
Richard Kelly
Richard Kelly (1896-1973)
Lusk Coy, 5th Batt. Dublin Brigade (known as Fingal Brigade)
Richard Kelly was born in 1896 and resided at Corduff, Lusk. He was a member of the Lusk Coy, 5th Batt. Dublin Brigade (later known as the Fingal Brigade) and a close neighbour of Thomas Ashe, Commander of the Fingal Brigade in 1916. He turned out on Easter Monday with his comrades and set up camp at Finglas on Monday night. On Tuesday morning he was one of the draft sent to the G.P.O. by Ashe following a dispatch from James Connolly for reinforcements to be sent to the city garrisons. He was then sent to the Mendicity Institution which was under the command of Capt. Sean Heuston. Sean Heuston’s Field Notepad includes the Duty Rota for some of the men of the Mendicity, Richard and three others were on duty guarding the Hallway of the Mendicity with orders, “N.B. above men must sleep with full equipment in Secretary’s office“. The Notepad is headed “Army of the Irish Republic”. When the surrender came on Wednesday he was taken prisoner and lodged in Arbour Hill Prison after which he was court-martialled at Richmond Barracks and sent to Kilmainham to await the findings of his trial. He was sentenced to death commuted to three years penal servitude. Following the verdict he was transferred to Mountjoy and on the 19th May he was handed over to Military escort for conveyance to Portland Prison and later to Lewes.
He was released June 1917 and rejoined the Lusk Company. He resumed his active service throughout the War of Independence and was again interned under the [Restoration of Order in Ireland Act]; 1920 from December 1920 to December 1921 in Ballykinlar Camp.
Richard Kelly died on the 1st of December 1973 and is buried at St. MacCullins Church Cemetery, Lusk.
Family Accounts & Memorabilia
Richard Kelly (1896-1973)
Complacht Lusca, 5ú Cathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath. Rolla Onóra.
Rugadh Richard Kelly i 1896 agus bhí sé ina chónaí in An Chorr Dhubh, Lusca. Ba bhall é de Chomplacht Lusca, 5ú Cathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath (ar ar tugadh Briogáid Fhine Gall níos déanaí). Ba chomharsa é de Thomás Ághas, Ceannasaí Bhriogáid Fhine Gall i 1916. Shlóg sé lena chomrádaithe maidin Luan Cásca, 24 Aibreán 1916, agus bhunaigh siad campa i bhFionnghlas an oíche sin. Maidin Mháirt Cásca bhí sé i mbaicle a sheol An tÁghasach go dtí Ard-Oifig an Phoist tar éis Séamas Ó Conghaile iarratas a dhéanamh air fórsaí athneartacha a sheoladh chuige. Seoladh ar aghaidh ansin é go dtí Institiúid an Déirceachais a bhí i lámha an Chaptaein Seán Heuston agus Óglaigh ón gCéad Chathlán. De réir Ceap Nótaí Mhachaire Heuston ina raibh uainchlár d’fhairtheoirí do chuid den gharastún cuireadh Richard Kelly agus triúr eile ar dhualgais ag cosaint halla an fhoirgnimh. Bhí an nóta seo scríofa ag Heuston: “caithfidh na fir seo codladh i lán-trealamh in Oifig an Rúnaí”. Tá na focail “Arm Phoblacht na hÉireann” scríofa ar barr an leathanaigh. Tar éis an ghéillte ar an gCéadaoin, 26 Aibreán, tógadh Richard Kelly go dtí Príosún Chnoc an Arbhair agus, ina dhiaidh sin, cuireadh é faoi chúirt airm i nDún Richmond. Daoradh chun báis é, ach laghdaíodh an phianbhreith go 3 bhliain pianseirbhís. Chaith sé tamall i bPríosún Chill Mhaighneann agus ansin i bPríosún Mhuinseo. Ar 19 Bealtaine 1916 seoladh é, faoi choimhdeacht mhíleata, go dtí Príosún Portland, Dorset, Sasana, agus, níos déanaí, go dtí Príosún Lewes, East Sussex, Sasana. Scaoileadh saor é i Meitheamh 1917 agus chuaigh sé ar ais le Complacht Lusca agus bhí sé gníomhach leo le linn Cogadh na Saoirse. Cuireadh i ngéibheann arís é faoin Acht um Athbhunú Smacht in Éirinn 1920 ó Nollaig 1920 go dtí Nollaig 1921 i gCampa Bhaile Coinnleora, Co An Dúin. Cailleadh Richard Kelly 1 Nollaig 1973 agus tá sé curtha i Reilig Shéipéal Naomh Mac Cullin, Lusca.
Tagairtí:
Rolla Onóra.
Daonáireamh 1911.
Clár Ginearálta na bPríosúnach 1916.
Bailiúchán na bPinsean Seirbhíse Míleata: 24SP4255.
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