John Joseph, known as Joe, was born in Portarlington in 1895 and resided at 24 Manor Place Dublin in 1916. He was a member of D Coy 1st Batt. Dublin Brigade. He mobilised on Easter Monday at George’s Church and when Sean Heuston joined them they proceeded to Liberty Hall with Commandant Sean Heuston at the head of the column. They were at ease while Heuston entered Liberty Hall and when he returned he gave the order “Quick March” the small column moved off and crossed Butt Bridge and turned right onto Burgh Quay, passing the Tivoli they were led along the South Quay’s and on to Ushers Island until they reached the Mendicity Institution. Sean Heuston turned right about, faced his column and shouted “Company left wheel, seize this building and hold it in the name of the Irish Republic”. They seized the building and took up their posts. Joe was on duty on the top floor of the building with Fran Cullen, James Marks and James Wilson (the latter two were Fingal men sent to assist in the defence of the Mendicity). Some time later on Tuesday evening he was on duty in the back room with Paddy Joe Stephenson. On Wednesday the building was completely surrounded and heavily bombarded with machine gun fire and grenades. Sean Heuston decided to surrender. Joe was taken prisoner and brought to Arbour Hill until he was court-martialled at Richmond Barracks after which he was removed to Kilmainham. He was sentenced to death commuted to 3 years. He was next moved to Mountjoy Gaol to await transportation to Britain. On the 11th of May he was handed over to Military Escort for conveyance to Portland Prison where he remained for a number of Months until he was transferred to Lewes Gaol in Kent.
He was released in June 1917 following which he served with the Organisation Dept. of the Irish Volunteers and the I.R.A. in counties Wicklow, Armagh, Galway and with an Active Service Unit in North County Dublin Fingal Brigade area until the Truce on 11th of July 1921. He joined the National Army at the outbreak of the Civil War in June 1922.
Joe Byrne died on the 2nd of July 1954.
Rugadh Seán Ó Broin i gCúil an tSúdaire i 1895. I 1916 bhí cónaí air ag 24 Plás an Mhainéir, Baile Átha Cliath. Ba bhall é de Chomplacht D, An Chéad Chathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath. Shlóg sé Luan na Cásca, 24 Aibreán 1916, ag Séipéal San Seoirse, Sráid Temple, le scata den Chomplacht agus lean siad an Captaen Seán Heuston go dtí Halla na Saoirse. D’fhan na fir ar ais agus chuaigh Heuston isteach sa Halla chun a ordaithe a fháil. Nuair a tháinig Heuston amach mhearmháirseáil siad leis thar Dhroichead na Comhdhála, ar dheis síos go Cé an Bhúrcaigh, thar an Tivoli, agus fad na céanna theas go dtí Oileán Uiséir agus Institiúid an Déirceachais. D’iompaigh Heuston dá fhir agus bhéic sé: “A Chomplacht, casaigí faoi chlé, agus gabhaigí seilbh ar an bhfoirgneamh in ainm Phoblacht na hÉireann”. Ghabh siad é. Bhí Seán Ó Broin ar dualgas ar an urlár uachtarach le Frank Cullen, James Marks agus James Wilson (b’as Fine Ghall an bheirt dheireanach; cuireadh iad go dtí an garastún ar an Mháirt chun cabhrú leis an gcosaint). Oíche Máirt bhí sé ar dualgas sa chúlseomra le Paddy Joe Stephenson. Ar an gCéadaoin, 26 Aibreán, bhí an foirgneamh timpeallaithe agus lámhach inneallghunnaí agus ionsaithe gránáidí á dhéanamh ag Arm na Breataine orthu. Ghéill Heuston agus tógadh Seán go dtí Príosún Chnoc an Arbhair. Cuireadh cúirt airm air i nDún Richmond. Daoradh chun báis é ach laghdaíodh an bhreith go 3 bhliain i dteannta daoroibre. Seoladh é go dtí Príosún Chill Mhaighneann agus ansin go dtí Príosún Mhuinseo. Ar an 11 Bealtaine cuireadh é, faoi choimhdeacht mhíleata, go dtí Príosún Portland, Sasana, agus, cúpla mí ina dhiaidh sin, bogadh é go dtí Príosún Lewes, Sussex Thoir, Sasana. Scaoileadh saor é i Meitheamh 1917. Bhí sé ag obair i Roinn Eagrúcháin d’Óglaigh na hÉireann agus Arm Phoblacht na hÉireann i gCo Chill Mhantáin, i gCo Ard Macha, agus i gCo na Gaillimhe agus in aonad fianais i gceantar Bhriogáid Fhine Gall go dtí an Sos Chogadh, 11 Iúil 1921. Chláraigh sé san Arm Náisiúnta (Arm an tSaorstáit) nuair a thosaigh Cogadh na gCarad, Meitheamh 1922. Cailleadh é 2 Iúil 1954.
Tagairtí:
Rolla Onóra.
Daonáireamh 1911.
Clár Ginearálta na bPríosúnach 1916.
Bailiúchán na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata: 24SP11692.
“Paddy Joe” le Jim Stephenson.
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