Cornelius McNamara
Encyclopedia
Cornelius McNamara, better known as Connie (Mackey) Mc Namara, (April 6, 1896 - December 15, 1957) was the Captain of "A" Company Active Service Unit of the Second Battalion Mid-Limerick Brigade in the Irish Republican Army during the Irish War of Independence
.
School in Sexton Street, Limerick City. He left the school around 1910 and took up an apprenticeship in one of the four large bacon factories in Limerick City. When Padraig Pearse and Roger Casement
came to Limerick in early 1914 to raise Volunteer
companies, the seeds were planted in Cornelius' mind to join the movement later on.
, and was present at Killonan with the rest of his battalion during the Easter Rising
, but after hearing word that the Rising was called off, the battalion marched back to Limerick. Soon after, the Battalion split and he then joined "A" Company of the newly formed Second Battalion. His home then became the battalion dispatch centre and he was admitted to the ranks of the Irish Republican Brotherhood
. In November 1918 he was promoted to first Lieutenant.
started on April 6, 1919, Cornelius became part of 'A' Company's Active Service Unit. On the same day, he was part of the attempted rescue of Robert Byrne, Adjutant of the Second Battalion from the City Home in Limerick. Byrne was mortally wounded and became the first Republican fatality of the Irish War of Independence. He was promoted to Captain in November 1919 and became leader of the 'A' Company Active Service Unit. On July 17, 1920, he was arrested with 4 or 5 members of his ASU collecting funds in Garryowen. He was imprisoned until mid-February 1921 and was re-arrested soon after his release and remained in prison until December 9, 1921 where he was released under a general amnesty of the Anglo-Irish Treaty
of December 6, 1921.
(1922–1923). He was made commandant of the Strand Barracks
in Limerick in March 1922.
From July 15 to July 20, the Barracks was attacked by Free State troops under Michael Brennan. After a five-day siege, he surrendered and was imprisoned in Limerick Prison and then transported by the ship Arvonia to be interned in Gormanston
. While he was in Limerick prison and aboard the Arvonia he was elected prisoners' commandant.
(IRA) in the Civil War, McNamara was released in 23 December 1923. He became secretary of the Limerick branch for the Irish Republican Prisoners' Dependents Fund (IRPDF) from 1924 to 1925, which assisted Republican Prisoners families. He was forced to emigrate to New York
in both 1925 and 1930 by Free State sympathisers, and took no further part in any more IRA activities.
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
.
Early life
Cornelius McNamara was born in Limerick City, the son of a butcher. He was educated for a period in the Christian BrothersCongregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
School in Sexton Street, Limerick City. He left the school around 1910 and took up an apprenticeship in one of the four large bacon factories in Limerick City. When Padraig Pearse and Roger Casement
Roger Casement
Roger David Casement —Sir Roger Casement CMG between 1911 and shortly before his execution for treason, when he was stripped of his British honours—was an Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary, and nationalist....
came to Limerick in early 1914 to raise Volunteer
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists. It was ostensibly formed in response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and its declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland"...
companies, the seeds were planted in Cornelius' mind to join the movement later on.
Volunteers
In October 1915, he enlisted in "C" Company Limerick City Battalion under Michael ColivetMichael Colivet
Michael Colivet was an Irish Sinn Féin politician and a founding member of the Irish Republic. He was Commander of the Irish Volunteers in Limerick during the 1916 Easter Rising, elected MP for Limerick City, and TD of the First Dáil....
, and was present at Killonan with the rest of his battalion during the Easter Rising
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
, but after hearing word that the Rising was called off, the battalion marched back to Limerick. Soon after, the Battalion split and he then joined "A" Company of the newly formed Second Battalion. His home then became the battalion dispatch centre and he was admitted to the ranks of the Irish Republican Brotherhood
Irish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland during the second half of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century...
. In November 1918 he was promoted to first Lieutenant.
War of Independence
When the Irish War of IndependenceIrish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
started on April 6, 1919, Cornelius became part of 'A' Company's Active Service Unit. On the same day, he was part of the attempted rescue of Robert Byrne, Adjutant of the Second Battalion from the City Home in Limerick. Byrne was mortally wounded and became the first Republican fatality of the Irish War of Independence. He was promoted to Captain in November 1919 and became leader of the 'A' Company Active Service Unit. On July 17, 1920, he was arrested with 4 or 5 members of his ASU collecting funds in Garryowen. He was imprisoned until mid-February 1921 and was re-arrested soon after his release and remained in prison until December 9, 1921 where he was released under a general amnesty of the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
of December 6, 1921.
Civil War
McNamara fought on the Republican side in the Irish Civil WarIrish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
(1922–1923). He was made commandant of the Strand Barracks
Strand Barracks
The Strand Barracks is the former army barracks on Clancy's Strand in Limerick City, Ireland.-1774 to 1800s:The barracks dates from the 18th century, founded in 1774, and lies on the banks of the River Shannon...
in Limerick in March 1922.
From July 15 to July 20, the Barracks was attacked by Free State troops under Michael Brennan. After a five-day siege, he surrendered and was imprisoned in Limerick Prison and then transported by the ship Arvonia to be interned in Gormanston
Gormanston Aerodrome
Gormanston Camp is a military camp in the Republic of Ireland and consists of approximately 260 acres. The camp is currently used by B Company, 5 Infantry Battalion and for air-ground and air-defence training...
. While he was in Limerick prison and aboard the Arvonia he was elected prisoners' commandant.
Subsequent IRA career
After the defeat of the anti-Treaty Irish Republican ArmyIrish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
(IRA) in the Civil War, McNamara was released in 23 December 1923. He became secretary of the Limerick branch for the Irish Republican Prisoners' Dependents Fund (IRPDF) from 1924 to 1925, which assisted Republican Prisoners families. He was forced to emigrate to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in both 1925 and 1930 by Free State sympathisers, and took no further part in any more IRA activities.
Death
He died at home in 1957 and was survived by his second wife May (née Moakley) and only daughter Patricia Corbett. His grandson Jim Corbett chronicled his life with the biography Not While I Have Ammo.See also
- Strand BarracksStrand BarracksThe Strand Barracks is the former army barracks on Clancy's Strand in Limerick City, Ireland.-1774 to 1800s:The barracks dates from the 18th century, founded in 1774, and lies on the banks of the River Shannon...
- Gormanston AerodromeGormanston AerodromeGormanston Camp is a military camp in the Republic of Ireland and consists of approximately 260 acres. The camp is currently used by B Company, 5 Infantry Battalion and for air-ground and air-defence training...
- Irish Republican ArmyIrish Republican ArmyThe Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
- Irish Civil WarIrish Civil WarThe Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....