Frank Cleary
Early Life
Frank Cleary was born 16 January 1897 to parents Harry Cleary and Ellen Cole. His parents lived at 164 Great Britain Street, Dublin (now Parnell Street). He was baptised in St Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Marlborough Street on 20 January. The sponsors or godparents were his uncle and aunt, Joseph and Mary Flood. His formal name was Henry Francis but was sometimes called Francie by his mother and Frank by his wife and friends.
He was younger brother to sister May Cleary – formally Mary Josephine – born two years earlier in 1895 and living at 18 Gardiner Street Lower.
In the 1901 Census, Frank is named as Henry F. along with his parents and sister and living at 26 Middle Gardiner Street.
A brief history of Gardiner Street can be found here.
By the 1911 Census, Frank is living at 25 Clonliffe Avenue. The family name is now spelled ‘Clery’. Frank is living with his sister and mother. His father had died earlier that year, on 12 March 1911. A boarder, named Patrick Dunne, is living in the home. Frank’s name is given simply as Henry and his age is 12. He was 14 the previous January. It seems that all the ages listed are under-stated.
On 11 April 1913, Frank’s mother Ellen married Patrick Dunne in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Marlborough Street, Dublin.
In 1915, his sister, May, emigrated to the USA. Following the Easter Rising 1916, May wrote to her brother on 30 May 1916, and asked how he was treated when he was arrested and cautioned him to stay neutral. In her letter, she calls him Fran and Francie.
On 9 May 1918, Frank married Kathleen O’Brien. The record appears to indicate the location was Lower Gloster (Gloucester) Street Church. As yet, I have been unable to ascertain if there was a catholic church in Gloucester Street. Gloucester Street has been renamed Sean MacDermott Street and there is a catholic church, built in 1954.
The record shows that Frank was living at 14A Monck Place, his mother’s home and that he was a van driver. Kathleen was living at 12 Upper Buckingham Street, her mother’s home.
The photo at left is a composite, it appears there was no photograph of Frank and Kathleen together.
Military Service
Frank’s involvement in nationalist activities were known, Kathleen, his daughter, had told her children that her father fought in the War of Independence and a well worn picture of Frank in army uniform was seen in the family photo collection over the years. Kathleen thought that her father might have been stationed in the Army Barracks at the Curragh, but wasn’t sure.
As a result of the Irish Civil War the size of the army had bloated. The central administration had difficulty maintaining records of numbers and controlling payments. By October 1922 the Army Council had decided that a Census of the National Forces would be taken as at midnight 12-13 November. Frank is listed in the Census. Curiously, his name is given as Francis Cleary and his address at 31 Hardwicke Street. His rank is Vol (Volunteer). He was attached to the Engineering Branch of the Curragh Command but based in Beggar’s Bush Barracks in Dublin City. Beggar’s Bush Barracks had been handed over by the departing British Army to a detachment of Irish Republican Army, now the new Irish Army, on 2 February 1992 to much celebration.
Perhaps Frank’s time in the Engineers helped develop his interest in radio. Frank and his neighbour Jack Clinton, who had been a radio operator on boats, build crystal radio sets with their children.
Music
Frank was an outstanding singer and member of the Holy Name Choral Society, to which he was secretary. The society formed part of the choir for the The 31st International Eucharistic Congress, held in Dublin 22–26 June 1932. The choir sang with Count John McCormack at the mass in the Phoenix Park and at the benediction on O’Connell bridge. The mass was estimated to have an attendance of over half a million people.
