John Kenny (Clan-na-Gael)
Encyclopedia
John Kenny long-time member and multi-term president (1883, 1914) of the Clan-na-Gael
in New York, which supplied support to the rebels in Ireland, culminating in the Easter Rising. Under the cover of personal and business trips, he served as liaison between the "Home Office" (the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland) and the New York Clan-na-Gael. In 1914 he served as the Clan's envoy to Berlin to present the Clan’s proposal that Germany sell arms to the Irish, who would then stage a rebellion against their common enemy, England . On his return to New York he stopped in Dublin to inform Thomas Clarke
. He returned to Ireland to deliver money for the guns and to bring back messages from the I.R.B.
, the Clan-na-Gael’s rescue of six Irish prisoners in 1873 from British prison in Freemantle, Western Australia. The rescue is credited with having breathed new life into the Irish organizations in America, which at the time were in disarray following several failed ventures.
As president of the Clan-na-Gael in 1882, Kenny swore in 23-year-old new-comer Thomas B. Clarke
, who was elected the organizational secretary. Thus began their lifelong friendship, lasting 34 years until Clarke’s execution as a leader of the Easter Rising
.
In 1883 Kenny passed along Clarke’s offer to volunteer for the Clan-na-Gaels’ bombing campaign in London. Clarke’s offer was accepted . The campaign, devised by Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa
, failed and Clarke ended up serving fifteen and a half years in British prisons.
, Kenny returned to Ireland in 1885 to play an active role in the Irish National Land League
, giving up a lucrative business and relocating his family to Kilcock, County Kildare. Discouraged by the course of events in Ireland, Kenny moved his family back to New York in 1890. In 1898 Clarke also returned to New York, on his release from prison, and worked at the Gaelic American
newspaper with editor John Devoy
. Kenny returned to Ireland, where he continued his work in the Land League. He traveled frequently between Ireland and New York, serving as a liaison between the Irish Republican Brotherhood
in Ireland (or, as it was referred to in New York, the “Home Office”) and the Clan-na-Gael in America, before returning to New York for good. In 1907, Thomas Clarke returned to Dublin to rally support for a rebellion.
Irish National Volunteers in Ireland), a founder of the Land League (and in 1916 of the Friends of Irish Freedom
), and an active supporter of Padraic Pearse’s St. Enda's School
and the women’s organization the Cumann na mBan
.
and John Devoy
arranged a meeting in New York between the Western Hemisphere’s top-ranking German diplomat, Count von Bernstorff, http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/bernstorff.htm and a delegation of Clan-na-Gael men. The Clan delegates proposed a mutually beneficial plan: if Germany would sell guns to the Irish rebels and provide military leaders, the rebels would stage a revolt against England, diverting troops and attention from the war with Germany. Von Bernstorff listened with evident sympathy and promised to relay the proposal to Berlin. Devoy decided to communicate directly with Berlin himself . At the time, England held control of the seas and furthermore, within days of the start of the war, had cut the transatlantic cable. It would be necessary to send an envoy to deliver the message personally.
John Kenny, a trusted long-time member and leader of many Irish organizations, erudite and educated, a published author, was chosen. As an American citizen who had often traveled between New York and Ireland ostensibly for business reasons, he would attract less attention from British spies yet could be trusted to use his own discretion in presenting the proposal in the best possible light.
Kenny left for Italy on August 21, 1914. At first he was denied entry by the Italian government but eventually was allowed to land, on the condition that he proceed immediately to the Swiss border. Instead, he headed to the Germany Embassy in Rome, where to his surprise he was granted an immediate and lengthy interview with von Flutow, the German ambassador to Italy. Kenny handed the ambassador the proposal written by Devoy (and Casement). Von Flutow was particularly concerned with the fact that the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, John Redmond
, had promised the loyalty of the Irish Volunteers to England. He also showed great interest in Casement’s scheme, the recruitment of Irish prisoners of war into the German army, questioning Kenny about the class of Irish soldiers, their reasons for joining the British army, and the strength of their loyalty. However, as the discussion continued, von Flutow suddenly said that he could see serious complications arising from this plan, in running afoul of international law. Yet he assured Kenny that this plan and all of the other points Kenny had presented would be forwarded immediately to the top leaders.
Before Kenny left the Embassy, von Flutow gave him an Imperial Pass allowing him to travel throughout Germany, to facilitate his meeting with the Kaiser.
