MacDonagh, Thomas

1878 - 1916

       Born Cloughgordon, County Tipperary. Poet. Signer of Poblacht na H eirann, 1916. Assisted in unloading of rifles from the ship 'Asgard' on 26 July, 1913. This was a large boost to Irish Volunteers morale and a precurser to the english massacre of Irish civilians at Bachelor's Walk the same day. He was a Commandant - General of Irish Volunteers from 1915. Was a member of IRB and director of training for Irish Volunteers. He led the Number 2 City Battalion for the Easter Rising in 1916. He and the battalion were holed up in Jacob's Biscuit Factory and on 30 April, 1916 were the last organised group to surrender to the english in that conflict. Before being executed on 12 May, he wrote..."I have guarded secrets which I am bound to keep. I have, I think, acted honourably and fairly by all my associates. I have had only one motive in all my actions, namely the good of my country." He was survived by his wife Muriel, his son Donagh, and his daughter, Barbara who was the oldest child at 3 and a half. He once told his sister "The National rose of Ireland is An Roisin Dubh, the Little Black Rose, not the tender red flower to be plucked with the joys of life."