Thomas McDonagh

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North

BY Amirat and Julia

FACT FILE

BORN - 1 February , 1878 HOBBIES – He loved to write poems and

play scripts . DIED – 3 May ,1916 [age 38] OCCUPATION – He was first a a teacher at

St . Enda’s school in 1908 and also the assistant headmaster . Later on he became a a lecturer in English at the National University .

EDUCATION

Education was very important for Thomas and his family . Both his parents were teachers who strongly emphasised education , While his brother John McDonagh was a a play writer and a film director.

While McDonagh attended Rockwell college, he was also interested in becoming a priest or a brother , but after a few years he realized that it wasn’t the life for him .

Family life

Thomas was born on the 1st of February 1878 in Cloughjordan. His brothers John, Joseph and Jim were born in Cloughjordan as well. Residents of that time recalled with affection this talented and well loved family. Their mother gave piano lessons to local children after school. They recalled the MacDonagh children as ‘high-spirited’.

The Irish Voluneers

Thomas was part of the Irish Volunteers . He joined the Irish Volunteers in November 1913, becoming a member of the provisional committee and taking part in the Howth gun-running. MacDonagh believed Irish freedom would be achieved by what he called “zealous martyrs”, hopefully through peace but, if necessary, by war.

The Irish Republican Brotherhood

Although he was a member of the IRB from April 1915, he was not co-opted to the Military Council until early April 1916, and so had little part in planning the Rising. He is believed, however, to have contributed to the content of the Proclamation .

The Proclaimation

The proclaimation was a document that was made by the Irish Volunteers telling the British that Ireland want to be a republic . This document was read outside the GPO by Patrick Pearse. Thomas was one of the people the that helped make the document with the rest of the people from the IRB.

The Easter Rising

During the Rising , Thomas’s battalion was stationed at the massive complex of Jacob’s Biscuit Factory. The British army avoided the factory because they established the positions of people at the GPO .At the end of the day Thomas was told to surrender . This lead to his death.

His Love For The Irish Language

Thomas was part of the Gaelic League .This was a non governmental organisation that promoted the Irish Language in Ireland and else where .

  His love for the Irish language took him to the Aran Islands for study and it was here that he

first met Padraig Pearse, one of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.

The Aran Islands, apart from its natural habitat as the ‘real’ home of Irish speakers, was also

frequented by many people who had more than an ambition for a free and united Ireland. Thomas met many men on the famous Galway Island who

had the confidence to take actions and he too acquired a rebel streak for a free Ireland.

 

AN INTERESTING FACT

In 1908 he joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood and this was soon after he composed a famous play ‘When The Dawn is Come’ a gripping story of seven Irish Army Captains who took on the might of the British Crown with great success.

 

Thomas’s death

Due to his surrender at the Biscuit factory , Thomas he was sadly executed by firing squad .This was a away of punishment back then .

He died on the 3 of May , 1916 and was 38 years of age .

Thank you for listening

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