Brian Dillon
Encyclopedia
Brian Dillon was an Irish
Republican
leader. He was born into a family of seven children. His birthplace was a small house on the Rathcooney Road, Cork
. When the family moved to Dillons Cross, the old house was demolished and some of the bricks were later used to form Brian Dillon's tomb in Rathcooney.
At an early age, Dillon became a leader of the Fenian
organisation and gained widespread support among the Irish at home and abroad. Under his supervision, recruits drilled on the fair field and at Rathpeacon. The movement reached a position of great strength and waited for word to come through on a rising. Before they could do so, the Fenian leaders were arrested in Cork. When brought to trial, Dillon was found guilty of conspiracy to depose the Queen and establish a republic in Ireland. He and his colleagues were sentenced to ten years penal servitude. He was to spend five years of that sentence in Pentonville Prison
in England
, and the remainder in Woking
prison. There, he lost considerable weight and eventually was allowed to return home "on account of his health". His prospects of living much longer were now very slight. He died at his home just over a year following his release, aged 42. He was buried in Rathcooney.
The Gaelic football
and Hurling
Club near Dillons Cross in Cork City, Brian Dillons
is named after him.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Republican
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
leader. He was born into a family of seven children. His birthplace was a small house on the Rathcooney Road, Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. When the family moved to Dillons Cross, the old house was demolished and some of the bricks were later used to form Brian Dillon's tomb in Rathcooney.
At an early age, Dillon became a leader of the Fenian
Fenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
organisation and gained widespread support among the Irish at home and abroad. Under his supervision, recruits drilled on the fair field and at Rathpeacon. The movement reached a position of great strength and waited for word to come through on a rising. Before they could do so, the Fenian leaders were arrested in Cork. When brought to trial, Dillon was found guilty of conspiracy to depose the Queen and establish a republic in Ireland. He and his colleagues were sentenced to ten years penal servitude. He was to spend five years of that sentence in Pentonville Prison
Pentonville (HM Prison)
HM Prison Pentonville is a Category B/C men's prison, operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service. Pentonville Prison is not actually within Pentonville itself, but is located further north, on the Caledonian Road in the Barnsbury area of the London Borough of Islington, in inner-North London,...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and the remainder in Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
prison. There, he lost considerable weight and eventually was allowed to return home "on account of his health". His prospects of living much longer were now very slight. He died at his home just over a year following his release, aged 42. He was buried in Rathcooney.
The Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
and Hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
Club near Dillons Cross in Cork City, Brian Dillons
Brian Dillons
Brian Dillons Hurling & Gaelic football Club is located at the Tank Field in Murmont in the north side of Cork City, Republic of Ireland. The clubhouse was originally located at "the Hole in the Wall" in Dillons Cross. It is one of the oldest GAA clubs in Cork city...
is named after him.