By Joshua C. Manly, Town Clerk, Pembroke Urban District Council
Dublin City Archives: UDC/2/Mins/14

Editorial note: This previously unpublished eyewitness account of the 1916 Rising was written by Joshua C. Manly, who held the post of Town Clerk to the Pembroke Urban District Council, a position approximating to the modern Chief Executive. The Pembroke Council was a small local authority, independent of Dublin City, which had responsibility for the south Dublin suburbs of Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Irishtown, Ringsend and Sandymount, along with parts of Milltown. The Council’s headquarters was at the Town Hall, Ballsbridge, but it also owned premises at 18 Merrion Road (the Rate-Collector’s Office); the Pembroke Technical Schools at Shelbourne Road and Ringsend; and the Electricity Works at Londonbridge Road. Each of these premises would be affected by the 1916 Rising.

Manly’s account was written in the week beginning Monday 15 May 1916 to outline to his employers, the members of Pembroke Urban District Council, the progress of the Rising in the district and the measures taken by him and his staff to ameliorate matters. It was almost certainly generated from his own contemporaneous notes but the finished version was typed on foolscap sheets and inserted into the Minutes of the Pembroke Urban District Council, giving it official status.

Manly was painstaking and thorough in his approach to his responsibilities and his first entry reveals that he was at work on Easter Monday 1916, even though it was a Bank Holiday, and on the following day, which was a holiday for public servants. He therefore was made immediately aware of the Rising through a Proclamation placing the city and county of Dublin under Martial Law. As events unfolded, the Town Hall was seized by the British Army (Wednesday 26 April) and Manly had to seek alternative premises so that the Council could continue its work. Items of particular concern to him included making arrangements for his staff to have passes so that they could move about the district and carry out their work; protecting the Electricity Works at Londonbridge Road, which were under fire; arranging for his staff to receive their wages; ensuring that local shops were stocked with bread and other basic necessities and that Post Offices could continue to function; and arranging for the burial of civilians, British soldiers and Volunteers who had been killed in the fighting. Finally, Manly made arrangements for a Relief Committee to be set up for the emergency distribution of food supplies within the Pembroke area, and obtained a grant of £100 from the Local Government Board for this purpose.

Even though the district was still under martial law, and the British Army were still in occupation of the Town Hall at Ballsbridge, a semblance of normality returned when the Pembroke Urban District Council was allowed to hold a special meeting in the Technical School to strike the rates on Monday 15 May 1916, and this concludes Manly’s account.

Joshua Manly’s account provides a specific view of the 1916 Rising, coming as it does from an eyewitness whose only concern was to manage an unprecedented situation as it unfolded before him. The very fact that it was written and incorporated into the official records, indicates that both he and the Pembroke Urban District Council were aware that this was a momentous event.

[transcript begins]

Gentlemen,
I give you herewith a notice of my operations between Easter Monday 24th April 1916 and Saturday 13th May 1916 when we were able to partly resume official duties, using - by the kindness of the Technical Instruction committee - a couple of rooms in the Technical schools, Ballsbridge. The Military Headquarters Staff are still in possession of the Town Hall premises, yard etc., and part of No.18, Merrion Road [Rate Collectors’ Office]. Martial Law is still in force.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
J.C. Manly
Clerk to the Council.
To / the Pembroke Urban District Council,
Town Hall, Ballsbridge,
Pembroke, Co. Dublin.
(From: Technical Schools, Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge)

Easter Monday 24th April 1916

Attended at Town Hall in morning and went through correspondence &c.

Tuesday 25th April 1916

Attended at Town Hall and made further arrangements as regards correspondence , &c. &c., with a view to resuming work after the Easter Holidays tomorrow, advised by post card Members of the Staff not to come in [unless] necessary - in view of the Lord Lieutenant’s Proclamation which was published to-day placing the City of Dublin, and County of Dublin under Martial Law for a Month from 26th April 1916.

Wednesday 26th April 1916

Commenced business at the Office after Easter Holidays, Staff in attendance, but had to allow Staff off with a view [to] returning home owing to the disturbed state of affairs, and uncertainty of position generally. The Military arrived about noon and took possession of the Town Hall Premises.