CYMS
Frank was a member and Honorary Treasurer to St Columba Branch of CYMS – the Catholic Young Men’s Society – in North Frederick Street, Dublin. In May 1935 an opportunity arose as the position of caretaker became available. Frank discussed it with his wife, Kathleen, and said it thought this was a great opportunity as work had been difficult to get since he left the army and the position included accommodation for the family in the CYMS Club premises. Shortly after moving to the CYMS Frank was unwell and he went to the doctor in Manor Street who told him not to eat meat but to eat tripe cooked in milk and water. Kathleen, his daughter, wondered if he had injured his stomach moving a piano into the house in Nth Frederick Street. Frank and ‘Long Kelly’ had moved the piano on Kelly’s cart. They then lifted the piano up to the top floor. Kathleen remembers him holding his stomach. He was treated in hospital and after leaving hospital he went to the convalescent home in Beaumont where he spent two weeks. (See Beaumont House and Arthur Guinness). He went to live with his mother in Monck Place as she lived in a single story cottage and he was using a wheelchair. Brendan Dunne came down from Granny Cleary’s saying “Francie is not good and his wife should come and see him’. Kathleen was left minding the children and Frank’s wife went to Monck Place. She was with him when he died on 3 September 1935, some three months after taking up his new role.
Frank’s Death
Frank’s untimely death aged 38 with a young family drew attention and sympathy. The Irish Catholic newspaper noted:
Death of Mr. Frank Cleary
The death of Mr. Frank Cleary at the early age of 36 occurred at his mother’s residence, 14A Monck Place, last week – Tuesday September 3.
Deceased was the son of the late Mr. Harry Cleary, Water Inspector of the Dublin Corporation. He was a very hardworking and enthusiastic member of St Columba’s branch of the Catholic Young Men’s Society (29 North Frederick St) being for the past few years a prominent member of the executive committee and all too recently occupied responsible position of Hon. Treasurer of the Branch
He was also a prominent member of the Holy Named Choral Society, of which he was secretary, and was one of the privileged band who were chosen to form the special choir during the ceremonies of the Eucharistic Congress in 1932. Of a very genial disposition, he will be greatly missed by his colleagues in the various societies with which he was associated and in particular by the members of the Dublin branches of the C.Y.M.S by whom he was held in high esteem. He is survived by a widow and nine children.
The funeral took place from Saint Saviour’s, Dominick St to Glasnevin Cemetery on Thursday morning after 8:30 AM Mass had been offered for the repose of his soul. A large and representative attendance bore eloquent testimony to the high esteem in which the deceased had been held, not alone by his own immediate relatives but by members of the various organisations to which he belonged.
The attendance included Mrs Cleary (widow), Maureen, Kathleen, Thomas, Sheila, Eileen, Patrick, Gertrude, Raymond and Dermot (children), Mrs. Dunne (mother), Saint Columba’s branch of the C.Y.M.S was represented by Messrs. J.W. Moore (President), E. Horan (Secretary) M. Brannigan (Treasurer ), P Colgan, P. Fitzgerald, J. Rock, H. Molphy, C. Carroll, J. Purcell, K. Costello, (Hon. Secretary C.Y.M.S Football Section), P McGuire, J. McGraw, C. Ward, Mr. M.S. Leonard represented the National Council of the C.Y.M.S Federation, J.S. Murphy, M. Kavanagh, T. Finnegan, T. Adams, L. Moore, represented the Holy Name Choral Society of which deceased had been secretary for many years. A large number of mass cards were sent in by his colleagues and friends and some very nice floral wreaths adorned the coffin
Vote of Condolence
At a special meeting of the executive committee of St. Columba’s branch of the C.Y.M.S the following resolution was passed: –
“That we the members of the Saint Columba’s Branch of the C.Y.M.S have learned with deep regret of the death of Bro. Frank Cleary, who for many years had given outstanding service to our branch and we tender to his widow, children, mother, relatives and friends our deepest sympathy on the great lost sustained.
Frank’s passing was marked in a memorial card by H Company, 1st Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Old I.R.A. He is named along side Michael Collins and Kevin Barry. In all, 32 members of the company who were lost. Kevin Barry and Frank Flood were two of The Forgotten Ten.
The aftermath
Frank’s death certificate recorded his cause of death as Carcinoma of the stomach – 2 months, Cardiac failure 2 days. Interestingly, it recorded his age incorrectly as 33, he was 38 years old.
He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in St Bridget’s Section, EI 164.5, along with his wife and daughter.
Frank’s family took over his Caretaker responsibilities in CYMS and remained there for 20 years.