A second draft was written and an iconic photograph, which has now become a national emblem of the Rising, clearly outlines Pearse surrendering to General Lowe in Parnell Street with Nurse Elizabeth O Farrell on his right hand side. It was subsequently revealed that the bottom part of Nurse O Farrell s tunic was airbrushed from the photo. TG4 actually made a documentary programme to highlight this detail.
When the family had returned to No.16, after the surrender, the cardboard backing was found in the strewn remains of personal belongings that were scattered in the house. After many years it was purchased by the National Library in 1967. Evelyn would give very graphic accounts of this period in her life.
She recalls, from her mother s stories, the family receiving new sheets from Cumann na mBan shortly after the surrender at No.
16. The eminent Dublin historian, Seamus Scully, also gave gravitas to the importance of the Plunkett residence during 1916- when addressing a lecture to the Old Dublin Society on the 14th December 1983 recalling the historical period after the Rising – he stated; But who would quell Mrs.
Plunkett s anger when she d return to her house at No.16 and find her dainty back garden of budding spring flowers pulped into the ground? And worse still, discover her front bedroom linen littered with butts of her blessed candles and her treasured linen sheets trampled on the floor and saturated in blood. Such a sacrilege !
Never were they touched from the camphorated bottom- locked drawer only for the solemn ritual of laying out the dead. But she was far from annoyed- but proud to learn that the gallant Connolly had lain on her private bed clothes and the flittered ones had been utilised for the wounded Volunteers. A compensation fund was set by Property Losses (Ireland) Committee, 4 months after the Rising, to City residents whose premises and personal belongings were damaged or stolen during the Rising.
Unfortunately Mary Plunkett was late in applying for her compensation. The latest date for notifying claims, as intimated in newspapers, was the 12th of August 1916. She apparently applied on the 23rd of August 1916.
Exact details of these events and the Plunkett file – ref 6965 , 3/083/34, are referenced in Barry Kennerk s wonderful book – Moore Street , The Story Of Dublin s Market District, which was launched in 2012 by Mercier Press. It is to the memory of these brave men that a commemorative plaque was rightfully placed on the front of the building in 1966 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Rising. It has often been asked, but, there is no immediate connection between Joseph Mary Plunkett, whose signature is on the Proclamation, and to any of our family.
Some historic background to development on sector of Dublin.
Historically this area has been mired and mauled by developers. The original culprits were Henry Moore, Earl of Drogheda, Sir Patrick Wemyes, Sir Christopher Dominic, Sir Humprey Jervis, Charles Campbell the Reynell estate, Luke Gardiner all land grabbers of these former lands of the Abbey of Saint Mary. Other subletters on this land ?
Gladstanes (Yeoman) who developed the Block from Coles Lane to Denmark Street including Birching Bunting or McCann Lane. Henry Moore created the streets in this area and smaller developers such as Gladstanes filled in. Henry s plan names the streets for himself Henry Street; Moore Street, Earl Street, Of (Off lane now Henry Lane) Drogheda Street (later Sackville and now Upper O Connell Street).
He added to this Mary Street (named for his wife mary Cole of Fermanagh) and Coles Lane. These lands were subject to many mortgages, marriage settlements and sublets. This entire development was laid out before 1728 on what was called the Ash Park of St Mary s Abbey, where Moore took the Abbot s House as his city residence.
After laying out his new streets, he built Drogheda House, a mansion situated between Earl St and the next street north, now called Cathedral St. The Earl, clearly not wanting to waste an opportunity, called this street Mellefont Place (he was also Baron Moore of Mellefont). A fountain was situated at the front of the house, pouring water into Drogheda St .
Drogheda St, linking Sackville St (northern end) to the river was by then only a narrow lane, and indeed on Rocque s map, did not continue to the river. As you will see on Rocque s map of 1756, the block now under discussion was not built on; the current block No 1 to No 10 was erected. Image may be NSFW.
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Patrick Wemyss (Wemys, Weames, Weemes, Waymes) was a close associate of the Earl of Ormond from the 1620’s. He was a cousin of Elizabeth Preston, Lady Ormond and indeed it is believed that it was Sir Patrick who introduced the couple. He came to Ireland in about 1629 and Walter Ormond granted him lands at Danesfort ad Bennettsbridge.
