Seamus Nestor
‘C’ Comp 2nd Batt Dublin
Brigade 1916-21 Fianna Éireann
1st Batt Dublin Brigade IRA
1921/22
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| Seamus Nestor C.1930 Photo Liam Langley |
'While a pupil in St.
Patrick’s School, Drumncondra, Dublin, Seamus Nestor joined Fianna Éireann upon
it’s re-organisation after the Easter Rising in 1916. He was attached to Sean Heuston Sluagh,
afterwards ‘C’ Company of the 2nd Battalion, Dublin Brigade. For almost three years he was just an
ordinary member of the Fianna. After
passing through all his tests and being noted for punctuality and regular
attendance on parades at lectures and camps, he was appointed Quartermaster of
his Company at the end of 1919; in this capacity he attended classes in Musketry
Instruction held by the I.R.A., afterwards imparting these instructions to
Fianna on the use of small arms and grenades.
About this time he took part in a raid for cycles on the Central
Telegraph Office. Fifty machines were
taken from the stores.
In 1920 he was appointed 1st
Lieutenant. He was then one of the squad
told off for special intelligence work in connection with enemy spy activities.
In May 1921 he was in an armed
engagement with Crown Forces:
Accompanied by two others they served as covering party opposing a raid
by British Military on a Fianna Camp at Finglas. Armed with revolvers their fire held off the
enemy until all the Fianna in camp, about sixty, had escaped. Seamus visited the area on the following day
and found the British Military still in the vicinity of King James’s Castle. As he was returning he met a Dispatch Rider,
whom he know, attached to the Department of Home Affairs, on his way to shift a
dump at the Castle. Despite the warning
and advice given by Seamus the other insisted in taking a chance, having first
handed over his dispatches which were addressed to Austin Stack, The Minister
of Home Affairs, and were duly delivered.
At the time the capture of these documents would have been a very
serious matter indeed. The Dispatch
Rider was arrested by the British Military, court-martialled and sentenced to a
long term of imprisonment. This arrest
took place on 24th May 1921.
Following these incidents the
services of Seamus Nestor were immediately requisitioned by Commandant P.
Holohan and he was transferred as Assistant Battalion Quartermaster to the 1st
Battalion, Dublin Brigade of the I.R.A.
In this capacity he was responsible for the purchase, custody and distribution
of arms and the inspection of arms dumps in the area. He had also to ensure that Company
Quartermasters submitted full returns of arms and ammunition after armed
attacks. He served in this capacity to
the end of hostilities.
During the Truce, his works as
Q.M’s Assistant, if not so risky, remained just as heavy. There was Camp Training at Mulhuddart, night
manoeuvres and duties in connection with carnivals as a fund raising campaign, as
well as continuing to purchase arms whenever possible. Following on the Belfast purge, as part of
his duties, he was responsible for the billeting and feeding of refugees from
that city. He took part in many raids
for Belfast goods and did much duty at Fowler Hall.
During the last occupation of the
Four Courts he was responsible for the transport of arms to and from there for
Battalion use. During the attach and
bombardment of the Four Courts when the street fighting commenced in the area,
Seamus, under the supervision of Quarter Master Corliss, undertook the
collection of arms and ammunition from dumps and distributed them amongst the
different garrisons.
On the 28th June 1922
he reported to 44 Parnell Square and during the week he served at the Duke of
Leinster’s house in Dominick Street and at Jenkins’ of Capel Street where the
Garrison surrendered.
He was imprisoned in Wellington
Barracks, ‘B’ Wing, Mountjoy Prison and transferred to Newbridge Barracks in
January 1923; he took part in the mass hunger strike and was released in
December 1923.
He joined the Irish Press staff
in 1931, later becoming Limerick Branch Manager until he retired through ill
health in 1954. His death took place in
Limerick on 23rd March 1956.
Liam Langley
Battalion Commandant 2nd (North Dublin) Battalion
Staff HQ Director Organisation and Education
Battalion Commandant 2nd (North Dublin) Battalion
Staff HQ Director Organisation and Education
23.7.57
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| Extracts from the account of Sean Nestor typed up by |
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| Liam Langley dated 23 July 1957 |
