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==Early life==
==Early life==
Hunter was born in 1883 in the village of [[Castletownroche]], [[County Cork]] in Ireland, son of Con Hunter, the local Creamery Manager, and his wife Ellen (nee Hayes) of [[Glanworth]]. In 1907, he moved to Dublin to begin his apprenticeship as a draper. He soon joined [[Conradh na Gaeilge]] and came under the influence of [[Tom Clarke (Irish republican)|Thomas Clarke]]. He was a close friend to [[Conn Colbert]] (after whom he would name his only child), [[W. T. Cosgrave|William T. Cosgrave]] and [[Tom McEllistrim (1894–1973)|Tom McEllistrim]].
Hunter was born in 1883 in the village of [[Castletownroche]], [[County Cork]] in Ireland, son of Con Hunter, the local Creamery Manager, and his wife Ellen (nee Hayes) of [[Glanworth]]. In 1907, he moved to Dublin to begin his apprenticeship as a draper. He soon joined [[Conradh na Gaeilge]] and came under the influence of [[Tom Clarke (Irish republican)|Thomas Clarke]]. He was a close friend to [[Conn Colbert]] (after whom he would name his only child), [[W. T. Cosgrave|William T. Cosgrave]] and [[Tom McEllistrim (1894–1973)|Tom McEllistrim]].

==IRB and the Irish Volunteers==
It did not take long for him to find his way into the IRB. By 1910, he was a member of the [[Henry Joy McCracken]] Circle, which was based out of [[Parnell Square|41 Parnell Square]] on Dublin's northside<ref>Bureau of Military History, [http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0170.pdf#page=2 WS170] (Peter Paul Galligan), p. 2</ref>. This Circle, or cell, was attached to the Munitions Section and focused mainly on the procurement of small arms<ref>Bureau of Military History, [http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS1244.pdf#page=3 WS1244] (Joseph O'Rourke), p. 3</ref>. Between 1911 and 1912, Hunter became the "Centre" of the Circle. As a Centre, one of his duties was to visit other Circles and deliver various lectures. He did this frequently with Con Colbert, who was Centre for another Circle<ref>Bureau of Military History, [http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0824.pdf#page=2 WS0824] (Charles Donnelly), p. 2</ref>. Hunter would remain Centre of this Circle right up to the 1916 Easter Rising.

At the creation of the Irish Volunteers in November 1913, Hunter was immediately made Vice-Commandant of the 2nd Battalion Dublin Brigade, under Thomas MacDonagh<ref>Bureau of Military History, [http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0249.pdf#page=5 WS0249] (Frank Henderson), p. 5</ref><ref>Bureau of Military History, [http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0263.pdf#page=6 WS0263] (Thomas Slater
), p. 6</ref><ref>Bureau of Military History, [http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0748.pdf#page=7 WS0748] (
John J. Doyle), p. 7</ref>. The good soldier, he would serve as either Commandant, Vice-Commandant or Captain as the situation required. While this was an endless source of confusion for the rank-and-file Volunteers, they all knew that they only needed to find Hunter and he would lead them on. He was well-liked and respected by the men under his command<ref>Bureau of Military History, [http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0886.pdf#page=4 WS0886] (Michael William O'Reilly
), p. 4</ref>. Such was the confusion that Peter Paul Galligan, a member of Hunter's IRB Circle and a soldier in the 2nd Battalion, was unsure if Hunter was Commandant or not.<ref name="Galligan2013">{{cite book|author=Kevin Galligan|title=Peter Paul Galligan: "One of the Most Dangerous Men in the Rebel Movement"|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=1PBwrqy_nboC&pg=PP15|date=13 December 2013|publisher=The Liffey Press|isbn=978-1-908308-31-3|pages=15–}}</ref>

The 2nd Battalion was ordered to march, on 26 July 1914, to [[Howth gun-running|Howth]] to assist in the delivery of 900 rifles and ammunition being landed by [[Robert Erskine Childers]] aboard his yacht, ''[[Asgard (yacht)|Asgard]]''. While it is not clear if Hunter was on the march or involved in the landing, he was heavily involved in the subsequent recollection of the scattered rifles and the more orderly distribution and safe storage of the same<ref>Bureau of Military History, [http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS1244.pdf#page=5 WS1244] (Joseph O'Rourke
), p. 5</ref>. This was in line with his experience as an IRB Centre with years of experience in procuring and distributing arms.

