James Marks

James Marks (1895-1939)

Swords Coy, 5th Batt. Dublin Brigade (known as Fingal Brigade)

James Marks was born in 1895 and resided at Barry’s Park Swords. He mobilised on Easter Monday morning with the Swords Coy and met up with the other Companies of the Fingal Brigade at Knocksedan Bridge. On Monday evening they dug trenches and set up camp at Finglas overlooking the Main Road. On Tuesday a dispatch arrived from James Connolly to the camp at Finglas instructing Thomas Ashe O/C of the Fingal Brigade to send reinforcements to the City to augment the garrisons there. James was one of the 20 men sent to the G.P.O., and from there to the Mendicity Institution in charge of Capt. Sean Heuston. According to Sean Heuston’s Field Report Pad which included the sentry duty rota, James was on the top floor of the Mendicity building and an order from Heuston at bottom of page reads “ above men must sleep in top front room with full equipment”.

Following the surrender of the Mendicity on Wednesday of Easter week he was court-martialled at Richmond Barracks and sentenced to death commuted to three years P.S. On 15th of May 1916 he was handed over to Military escort for conveyance to Portland Prison. He was released in June 1917. James was employed as a labourer.

James Marks died on the 12th of December 1939 and is buried at St. Colmcilles Cemetery, Swords.

James Marks (1895-1939)

Complacht Shoird, 5ú Cathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath

Rugadh James Marks i 1895 agus bhí sé ina chónaí ag Páirc an Bharraigh, Sord. Ba shaothraí é. Shlóg sé, maidin Luain na Cásca, 24 Aibreán 1916, le Complacht Shoird agus bhuail sé le complachtaí eile Briogáid Fhine Gall ag Droichead Chnoc Siáin. Oíche Luain thochail siad trinsí agus bhunaigh siad campa ag Fionnghlas os cionn an Phríomhbhóthair go Baile Átha Cliath. Ar an Máirt tháinig teachtaireacht ó Shéamas Ó Chonghaile le hordú do Thomás Ághas, An tOifigeach i gCeannas Bhriogáid Fhine Ghall, Óglaigh athneartacha a sheoladh go dtí an Phríomhchathair chun na garastúin ansin a neartú. Bhí James i measc 20 fear a seoladh go dtí Ard-Oifig an Phoist agus, ó shin, go dtí Institiúid an Déirceachais. Bhí Seán Heuston i gceannas na hInstitiúide agus de réir a Cheap Nótaí Mhachaire ina raibh Uainchláir d’Fhairtheoirí bhí James Marks ar an urlár uachtarach den fhoirgneamh agus tá nóta ó Heuston ann: “caithfidh na fir thuas codladh sa seomra tosaigh ar barr agus lán-trealamh á chaitheamh acu”. Nuair a ghéill an Garastún, Dé Céadaoin 26 Aibreán, cuireadh cúirt airm air i nDún Richmond, agus daoradh chun báis é, ach d’iomalartaíodh an bhreith go 3 bhliain pianseirbhís. Ar 15 Bealtaine 1916 seoladh é faoi choimhdeacht mhíleata go dtí Príosún Portland, Sasana. Scaoileadh saor é i Meitheamh 1917. Cailleadh James Marks 12 Nollaig 1939 agus adhlacadh é i Reilig Naomh Colmcille, Sord.

Tagairtí:
Rolla Onóra.
Daonáireamh 1911.
Clár Ginearálta na bPríosúnach 1916.
Bailiúchán na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata: MSP34REF1296.
Bernadette Marks, Sord (iníon James)