The Irish Uprising: 1914 and 1915

The Irish Uprising:  1914 and 1915

Due to the issue of Home Rule, southern Ireland formed the Irish Volunteers in 1914. I read that as many as 200,000 joined the Irish Volunteers, but only a few thousand were armed and received military training. William Quinn was one of those few.

William Quinn was born on May 30, 1894 in the townland of Caheravoneen,* Parish of Kinvara, County Galway, Ireland. His parents were William Quinn, a farmer who died in 1903, and Bridget Brannelly.

Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook page 51

In 1914, William Joseph Quinn II lived on the family farm in Caheravoneen; just outside the town of Kinvara.  He lived with his widowed mother and younger siblings; Peter, Celia, and Bridget (Delia).  John, Mary Ann, and Margaret, three older siblings, lived in the United States. William joined the Irish Volunteers, Kinvara Company in 1914 and, according to his pension application, he was active in drilling, training, and organizing. 

In 1915, William Joseph Quinn II reported that his activities with the Irish Volunteers of Kinvara Company included drilling and training in manual of arms (instruction book for handling and using weapons in formation) and organizing other companies. He attended classes for making hand-grenades under instructions of Michael Trayers of Gort, County Galway.

* also seen spelled as Caheraroneen and Caherawoneen

Next – The Irish Uprising: 1916

Diana

© 2011, copyright Diana Quinn