Na Fianna Éireann, founder member's Golden Jubilee medal. Po...

Hammer

€700

Na Fianna Éireann, founder member's Golden Jubilee medal. Posthumously awarded to Fr. Tomás O Donohoe to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the foundation of Na Fianna Éireann. By descent to the current owner.

Tomás O Donohoe joined Fianna Éireann at its inaugural meeting at 34 Camden St., in August 1909, soon becoming a section leader and committee member. He was also a member of the Pipers’ Band, alongside Peadar Kearney. He became a founder member and secretary of the National Guard in which youths, not boys, would be trained in arms. He continued in the Pipers’ Band and through it eventually joined the Irish Citizen Army in 1913.
O Donohoe received a commission from James Connolly in April 1916, three weeks before the Rising. In command of a section of twelve men, he was posted at the Shelbourne Hotel corner of St. Stephen’s Green on Easter Monday. Following the retreat to The College of surgeons he led a number of sorties from the building.
After the surrender he was imprisoned in Knutsford Gaol before being transferred to Frongach where he worked as hospital orderly. Active in the War of Independence, he was a member of 2nd Company 5th Battalion.
Following the Civil War, during which he was interned, O Donohoe was ordained a priest. Over 2,000 worshipers attended his first mass. He is buried in the Republican plot in Glasnevin Cemetery next to his lifelong friend Countess Markievicz