William Murnane

William Murnane (1885-1956)

D Coy 1st Batt. Dublin Brigade

William (known as Liam) Murnane was born in 1885 in Dean Street, Dublin 8. He joined Sinn Féin at its first meeting and also joined the Volunteers at its first meeting. He took part in the Howth Gun Running 1914 and O’Donovan Rossa’s funeral. On Good Friday 1916 he was a member of a party who went to Pádraig Pearse’s place in Rathfarnham and brought arms and ammunition into the city for the Rising. On Monday morning he took some of these to the Mendicity Institute for its garrison. He returned home and found a domestic storm there. His mother was in distress at the events as two of her daughters were gone to join their Cumann na mBan comrades. On the Tuesday he took the rest of the guns to the Four Courts Garrison and spent the rest of the week there until the Surrender.

On the surrender he was taken to the Rotunda Gardens and to the Richmond Barracks in Inchicore and from there down the Quays to the boat for England. His was imprisoned in Stafford Gaol and then in Frongoch Prison Camp.

On release he again became active in the Volunteers and continued service until the ‘Truce’ but took no part in the Civil War. In the 1918 Election he was election agent for Michael Staines who was elected to the 1^st Dáil Éireann.

He was a Commercial Traveller from 1926 to his retirement in 1954. He died in 1956.

Family Accounts & Memorabilia

William Murnane (1885-1956)

Complacht D, An Chéad Chathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath.

Rugadh Liam Murnane i 1885 i Sráid an Déin, Baile Átha Cliath 8. Chláraigh sé le Sinn Féin agus le hÓglaigh na hÉireann ag a gcéad cruinnithe. Ghlac sé páirt i dtabhairt i dtír na ngunnaí i mBinn Éadair, 26 Iúil 1914, agus i sochraid Uí Dhonnabháin Rosa, 1 Lúnasa 1915. Bhí sé sa ghrúpa a chuaigh go scoil an Phiarsaigh, Ráth Fearnáin, Aoine an Chéasta, 21 Aibreán 1916, chun airm agus armlón a bhailiú agus a thabhairt isteach don chathair i gcomhair an Éirí Amach. Ar Luan Cásca thóg sé cuid de na hábhair seo go dtí Institiúid an Déirceachais, Oileán Uiséir don gharastún a bhí i seilbh an fhoirgnimh. D’fhill sé abhaile, áit a raibh a mháthair in umar na haimiléise toisc go raibh a beirt iníon imithe chun troid lena gcomrádaithe i gCumann na mBan. Ar an Máirt thóg Liam an chuid eile de na hairm/armlóin go dtí na Ceithre Cúirteanna agus d’fhan sé ansin go dtí deireadh na seachtaine nuair a ghéill an Phiarsach.

Tar éis an ghéillte tógadh é go dtí Gairdíní an Rotunda agus ansin go dtí Dún Richmond, Inse Chór. Níos déanaí seoladh anall é go dtí Príosún Stafford i Sasana agus ansin go dtí Campa Phríosún Frongoch, sa Bhreatain Bheag.

Bhí sé gníomhach sna hÓglaigh ón uair a scaoileadh é go dtí an Sos Chogaidh , 11 Iúil 1921. Ba ghníomhaire toghcháin é do Michael Staines a thoghadh don Chéad Dáil Éireann i dtoghcháin 1918. Níor thóg sé páirt sa Chogadh Cathartha.

Ba thaistealaí tráchtála é ó 1926 go dtí go ndeachaigh sé ar scór i 1954. Cailleadh é i 1956.