They had land deals in the counties of Kilkenny, Tipperary and Carlow. He was made a freeman of Waterford in 1633 and sheriff of Kilkenny from 1631 to 1635. Through his marriage to Mary Wheeler who was a daughter of Jonah Wheeler, the Bishop of Ossory; and through her he established many powerful local connections.
In 1639 he went to Scotland acting as messenger Between Ormond and Charles.
As a member of Ormond’s army he fought at Julianstown, Mellifont and Drogheda in 1641/2. He also fought at Kilrush in 1642 when it is reputed that his horse was shot from under him. In 1643 he acted as messenger to bring Ormond the Kings letter authorising him to negotiate a cessation with the Confederates.
In December 1644 and January 1645 he was involved with Henry Moore’s mother and others in a plot to capture Drogheda and hand it to the Scots.
He was imprisoned for his actions and Ormond broke with him. From his prison he wrote to the King and Francis Hamilton. He claimed he had the support of Charles for his actions.
In his letters to Col.Wemys and to Major Crawford he stressed his Scottish origins. He was exchanged for Sir Henry Tichbourne in late 1645. In 1646 he was based in Ulster and in the following year he was Colonel of a regiment of horse.
It was during this period that he was knighted. In 1654 he was a commissioner to raise assessments for Ireland and he was also an alderman of Kilkenny. Image may be NSFW.
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Calendar of State Papers Relating to Ireland 1641
Battle of Julianstown,Duleek Barony, County of Meath
Letter from Sir Patrick Wemyss to Earl of Ormond 29th November 1641.
I will now tell you of our misfortune. We lodged last night at Balrederie (Balrothery,), as my officers could not make the men march to Drogheda. We were informed that the enemy were upon us, but they did not fall on us.
Next day on the march, we sent out scouts and saw a few rebels, but after crossing the Julanstowne bridge, I saw them advancing towards us in as good order as ever I saw any men. I viewed them all, and to my conjecture they were not less than 3,000 men. They had three troops of launciers, two troops that had pistols and two field pieces.
I advised the foot captains to draw their men within the field just opposite where they were, for when we first did see them, we were marching in a dirty lane, and a high ditch on every side of us. So that my persuasion prevailed with them, they drew up themselves handsomely. I drew up the troops on their front, and told the captains that we were engaged in honour to charge them, and that I would charge them first with those horse I had.
They promised faithfully to second me. But when I made the trumpet sound, the rebels advanced towards us in five great bodies of foot; the horse, being on both wings, a little advance before the foot; but just as I was going to charge, the troop cried unto me and told me the foot had left their officers, thrown down their arms, and took themselves to running. It was useless to fight, so I withdrew as best I could and escaped with a loyal remnant to Drogheda.
Two of my troop whose horses went lame were left behind. I hear however that they are safe, except for their clothes, which were taken from them, not by the rebels, but by natives as they passed through the village. All our arms and ammunition are in the rebel’s hands.
We can get no food here for man or horse.
P.S – There march upon every division of the rebels a friar or a priest. I do perceive here they do too much undervalue the rebels: for believe me, they will find them no such contemptible men. Journal of the House of Commons: volume 4: 1644-1646 (1802), pp.
293-95.
Upon Colonel Moore’s Report from the Committee for Irish Affairs;
Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Exchange of Sir Robert Meredith, the Lady Moore, Sir Patrick Weymes, Sir Robert Hannay, Captain Ponsonby, Captain Wentworth, Lieutenant Draper, Mr. Batten, Mr.
Towneley, Lieutenant Towneley, and Quartermaster Hatch, now Prisoners, or at Liberty upon Bail, in England and Ireland, to the Enemy, to be exchanged for the Lord Brabason, Sir Henry Titchborne, and Sir James Ware, now Prisoners to the Parliament, in the Tower of London: And that the said Sir Robert Meredith shall be at his Liberty to remain free from Restraint in Ireland, or to come into this Kingdom, which he pleaseth: And that, the said Lord Brabason, Sir Hen.
Titchborne, and Sir James Ware, giving Security to the Lieutenant of the Tower for Performance of this Exchange, they be thereupon freed from Imprisonment.
He was M.P for Kilkenny in 1661 the year in which he died.
The land holdings in the Moore Street area of Dublin passed to his heirs.
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