At Casement’s urging, Kenny attempted to get an interview with the pope, who was known to be sympathetic to the cause; however the pope declined, citing the need to maintain an appearance of strict neutrality. Kenny spent the next ten days zigzagging across a Europe disrupted by huge movements of troops, in an effort to meet up with the Kaiser. His progress was impeded by the vast movements of troops and by the expansion of the war. Using the Imperial Pass given to him by von Flutow, he was able to board troop trains. When necessary he traveled on foot, slept outside, and foraged. Although he came close, he never quite caught up with the Kaiser. He did, however, meet up with Prince von Beulow
, a German diplomat who had formerly served as chancellor. Again Kenny laid out the Clan’s proposal. Von Beulow advised if he could wait a little longer, his chance of meeting with the Kaiser would improve. However Kenny, deciding that he had fulfilled his mission to relay the message to the German government, made plans to return to America. But by now he could no longer retrace his steps, his retreat having been cut off by the progress of the war.
He headed to Rotterdam where he missed the last ship for New York by several hours, and decided to travel back to New York via Ireland.
He traveled uneventfully although anxiously through England, and arrived in Dublin. He met immediately with Tom Clarke who assured him that, contrary to what Kenny believed, Kenny was being followed by British intelligence. Clarke gave Kenny an oral report to give to Devoy: the hardliners had control of the Irish Volunteer Committee and would strongly protest John Redmond’s attempted control of the Volunteers. Clarke felt that the threat of conscription into the British Army would alienate Redmond’s followers, who would ultimately abandon him. Clarke urged Kenny to pass on his sentiments when he saw Padraig Pearse the next day at St. Enda's School, and asked him to get Padraic Pearse’s views on the manifesto. Kenny reported back to Clarke that Pearse was in complete accord. Clarke passed the same enquiry on to Eoin MacNeill
, head of the Irish Volunteers, and James Connolly
, head of the Citizens Army, that night. Kenny reported all opinions back to Devoy in New York.
of Philadelphia and John McGarry
of Chicago who debriefed him on the trip.
In November, Kenny was again asked to take a trip – this time to deliver money and the promise of support to Ireland and to bring back reports on conditions in Ireland and messages from the “Home Office”. Leaving New York on November 14, 1914, Kenny successfully passed through several British checkpoints, arriving safely in Dublin on November 28. According to plan, he telegraphed “Arrived well “ to indicate his safe arrival (“arrived” would indicate that he had been held up by the British and it would be necessary to hand off the money to another courier)[9].
He delivered ₤3000 to The O'Rahilly
at the Irish Volunteers Headquarters, 41 Kildare Street, in Dublin. Owen MacNeill handed him a receipt for the money, as well as receipts for money sent over previously - receipts were not sent through the mail where they could be intercepted and used to follow the money trail. It was decided that all future contributions from American should be sent to Owen MacNeill at the Irish Volunteers, whether for the Irish Volunteers or the Irish Republican Brotherhood (I.R.B.), since all contributions to the I.R.B. were liable to confiscation.
Over the next few weeks, Kenny met many times, both socially and at organizational meetings, with Tom Clarke, Padraig Pearse, The O’Rahilly, Thomas MacDonagh
, Joseph Mary Plunkett
, Diarmuid Lynch
, Bulmer Hobson
. The “Home Office” were depending on the Clan in New York for guns, ammunition, funds, and military help for the planned rebellion. The recent landing of 1700 rifles in Howth
had resulted in the British cutting all shipments and manufacturing of arms in Ireland. Plans were discussed to smuggle guns through the Blaskets or Achill Island. It was decided that all future shipments of guns should either use the English service cartridges or come with an ample supply of ammunition. Men who could handle explosives were badly needed, as were trained military officers. Plans were made for MacDonagh to contact ex-US Army veterans then living in Ireland, using a list Kenny had given him. Britain had suppressed the publication of newspapers Sinn Fein, Irish Freedom, Ireland, and the Irish Worker, and had banned the Gaelic American. The remaining newspapers were heavily fined for printing uncensored news. Codes could not be sent through the mail, and all telegrams were paraphrased to disguise their messages. Any communication between Ireland and America had to be done by messenger, from memory (nothing could be written down), with only unknown messengers being used and then, only one time.
