Recently there was an article in a well respected Irish History site that mentioned Frank Carney T.D. They were discussing an incident that had taken place in Portobello Barracks on June 28th 1922, as Michael Collins was gathering forces and armaments for an assault on the Four Courts. Frank Carney was the pivotal person in this controversial incident.
Someone had added a comment to this article, and I was struck by the words that she had written: “... fair play to Frank Carney (whoever he was)”.
This harmless comment hit home quite deeply. Frank Carney, whoever he was. It prompted me to look again at the information I had on my grandfather, Frank Carney. I took out the photocopies of the many newspapers that had pictures and columns on what they termed his ‘striking’ funeral.1
It had begun in St Andrew’s Church in Amien Street, Dublin on Thursday, October 20th 1932. The tricolour-draped coffin was carried into the church by the President, Éamon De Valera, and other members of the Executive Council of Dáil Éireann. The church was crammed with dignitaries, which included every member of the Irish Government benches and many of the opposition. There were representatives of Fianna Fáil and IRA Cummans from all over Ireland present in the church. A guard of honour was provided by Dublin IRA men who stood to attention around the coffin. The list of Dáil Deputies, Senators and Army officers who accompanied the coffin as it left the church reads like a who’s who of Irish Independence.
It seems that a great deal of people in those early years of the young Irish State knew exactly who Frank Carney was, and they came out in their hundreds to say their farewells to him.
It seems that a great deal of people in those early years of the young Irish State knew exactly who Frank Carney was, and they came out in their hundreds to say their farewells to him.
An 'immense concourse' took part in the cortege that accompanied the horse-drawn carriage on its way to Amiens Street Station. From there a train bedecked with floral tributes carried the coffin from Dublin to his home in Derry, stopping along the way to pick up more wreaths at Omagh and Strabane.
In Derry the train was met by thousands of people and they formed a cortege which moved off slowly, pipe bands leading the way. A hundred of his Old IRA colleagues marched behind the hearse, each one waiting for the honour of carrying his coffin for just a few yards. Bitter Civil War enemies, with wounds that were recent and raw, walked side-by-side to accompany their former Commandant to his home in Westland Villas. Huge crowds lined the streets throughout, guarded on either side by policemen. Just a few years ago they were sworn enemies of this former IRA Commandant, and yet the reports say that the Derry policemen all raised their arms and saluted him as he made his last journey. Frank Carney, 'whoever he was', had won the respect of all sides.
In Derry the train was met by thousands of people and they formed a cortege which moved off slowly, pipe bands leading the way. A hundred of his Old IRA colleagues marched behind the hearse, each one waiting for the honour of carrying his coffin for just a few yards. Bitter Civil War enemies, with wounds that were recent and raw, walked side-by-side to accompany their former Commandant to his home in Westland Villas. Huge crowds lined the streets throughout, guarded on either side by policemen. Just a few years ago they were sworn enemies of this former IRA Commandant, and yet the reports say that the Derry policemen all raised their arms and saluted him as he made his last journey. Frank Carney, 'whoever he was', had won the respect of all sides.
The funeral the next day was the biggest that Derry had ever seen, with twenty-five clergy needed to conduct the mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral. And yet Frank Carney was not even a Derry man. He had been born just 36 years before in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, and he had spent precious little of his short life in this town. Still the Derry dignitaries from all walks of religious, social and political life joined the great and the good from all over Ireland to honour this little Fermanagh man. The Derry Journal reports that this was truly a national event and that it was organised by two members of Dáil Éireann who consulted with the widow, Mrs Nora Carney. Nora Carney is reported as attending the funeral with her two oldest children, nine-year-old Eilis, and eight-year-old Maeve.
The lengthy graveside oration was given by Seán T O’Kelly, Vice President of the Executive Council and future President of Ireland. His powerful words reached out to the thousands who gathered there:'If we would honour a man worthy of honour, let those of us who cherish true Irish ideals and honour the patriots of our nation, best do so by trying to emulate men like Frank Carney, his courage and his sacrifice.”
This was Frank Carney, who at only thirty-six years of age was a man worthy of these great honours, a man worthy of this great funeral.
And yet his story has not been told. Even us, the descendants of the six very young children that Frank Carney left behind, we know very little of him.
This man, who was worthy of such great honour, has a story that is worth being told. The time has come to discover this story, and to tell it - or to make an attempt at least.
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Episode 2 in this series - Born to be a Soldier
References:
1 Newspapers from the dates 18th to 29th of October 1932 collected by my niece Tilly including:
Irish Independent,
Irish Press, Thursday, October 20th, 1932; Friday, October 21st, 1932
Irish Times, Friday, October 21st, 1932; Monday, October 24th, 1932
Donegal Democrat, Saturday October 22nd, 1932
Derry Journal, Tuesday, October 25th, 1932; Saturday, October 29th, 1932
2 Oration of Sean T. O’Kelly reprinted in full in Donegal Democrat Saturday, October 29 1932
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