We all know about the sinking of the Lusitania and that the wreck lies off the Irish coast, but who knew that it was private property? Gregg Bemis, an American businessman, is the owner and he recently issued a public plea to the Irish government for ‘flexibility’ over the sunken ship. The liner was attacked … Read more
One particularly striking example of an Irishman who served with both the British and republican forces is Martin Doyle, a pre-war regular from Wexford who enlisted in the Royal Irish Regiment in 1909. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and by 1915 he had been promoted to … Read more
James Aloysius Francis Cuffe was born in 1876 at 62 Mountjoy Square, Dublin, the fourth of the eight children of Laurence Cuffe and his wife Jane McCormick. The Cuffes owned and ran the Dublin cattle market. (They are referred to in James Joyce’s Ulysses.) From an early age Cuffe wanted to be a resident magistrate. … Read more
On 24 January 1915 Cuffe transferred to the Royal Munster Fusiliers, was promoted major and was provided with a car and a driver. His special mission continued. His reports were detailed. On one occasion, unusually, there was an extra man in the car. Cuffe sent him and the driver in different directions to reconnoitre, and … Read more
Shortly before he died tragically earlier this year, the late Shane MacThomáis told the story of Martin Doyle in his regular column in the Northside People West. As historian and resident author at Glasnevin Cemetery, Shane was particularly familiar with the Dublin dead of the First World War and the Irish Revolution. His great empathy … Read more