On 1 August 1914, Hunter, now teamed up with his long-time partner Peadar Clancy, took part in the [[Kilcoole#History|Kilcoole gun-running]], in which 600 rifles and ammunition were landed in County Wicklow<ref>Bureau of Military History, [http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0174.pdf#page=4 WS0174] (James Kenny), p. 4</ref>.

The [[Irish_Volunteers#The_Split|Redmondite Split]] of the Volunteers, in September 1914, thrust Hunter even further into the realm of the IRB elite. With the departure of [[Bulmer Hobson]] from the IRB Supreme Council, Hunter was appointed to the body. For reasons unknown, he attended only one meeting and resigned his seat to [[Sean Tobin]].<ref>Bureau of Military History, [http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0367.pdf#page=6 WS0367] (Joseph Gleeson), p. 6</ref> It is also at this time that MacDonagh was moved to the Dublin Brigade Command, thereby leaving Hunter as de facto Commandant of the 2nd Battalion.<ref>Bureau of Military History, [http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0249.pdf#page=21 WS0249] (Frank Henderson), p. 21</ref> The split saw around 75% of the members of the Volunteers follow [[Irish_Volunteers#John_Redmond_and_the_Irish_Parliamentary_Party|John Redmond and the Irish Parliamentary Party]] into the ranks of the British Military and [[The Great War]]. Those that remained were committed and had full confidence in their leaders. This attitude was summed up by Professor Liam Ó Bríain<ref>Bureau of Military History, [http://www.bureauofmilitaryhistory.ie/reels/bmh/BMH.WS0006.pdf#page=21 WS006] (Professor Liam Ó Bríain), p. 21</ref>: <blockquote>''At last we had a real body with a real purpose. Organisation was improved by able leaders like Thomas MacDonagh, of the Dublin Brigade, and Brigade-Adjutant Eamon de Valera; Ned Daly and Piaras Beaslai in the first battalions; Tom Hunter, Eamon Price, and Richard Mulcahy in the second, Eamon Ceannt and Cathal Brugha in the fourth.''</blockquote>


==Easter Rising and War of Independence==
==Easter Rising and War of Independence==

Revision as of 12:39, 22 July 2014

Thomas Cornelius Hunter
Born(1883-11-00)November 1883
Castletownroche, County Cork, Ireland
Died(1932-03-11)11 March 1932
Glanworth, County Cork, Ireland
AllegianceIrish Volunteers,
Irish Republican Brotherhood,
Sinn Féin,
Irish Republican Army
Years of service
Rank
Commands held2nd Battalion
Battles/warsEaster Rising,
Irish War of Independence,
Irish Civil War
Awards1916 Medal,
1917–21 Service Medal

Thomas Cornelius Hunter (November 1883 – 11 March 1932) was a militant Irish republican. He was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), Sinn Féin, the Irish Volunteers, was twice elected to the Irish parliment, Dáil Éireann, and fought against the forces of the Irish Free State as a member of the the Irish Republican Army during the Irish Civil War. While not widely known today, he was present at or directly involved in several major incidents during the struggle for Irish independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Early life

Hunter was born in 1883 in the village of Castletownroche, County Cork in Ireland, son of Con Hunter, the local Creamery Manager, and his wife Ellen (nee Hayes) of Glanworth. In 1907, he moved to Dublin to begin his apprenticeship as a draper. He soon joined Conradh na Gaeilge and came under the influence of Thomas Clarke. He was a close friend to Conn Colbert (after whom he would name his only child), William T. Cosgrave and Tom McEllistrim.

