Conor Clune

Conor Clune (Irish name Conchobhair Mac Clúin; 26 July 1893 – 21 November 1920) was one of three men along with Dick McKee and Peadar Clancy killed in controversial circumstances in Dublin Castle on Bloody Sunday, 1920, a day that also saw the killing of a network of British intelligence agents by the "Squad" unit of the Irish Republican Army and the killing of 14 people in Croke Park by the Royal Irish Constabulary. Clune was 27 years old.

Clune was at one time a member of the National Volunteers, the military organisation led by John Redmond that resulted from the 1914 split in the Irish Volunteers. He does not appear to have been a member of the Irish Volunteers, although the commemorative plaque in Dublin Castle refers to him as "Volunteer Conor Clune". However, he was devoted to the Irish language and was involved with the Gaelic League. Early life Clune was born as Cornelius Clune in the village of Quin, County Clare on 26 July 1893, the son of John Clune, a carpenter, and Bridget Walsh from Kilkishen, who had married in 1874. His uncle was Archbishop Clune of Perth, who had been senior chaplain to the Catholic members of the Australian Imperial Force in World War I.

Clune was one of a family of seven boys and three girls. He was educated at the local National School and St. Flannan's College, Ennis. A Gaelic League enthusiast, he also spent some time at Ring Irish College, Colaiste na Rinne, County Waterford.

Following a period during which he worked in Dublin, he applied for and was appointed Manager at the seed and plant nursery owned by Edward MacLysaght at Raheen, Tuamgraney, about ten miles from Quin. It was with MacLysaght that he travelled to Dublin on the morning of Saturday, 20 November 1920, bringing with him the books of the Raheen Co-op for its annual audit. a member of Dáil Éireann, Director of Publicity and then Editor of An t-Óglach. They parted company, after arranging to meet on the following day.

Also on Saturday evening, Peadar Clancy, along with members of the GHQ staff of the Irish Republican Army, met at 35 Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin. The meeting was called to discuss the final arrangements for what would be the route of the British secret service, with the elimination of the Cairo Gang the following morning. Having concluded their business, the meeting dispersed, Michael Collins, Clancy, McKee and some of the others went to Vaughan's Hotel (present-day Parnell Square), then the rendezvous for many of the leaders of the IRA.

It was at this time that Clune, accompanied by Seán O'Connell, went to Vaughan's. Beaslaí was upstairs with Brigadier Dick McKee, Michael Collins, Peadar Clancy when word was brought to Beaslaí that Conor Clune from Clare was there to meet him.

Dublin Castle Having been arrested, the three men were taken to the old detective office in the Exchange Court. According to T. Ryle Dwyer, the room was being used as a kind of guardroom, and was furnished with some beds, tables and some stores, which included a box of hand grenades Brigadier General Ormonde Winter, head of the British Secret Service in Ireland and two Auxiliary Division officers, Captain Hardy and Captain King, were the British personnel who interrogated Clune, Clancy, and McKee.

The guard commander said, on hearing a noise, entered the room, and "the prisoner McKee fired at me", and that McKee then turned and fired at the sentry. The guard commander also claimed to have dropped McKee. He then said he saw Clancy with a shovel, and that Clancy was attempting to strike another guard. One of the guards (who had dived behind the mattresses) then fired at Clancy and he fell. Commemorative plaque in memory of the three Volunteers, erected by the National Graves Association above the door of the guard room at Dublin Castle. A fourth witness was to tell much the same story.

The condition of their bodies when returned by the British authorities to their families supports this assertion. There were extensive signs of discolouring. A military doctor claimed that large staining could occur, and this would depend on the way the bodies had been lying. He also said that Clancy had been hit with up to five bullets, which made eight wounds; Dick McKee had three wounds caused by two bullets. He said McKee had no bayonet wounds, but there was a bullet lodged underneath his skin on the right of his chest. Clune, he said, had nine wounds caused by seven bullets. T. Ryle Dwyer also states that David Neligan was adamant that they had not been bayoneted.

His employer Edward McLysaght took charge of the body when the authorities released it. He had the body medically examined. The examination proved that Clune was shot 13 times in the chest. Clune's body was brought home to Co. Clare for burial. His coffin was draped with the Irish flag, but when a British officer objected to it, Canon Slattery, the presiding priest, complied and removed it. He is buried in Quin Abbey near his ancestors. A book titled Death in the Castle: Three murders in Dublin Castle 1920, written by Sean O'Mahony, and published by 1916–1921 Club records both the life and deaths of the three Republicans.

There is a road in Dublin, close to the Phoenix Park called Conor Clune Road and another called Clune Road in Finglas.