Dartmoor in 1916
Prisoner’s Return to Clonakilty, 1917
Notification of Scholarship, September 1912
Four Courts account, possibly by George Byrne
Letter to Con’s son Sean O’Donovan from United Conference of Old I.R.A.
Letter from Royal College of Science, September 1926
Letter from Rathfarnham Barracks, November 1920
Letter on Behalf of Seán O’Donovan, 1923
The Commandant Regrets
‘Abridged’ Con O’Donovan CV
”Following is an abridged record of my experience from 1912 to the present time.“
Following is an abridged record of my experience from 1912 to the present time.
| 1912 | I secured a scholarship in agriculture, tenable for four years in the College of Science and had only the last term to do, at Easter 1916. |
| 1916 | Instead of going home for the Easter holidays, I stayed in Dublin for the Rising, fought in Four Courts, was courtmartialled and sentenced to death (commuted to penal servitude), arriving in Dartmoor prison in May. After an experience in Dartmoor, Lewes, Maidstone and Pentonville prisons I was released in May, 1917. |
| 1917 | On returning to Dublin I applied for a renewal of my scholarship in the College of Science, so that I could complete the four years course, and got a blank refusal. |
| 1918 | Arrested in the “Gorman Plot” roundup of May. Detained in Usk prison. Released, owing to state of health following the bad influenza, in Spring, 1919. |
| 1920 | Arrested in November following my return to Dublin following attendance at the funeral of Terence McSweeney. Courtmartialled, released and re-arrested immediately. |
| 1921 | Released shortly before Christmas |
| 1922 | Fought on Republican side and luckily escaped arrest |
| 1924 | Was permitted to do the Easter to June term in College of Science, but had to take the same examinations as the students who were finishing normally that year and got the A.R.C.Sc.I. degree. Other students who joined the British army got special examinations on their return to civilian life. In April, following and advertisement for Inspectors in Land Commission, I applied and was interviewed by the first Selection Board set up by an Irish Government. As a result, I am aware, I was well placed among the first six for a Grade 1, £600 per annum, post. |
| 1925 | I am also aware that my name did not appear, anywhere, on the list finally recommended for appointment. In December of that year I was again interviewed and although placed second on the recommended list for Grade 1 Inspectors, I was not appointed. |
| 1934 | In March, I got an appointment as Agricultural Instructor (which I could not have got if I had not gone back to college to do that Easter-June term) at a salary of £150 per annum, the minimum, at which I would have normally started in 1916. Meanwhile my colleagues who graduated in 1916 were eight increments ahead of me and had established seniority to that extent. Having spent nine years as Agricultural Instructor I came to the Land Commission as Grade II Inspector and was not promoted to Grade 1 until1946. No suitable vacancy having arisen in the meantime. Having regard to the discrimination shown against me in 1924 in depriving me of a Grade 1 Inspector post for which I qualified at a Civil Service Board, I consider that, in equity I should have been given Grade I rank on my appointment in 1934, and that as a result of having been given only Grade II rank, I have been harshly penalised. I understand that in the somewhat analogous case of Mr. C.W. Little who was dismissed while serving as an Assistant Inspector, Mr. Little was appointed to a post of Grade 1 Inspector on his reinstatement in 1932. It can be seen I was in prison for Christmas 1916, 1918 and 1920. Periods out of prison 1916-1922 meant being almost continuously “on the run”. From a purely personal point of view it is quite evident that the nine years, three of which I spent in prison from 1916 to 1915 were a dead financial loss. I also suffered severely in being deprived of my appointment as a Grade 1 Inspector from 1924 to 1934. In my opinion I have received nothing that could be deemed reasonable compensation for that loss apart entirely from any mark of appreciation of patriotism and national service. I hold medals and certificates of service, including one for membership of the 26th Battalion Old I.R.A. during the last war. I could claim, in addition to the forgoing, consideration on compassionate grounds, but as my present position of financial embarrassment arose from the events and experiences already related I make only the following points:- Married 1922. Six in family. Eldest 29 years, married. B.E. (Mech & Elec.). Second a daughter, Shorthand-typist. Son, a commercial traveller. Son a Clerical student. Daughter just qualified as Doctor. Son a dental student in U.C.D. Three of the six will continue to be dependant on me for several years as the lady doctor will not be in a position to support herself for two years at least. University education for four was really beyond my means but I could not well refuse it. I am still endeavouring to reduce a rather big overdraft and pay interest arising from purchase of my dwelling and have mortgaged both the house and life insurance policies in that respect. In conclusion, I would ask that sympathetic consideration be given to my application to be retained in the service for a further period after the 27th of May next. |
‘Abridged’ Con O’Donovan CV
Letter from Arbour Hill, January 1921
Letter from The Bridewell, 1920
Statement by Witness (Cornelius O’Donovan), 1959, re Easter Week, 1916
My recollections of that week – are they worth reading? I have doubts. But here they are…
Statement by Witness (Cornelius O’Donovan), 1959, re Easter Week, 1916
Postcard from Usk prison
Cornelius (Con) O’Donovan in Old I.R.A., or possibly F.C.A., uniform
1916 prisoners
Group photo of hunger-strikers
Sean O’Donovan
Con O’Donovan on NI Driving Licence
Con O’Donovan
Kathleen Boland
Mass card of Harry Boland
Mass card of Kathleen O’Donovan
Mass card (booklet) of Ellen O’Donovan
Agnes Monks
Senator Sean O’Donovan
Agnes and Con O’Donovan
Con O’Donovan at College of Science, Dublin, probably 1924
Chapel in Usk Prison
Agnes and Con O’Donovan, 1947
Ellen O’Donovan (O’Neill), wife of Johnny O’Donovan