IRB and the Irish Volunteers

It did not take long for him to find his way into the IRB. By 1910, he was a member of the Henry Joy McCracken Circle, which was based out of 41 Parnell Square on Dublin's northside[1]. This Circle, or cell, was attached to the Munitions Section and focused mainly on the procurement of small arms[2]. Between 1911 and 1912, Hunter became the "Centre" of the Circle. As a Centre, one of his duties was to visit other Circles and deliver various lectures. He did this frequently with Con Colbert, who was Centre for another Circle[3]. Hunter would remain Centre of this Circle right up to the 1916 Easter Rising.

At the creation of the Irish Volunteers in November 1913, Hunter was immediately made Vice-Commandant of the 2nd Battalion Dublin Brigade, under Thomas MacDonagh[4][5][6]. The good soldier, he would serve as either Commandant, Vice-Commandant or Captain as the situation required. While this was an endless source of confusion for the rank-and-file Volunteers, they all knew that they only needed to find Hunter and he would lead them on. He was well-liked and respected by the men under his command[7]. Such was the confusion that Peter Paul Galligan, a member of Hunter's IRB Circle and a soldier in the 2nd Battalion, was unsure if Hunter was Commandant or not.[8]

The 2nd Battalion was ordered to march, on 26 July 1914, to Howth to assist in the delivery of 900 rifles and ammunition being landed by Robert Erskine Childers aboard his yacht, Asgard. While it is not clear if Hunter was on the march or involved in the landing, he was heavily involved in the subsequent recollection of the scattered rifles and the more orderly distribution and safe storage of the same[9]. This was in line with his experience as an IRB Centre with years of experience in procuring and distributing arms.

On 1 August 1914, Hunter, now teamed up with his long-time partner Peadar Clancy, took part in the Kilcoole gun-running, in which 600 rifles and ammunition were landed in County Wicklow[10].

The Redmondite Split of the Volunteers, in September 1914, thrust Hunter even further into the realm of the IRB elite. With the departure of Bulmer Hobson from the IRB Supreme Council, Hunter was appointed to the body. For reasons unknown, he attended only one meeting and resigned his seat to Sean Tobin.[11] It is also at this time that MacDonagh was moved to the Dublin Brigade Command, thereby leaving Hunter as de facto Commandant of the 2nd Battalion.[12] The split saw around 75% of the members of the Volunteers follow John Redmond and the Irish Parliamentary Party into the ranks of the British Military and The Great War. Those that remained were committed and had full confidence in their leaders. This attitude was summed up by Professor Liam Ó Bríain[13]:

At last we had a real body with a real purpose. Organisation was improved by able leaders like Thomas MacDonagh, of the Dublin Brigade, and Brigade-Adjutant Eamon de Valera; Ned Daly and Piaras Beaslai in the first battalions; Tom Hunter, Eamon Price, and Richard Mulcahy in the second, Eamon Ceannt and Cathal Brugha in the fourth.

Easter Rising and War of Independence

He participated in the 1916 Easter Rising as a Captain of the 2nd Battalion under Commandant Thomas MacDonagh, which occupied the Jacob's biscuit factory on Bishop Street in Dublin, almost a mile to the south of the General Post Office. Following the Rising he was sentenced to death – this was later commuted to penal servitude for life.[14][15]

In 1917 Hunter, along with Éamon de Valera and Thomas Ashe, was recognised by his fellow prisoners at Lewes prison as one of their Commanding Officers.[16] On 28 May of that year, de Valera, Ashe and Hunter lead a prison hunger-strike demanding to be treated as Prisoners of War and not regular criminals.[17] This led the British authorities to remove the prisoners from Lewes to separate facilities. On 5 June, Hunter was moved to Maidstone Prison with de Valera, albeit in a separate car.[18] By 18 June 1917, all participants of the Easter Rising had been released.

