The Meath 1916 Dead: Philip Clarke

by Noel French

“I do not think that any Irishman in history has paid the same sacrifice that Philip Clarke has paid,” said Séamus Finn at the unveiling of a plaque to Clarke on Rossin Bridge. Philip Clarke was killed in action on 25 April 1916. Stationed at Stephen’s Green he was killed by firing from the Shelbourne Hotel.
The Clarke family originated in Kellystown, Duleek. Thomas Clarke of Kellystown married Roseanne Keelan of Garballagh in 1873. Roseanne was a cousin of John Boyle O’Reilly. They had fourteen children, of whom nine survived. Thomas was an agricultural labourer and Roseanne became a dressmaker. The second son, Philip, was born on 12th February 1876 and baptised in Duleek. After his birth the family moved to Monknewtown, Slane, with his brother, John, being baptised in Slane in 1878. The family was supporters of the national and land causes with the second youngest son baptised Michael Davitt Clarke.
Philip Clarke moved to Dublin where he was a van driver and labourer at Parkes and Sons, The Coombe. He married Monica Fitzroy, a widow, and took responsibility for her children, George and Robert. The couple married 19th April 1897 and had children: Rosanna, Thomas, James, Philip, Richard, John, Bridget and Charles. One other child of the couple died young. The family lived in Emerald Square in 1901, Dolphin Barn Street in 1911 and Cork Street, Dublin in 1916. Clarke’s wages in 1916 was £1.2.0 a week.
Clarke was an active member of the Gaelic League and the GAA. He was a member of John Boyle O'Reilly football team at Monknewtown. Clarke joined the Citizen Army in early 1914.
At the outbreak of the Rising Philip, as a private, was in the Four Court garrison but was moved to St Stephen’s Green. On the morning of Tuesday, 25th April, shortly after dawn Philip Clarke and John McDonnell under the command of Thomas O’Donoghue were removing chains to strengthen the barricades outside the Shelbourne Hotel from the outside of Stephen’s Green. As they did so a head appeared at one of the upper floor windows, Thomas O’Donoghue called on the other two men to retreat back into the Green, Philip Clarke, so intent on his work, did not hear the order to retreat, shots rang out and he was killed instantly. An alternative story has him killed on the steps of the Royal College of Surgeons. Countess Markievicz witnessed the shots and returned fire and possibly shot the sniper. His body was taken to Mercers Hospital and he was buried in Glasnevin.
His widow, Monica Clarke, moved from 65 Cork Street in the 1920s to 8 Sandford Gardens, Fairbrothers Fields, South Circular Road, Dublin and received a pension for herself and her dependent children. Monica died on 11th August 1948.
A concrete plaque on Rossin Bridge, Slane-Drogheda road, was unveiled in 1964 honouring the memory of Philip Clarke.
Clarke’s older brother, James, went to work in Dublin where he became involved in the GAA. James became friendly with James Mullett who ran a public house in Bridge Street, Dublin, opposite the Brazen Head. Mullet was a member of the Invincibles and had served ten years penal servitude. The Invincibles were responsible for the Phoenix Park Murders of newly appointed Chief Secretary of Ireland, Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Burke, Permanent Undersecretary in May 1882. James Clarke established a boxing club and a gymnasium. Lectures and historical talks in connection to Ireland’s struggle for freedom were given at the gymnasium. In 1897 James on a visit to Ballybunion met Austin Stack, who was commandant of the Kerry Brigade during the 1916 Rising. James moved to Ballybunion in 1901 and became close to Stack. Following the Rising James and Joe McGrath were appointed executors to look after Philip’s family of a wife and nine orphans, the eldest 15 years old and the youngest five months. The eldest boy had gone out on Easter Monday but was sent home. The boys were educated at St Enda’s. Joe McGrath later helped in securing employment for them in the Irish Sweepstakes.
After the Rising James became involved in the 1916 Dependants’ Fund and joined the Volunteers in 1917. James worked with Collins and Stack during the War of Independence. When Stack married Una Gordon they spent their honeymoon at the Clarke’s home in Monknewtown. The couple visited local sites such as Tara, Monasterboice, Slane, Kells and Dowth.
Philip’s brothers, Thomas and Nicholas were members of G Company of the 1st Drogheda Battalion in 1921 while another brother, Leo, was a member of the H Company.

* From ‘ 1916 Meath and More’ by Noel French