Thomas Kent
Encyclopedia
Thomas Kent was an Irish
nationalist
court-martialled and executed following a gunfight with the Royal Irish Constabulary
(RIC) on 2 May 1916, in the immediate aftermath of the Easter Rising
.
. They were prepared to take part in the Easter Rising
, but when the mobilization order was countermanded, they stayed home. The rising nevertheless went forward in Dublin, and the RIC was sent to arrest well-known sympathizers throughout the country including, but not limited to, known members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood
, Sinn Féin
, and the Irish Volunteers
. When the Kent residence was raided they were met with resistance from Thomas and his brothers Richard, David
and William
. A gunfight lasted for four hours, in which an RIC officer, Head Constable William Rowe
, was killed and David Kent was seriously wounded. Eventually the Kents were forced to surrender, although Richard made a last minute dash for freedom and was fatally wounded.
in, Cork on 9 May 1916. David Kent was brought to Dublin where he was charged with the same offence, found guilty and sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted and he was sentenced to five years penal servitude. Apart from the singular case of Roger Casement
, Thomas Kent was the only person outside of Dublin to be executed for his role in the events of Easter Week
. He is buried in the grounds of Collins Barracks
, Cork (formerly Victoria Barracks).
, Kent Station was named after Thomas Kent.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
nationalist
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
court-martialled and executed following a gunfight with the Royal Irish Constabulary
Royal Irish Constabulary
The armed Royal Irish Constabulary was Ireland's major police force for most of the nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries. A separate civic police force, the unarmed Dublin Metropolitan Police controlled the capital, and the cities of Derry and Belfast, originally with their own police...
(RIC) on 2 May 1916, in the immediate aftermath of the Easter Rising
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
.
The Easter Rising
Kent was part of a prominent nationalist family who lived at Bawnard House, Castlelyons, County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. They were prepared to take part in the Easter Rising
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
, but when the mobilization order was countermanded, they stayed home. The rising nevertheless went forward in Dublin, and the RIC was sent to arrest well-known sympathizers throughout the country including, but not limited to, known members of 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...
, Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, and the Irish Volunteers
Irish Volunteers
The Irish Volunteers was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists. It was ostensibly formed in response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers in 1912, and its declared primary aim was "to secure and maintain the rights and liberties common to the whole people of Ireland"...
. When the Kent residence was raided they were met with resistance from Thomas and his brothers Richard, David
David Kent (politician)
David Rice Kent was an Irish Sinn Féin politician.He was elected unopposed as a Sinn Féin MP for the Cork East constituency at the 1918 general election...
and William
William Kent (Irish politician)
William Rice Kent was an Irish politician. He was first elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Cork East constituency at the September 1927 general election. He lost his seat at the 1932 general election. He was elected as a National Centre Party TD at the 1933 general election...
. A gunfight lasted for four hours, in which an RIC officer, Head Constable William Rowe
William N. Rowe
William Nelson Rowe was a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary fatally shot during a police raid on the home of the Kent family at Castlelyons, County Cork.-Death:...
, was killed and David Kent was seriously wounded. Eventually the Kents were forced to surrender, although Richard made a last minute dash for freedom and was fatally wounded.
Trial and execution
Thomas and William were tried by court martial on the charge of murdering Head Constable Rowe. William was acquitted, but Thomas was sentenced to death and executed by firing squadExecution by firing squad
Execution by firing squad, sometimes called fusillading , is a method of capital punishment, particularly common in the military and in times of war.Execution by shooting is a fairly old practice...
in, Cork on 9 May 1916. David Kent was brought to Dublin where he was charged with the same offence, found guilty and sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted and he was sentenced to five years penal servitude. Apart from the singular case of Roger Casement
Roger Casement
Roger David Casement —Sir Roger Casement CMG between 1911 and shortly before his execution for treason, when he was stripped of his British honours—was an Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary, and nationalist....
, Thomas Kent was the only person outside of Dublin to be executed for his role in the events of Easter Week
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
. He is buried in the grounds of Collins Barracks
Collins Barracks (Cork)
Collin's Barracks is a military barracks on the Old Youghal Road on the north side of Cork in Ireland.Originally erected between 1801 and 1806, the works were completed by Abraham Hargrave to designs by John Gibson in a prominent position on the hills overlooking the city and the River...
, Cork (formerly Victoria Barracks).
Railway
The main railway station in CorkCork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Kent Station was named after Thomas Kent.
Sources
- Declan KiberdDeclan KiberdDeclan Kiberd is an Irish writer and scholar. He is known for his literary criticism of Irish literature in Irish and English, and his contributions to public cultural life....
editor, "1916 Rebellion Handbook Dublin: Mourne River Press, 1998. ISBN 1-902090-05-5