On the night of 17 May 1918, Hunter was again arrested, this time along with almost all the other members of the Sinn Féin leadership during the "German Plot".[19] Warnings of this arrest were made by the fledgling information network set up by Michael Collins.[20] While imprisoned at Gloucester Gaol, he contracted influenza. On 24 February 1919, he was moved to Gloucester City Infirmary for treatment and remained there until 6 March.[21]

In the autumn of 1919, Hunter introduced Dan Breen to Liam Lynch, both of whom were on the run from the British authorities.[22]

By March 1920, Hunter and his partner, Peadar Clancy, had established a drapery and tailoring business, "The Republican Outfitters", on Talbot Street in Dublin. Hunter was once again arrested, this time for his involvement in the theft of Lord Lieutenant French's documents.[23] While incarcerated in Mountjoy Prison, Hunter and several others, including Clancy and Frank Gallagher,[24] began a hunger-strike on 5 April, demanding to be treated as Prisoners of War.[25][26] News of these hunger-strikes sparked general strikes called by the trade unions and large scale demonstrations in Dublin to show support for the hunger strikers.[27] On 14 April 1920, all hunger striking prisoners were released,[27] and Hunter was moved to Jervis Street Hospital. On 26 April, he was discharged as "improved". From this time until his death, his health continued to be in decline.[21]

In October 1920, during a "wholesale raid" of the homes of Sinn Fein members,[28] British troops attacked Hunter & Clancy's business, severely damaging the building. It was mistakenly reported at the time that Hunter was among the dead. The dead IRA officer was actually Seán Treacy.[29][30]

Political career

In December 1918 he was elected as a Sinn Féin MP for the Cork North East constituency at the 1918 general election.[31] Sinn Féin MPs refused to attend Westminster, and instead assembled at the Mansion House in Dublin as a revolutionary parliament called Dáil Éireann, though Hunter could not attend as he was still in prison for his supposed involvement in The German Plot.[32]

In May 1921, Hunter was elected unopposed as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork East and North East constituency at the 1921 elections.

During Dáil debates on the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Hunter spoke (albeit briefly) against the treaty.[33]

I rise to say a few words; perhaps if I did not do so some people might say that I had not the courage to voice my opinions in this assembly. I vote against this Treaty because I am a Republican; I was elected on the Republican ticket; I came here and took the oath to the Republican Government and I am not going now to destroy that Government. If the people do not agree with me they can get rid of me at any time and in any way that they like. Finally, as a Republican, I could never recognise the Government of George V of England in either internal or external association.[34]

At the 1922 general election, Hunter stood unsuccessfully as an anti-Treaty Sinn Féin candidate.[35]

Civil War

Hunter fought on the anti-Treaty side during the Irish Civil War and served as the Quartermaster for the Cork No. 2 Brigade areas.[36]

Death

Hunter died at his farm in Glanworth, County Cork of heart disease on 11 March 1932 following a long and debilitating illness. He was survived by his widow Maire (nee Kelleher), the local Primary School Principal, and their only child Conchubhair (Con) Colbert Hunter. It is supposed that his heart condition was the result of his participation in the hunger strikes.

Legacy

A stretch of the N72 (Mallow Road) leading to the village of Castletownroche has been named Commandant Tom Hunter Park.