Thursday 27th April 1916

Military Authorities Head Quarters of 58th (North Midland) Division took possession of the Council’s Ballsbridge Premises and stopped all communication in the Urban District, save on Passes. Obtained a Pass for myself and various Officials and when required by the Military Authorities identified as far as possible persons applying for Passes.

Friday 28th April 1916

Military in possession of premises and all communication in Urban District stopped, save on passes; attended at Town Hall on permit of 27th inst., but with exception of the Chairman, Mr. W. Forsyth and Mr. Crowe, did not [see] any Member of Council, in any event the Special Meeting of the Council could not be held as the Members could not get permits in time and the place is under Military control, the various Offices being occupied by the Head Quarters Staff, and the Council Chamber as sleeping apartment, and Offices by certain Officers. With the Chairman and Mr. Price interviewed the General with the object of obtaining Military Protection for the Electricity Works which were being fired on. The General said he would take a note of the matter to which attention would be given. Identified many applicants for permits. With the kind co-operation of Mr. Timothy Crowe and one or two others, and temporarily applying the Office Cash in hands, I was able to pay the Workmen’s wages for a week.

Saturday 29th April 1916

Military still in occupation much fighting taking place in various portions of the Urban District.

Sunday 30th April 1916

Much fighting; an attack having been made on Head Quarters, the Dispensary Ballsbridge and certain houses in Serpentine Avenue were shelled by the Military.

Monday 1st May 1916

Much fighting still continues. Attended at Ballsbridge and identified many further applicants for passes.

Aberdeen House, Monday, 1st May, 1916, 9.45 p.m.
Telephone call from Mr. Clark, Caretaker Pembroke Technical Schools, Ringsend, that there was and had been for several days and nights serious firing there, he thought from Ringsend Park, and that the people at the North Side of the River Liffey informed him they were under the impression the firing was coming from the Schools, this [he] strongly denied and wished me to understand that there was not any truth in the accusation; he also informed me that he had telephoned to the Military Authorities at Ballsbridge, and at the north side of the River, as he was afraid that unless they understood that the firing was not from the Schools, the buildings might be shelled. I told him he had done quite correctly in telephoning the Military Authorities.

Tuesday, 2nd May 1916

Again attended at Ballsbridge and gave any assistance I could to the Military Authorities as regards identifications &c., &c.

Tuesday 2nd May 1916, 8.45 p.m.

Called up by Mr. Gray of, I understand, the Government Food Committee (Telephone Number 270, Kingstown) who stated he was connected with the Food Supply question, and asked me how the district was off in this respect, I informed him that the supplies of every thing were, I believed, very short; he then asked about the Bread Supply, I told him that Johnston, Mooney & O’Brien were baking as much as possible, but I understood flour was not very plentiful with them, and that there was probably a difficulty in getting at their reserve stock at the North Side of Dublin; he said he had seen their representative to-day at Kingstown and given him a supply of Yeast, and that they would work on all night. Mr. Gray then asked about the various local trade centres and I mentioned:-
Baggot Street,
Ballsbridge,
Donnybrook, Sandymount, Ringsend, &c.,

He mentioned that to-day he had supplied some food to Ringsend from the North side of the River Liffey, he asked about the local traders, and I mentioned those as nearly as I could who are engaged in the supply of provisions. I also drew his attention to the fact that the Post Offices being closed, Separation and such like allowances are not being paid, those due on Tuesday being now two weeks in arrear and so on. I also got my wife to speak to Mr. Gray with a view to informing him of her experiences as regards the shortage of food stuffs: he promised to speak to me again to-morrow and I said I would enquire as to when the Post Offices were likely to be re-opened, and also see some of the Traders.