At the time, the leadership in Dublin believed that conscription was imminent, and would be preceded by arrests of the IRB and Irish Volunteers leadership. They later learned that the British feared that this course would meet with violent opposition, exposing the myth of Irish solidarity with Britain during the war. However, Clarke and McDermott, fearing wholesale arrests of the leadership, sent the names of a second and third line of command to the Clan in New York. Fearful that Kenny would be searched, they decided instead to send it via Father Liam O’Donnell, who left for America several days before Kenny. Kenny memorized a list of trusted contacts in London that the Clan could use.
Kenny arrived back in New York, via Liverpool, on December 19, 1914. With the exception of Eoin MacNeil, the lives of virtually everyone Kenny met in Dublin during his second Clan-na-Gael mission would be forfeit in the April 1916 Easter Rising
and its train of executions. He eulogized the men and women he met in Dublin on his second mission: "They were the stuff of which is made the heroes and martyrs whose statues adorn our public squares and whose names are canonized in our churches. Yet they were condemned as little less than criminals by some who now profess that their greatest desire is to emulate them. They were derided as visionaries, yet Ireland is well on the way towards which they would have led." [10]
Kenny documented his missions in a series of articles in the Gaelic American newspaper.
, which wrote of him: "The organization feels that in the death of John Kenny they have lost one of their most valued friends, and one of the sincerest, noblest, and most intelligent friends of Ireland who was ever ready to assist wholeheartedly and unselfishly ... a soul that never valued the material things of this world."
Clan na Gael
The Clan na Gael was an Irish republican organization in the United States in the late 19th and 20th centuries, successor to the Fenian Brotherhood and a sister organization to the Irish Republican Brotherhood...
in New York, which supplied support to the rebels in Ireland, culminating in the Easter Rising. Under the cover of personal and business trips, he served as liaison between the "Home Office" (the Irish Republican Brotherhood in Ireland) and the New York Clan-na-Gael. In 1914 he served as the Clan's envoy to Berlin to present the Clan’s proposal that Germany sell arms to the Irish, who would then stage a rebellion against their common enemy, England . On his return to New York he stopped in Dublin to inform Thomas Clarke
Tom Clarke
Tom Clarke or Thomas Clarke may refer to:* Tom Clarke , Lead singer of The Enemy* Tom Clarke , British Member of Parliament...
. He returned to Ireland to deliver money for the guns and to bring back messages from the I.R.B.
Early Life - Clan-na-Gael 1871-1885
John Kenny was born in 1847 in Kilcock, County Kildare, to a family of wealthy farmers. After a successful stint in gold mining in Australia , he emigrated to New York in 1870, where he joined the Irish-American organization Napper Tandy, the New York branch of the Clan-na-Gael. Kenny played a major role in the Catalpa rescueCatalpa rescue
The Catalpa rescue was the escape, in 1876, of six Irish Fenian prisoners from what was then the British penal colony of Western Australia.-Fenians and plans to escape:...
, the Clan-na-Gael’s rescue of six Irish prisoners in 1873 from British prison in Freemantle, Western Australia. The rescue is credited with having breathed new life into the Irish organizations in America, which at the time were in disarray following several failed ventures.
As president of the Clan-na-Gael in 1882, Kenny swore in 23-year-old new-comer Thomas B. Clarke
Tom Clarke
Tom Clarke or Thomas Clarke may refer to:* Tom Clarke , Lead singer of The Enemy* Tom Clarke , British Member of Parliament...
, who was elected the organizational secretary. Thus began their lifelong friendship, lasting 34 years until Clarke’s execution as a leader of 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...
.
In 1883 Kenny passed along Clarke’s offer to volunteer for the Clan-na-Gaels’ bombing campaign in London. Clarke’s offer was accepted . The campaign, devised by Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa
Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa
Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa , was an Irish Fenian leader and prominent member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. His life as an Irish Fenian is well documented but he is perhaps known best in death for the graveside oration given at his funeral by Pádraig Pearse.-Life in Ireland:He was born at...
, failed and Clarke ended up serving fifteen and a half years in British prisons.
Land League, County Kildare 1885-1890
In keeping with the New Departure (Ireland)New Departure (Ireland)
The term New Departure has been used to describe several initiatives in the late 19th century where Irish republicans, who were committed to independence from Britain through use of physical force, attempted to find a common ground for cooperation with groups committed to Irish Home Rule through...
, Kenny returned to Ireland in 1885 to play an active role in the Irish National Land League
Irish National Land League
The Irish Land League was an Irish political organization of the late 19th century which sought to help poor tenant farmers. Its primary aim was to abolish landlordism in Ireland and enable tenant farmers to own the land they worked on...
