| Cornelius Colbert | |
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| 1888 – May 8, 1916 | |
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| Place of birth | Athea, County Limerick, Ireland |
| Place of death | Kilmainham Jail, Dublin City, Ireland |
| Allegiance | Irish Volunteers |
| Years of service | 1913 - 1916 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | F Company |
| Battles/wars | Easter Rising |
Cornelius "Conn" Colbert (Conchúir Ó Colbáird;[1] Irish: Conchúir Ó Colbáird; 1888 – May 8, 1916)[2] was an Irish rebel and pioneer of Fianna Éireann. For his part in the 1916 Easter Rising, he was shot by firing squad in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, on 8 May, 1916.
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Early life
Born in Athea, County Limerick,[3] he was educated at a Christian Brothers school. Colbert was employed first as a clerk at the railway station in Limerick and later in the offices of Kennedy's Bakery in Dublin.[4] At a young age his family moved to Dublin. Colbert was a deeply religious Catholic, and refrained from smoking or drinking.[5]
Fianna Éireann
Conn became a drill instructor at St. Enda's School, founded by Pádraig Pearse, while a member of Fianna Éireann. In 1913 he was an early member of the Irish Volunteers. [6] He also joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
Easter Rising
In the weeks leading up to the Rising, he acted as bodyguard for Thomas Clarke.[7]
During Easter Week, he fought at Watkin's Brewery, Jameson's Distillery and Marrowbone Lane.[8] Thomas MacDonagh at 3.15 p.m. Sunday, 30 April surrendered to Brigadier-General Lowe. He was then allowed to return to the other garrisons to arrange for their surrender.
Colbert surrendered with the Marrowbone Lane Garrison along with the South Dublin Union Garrison, which had been led by Eamonn Ceannt.[9] When the order to surrender was issued, he assumed the command of his unit to save the life of his superior officer, who was a married man. [10]
They were marched to Richmond Barracks, where Colbert would later be court-martialled. Transferred to Kilmainham Gaol, he was told on Sunday 7 May that he was to be shot the following morning. He wrote no fewer than ten letters during his time in prison. During this time in detention, he did not allow any visits from his family; writing to his sister, he said a visit "would grieve us both too much." [11]
Execution
The night before his execution he sent for Mrs. Ó Murchadha who was also being held prisoner. He told her he was "proud to die for such a cause. I will be passing away at the dawning of the day." Holding his bible, he told her he was leaving it to his sister. He handed her three buttons from his volunteer uniform, telling her "They left me nothing else," before asking her when she heard the volleys of shots in the morning for Eamonn Ceannt, Michael Mallin and himself would she say a Hail Mary for the souls of the departed.The soldier who was guarding the prisoner began crying according to Mrs. Ó Murchadha, and recorded him saying "If only we could die such deaths."[12]
Colbert was shot by firing squad the next morning on 8 May, 1916.
Legacy
- Colbert Railway Station in Limerick City is named after him.
- Con Colbert Road in Dublin is named in his honour.
Notes
- ^ Piaras F. Mac Lochlainn, Last Words, The Stationery Office (Dublin), ISBN 0 7076 0101 0, pg.147
- ^ D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), ISBN 0 7171 2520 3, Pg.75
- ^ The Irish Times Ltd Dublin, Sinn Féin Rebellion Handbook (1917 Issue), Fred. Hanna, Ltd, Pg. 262
- ^ D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), ISBN 0 7171 2520 3, Pg.75
- ^ http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/index.asp?docID=2518
- ^ D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), ISBN 0 7171 2520 3, Pg.75
- ^ D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), ISBN 0 7171 2520 3, Pg.75
- ^ D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), ISBN 0 7171 2520 3, Pg.75
- ^ Piaras F. Mac Lochlainn, Last Words, The Stationery Office (Dublin), ISBN 0 7076 0101 0, pg.145
- ^ D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800, Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), ISBN 0 7171 2520 3, Pg.75
- ^ Piaras F. Mac Lochlainn, Last Words, The Stationery Office (Dublin), ISBN 0 7076 0101 0, pg.146
- ^ Piaras F. Mac Lochlainn, Last Words, The Stationery Office (Dublin), ISBN 0 7076 0101 0, pg.151
External links
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