Wednesday 3rd May 1916

I visited various traders in Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, and Baggot Street areas, being unable to get to either Ringsend or Sandymount owing to the difficulty of getting a permit to do so. I found that there were plenty of provisions available, but that the traders in Donnybrook and Ballsbridge were somewhat short of Butter, Margarine, Eggs, Bacon, and Flour; they however, expected to obtain supplies either in the afternoon to-day or tomorrow. Military Motor Wagons were arriving with supplies in Donnybrook, this I saw myself. The Merchants told me they had provisions but that many of their customers were short of cash to enable them to purchase goods, probably the result of the closing of the Post Offices, thus stopping the Old Age Pension and Separation allowances; I said I would report this and subsequently called at the Donnybrook, Upper Baggot Street and Ballsbridge Offices, the Baggot Street Office being open. At the Ballsbridge Offices I found that they expected to open to-morrow, at Donnybrook Office the Postmaster would re-open at any time, but was waiting cash, about £80, which he would require. It appears that Mr. H. J. Tipping of 12 Villiers Road, Rathmines is Controller G.P.O. for this purpose.
The traders I visited were:-
BALLSBRIDGE:-
Moore
Fagan,
Edison,
DONNYBROOK:-
Woods,
Farrall,
Long,
UPPER BAGGOT STREET:-
Wilson,
Davy,
Brophy,
Bolton,
Findlater.
I may mention that Mr. Gray who telephoned me last evening did not either write or telephone me during to-day.

Thursday 4th May 1916

Visited the Post Offices and several Traders and found that the closed Post Offices would be re-opened this afternoon; I subsequently ascertained that they had received a supply of cash and had re-opened and paid Old Age Pensions and Separation Allowances. I enquired again to-day at the Town Hall as to the likely time the Military authorities would vacate the premises that the Councils Municipal work could be resumed, but I failed to obtain any information on the subject, I learned however that the General was endeavouring to obtain suitable premises for the Head Quarter Staff nearer Dublin, but that so far nothing had been decided upon. I must again see the Chairman or communicate with him when able on the subject, as there are many passing important matters to be dealt with; I found during the day that the Council’s employees in Dodder View Cottages were unable to obtain Coal and were practically without any, and instructed Mr. Hirst, Foreman of Roads, to get two tons in my name for distribution among the employees in question. I found most of the traders had received food supplies from Dublin Houses and that they had ample stock in hands.

Friday 5th May 1916

Called at the Town Hall three times during the day and also arranged for payment of wages &c.; had another interview with the Military Officer with a view of ascertaining probable date upon which the Council’s Staff could take up duty again at the Town Hall. That Officer informed me he could not say at present but that he thought they, the Military Authorities, would remain in occupation of the premises for some time. Permits still required over the bridges and examination posts, Ringsend and Irishtown districts still closed even against permits. Workmen's wages paid - cash obtained at National Bank, Upper Baggot Street.

Saturday 6th May 1916

Three times at Town Hall but could gain no information as to when the Council’s Staff could resume duty, ascertained for the Post Office people that the local delivery of letters was resumed subject to posting before 4 p.m.
Ringsend and Irishtown Districts still closed.

Sunday 7th May 1916

A quiet day; wrote to the Chairman of the Urban Council as follows:-

Aberdeen House,
Pembroke,
Co. Dublin,
Monday, 8th May 1916
My dear Sir,
I cannot ascertain when it is likely we shall be permitted to resume our work at the Town Hall, or 18 Merrion Road, and consequently I am carrying on from here as well as I can but, in a very small way. There are a number of most important subjects to be attended to at once, such as, special Meeting to sign Rate Books, &c., &c., and other pressing matters. The Official Staff and our other employees have done all possible under the circumstances and I trust the Council will approve.
With Kind regards and best wishes,
Yours faithfully
J.C. MANLY.
C.P. O’Neill, Esq., J.P.,
‘St. Brendan’s’,
Sandymount Avenue,
Sandymount.

Monday 8th May 1916

Attended at Town Hall and endeavoured to ascertain when the Military would vacate the premises but without any result. Received a letter from the Chairman of the Urban Council and Relief committee requesting that I should write the Local Government Board, asking for a Grant to enable the Committee to give employment, and that a meeting of the Committee should be called for 5 o’clock to- morrow Tuesday evening 9th inst. I wrote the Local Government Board and issued summonses by post card for the meeting, I also arranged for the use of a room in the Technical Schools, Ballsbridge, for the meeting.

