Local involvement

Harry Willis

On his way home from Dublin on Easter Monday evening, Harry Willis had his car commandeered by a group of armed Volunteers from Castlebellingham. The following account is taken from the Frontier Sentinel, 6th May 1916:

“Mr. Harry Willis, son of Mr. Thomas P. Willis, Newry, was one of those who on Easter Monday evening had his motor car commandeered by the Sinn Féiners near Castlebellingham, when he was returning from Dublin. The other occupants of the vehicle – Dr. Cronin, Mr. W. C. M. Smith, V.S., and Mr. W. H. Connor – were ordered out, and till 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning he had a most exciting time conveying parties of insurgents to Tara Hill, Oldcastle, Drumcondra, and other parts. … Mr. Willis’s father is a member of the Carsonite “Provisional Government,” and additional humour is lent to the performance through the same motor having participated in the memorable gun-running scenes at Larne a few years ago.”

John Bannon

From Newry, Jack Bannon was in Dublin during Easter 1916. Like a number of army reservists, he had been called up with the outbreak of war. The following information comes from his diary which details his wartime experiences:

“Then came the Dublin Rebellion – Easter Week 1916 – when we were ordered for Dublin. A troop train left Belfast with a few hundred troops aboard, … From the moment we arrived in Dublin we were sniped from every quarter house, top gates and windows, and from houses overlooking the station, and any of our boys who tried to leave the Station generally got knocked out by these snipers. After two days we left the railway station and got into the city, but in doing so we lost quite a few men. The British Forces were in several parts of the city at this time, but were not in touch with one another, with the result one party at a time was firing at each other and caused a number of casualties. We had little to do with this affair and all were delighted when it was over.”