Richard Balfe was born in 1893 and resided at 13 Pembroke Street Dublin. He was a member of D Coy 1st Batt. Dublin Brigade. He joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and was a member of D Coy from it’s formation and also a member of Na Fianna Eireann. He mobilised on Monday and went to St. Georges Church off Dorset St. and from there he went to Liberty Hall and took his instructions. He fell in with the members of D Coy going to the Mendicity Institution under Commandant Sean Heuston. Sean Heuston had been promoted to the rank of Commandant Easter Monday morning and Richard Balfe then became Capt. of D Coy. He marched to the Mendicity and took up position, the objective being to delay the Troops from the Royal Barracks reaching the Four Courts which was by now being occupied by Ned Daly. The Sentry Duty Rota shows Richard on duty on the top floor of the building with Liam Staines, Thomas Peppard and William Wilson (the latter two were reinforcements from Fingal). On Wednesday he was seriously injured along with Liam Staines when a grenade came through a window and they attempted to throw it back out. The Mendicity surrendered that day and he was taken to King George V Hospital (later St. Bricins) where he underwent an operation to remove pieces of metal from his thigh. While still not recovered he was removed to Richmond Barracks and sent to Wakefield before being transferred to Frongoch in Wales.
He was released in July 1916. After his release he attended the meeting at Cathal Bruagh’s home to discuss the Re-Formation of the Irish Volunteers. His health began to fail and he was moved to the H.Q. Staff of Na Fianna where he recruited members for the Volunteers, a position which called for less physical exertion. By 1919 his health problems worsened and he was forced to retire eventually undergoing another severe operation in 1926 to remove more metal found in his body.
Richard Balfe died on the 20th of October 1967.
Rugadh Richard Balfe i 1893 agus bhí sé ina chónaí i 13 Sráid Pembroke, Baile Átha Cliath. Chláraigh sé l’Óglaigh na hÉireann i 1913 agus bhí sé ina bhall de Chomplacht D, An Chéad Chathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath óna bhunú. Ba bhall é freisin de Na Fianna Éireann. Shlóg sé Luan Cásca, 24 Aibreán 1916, ag Séipéal San Seoirse, Sráid Temple, agus chuaigh sé go dtí Halla na Saoirse in éineacht lena chomrádaithe ó Chomplacht D. Mháirseáil siad faoi cheannas Sheáin Heuston, chuig Institiúid an Déirceachais ar Oileán Uiséir. Tugadh ardú céim (Ceannfort) do Heuston an mhaidin sin agus, ansin bhí Richard ina Chaptaen den Chomplacht. Cuireadh Óglaigh san Institiúid chun moill a chur ar Fiúsailéirí Ríoga ón Dún Ríoga (Dún Uí Choileáin anois, ar an taobh eile den Life) a bheadh ag iarraidh dul i dtreo na Ceithre Chúirteanna a bhí i seilbh Ned Daly. De réir Uainchláir Heuston d’Fhairtheoirí bhí Richard ar dualgas ar urlár uachtarach na hInstitiúide in éineacht le Liam Staines, Thomas Peppard agus William Wilson (ba bhaill den 5ú Cathlán ó Fhine Gall an bheirt dheireanach seo). Ar an gCéadaoin, 26 Aibreán, goineadh é féin agus Staines go dona agus iad ag iarraidh gránáid, a chaith Fiúsailéir isteach trí fhuinneog san Institiúid, a chaitheamh ar ais. Ghéill an Garastún go gairid ina dhiaidh sin. Tógadh Richard go dtí Ospidéal Rí Sheoirse V (Ospidéal Naomh Bricín, Bóthar na hOtharlainne, BÁC, anois), áit ar cuireadh faoi scian é chun píosaí miotal a tharraingt as a leis. Cuireadh é go dtí Dún Richmond agus é fós lag, ansin seoladh é go Príosún Wakefield i Yorkshire, Sasana agus faoi dheireadh go dtí Campa Géibhinn Frongoch (“Spideog Bhroinndearg”) sa Bhreatain Bheag. Scaoileadh saor é in Iúil 1916. D’fhreastal sé ar chruinniú i dteach Chathal Brugha chun caint faoi athbhunú Óglaigh na hÉireann. Thosaigh a shláinte á teip air agus cuireadh é ag obair ar fhoireann Cheanncheathrú Na Fianna Éireann, agus d’earcaigh sé baill le haghaidh Óglaigh na hÉireann. Bhí a shláinte níos measa faoi 1919 agus bhí air éirí as an obair. Faoi dheireadh i 1926 bhí air dul faoi scian arís chun tuilleadh miotal a tharraingt óna chorp. Cailleadh Richard Balfe 20 Deireadh Fómhair 1967.
Tagairtí:
Rolla Onóra.
Daonáireamh 1911.
Bailiúchán na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata: MSP34REF20230
Biúró na Staire Míleata: B.M.H. W.S.251.
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