Michael O’Hanrahan

The early decades of the twentieth century were a period of sustained political turblance for Ireland. Initially it was based around Home Rule and then in 1916 it dramatically moved towards a struggle for independence with the Easter Rising.

The Easter Rising begun on April 24th,Easter Monday, when the Irish Republician Brotherhood and Irish Citizen Army took over a number of key buildings in Dublin City and at noon on that day one of the leaders Padraig Pearse stood in front of the General Post Office on O’Connell Street and read the “Proclamation of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “Proclamation of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic” as read by Padraig Pearse.       Photo: Carlow County Museum

Over the following week the Rising continued until a general surrender was issued on April 30th. As a result many of the rebels were taken into custosity by the British Army. Many were sent to prison camps in both England and Wales where they spent approximately a year or so. The leaders of the Rising were all sentenced to death of which sixteen had their execution order carried out. Initially there was a lot of public outcry against the rebels for the destruction of Dublin city centre and for the failure of the rebellion but this soon turned to revulsion against the British Army when it emerged that they were carrying out the executions. As a result they stopped and reprieved many of the death sentences.

One of the sixteen executed was Michael O’Hanrahan who had spent most of his life in Carlow Town. The O’Hanrahan family lived at 91 Tullow Street and they occupied the two adjoining premises as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael O’Hanrahan from 91 Tullow Street, Carlow in his Irish Volunteer uniform.
Photo from Carloviana and reproduced with permission of the Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society.

While living in Carlow Town Michael and the O’Hanrahan family made an important contribution to life in the Town. In the late 1890s and early years of the twenieth century Michael and his brother Henry were very involved in the foundation of the Carlow Workman’s Club, now the only such club left in Ireland.

Michael had a love of the Irish language which at the time was under going a national revival through the formation of the Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge). Michael organised and set up a local branch in Carlow town where regular classes and lessons were organised.

The O’Hanrahan Family had moved to Dublin before the Easter Rising and Michael his brother Henry were both active members of the Irish Volunteers while sisters Aine (Ciss), Maire and Eily were involved in Cuman na mBan. During the Rising Michael was positioned in Jacob's Factory under the command of Thomas McDonagh, they surrendered on Sunday April 30th.

Michael was executed on May 4th 1916 in Kilmainhan Jail, the same day as Joseph Plunkett, who famously married Grace Gifford just hours before he was executed, Willy Pearse, brother of Padraig Pearse and Edward Daly who was based around the Four Courts. Like the others who were executed Michael is buried in the Republican plot in Arbour Hill Cemetery, Dublin. Henry was also sentenced to death but this was commuted to a life sentence. Unfortunately while in jail his health deteriorated and he was eventually released to die.

Subsequently in 1919 a Carlow Town based GAA club was founded taking Michael’s name in honour of his role in 1916.

On Sunday May 28th 2006 Carlow Town Council held a 90th anniversary commemoration to Michael and the O'Hanrahan family, who was executed 90 years ago that month.
 
The commemoration begun with 12.15pm Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow Town being offered in honour of Michael and the O’Hanrahan Family. During the Mass a colour party was provided by the Kevin Gleeson Organisation of National Exservicemen Carlow Branch (ONET). The Carlow Workman’s Club, O’Hanrahan’s GAA Club and Glor na nGael provided readers for the ceremony.

Immediately afterwards there was a parade from the Cathedral to the Workman’s Club which was led by the Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal Maching Band followed by the Town and County Councillors and the above mentioned organisations. The Cathaoirleach (Mayor) of Carlow Town Council Cllr. Michael Abbey addressed the crowd while Danny Flood, PRO of ONET read the 1916 Proclamation. Danny’s Uncle was Frank Flood who was executed in Mount Joy Jail in 1921 during the War of Independence and was one of the Forgotten Ten which included Carlovians Kevin Barry and Thomas Traynor. This was followed by the laying of three wreaths under the O’Hanrahan Plaque, firstly by the Cathaoirleach of Carlow Town Council Cllr. Michael Abbey then Seamie Byrne, Committee Member of the Carlow Workman’s Club and then by Eamonn Long of the O’Hanrahan’s GAA Club.