Tuesday 9th May 1916

Attended as usual at Town Hall. Received letter from Local Government Board in reply to mine of yesterday and asking for particulars of Distress and Scheme of Relief work. This was submitted to the Relief Committee in the evening and reply sent asking for first instalment of £100 to meet pressing expenses, and that if found necessary a scheme of Relief Work would be prepaid and forwarded. Dr. Brown of Local Government Board called about bodies stated to be buried in back gardens and other places, Sanitary Sub-Officers Healy and Redding had already been instructed in this matter in consultation with Dr. Cremin, Medical Officers of Health, and the District Medical Officers of Health, Drs. Burke and Walters. Three burials at Parochial Hall ground, Northumberland Road, one at 25 Northumberland Road, and a horse at National Schools, Northumberland Road; had horse removed by Messrs. O’Keeffe during the day, and arranged for the removal of the dead body from 25, Northumberland Road, (Civilian Volunteer) and Civilian at Parochial Hall ground to-morrow by the Guardians of the Poor, the other two there being soldiers - again reported these cases to the Military Authorities.

Wednesday 10th May 1916

Wrote to the Local Government Board as directed by Committee of yesterday. The two dead Civilians were removed to-day from 25, Northumberland Road, and Parochial Hall ground, same road; again drew attention of the Military Authorities to the cases of the two soldiers in Parochial Hall ground, Northumberland Road, but I could get nothing done, had an interview with Drs. Burke and Walters, and several Military men sent to investigate into the question of burials generally and explained to them that all the burial grounds in the Urban District were closed by the Local Government Board against interments therein. I understood that the two cases would be looked after at once.

Thursday 11th May 1916

Again took up the question of the dead soldiers at Parochial Hall, Northumberland Road, the bodies not yet having been removed as nothing was done, communicated in the afternoon with the Poor Law Authorities who promised to send over for the bodies at once, but later some difficulty arose. The bodies of the two soldiers, in spite of every effort made by the Urban Sanitary authority, were not removed to-day.
Asked permission of the General through the A.P.M., (Mr. Robinson) to hold meeting of the Council at the Technical Schools, Ballsbridge, on Monday, 15th May 1916 at 5 o’clock, to make the Rates, &c. &c., and was informed the General had no objection, I asked for a certificate, saying so in writing, and Mr. Robinson took a note of my application. Sent out Summonses for the meeting, so as to give proper notice to the Members.

Friday 12th May 1916

Working all day at Technical Schools, Shelbourne Road, but in the absense [sic.]of official records and papers, was not able to do very much. Registered and acknowledged, as far as possible, various communications received, amongst others a great number of claims for Criminal Injury to property.
Conferred with Drs. Cremin, Burke, and Walters. No further dead bodies reported. The two dead soldiers buried at rere [sic.] of Parochial Hall, Northumberland Road, were removed this afternoon under supervision of Sanitary Sub-Officer W.J. Healy, who handed to the Military Authorities at Town Hall, the ammunition found on them.
The three bodies buried in the grounds of St. Bartholomew’s Church, (Military) were removed during to-night for interment elsewhere.
Endeavoured to ascertain when the Military would be leaving the Town Hall, but could get no information on the subject. Received from the Military Authorities the following, in connection with the holding of a Special Meeting of the Urban Council on 15th May, 1916, for which a requisition was received by me on 9th May 1916 [text as follows]:

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
The Military Authorities are aware of no objection to the Pembroke Urban District Council’s application for sanction to hold a special meeting of the Council on the 15th inst. at 5 p.m. in order to strike the Township Rates. Meeting to be held in Technical School, Ballsbridge.
(Signed) Cecil T. Robinson A.P.M.
Head Quarters,
177 Inf. Brigade,
Ballsbridge.
Head Quarters,
12th May, 1916,
59th (North Midland) Division.

Saturday 13th May 1916

Attended at Ballsbridge, and went through correspondence and dealt with it as far as possible at the Technical School. The various members of Staff were in attendance. Sent reminders of Special Meeting to all Members of the Council.
Received cheque for £100 from Local Government Board, to afford Relief in urgent cases, advised the Chairman of the council of this.