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Thomas James Clarke

Born: 11 March 1858 
Executed: 3 May 1916

Aged 53 at the time of the 1911 Census

 Census 1911 Address: 59, St. Patrick’s Road, Drumcondra, Dublin1

The 1911 Census recorded Thomas Clarke living in Dublin and married for 9 years to Kathleen. His children were listed as John aged 8, Tom aged 3 and Emmet aged 1 and his occupation was recorded as a newsagent and tobacconist. 

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Drumcondra/St__Patrick_s_Road/28246/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000031698/

Thomas Clarke was born on the Isle of Wight in 1858. His father was a soldier in the British Army who had served in the Crimean War. The family subsequently moved to South Africa where they lived in various British garrison towns. When Thomas was seven his family moved to Co. Tyrone, where he met John Daly, uncle of his future wife Kathleen and an Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) organiser. Clarke also became involved with the IRB.

In 1882, at the age of 24, he emigrated to America and while he was there he joined Clann Na nGael. The following year he was sent to London as part of a bombing campaign. He was caught and spent fifteen years in penal servitude. His health suffered because of the conditions in jail and a case for his release was taken up by Maud Gonne and the Amnesty Association2. John Daly was also in prison on similar charges. When released, Clarke was awarded the Freedom of Limerick City. He met Kathleen Daly in Limerick and corresponded with her when he once again moved to America in 1898. In 1901 she followed him over to America and they married. The best man at the wedding was John MacBride.

Thomas Clarke

Photo: Thomas Clarke

The family returned to Ireland where they opened a newsagents shop in Dublin. He held the post of Treasurer of the IRB and was a member of the Supreme Council from 1915. Sean Mac Diarmada held the post of secretary and these two friends were the main organisers behind the Rising. When Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, a founding member of the Fenians died in 1915, Clarke planned a huge funeral as a demonstration of support for Irish Independence. Clarke chose Pádraig Pearse to give the graveside oration and, with thousands of Volunteers attending, the tone of the oration made it very clear that an attempt would soon be made to establish an Irish Republic by force of arms.

Thomas J. Clarke was chosen as the first signatory of the Proclamation of Independence because of his seniority and contribution to the cause over the years. As a member of the Provincial Government, he was one of those who occupied the GPO. After six days of fighting at the GPO, Pearse issued the order to surrender. Although Clarke objected to this, he was outvoted.

After the surrender, a British Amy Captain, Percival Lea-Wilson took Thomas Clarke, Sean MacDiarmada and Ned Daly aside to search them. Clarke had an old bullet wound which had not healed properly. Lea-Wilson found it difficult to remove Clarke’s coat because of the stiffness and forcibly straightened the arm, re-opening the wound and causing terrible pain3. He also made all three men strip to the skin in front of their comrades, including three nurses. Lea-Wilson took away Sean MacDiarmada’s walking stick forcing him to keep pace with the other Volunteers on their march to prison. This treatment of prisoners was noted by a young Captain, Michael Collins. Lea-Wilson was later murdered during the War of Independence in 1921 by the IRA in Gorey, Co. Wexford, where he was serving in the Royal Irish Constabulary. The Volunteers spent the night at the grounds of the Rotunda Hospital after the surrender before being moved to Richmond Barracks.

Clarke was tried by court-martial and was one of the first to be executed on 3rd May 1916. Kathleen Clarke was pregnant at the time of the Rising but suffered a miscarriage due to stress.

The railway station in Dundalk was named after Thomas Clarke in 1966 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Rising4. There is a commemorative plaque to Thomas Clarke at the site of his newsagent’s shop, now Griffins Landis convenience store, which is located at the corner of O’Connell Street and Parnell Street. 

British Army note of executions of Padraig Pearse, Thomas McDonagh, Thomas Clark

Photo: British Army notice of the execution of Padraig Pearse, Thomas MacDonagh and Thomas Clarke on 3 May 1916

Sources:

  1. http://www.Census.nationalarchives.ie
  2. 16 Dead men Anne-Marie Ryan Mercier Press Cork pg. 46
  3. Bureau of Military History Witness Statement: Eamon T. Dore pg. 23
  4. http://dundalkrailwayheritagesociety.com/pages/history.html

 

Other reference:

National Library of Ireland

Go to James Connolly

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