Murphy’s Town Hall Athenry 12 Michael Thornton, (aka MÍCHEÁL Ó DROIGHNEÁIN) gives an account of his deportation experience in his military Witness Statement, BMH.WS1718.pdf (www.militaryarchives.ie): “In the month of February, 1917, at four o'clock in the morning, we were all awakened by a loud knocking on the door, together with an order to get up at once... They brought me in a car straight to Renmore Barracks, and handed me up to the military... Later on in the morning, Pádraic Ó Máille was brought in, and, later still, Dick Murphy of Athenry. We were put on a train, with a military escort, and brought on to Arbour Hill Barracks... Next day, we were put on board a ship bound for England... On arrival at Holyhead, we were put on a train and, when we reached Shrewsbury, we were put up in the guardroom of the Military Barracks for the night... Next, day, we were brought as far as Hereford, and handed over to the police... When we arrived in Kington, it was near midnight, and the sergeant of police did not know what to do with us, and he seemed embarrassed... Three of our number, Nicolls, O'Doherty and Murphy, were sent to Leominster...” [Emphasis added to quote] 22nd June 1917 – The Deportation Order was ultimately rescinded by Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Mahon in June 1917 and the Deportees were allowed to return to Ireland. NB: copy of Deportation Order in the images at the back. 13th July 1917 – Connacht Tribune 14th July 1917, page 3, recorded that a meeting of the Galway County Board GAA was held in the Hall. 21st September 1917 – Connacht Tribune 22nd September 1917, page 3, recorded that a meeting of the GAA Galway County Board was held in the Hall. 12th October 1917 – Connacht Tribune 20th October 1917, page 3, recorded that a meeting of the GAA Galway County Board was held in the Hall. 14th September 1918 – Connacht Tribune 31st August 1918, page 6, indicated that a fundraising concert, in aid of the Irish Nurses Fund, was to be held in the Hall on this date. 22nd November 1918 – Connacht Tribune 16th November 1918, page 4, contained an advertisement for an Auction to be held in the Town Hall. 14th March 1919 – The Irish Independent of this date carried the following on page 2, under the heading INCREASED ESTEEM: “Athenry—Enthusiastic scenes greeted the arrival home of Messrs. L. Lardner and Stephen Jordan from Lincoln and Birmingham jails. They were met by an enormous crowd, headed by a band and torch bearers, and they were escorted in procession to the Town Hall. Houses were illuminated and tar barrels burned at many points on the streets. Rev. E. McGough, presiding at a meeting in the hall, said that while the returned prisoners were in jail esteem for them was even greater than before. Their spirit was that which would achieve Ireland's liberation. Messrs. Lardner and Jordan replying, touchingly referred to the death of Mr. Pierse McCann, M.P., whom the chairman referred to as Ireland's latest martyr.” 17th October 1919 – Connacht Tribune 11th October 1919, page 1, carried an advertisement for the sale in the Hall on this date, by Public Auction, of Patrick Madden’s farm “containing 88 acres 3 roods or thereabouts, statute measure...” 20th March 1920 – As can be readily seen, Dick Murphy’s ability to run the Hall, and earn a living from it, was severely curtailed throughout the entire revolutionary period. He seems to have acquired a Ford Model T Motor Car (Reg: IM 814) in March 1920 and appears to have relied on this as an alternative source of income, hiring himself out as a Hackney driver:
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