, giving up a lucrative business and relocating his family to Kilcock, County Kildare. Discouraged by the course of events in Ireland, Kenny moved his family back to New York in 1890. In 1898 Clarke also returned to New York, on his release from prison, and worked at the Gaelic American
Gaelic American
The Gaelic American was an Irish Catholic newspaper published in the United States that was, along with the Irish Nation, owned by John Devoy. A weekly publication of the Sinn Féin, it was amongst the foremost Irish ethnic newspapers till the Great Depression when its readership declined. It had at...
newspaper with editor John Devoy
John Devoy
John Devoy was an Irish rebel leader and exile.-Early life:Devoy was born near Kill, County Kildare. In 1861 he travelled to France with an introduction from T. D. Sullivan to John Mitchel...
. Kenny returned to Ireland, where he continued his work in the Land League. He traveled frequently between Ireland and New York, serving as a liaison between 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 Ireland (or, as it was referred to in New York, the “Home Office”) and the Clan-na-Gael in America, before returning to New York for good. In 1907, Thomas Clarke returned to Dublin to rally support for a rebellion.
Return to New York 1890
In 1914 Kenny, living in New York, was again the president of the Clan-na-Gael. He was also the vice president of the I.R.B. Veterans, a member of the Irish Volunteers Committee (the provisional committee formed to arm the Irish VolunteersIrish 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"...
Irish National Volunteers in Ireland), a founder of the Land League (and in 1916 of the Friends of Irish Freedom
Friends of Irish Freedom
The Friends of Irish Freedom was an Irish-American Republican organisation founded at the third Irish Race Convention held in New York . Supported by the United Irish League, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and other leading Irish-American organisations...
), and an active supporter of Padraic Pearse’s St. Enda's School
St. Enda's School
St. Enda's School, or Scoil Éanna, was a Secondary school for boys set up by Irish nationalist Patrick Pearse in 1908.-Background:Pearse, generally known as a leader of the Easter Rising in 1916, had long been critical of the educational system in Ireland, which he believed taught Irish children to...
and the women’s organization the Cumann na mBan
Cumann na mBan
Cumann na mBan is an Irish republican women's paramilitary organisation formed in Dublin on 2 April 1914 as an auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers...
.
Mission to Germany to request guns and military assistance
At the declaration of war between England and Germany on August 14, 1914, Sir Roger CasementRoger 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....
and John Devoy
John Devoy
John Devoy was an Irish rebel leader and exile.-Early life:Devoy was born near Kill, County Kildare. In 1861 he travelled to France with an introduction from T. D. Sullivan to John Mitchel...
arranged a meeting in New York between the Western Hemisphere’s top-ranking German diplomat, Count von Bernstorff, http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/bernstorff.htm and a delegation of Clan-na-Gael men. The Clan delegates proposed a mutually beneficial plan: if Germany would sell guns to the Irish rebels and provide military leaders, the rebels would stage a revolt against England, diverting troops and attention from the war with Germany. Von Bernstorff listened with evident sympathy and promised to relay the proposal to Berlin. Devoy decided to communicate directly with Berlin himself . At the time, England held control of the seas and furthermore, within days of the start of the war, had cut the transatlantic cable. It would be necessary to send an envoy to deliver the message personally.
John Kenny, a trusted long-time member and leader of many Irish organizations, erudite and educated, a published author, was chosen. As an American citizen who had often traveled between New York and Ireland ostensibly for business reasons, he would attract less attention from British spies yet could be trusted to use his own discretion in presenting the proposal in the best possible light.
Kenny left for Italy on August 21, 1914. At first he was denied entry by the Italian government but eventually was allowed to land, on the condition that he proceed immediately to the Swiss border. Instead, he headed to the Germany Embassy in Rome, where to his surprise he was granted an immediate and lengthy interview with von Flutow, the German ambassador to Italy. Kenny handed the ambassador the proposal written by Devoy (and Casement). Von Flutow was particularly concerned with the fact that the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, John Redmond
John Redmond
John Edward Redmond was an Irish nationalist politician, barrister, MP in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918...
, had promised the loyalty of the Irish Volunteers to England. He also showed great interest in Casement’s scheme, the recruitment of Irish prisoners of war into the German army, questioning Kenny about the class of Irish soldiers, their reasons for joining the British army, and the strength of their loyalty. However, as the discussion continued, von Flutow suddenly said that he could see serious complications arising from this plan, in running afoul of international law. Yet he assured Kenny that this plan and all of the other points Kenny had presented would be forwarded immediately to the top leaders.
