Liam Staines

Liam Staines (1898-1918)

D Coy, 1st Batt. Dublin Brigade

Liam Staines was born in Belangare Co. Roscommon in 1898. The family moved to Dublin and resided at 63 Murtagh Rd. Arran Quay, N.C.R. Liam was educated at St. Gabriel’s School, Aughrim Street and at the Christian Brothers North Richmond Street. He joined Na Fianna Eireann in 1908 and the Irish Volunteers in 1913. He was the Secretary of ‘F’ Sluagh Na Fianna Eireann in 1915 and 2^nd Lieutenant D Coy, 1^st Batt. Dublin Brigade of the Irish Volunteers. He mobilised on Easter Monday with his unit in charge of Commandant Sean Heuston and marched to the Mendicity Institution on Ushers Island and took siege of the building in the name of the Irish Republic. According to Sean Heuston’s Sentry Duty Rota, Liam was on duty on the top floor of the Mendicity building with Richard Balfe, Thomas Peppard and William Wilson (the latter two were Fingal men, sent to the Mendicity) when he was seriously injured along with Richard Balfe while attempting to throw back out a grenade which had come through a window. This horrific incident prompted Sean Heuston to surrender in order to save the lives of his garrison who were by now surrounded by approx. 400 Royal Fusiliers from the Royal Barracks (now Collins Barracks).

On the surrender Liam was taken to King George V Hospital from where he was instrumental in the re-organisation of the Fianna after the Rising, he instructed his brother Vinny to re-organise the Sluagh with the help of Joseph Reynolds who was to be O/C of the Sluagh until Liam got well. A meeting of all available officers was held in Camden St. and a Provisional Committee of Control acting for all-Ireland as well as Dublin was chosen. Liam as well as being on this committee became O/C off No.4 Sluagh, Blackhall St.. On his release from hospital he was interned in Kilmainham jail until he was transferred to Knutsford Prison and ending up in Frongoch Camp where his brother Michael Staines (who had fought in the G.P.O.) was Commandant of the Camp.

On his release he resided at S.C.R. where he eventually succumbed to an illness (which his family believed was connected with his wounds).

Liam Staines died on the 2^nd of November 1918 at the family home on Murtagh Road. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Family Accounts & Memorabilia

Liam Staines (1898-1918)

Slua F, Na Fianna Éireann agus Complacht D, An Chéad Chathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath. Rolla Onóra

Rugadh Liam Staines i mBéal Átha na gCarr, Co. Ros Comáin, i 1898. Bhog an chlann go dtí Baile Átha Cliath agus bhí siad ina gcónaí ag 63 Bóthar Uí Mhuircheartaigh, Cé Árann, An Cuarbhóthar Thuaidh. Oileadh Liam ag Scoil San Gaibriéil, Sráid Eachroma agus leis na Bráithre Críostaí i Scoil Uí Chonaill, Sráid Richmond Thuaidh. Chláraigh sé le Na Fianna Éireann i 1908 agus le hÓglaigh na hÉireann i 1913. Ba rúnaí é de Shlua F, Na Fianna Éireann, i 1915 agus ba Dara Leifteanant é freisin i gComplacht D, An Chéad Chathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath d’Óglaigh na hÉireann. Shlóg sé Luan Cásca, 24 Aibreán 1916, lena haonad faoi cheannas Sheáin Heuston agus mháirseáil siad go dtí Institiúid an Déirceachais ar Oileán Uiséir, chun seilbh a ghlacadh ar an bhfoirgneamh in ainm Phoblacht na hÉireann. De réir uainchláir d’fhairtheoirí Heuston bhí Liam ar dualgas ar urlár uachtarach na hInstitiúide in éineacht le Richard Balfe, Thomas Peppard agus William Wilson (ba bhaill den 5ú Cathlán ó Fhine Gall an bheirt dheireanach seo) nuair a goineadh go dona é féin agus Balfe agus iad ag iarraidh gránáid a chaith Fiúsailéir Ríoga isteach trí fhuinneog a chaitheamh ar ais. Chuir an eachtra uafásach seo i gcuimhne Heuston géilleadh chun an Garastún a shábháil. Bhí beagnach 400 Fiúsailéir Ríoga a tháinig ón Dún Ríoga (Dún Uí Choileáin anois) ina dtimpeall faoin am seo. Tar éis an ghéillte tógadh Liam go dtí Ospidéal Rí Seoirse V (Ospidéal Naomh Bricín, Bóthar na hOtharlainne, BÁC, anois). Bhí baint aige, agus é fós ansin, in atheagrú Na Fianna Éireann. Thug sé ordú dá dheartháir Vinny na Sluaite a atheagrú le cabhair ó Joseph Reynolds a bheadh ina Oifigeach i gCeannas na Sluaite go dtí go mbeadh Liam ina shláinte arís. Bhí cruinniú i Sráid Camden de gach oifigeach a bhí le fáil agus toghadh Coiste Cheannais Sealadach d’Éire uile chomh maith d’Átha Cliath. Bhí Liam ar an gcoiste seo agus ina Oifigeach i gCeannas Slua 4, Sráid Blackhall. Nuair a ligeadh amach ón ospidéal é imtheorannaíodh é i bPríosún Chill Mhaighneann sular aistríodh é go dtí Príosún Knutsford, Cheshire, Sasana agus ansin go dtí Campa Géibhinn Frongoch (“Spideog Bhroinndearg”) sa Bhreatain Bheag. Bhí a dheartháir, Michael Staines (a throid in Ard-Oifig an Phoist, Seachtain na Cásca), ina Cheannfort den champa. Nuair a scaoileadh saor é chuaigh sé chun cónaí i dteach ar An Cuarbhóthar Theas. Cailleadh Liam Staines, 2 Samhain 1918, i dteach a chlainne ag Bóthar Uí Mhuircheartaigh de thinneas (cheap a chlann gur thug a chneácha a bhás). Tá sé curtha i Reilig Ghlas Naíon.

Tagairtí:

Rolla Onóra.
Daonáireamh 1911.
Bailiúchán na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata: M.S.P.C. DP5788.
Biúró na Staire Míleata: W.S. 191; W.S. 1377.
The Catholic Bulletin, Nollaig 1918.