James Brennan

James Brennan (1890-1976)

D Coy, 1st Batt. Dublin Brigade

James J. Brennan was born in 1890 and resided at 46 Blessington Street Dublin. He was a member of D Coy 1st Batt. Dublin Brigade. He mobilised on Easter Monday at Georges Church and from there he marched with his unit to Liberty Hall and on to the Mendicity Institution on Ushers Island in the charge of Commandant Sean Heuston. This small unit of approx. 13 took siege of the Institution and began to erect barricades in order to slow an attack on the Four Courts and G.P.O. from the expectant troops of the Royal Barracks, opposite the Mendicity building. According to Sean Heuston’s Sentry Duty Rota, James was placed guarding the stairs along with James Crennigan of the Swords Coy with instructions “above men must sleep with full equipment in Kitchen”. The Mendicity garrison surrendered on Wednesday of Easter week and he was taken prisoner and lodged in the gym at Arbour Hill prison then brought to Richmond Barracks for court-martial where he was sentenced to death, later commuted to penal servitude. He was then taken to Kilmainham Gaol and finally to Mountjoy before being handed over to Military escort for conveyance to Portland Prison on the 15th of May 1916. He was later transferred to Lewes Prison and subsequently Pentonville Prison.

On his release June 1917 he re-joined his unit and opened a newsagents shop in North King St. Dublin. While he didn’t take part in further fighting, his shop was used as a meeting place and ‘rebel post office’ during the War of Independence.

James Brennan died in 1976 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery

James Brennan (1890-1976)

Complacht D, An Chéad Chathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath

Rugadh James Brennan i 1890. Bhí sé ina chónaí i 9 Ascaill San Iognáid, Baile Átha Cliath. Ba bhall é de Chomplacht D, An Chéad Chathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath. Shlóg sé Luan na Cásca, 24 Aibreán 1916, ag Halla na Saoirse agus mháirseáil sé ó shin lena aonad faoi cheannas Sheáin Heuston go dtí Institiúid an Déirceachais ar Oileán Uiséir. Ghabh an t-aonad seo, timpeall 13 fhear, seilbh ar an Institiúid chun moill a chur ar Fiúsailéirí Ríoga ón Dún Ríoga, (ar an taobh eile den Life), agus iad ag máirseáil ar na céanna chun ionsaí a dhéanamh ar na hÓglaigh sna Ceithre Chúirteanna agus in Ard-Oifig an Phoist. De réir Uainchláir Heuston d’Fhairtheoirí, cuireadh James ar dualgas staighre in éineacht le James Crennigan ó Chomplacht Shoird, agus an treoir acu “caithfidh na fir thuas lán-trealamh a chaitheamh agus iad ina gcodladh sa chistin”. Ghéill garastún Institiúid an Déirceachais ar Chéadaoin na Cásca, 26 Aibreán. Tógadh James ina phríosúnach agus cuireadh é sa halla gleacaíochta i bPríosún Chnoc an Arbhair. Cuireadh cúirt airm air i nDún Richmond agus tógadh é go dtí Príosún Chill Mhaighneann agus ansin go dtí Príosún Mhuinseo. Ar 15 Bealtaine 1916 cuireadh é faoi choimhdeacht mhíleata go dtí Príosún Portland, Sasana, agus, níos déanaí, bogadh é go dtí Príosún Lewes, Sussex Thoir, Sasana. Nuair a scaoileadh saor é i Meitheamh 1917 chuaigh sé ar ais ina aonad. D’oscail sé siopa nuachtánaí i Sráid an Rí Thuaidh, Baile Átha Cliath agus bhí sé in úsáid mar oifig phoist d’Arm na Poblachta. Cailleadh James Brennan i 1976.

Tagairtí:
Rolla Onóra.
Bailiúchán na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata: WMSP34REF18101.