Before Kenny left the Embassy, von Flutow gave him an Imperial Pass allowing him to travel throughout Germany, to facilitate his meeting with the Kaiser.
At Casement’s urging, Kenny attempted to get an interview with the pope, who was known to be sympathetic to the cause; however the pope declined, citing the need to maintain an appearance of strict neutrality. Kenny spent the next ten days zigzagging across a Europe disrupted by huge movements of troops, in an effort to meet up with the Kaiser. His progress was impeded by the vast movements of troops and by the expansion of the war. Using the Imperial Pass given to him by von Flutow, he was able to board troop trains. When necessary he traveled on foot, slept outside, and foraged. Although he came close, he never quite caught up with the Kaiser. He did, however, meet up with Prince von Beulow
Bernhard von Bülow
Bernhard Heinrich Karl Martin von Bülow , named in 1905 Prince von Bülow, was a German statesman who served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for three years and then as Chancellor of the German Empire from 1900 to 1909.Bülow was described as possessing every quality except greatness...
, a German diplomat who had formerly served as chancellor. Again Kenny laid out the Clan’s proposal. Von Beulow advised if he could wait a little longer, his chance of meeting with the Kaiser would improve. However Kenny, deciding that he had fulfilled his mission to relay the message to the German government, made plans to return to America. But by now he could no longer retrace his steps, his retreat having been cut off by the progress of the war.
He headed to Rotterdam where he missed the last ship for New York by several hours, and decided to travel back to New York via Ireland.
He traveled uneventfully although anxiously through England, and arrived in Dublin. He met immediately with Tom Clarke who assured him that, contrary to what Kenny believed, Kenny was being followed by British intelligence. Clarke gave Kenny an oral report to give to Devoy: the hardliners had control of the Irish Volunteer Committee and would strongly protest John Redmond’s attempted control of the Volunteers. Clarke felt that the threat of conscription into the British Army would alienate Redmond’s followers, who would ultimately abandon him. Clarke urged Kenny to pass on his sentiments when he saw Padraig Pearse the next day at St. Enda's School, and asked him to get Padraic Pearse’s views on the manifesto. Kenny reported back to Clarke that Pearse was in complete accord. Clarke passed the same enquiry on to Eoin MacNeill
Eoin MacNeill
Eoin MacNeill was an Irish scholar, nationalist, revolutionary and politician. MacNeill is regarded as the father of the modern study of early Irish medieval history. He was a co-founder of the Gaelic League, to preserve Irish language and culture, going on to establish the Irish Volunteers...
, head of the Irish Volunteers, and James Connolly
James Connolly
James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents and spoke with a Scottish accent throughout his life. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of...
, head of the Citizens Army, that night. Kenny reported all opinions back to Devoy in New York.
Mission to Ireland – Money for Guns
On his return to New York, Kenny immediately met with Sir Roger Casement and John Devoy, both of whom were pleased with the way the trip had gone. He also met with Joseph McGarrityJoseph McGarrity
Joseph McGarrity was born in Carrickmore, County Tyrone, Ireland. He emigrated to the USA in 1892 at the age of 18 and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From 1893 until his death he was a leading member of the Clan na Gael organisation. He also was a successful businessman; however, his...
of Philadelphia and John McGarry
John McGarry
John McGarry is a political scientist from Northern Ireland. He was born in Belfast and grew up in Ballymena, County Antrim. He is currently Professor of Political Studies and Canada Research Chair in Nationalism and Democracy at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario...
of Chicago who debriefed him on the trip.
In November, Kenny was again asked to take a trip – this time to deliver money and the promise of support to Ireland and to bring back reports on conditions in Ireland and messages from the “Home Office”. Leaving New York on November 14, 1914, Kenny successfully passed through several British checkpoints, arriving safely in Dublin on November 28. According to plan, he telegraphed “Arrived well “ to indicate his safe arrival (“arrived” would indicate that he had been held up by the British and it would be necessary to hand off the money to another courier)[9].