References

  1. ^ Bureau of Military History, WS170 (Peter Paul Galligan), p. 2
  2. ^ Bureau of Military History, WS1244 (Joseph O'Rourke), p. 3
  3. ^ Bureau of Military History, WS0824 (Charles Donnelly), p. 2
  4. ^ Bureau of Military History, WS0249 (Frank Henderson), p. 5
  5. ^ Bureau of Military History, WS0263 (Thomas Slater ), p. 6
  6. ^ Bureau of Military History, WS0748 ( John J. Doyle), p. 7
  7. ^ Bureau of Military History, WS0886 (Michael William O'Reilly ), p. 4
  8. ^ Kevin Galligan (13 December 2013). Peter Paul Galligan: "One of the Most Dangerous Men in the Rebel Movement". The Liffey Press. pp. 15–. ISBN 978-1-908308-31-3.
  9. ^ Bureau of Military History, WS1244 (Joseph O'Rourke ), p. 5
  10. ^ Bureau of Military History, WS0174 (James Kenny), p. 4
  11. ^ Bureau of Military History, WS0367 (Joseph Gleeson), p. 6
  12. ^ Bureau of Military History, WS0249 (Frank Henderson), p. 21
  13. ^ Bureau of Military History, WS006 (Professor Liam Ó Bríain), p. 21
  14. ^ "The Main Sites of Activity During the Rising" (PDF). National Library of Ireland. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  15. ^ "Britain to free Sullivan". The Indianapolis Star. 7 May 1916. p. 2. The sentences of Thomas Hunter and William Cosgrove [sic] were communted (sic) to live imprisonment.
  16. ^ Béaslaí, Piaras (1926). Michael Collins and the making of a New Ireland. Vol. 1. London: George G. Harrap. pp. 149–50.
  17. ^ O'Neill, [by] the Earl of Longford & Thomas P. (1971). Eamon de Valera ([1st American ed.] ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 58. ISBN 0-395-12101-9.
  18. ^ Fitzpatrick, David (2003). Harry Boland's Irish Revolution. Cork University Press. p. 56.
  19. ^ "Arrest all heads Sinn Fein to put down revolt". Nevada State Journal. 19 May 1918. p. 1.
  20. ^ Florence O'Donoghue (2010). IRA Jailbreaks 1918-1921. Mercier Press Ltd. pp. 56–. ISBN 978-1-85635-689-3.
  21. ^ a b Republic of Ireland, Department of Defence, File DP 4587, Army Pension Act 1932 (A.P. 54), page 2, section 4, subsection D.
  22. ^ Breen, Dan (1981). My Fight for Irish Freedom (Rev. and enl. ed. ed.). Dublin: Anvil Books. p. 105. ISBN 9780947962333. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  23. ^ "Wholesale raids in Dublin follows theft of documents". Reno Evening Gazette. 4 March 1920. p. 1. Thomas Hunter, Sinn Fein member of parliament for North Cork, was arrested, together with his partner, Peter Clancy, in the tailoring business, under the style republican tailor.
  24. ^ The Nation. J.H. Richards. 1920. pp. 460–.
  25. ^ William Murphy (March 2014). Political Imprisonment and the Irish, 1912-1921. Oxford University Press. pp. 164–. ISBN 978-0-19-956907-6.
  26. ^ McConville, Seán (2003). Irish Political Prisoners, 1848 – 1922: theaters of war (reprint ed.). Psychology Press. p. 720. ISBN 978-0-415-21991-4.
  27. ^ a b "Chronology of Irish History 1919–1923: April 1920". Seamus Fox, DCU. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  28. ^ "Big battle is raging in Dublin". Olean Evening Times. Olean, New York. 16 October 1920.
  29. ^ "Leader of Irish Army shot down". Olean Evening Times. Olean, New York. 15 October 1920. p. 1.
  30. ^ Breen, Dan (1981). My Fight for Irish Freedom (Rev. and enl. ed. ed.). Dublin: Anvil Books. p. 153. ISBN 9780947962333. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  31. ^ "Mr. Thomas Hunter". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  32. ^ "Roll call of the first sitting of the First Dáil". Dáil Éireann Historical Debates (in Irish). 21 January 1919. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  33. ^ Knirk, Jason K. (2006). Imagining Ireland's Independence. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-7425-4148-1.
  34. ^ "Dáil Éireann Treaty Debate". General Michael Collins Society. 7 January 1922. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  35. ^ "Thomas Hunter". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  36. ^ Republic of Ireland, Department of Defence, File DP 4587, Army Pension Act 1932 (A.P. 51), page 2, section 3

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