Patrick-J Stephenson

Patrick-J Stephenson (1895-1960)

D Coy 1st Batt. Dublin Brigade

Patrick Joseph (Paddy Joe) Stephenson was born in No 25 Upper Tyrone Street, inner city Dublin. He joined the Gaelic League in 1910 and by 1914 he had joined the Irish Volunteers becoming a member of D Company 1st Battalion which was led by a school friend (from O’Connell Schools), Captain Sean Heuston.

Paddy Joe was promoted to Quartermaster in 1915 and had responsibility for procuring transporting and storing arms ammunition and equipment. He stashed much of the arms in Kanes shop in Stoneybatter also the home of his future wife Mary ‘Mamie’ Stephenson a member of Four Courts Garrison and his brother in law Paddy Kilmartin a member of D Company who served in the Phibsborourgh area in The Rising.

Early on Easter Monday morning Paddy Joe and his friend Sean McLoughlin delivered mobilisation orders from Liberty Hall for Pearce and MacDonagh, and later mobilised at St Georges Church with D Company who marched to the Mendicity, where under orders from Heuston they seized the building. He was instructed to man a front window position and took part in the attack on the Dublin Fusiliers marching towards the city on the opposite bank of the Liffey. On Wednesday morning he and Sean McLoughlin were ordered to get to the GPO and brief Connolly on the situation, and to bring back supplies, they delighted Connolly with the news that the Mendicity had held out for 3 days.

The Mendicity fell during their absence and they joined the Four Courts Garrison. Later on the Thursday, fell back to the GPO and served there until the surrender.

Paddy Joe was interned in Frongoch and released in September. He re-joined his Company and went on to play a full combatant’s role in the War of Independence but played no part in the Civil War. He went on to be Chief Librarian of Dublin and had 5 sons with Mary Kilmartin.

He died in April 1960 and is buried in Glasnevin.

Family Accounts & Memorabilia

Patrick-J Stephenson (1895-1960)

Complacht D, An Chéad Chathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath.

Rugadh Patrick Joseph (Paddy Joe) Stephenson i 25 Sráid Thír Eoghain Uachtarach (Sráid an Iarnróid anois), i lár Bhaile Átha Cliath. Chláraigh sé le Conradh na Gaeilge i 1910 agus bhí sé ina bhall de Chomplacht D, An Chéad Chathlán, Óglaigh na hÉireann, faoi 1914. Bhí a chara scoile (Scoil Uí Chonaill, Sráid Richmond), Seán Heuston, ina Chaptaen ar an gCathlán.

Tugadh ardú céime go máistir ceathrún do Paddy Joe i 1915agus bhí an fhreagracht air airm, armlón agus trealamh a chur ar fáil, a iompar agus a stóráil. Chuir sé a lán de na hairm i bhfolach i Siopa Kane’s i Margadh na Feirme, foirgneamh inar chónaigh Mary “Mamie” Kilmartin a bhí i ngarastún Na Ceithre Cúirteanna Seachtain na Cásca. Bhí a deartháir, Paddy, ina bhall de Chomplacht D agus bhí sé gníomhach i gceantar Bhaile Phib le linn an Éirí Amach. Phós Paddy Joe Mamie I Meán Fómhair 1917

Chuaigh Paddy Joe agus a chara, Seán Mc Loughlin, go dtí Halla na Saoirse go luath maidin Luan Cásca, 24 Aibreán 1916 agus sheachaid siad orduithe slógaidh ó Phádraig Mac Piarais agus ó Thomás Mac Donnchadha d’Óglaigh sa chathair. Níos déanaí shlóg siad féin lena gcomrádaithe ó Chomplacht D ag Séipéal San Seoirse, Sráid Temple. Mháirseáil siad, faoi cheannas Sheáin Heuston go Halla na Saoirse agus ó shin go dtí Institiúid an Déirceachais, Oileán Uiséir chun seilbh a ghlac uirthi. Cuireadh Paddy Joe in aice fuinneog thosaigh an fhoirgnimh agus thóg sé páirt san ionsaí ar Fiúsailéirí Ríoga Bhaile Átha Cliath a bhí ag máirseáil i dtreo lár na cathrach ón Dún Ríoga (Dún Uí Choileáin anois) a bhí ar an bhruach eile den Life. Maidin Chéadaoin seoladh eisean agus Seán Mc Loughlin go dtí Ard-Oifig an Phoist chun insint do Shéamas Ó Chonghaile faoi cad a bhí ag tarlú san Institiúid agus chun soláthairtí a thabhairt ar ais. Ba ola ar an gcroí ag Ó Conghaile gur éirigh le Heuston agus a hÓglaigh seilbh a choimeád ar an Institiúid ar feadh trí lá

Ghéill Heuston sular éirigh le Paddy Joe agus Seán Mc Loughlin dul ar ais chuige agus mar sin d’fhan siad le garastún Na Ceithre Cúirteanna thar oíche. Ar an gCéadaoin chúlaigh siad go dtí Ard-Oifig an Phoist agus d’fhan siad ann gur ghéill an Piarsach ar an Aoine.

Imtheorannaíodh Paddy Joe i Frongoch sa Bhreatain Bheag. Scaoileadh saor é i Meán Fómhair agus throid sé lena Chomplacht le linn Cogadh na Saoirse. Níor thóg sé páirt I gCogadh na gCarad. Bhí sé ina Phríomhleabharlannaí de Bhaile Átha Cliath níos déanaí ina shaol. Bhí cúigear mhac ag Mamie agus Paddy Joe.

Cailleadh é in Aibreán 1960 agus tá sé curtha i Reilig Ghlas Naíon.