He delivered ₤3000 to The O'Rahilly
The O'Rahilly
Michael Joseph O'Rahilly , self-described as The O'Rahilly was an Irish republican who took part in the Easter Rising, during which he was killed in the fighting.-Early life:...
at the Irish Volunteers Headquarters, 41 Kildare Street, in Dublin. Owen MacNeill handed him a receipt for the money, as well as receipts for money sent over previously - receipts were not sent through the mail where they could be intercepted and used to follow the money trail. It was decided that all future contributions from American should be sent to Owen MacNeill at the Irish Volunteers, whether for the Irish Volunteers or the Irish Republican Brotherhood (I.R.B.), since all contributions to the I.R.B. were liable to confiscation.
Over the next few weeks, Kenny met many times, both socially and at organizational meetings, with Tom Clarke, Padraig Pearse, The O’Rahilly, Thomas MacDonagh
Thomas MacDonagh
Thomas MacDonagh was an Irish nationalist, poet, playwright, and a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising.-Early life:MacDonagh was born in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary...
, Joseph Mary Plunkett
Joseph Mary Plunkett
Joseph Mary Plunkett was an Irish nationalist, poet, journalist, and a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising.-Background:...
, Diarmuid Lynch
Diarmuid Lynch
Diarmuid Lynch was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and Sinn Féin member of the First Dáil.-Early life:Lynch, initially named Jeremiah, was born in Granig, Tracton, County Cork...
, Bulmer Hobson
Bulmer Hobson
John Bulmer Hobson was a leading member of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Republican Brotherhood before the Easter Rising in 1916...
. The “Home Office” were depending on the Clan in New York for guns, ammunition, funds, and military help for the planned rebellion. The recent landing of 1700 rifles in Howth
Howth gun-running
The Howth gun running took place in Ireland on 26 July 1914. It was a key step in providing arms to the Irish Volunteers, and played a role in the run-up to the Easter Rising of 1916.- The gun-running plan :...
had resulted in the British cutting all shipments and manufacturing of arms in Ireland. Plans were discussed to smuggle guns through the Blaskets or Achill Island. It was decided that all future shipments of guns should either use the English service cartridges or come with an ample supply of ammunition. Men who could handle explosives were badly needed, as were trained military officers. Plans were made for MacDonagh to contact ex-US Army veterans then living in Ireland, using a list Kenny had given him. Britain had suppressed the publication of newspapers Sinn Fein, Irish Freedom, Ireland, and the Irish Worker, and had banned the Gaelic American. The remaining newspapers were heavily fined for printing uncensored news. Codes could not be sent through the mail, and all telegrams were paraphrased to disguise their messages. Any communication between Ireland and America had to be done by messenger, from memory (nothing could be written down), with only unknown messengers being used and then, only one time.
At the time, the leadership in Dublin believed that conscription was imminent, and would be preceded by arrests of the IRB and Irish Volunteers leadership. They later learned that the British feared that this course would meet with violent opposition, exposing the myth of Irish solidarity with Britain during the war. However, Clarke and McDermott, fearing wholesale arrests of the leadership, sent the names of a second and third line of command to the Clan in New York. Fearful that Kenny would be searched, they decided instead to send it via Father Liam O’Donnell, who left for America several days before Kenny. Kenny memorized a list of trusted contacts in London that the Clan could use.
Kenny arrived back in New York, via Liverpool, on December 19, 1914. With the exception of Eoin MacNeil, the lives of virtually everyone Kenny met in Dublin during his second Clan-na-Gael mission would be forfeit in the April 1916 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...
and its train of executions. He eulogized the men and women he met in Dublin on his second mission: "They were the stuff of which is made the heroes and martyrs whose statues adorn our public squares and whose names are canonized in our churches. Yet they were condemned as little less than criminals by some who now profess that their greatest desire is to emulate them. They were derided as visionaries, yet Ireland is well on the way towards which they would have led." [10]
Kenny documented his missions in a series of articles in the Gaelic American newspaper.
The Price of Patriotism
John Kenny lived out the rest of his life in New York City. He served as business manager of the Gaelic American until around 1921. He continued to remain active in political affairs, and to publish his work in the Gaelic American. He died at the age of 77 on December 27, 1924, in St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan. His passing was mourned by the many Irish organizations in the city, and a special Mass was sponsored by the Cumman na mBanCumann na mBan
Cumann na mBan is an Irish republican women's paramilitary organisation formed in Dublin on 2 April 1914 as an auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers...
, which wrote of him: "The organization feels that in the death of John Kenny they have lost one of their most valued friends, and one of the sincerest, noblest, and most intelligent friends of Ireland who was ever ready to assist wholeheartedly and unselfishly ... a soul that never valued the material things of this world."