Thomas Peppard

Thomas Peppard (1894-1984)

Lusk Coy 5th Batt. Dublin Brigade (known as Fingal Brigade)

Thomas Peppard lived in Lusk, Co. Dublin and joined the Irish Volunteers there in July 1914. On Easter Monday he mobilised to Knocksedan Crossroads Swords/St Margarets then to Finglas and later that night on to Blanchardstown On the Tuesday, the company mobilised to Dublin city to reinforce the volunteer units under Captain Richard Coleman. On reporting to the GPO in O Connell St, they were ordered to reinforce the garrison at the Mendicity Institute Ushers Island. They were heavily attacked from all sides and on the Wednesday Commandant Heuston surrendered to the British. He was brought to the Royal Barracks and on to Arbour Hill Detention Barracks. Court-martialled at Richmond Barracks and charged with waging war against his Majesty the King of England he was sentenced to death but this was commuted to 3 years penal servitude. He was imprisoned in Portland Prison, Frongoch Camp, then moved to Lewes Gaol before a further move to Pentonville Prison.

On his release in 1917, and under the command of Michael Collins, he was involved in reorganising Volunteers and IRB in North Fingal. In 1920, a member of Active Service Unit he was Michael Collins appointed him intelligence officer to the Fingal Brigade over four Battalions.

He died in 1984 and is buried in the graveyard at Lusk

Family Accounts & Memorabilia

Thomas Peppard (1894-1984)

Complacht Lusca, 5ú Cathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath.

Rugadh Thomas Peppard 8 Feabhra 1894. Bhí sé ina chónaí i Lusca, Co Átha Cliath. D’fhoghlaim sé an Ghaeilge tar éis a ghnáth lá scoile ó mhúinteoir Mr Fenton. Chláraigh sé le hÓglaigh na hÉireann ansin in Iúil 1914. Chuir Tomás Ághas agus Mícheál Ó Rathaille faoi mhion é do Bhráithreachas Phoblacht na hÉireann i 1915. Shlóg sé Luan Cásca, 24 Aibreán 1916, ag Crosaire Chnoc Siáin, Sord/San Maighréad agus ar aghaidh leis ansin go dtí Fionnghlas , agus níos déanaí san oíche go dtí Baile Bhlainséir. Ar an Máirt bhí sé i mbaicle 20 fear faoi cheannas An Chaptaein Ó Colmáin a chuaigh go dtí Ard-Oifig an Phoist, Baile Átha Cliath, chun cabhair a thabhairt do na hÓglaigh sa chathair. Seoladh an chuid is mó den ghrúpa go dtí Institiúid an Déirceachais ar Oileán Uiséir agus bhí siad faoi ionsaí ansin go dtí an Chéadaoin nuair a ghéill an Ceannaire Heuston. Tógadh Thomas go dtí an Dún Ríoga agus ar aghaidh go dtí Dún Coinneála Chnoc an Arbhair. Cuireadh cúirt airm air i nDún Richmond ar chúis gur chuir sé cogadh ar Rí na Breataine agus daoradh chun báis é ach laghdaíodh an phianbhreith go 3 bliana i dteannta daoroibre. Seoladh é go Príosún Portland, Dorset, Sasana, ansin go Campa Frongoch sa Bhreatain Bheag, chuig Príosún Lewes, East Sussex, Sasana, agus faoi dheireadh go dtí Príosún Pentonville, Londan, Sasana. Scaoileadh saor é i 1917 agus, faoi cheannas Mhíchíl Uí Choileáin, bhí baint aige in atheagrú na nÓglach agus Bhráithreachas Phoblacht na hÉireann i bhFine Gall Thuaidh. I 1920 cheap Mícheál Ó Choileán é mar oifigeach faisnéise do ceithre chathlán de Bhriogáid Fhionn Gall. Bhí sé ina leifteanant in Arm an tSaorstáit ó 25 Bealtaine 1922 go 7 Marta 1924. Cailleadh é 16 Nollaig 1984 agus tá sé curtha i reilig Lusca.