Edward Duffy (Fenian)
Encyclopedia
Edward Duffy was an Irish
Fenian
.
Duffy was a native of Loughglynn
, Ballaghadreen, County Mayo
. He moved to Dublin about 1860 where he was employed as a clerical worker at Pim's drapery. He was one of a number of such workers recruited by Thomas Clarke Luby
for the Fenian
s, taking the Irish Republican Brotherhood
(IRB) oat about March 1861. He was employed as a messenger by James Stephens and sometimes lodged with Joseph Denieffe.
Early in 1863 he was working in Castlerea
, County Roscommon
, with his former employer Bernard Gannon, a hardware merchant. On Stephen's orders he left this job and became a full-time Fenian. His activities included distribution of the Irish People, recruiting new members, organisation and training, and classes in Fenian dogma
.
Duffy was by this time suffering from TB
, yet refused to slow his pace, as the Connacht branch of the organisation lagged behind that of the other provinces. He became involved with the poet Ellen O'Leary, to whom he became engaged in 1867.
Duffy was one of a number of Fenians arrested at Fairfield House, Sandymount
, Dublin, on 11 November 1865. His prosecution was abandoned in January 1866 as his illness worsened and the authorities believed him close to death. However, he made his way to Paris
, where in March Stephens appointed him his deputy in Ireland. Duffy's ill-health prevented him acting in this capacity, which was in any case "a calculated attempt by Stephens to use a trusted subordinate to protect his own position." (2009, p. 509)
In February 1867 he was in London
as one of the four elected provincial fenian representatives meeting English-based and Irish-American members to organise a provisional government in preparation for the rising, set to occur on 5 March 1867. From there he returned to Connacht but was arrested at O'Leary's hotel in Boyle, County Roscommon
on 9 March. He was tried and covicted in May to fifteen years penal servitude for treason felony. He died at Millbank
prison, London, on 17 January 1868. He was buried later that month in Glasnevin cemetery
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Fenian
Fenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
.
Duffy was a native of Loughglynn
Loughglynn
Loughglynn, officially spelled Loughglinn , is a village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is named after the lake to the north of the village.- Features :...
, Ballaghadreen, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
. He moved to Dublin about 1860 where he was employed as a clerical worker at Pim's drapery. He was one of a number of such workers recruited by Thomas Clarke Luby
Thomas Clarke Luby
Thomas Clarke Luby was an Irish revolutionary, author, journalist and one of the founding members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.-Early life:...
for the Fenian
Fenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
s, taking the Irish Republican Brotherhood
Irish Republican Brotherhood
The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland during the second half of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century...
(IRB) oat about March 1861. He was employed as a messenger by James Stephens and sometimes lodged with Joseph Denieffe.
Early in 1863 he was working in Castlerea
Castlerea
Castlerea is located in the west of County Roscommon, Ireland. It is the second largest town in the county with a population of 3,055 . Roughly translated from Irish, Castlerea can mean Brindled Castle or King's Castle...
, County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
, with his former employer Bernard Gannon, a hardware merchant. On Stephen's orders he left this job and became a full-time Fenian. His activities included distribution of the Irish People, recruiting new members, organisation and training, and classes in Fenian dogma
Dogma
Dogma is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers...
.
Duffy was by this time suffering from TB
TB
-Music:*Tenor and bass, a score for male chorus*The Beatles, the English rock band, the most lauded and successful group in the history of modern music**The Beatles , the tenth album by the above band, also known as the White Album...
, yet refused to slow his pace, as the Connacht branch of the organisation lagged behind that of the other provinces. He became involved with the poet Ellen O'Leary, to whom he became engaged in 1867.
Duffy was one of a number of Fenians arrested at Fairfield House, Sandymount
Sandymount
Sandymount is a coastal seaside suburb in Dublin 4 on the Southside of Dublin in Ireland. It is in the Dublin South East Dáil constituency and the East Pembroke Ward. It was once part of Pembroke Township, which took its name from the fact that this area was part of the estate of the Earl of...
, Dublin, on 11 November 1865. His prosecution was abandoned in January 1866 as his illness worsened and the authorities believed him close to death. However, he made his way to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where in March Stephens appointed him his deputy in Ireland. Duffy's ill-health prevented him acting in this capacity, which was in any case "a calculated attempt by Stephens to use a trusted subordinate to protect his own position." (2009, p. 509)
In February 1867 he was in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as one of the four elected provincial fenian representatives meeting English-based and Irish-American members to organise a provisional government in preparation for the rising, set to occur on 5 March 1867. From there he returned to Connacht but was arrested at O'Leary's hotel in Boyle, County Roscommon
Boyle, County Roscommon
Boyle is a town in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located at the foot of the Curlew Mountains near Lough Key in the north of the county. Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery, the Drumanone Dolmen and the popular fishing lakes of Lough Arrow and Lough Gara are also close by...
on 9 March. He was tried and covicted in May to fifteen years penal servitude for treason felony. He died at Millbank
Millbank
Millbank is an area of central London in the City of Westminster. Millbank is located by the River Thames, east of Pimlico and south of Westminster...
prison, London, on 17 January 1868. He was buried later that month in Glasnevin cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
.