Remembering Edward Byrne — Irish Volunteer 1894 to 1932.
At the turn of the 20th Century, Dublin was often referred to as the second city of the British Empire, private wealth, commercial success and developing industries all helped to shape this narrative, indeed some commentators at the time stated that Dublin was ‘a city famous for its charitable institutions and its charitable citizens’ however this narrative only applied to a small number of its citizens — often those linked with the British administration and institutions.
The 1916 Rising was not simply an attempt to overthrow British Rule in Ireland, it was also an attempt to create a more just and liberal society. Many of the Volunteers who fought in the Rising fought for the right to create that society, one that was inclusive, fair and not based on supporting the demands from an external state and ultimately the freedom to create its own destiny. One of those who took part in the events following the Easter Rising was my Great Grandfather, Edward ‘Nipper’ Byrne.
Edward was born in Dublin in 1894 where he lived in a tenement building in Henrietta Street with his Mother, Stepfather, and siblings (his father, Lawrence Byrne had died when Edward was 4 years old). Conditions in the tenement buildings at that time were grim — in 1914, the Dublin Citizens’ Association Committee on Housing report said:
“There are many tenement houses with seven or eight rooms that house a family in each room and contain a population of between 40 and 50 souls. We have visited one house that we found to be occupied by 98 persons…. the only water supply of the house is furnished by a single water tap, which is in the yard…we have no hesitation in saying that it is no uncommon thing to find halls and landings, yards and closets of the houses in a filthy condition, and, in nearly every case, human excreta is to be found scattered about the yards and in the floors of the closets and, in some cases, even in the passages of the house itself.”
This was the world that Edward and his siblings lived in.
It was in June 1917, that Edward joined Oglaigh na hEireann, the Irish Republican Army and swore an oath of allegiance to help bring about the creation of an Irish Republic. At the time, Edward was working as a general laborer at Smith & Pearson’s foundry in Dublin, and throughout the War of Independence, he maintained this cover while serving with C Company, Second Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IRA.
Throughout the War of Independence, the Second Battalion was regarded as one of the most aggressive units in the region. It was responsible for the attack on the British Viceroy and Supreme Commander of the British Army in Ireland Lord French. C Company engaged in daily attacks on Police and Army patrols in Raheny, Talbot Street, Dublin Castle, and the Kings Inn areas. Edward participated in many of these actions and was known to be a particularly active and determined Volunteer.
Edward led a complex and double life at this time, he had acquired the nickname ‘Nipper Byrne’ from his comrades, was constantly engaged on operations with an Active Service Unit and was effectively ‘on the run’ and away from the family home for the duration of the war. Despite the frenetic pace of life on the run, in 1921 he married Ellen ‘Nelly’ O’Hanlon, and together they had six children; Edward, Lawrence, James, William, Sean, and Mary. As was the case with many others (including his brother Patrick who was also an IRA volunteer), ‘Nipper’ was effectively a wanted man and subject to arrest and detention on sight, if he was lucky.
It was during an engagement in North County Dublin in 1922 that ‘Nipper’ Byrne’s luck finally ran out. Under the command of Thomas Burke, he and the active service unit were surrounded and captured and later imprisoned in Mountjoy Jail. As was expected, treatment in the prison was tough and brutal. Nipper suffered broken bones, he lost several of his teeth when they were ‘smashed in’ by guards and he was routinely brutalized along with his comrades.
In 1923, Edward was moved from Mountjoy Jail to a ‘temporary’ prison in the Curragh, Co Kildare. The camp known as ‘Tintown’ was a series of Nissen huts that resembled an internment camp, and conditions here were equally as brutal as those experienced in Mountjoy. Edward was incarcerated in Hut No 5 with several of his comrades, and later that year in an effort to win some concessions from the authorities he began a hunger strike that lasted over 16 days. According to letters from his wife Ellen, Edward’s time in Tintown was ‘difficult and he was singled out for rough treatment’ because he wouldn’t accept the prison regime.
Following the ceasefire with the British forces, the order was given for the IRA to lay down its arms and while negotiations took place between the British and Irish representatives, many of those involved in the conflict were still in prison. Edward’s time in prison did affect his outlook towards what Irish independence meant, and he believed that the treaty did not represent what he had fought for — leading him to support the Anti-Treaty IRA. It was the split between pro and anti-treaty supporters that led to the Irish Civil war.
The Irish Civil war ended in May 1923, with pro-treaty forces ending all resistance with maximum force. Former comrades had turned on each other and in some instances, terrible atrocities were carried out by both sides. Edwards war had long ended and he bore the scars of his service. He received no pension or recognition of his service during the War of Independence and when he left prison he returned to his wife and children in Henrietta Street. He was deeply conflicted over the split between pro and anti-treaty volunteers and his anti-treaty stance probably impacted the family when the war ended (he initially supported the agreement between the Irish and British delegations, however like many of his comrades he ended up supporting anti-treaty forces)
Tragedy was to visit the family over the next few years, and life in the Tenements was tough and unforgiving. In March 1930, Edward and Ellen’s son William was killed when he slipped and was impaled on railings outside the family home, he was 9 years old when he died.
On the 6th of January 1932, Edward Byrne collapsed at work in Jacobs Dublin Box Company. He had suffered a ruptured intestine and was also diagnosed with chronic TB. The family couldn’t afford medical assistance and he was carried home to Henrietta Street to recover. He never recovered and died at home. Edward was survived by his wife and five children.
Edward’s funeral was attended by several of his former colleagues including Oscar Traynor, Dan Breen, Thomas Burke, and James Brennan. Despite his injuries later being attributed to the treatment he received as a prisoner Edwards surviving family received no support from the fledgling Irish Government.
He was laid to rest in an unmarked grave with his son William in Deansgrange Cemetery, Co Dublin. Tragically in March 1932 only 3 months after burying her husband, Ellen Byrne also buried her infant son James.
Almost 80 years later, Edward’s granddaughter Catherine found his unmarked grave and erected a headstone to mark his final resting place. Following intensive lobbying by the family and as a final overdue act of recognition by the State, Edward ‘Nipper’ Byrne’s wartime service was finally acknowledged. In 2013, Edwards only surviving child Mary Byrne was awarded ‘The 1917 to 1921 Service Medal’ on his behalf. This medal was only awarded to veterans of the Irish War of Independence.
May he Rest in Peace.