A chance visit to Cloonlyon NS on 9th March 2016 by the grandchildren of former principal John Murphy has had a most unexpected outcome. The Harford family had come to see the records of their grandfather/great grandfather who was principal of the school from 1905 until 1934. John was origionally a native of Drimbane, Curry, Co Sligo but later lived in Main Street, Charlestown.
By co-incidence they discovered that their granduncle, Martin Murphy, taught along side his brother John in the school in the period between 1909 and 1910.
Martin was a member of the IRB and participated in the 1916 Easter Rising. He fought in the GPO before being captured in Moore Street after the GPO was evacuated. He was imprisoned and sent to the Frongoch prison camp in Wales where he remained from April until December 1916. His brother John visited him there over that period.
He rejoined the Irish Volunteers upon moving to South Sligo where he assisted in organising the Cashel Company. He acted as Secretary of Cashel Sinn Féin Cumann.
He was involved in collecting funds, the anti-conscription campaign and also took part in the 1918 general election work. He was appointed treasurer of the Republican Prisoners' Dependents Fund. Murphy emigrated to the United States in 1920. Many years later he returned to his home in Curry where he lived until his death in 1961. He is buried in Rhue graveyard, near Tubbercurry, Co Sligo.
Martin's 1916 medal is very rare as only very few of the Irish Volunteers served in the GPO and thereby received this medal.
By co-incidence they discovered that their granduncle, Martin Murphy, taught along side his brother John in the school in the period between 1909 and 1910.
Martin was a member of the IRB and participated in the 1916 Easter Rising. He fought in the GPO before being captured in Moore Street after the GPO was evacuated. He was imprisoned and sent to the Frongoch prison camp in Wales where he remained from April until December 1916. His brother John visited him there over that period.
He rejoined the Irish Volunteers upon moving to South Sligo where he assisted in organising the Cashel Company. He acted as Secretary of Cashel Sinn Féin Cumann.
He was involved in collecting funds, the anti-conscription campaign and also took part in the 1918 general election work. He was appointed treasurer of the Republican Prisoners' Dependents Fund. Murphy emigrated to the United States in 1920. Many years later he returned to his home in Curry where he lived until his death in 1961. He is buried in Rhue graveyard, near Tubbercurry, Co Sligo.
Martin's 1916 medal is very rare as only very few of the Irish Volunteers served in the GPO and thereby received this medal.