After a minute silence there was the sounding of the Last Post and the Scoil Mhuire band concluded the ceremony by playing the national anthem, Amhran na bhFiann.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Michael O’Hanrahan Plaque on the Workman’s Club building, Brown Street, Carlow Town.                     Photo: Carlow County Museum

Speech by Cathaoirleach of Carlow Town Council, Cllr. Michael Abbey

 

Carlow Town Council’s 90th Anniversary Commemoration

of  Michael O’Hanrahan’s death.                            

Today we mark the 90th Anniversary of the execution of Michael O’Hanrahan who on the 4th May 1916 was executed in Kilmainham Jail for his part in the 1916 Rising. We also remember the O’Hanrahan family who made contributions to local and national life at the time. I would like to offer a special welcome to the descendants of the O’Hanrahan Family who are here with us today.

During the Rising Michael was based at Jacob’s Factory which was under the command of Thomas McDonagh. After the surrender the leaders of the Rising were sentenced to death among them Michael and also his brother Henry. Michael was executed on the same day as Joseph Plunkett, who married Grace Gifford just hours before his execution, Willy Pearse, brother of Padraig Pearse and Edward Daly who was based around the Four Courts. Like the others who were executed Michael is buried in Arbour Hill Cemetery in Dublin. Henry had his death sentence commuted and was sent to England where he spent time in four prisons but unfortunately his health was failing and he was later released from jail to die.

We must also remember the O’Hanrahan Sisters, Ciss, Marie and Eily who were active members in Cuman na mBan. During that period they were involved in gun running and dispatch duties.

While living in Carlow Town at 91 Tullow Street the O’Hanrahan family under the guidance of their father Richard and mother Mary made an important contribution to life in this Town. Michael and Henry were particularly involved in the foundation of the Carlow Workman’s Club, now the only such club in Ireland. In fact Henry was one of its first secretaries. Michael saw to it that this town was one of the first to embrace the Gaelic League and he organised classes for both adults and children.

We can say unequivocally that Michael and his family were an intrinsic part of the burgeoning of the national renaissance of pride and patriotism and the search for cultural identity. They were to pay the ultimate sacrifice as P.H. Pearse described it in his poem “The Mother”
I do not grudge them, Lord,
I do not grudge my two strong sons
That I have seen go out to break their strength and die,
They and a few
 In bloody protest for a glorious thing.

Or again in his poem “The Fool”
Since the wise men have not spoken,
I speak that am only a fool.
 A fool that hath loved his folly
More than the wise men their books or their counting houses
Or their fame in men’s mouths.
A fool that in all his days hath done never a prudent thing,
Never had counted the cost
Nor recked if another reaped the fruit of his mighty sowing.
Content to scatter the seeds

Subsequently in 1919 one of our Town based GAA clubs was founded taking Michael’s name in honour of his role in 1916. The timing is significant in that it shows the esteem in which Michael was held even at that time. Due to the promptings of John Hynes the F.C.A., now the Reserve Defence Force,  Companies of New Ross and Carlow were given special dispensation to display the O’Hanrahan flash on their uniform. The history of the Workman’s Club is interwoven with the history of the Town Council but that is for another time.

Today’s commemoration is made possible only through the cooperation and assistance of Town Council, the Workman’s Club, O’Hanrahan’s GAA Club, Glor na Gael, Kevin Gleeson Branch of ONET, the Cathedral Parish, Scoil Mhire Gan Smal Band, the Civil Defence, the Gardai. I would like to particularly thank Dermot Mulligan, Curator of Carlow County Museum who coordinated the event.

Go mbeirimind beo do chomoradh an cheid