Ógra Fianna Fáil have a long-standing tradition of naming their cumann (i.e. their societies) after Irish Patriots in line with their strong Republican ethos. We decided as the Fianna Fáil Cumann in the University to name ours after the great, Limerick, martyr Con Colbert. What follows is a short recollection of his life and history.

 "Worthy comrade of the great men with whom he died was Conn O'Colbard than whom not one of them all, not even Mac Piarais himself was more high-minded, more spiritual in thought and feeling, more unselfishly devoted to the cause that called him ...." - Brian O'Higgins

Cornelius Colbert was born in Athea in Co. Limerick. He was educated in North Richmond St Christian Brothers School after the family moved to Dublin. He secured a job in Kennedy's baker, Parnell Street. He became a pioneer of Fianna Eireann, (Irish National Boy Scott Movement), an organisation so close to his heart that he spent all of his spare time cycling from place to place encouraging people to set up a new sluagh. He joined the Irish Volunteers at its inception and was one of its first drill instructors. He was quickly appointed captain of F Company in the 4th Battalion, a position he held until the rising. Despite his youth, he was an inspiration, and became appointed to Volunteers Headquarters staff. In the years before 1916 he devoted his time to organising the men and boys who were to participate in this historic event. His wages were meagre but he spent almost every penny on the advancement of the movement. Pearse asked him to become a drill instructor at St. Enda's. In spite of his mounting commitments he agreed and when it was suggested that he be put on the payroll he declined and Pearse had to apologise and forget the idea.

 

 

Con Colbert (on extreme left of picture) Teaching drill to Enda boys, circa 1911

In the week before the rising Colbert was convinced he was going to die but knew it would not be in vain. He was glad of the opportunity to play his part. He was recognised as a man of high esteem to such an extent that the British soldier who was ordered to pinion him asked for the privilege of shaking his hand. On the 8th of May 1916 Captain Cornelius Colbert was executed in Kilmainham gaol for his part in the Easter Rising.

Here is an e-mail received from Patrick Dempsey a grand nephew of Con Colbert

Dear Members of the Con Colbert Cumann, Recently, you were contacted by Dr. Walter Bernard Dempsey, a grand-nephew of Con. I am happy to inform you that I, as well, am Con Colbert's own grand-nephew. My name is Patrick Paul Dempsey, and Walt is my older brother. Just to complete things, both Walt and I have a sister, Peggy (i.e. Margaret Aileen) Scheerger. She lives here in San Jose, CA, about a mile from where I live with my wife, Teresa Marie. The three of us, Walt, Peggy, and Pat, are all children of Margaret Aileen Colbert, who met and married Cassius Patrick Dempsey, our beloved father. Margaret was Con's niece, the daughter of Liam Colbert, Con's oldest brother. Mom had two sisters, Anita Colbert Foley and Marie Colbert O'Donnell. She also had one brother, William Colbert, Jr. All of the relatives on my Mom's side are now deceased. Walt's checking for information stems from a part of the family in Dublin (Ath Cliath in Gaelic), which carried the tale of Con trading places with an older I.R.A. officer who was married and had kids. Con was single and at or about 23 years old at the time of the Easter Rebellion. In the year 2000, history repeated itself. The days were as they were in 1916 with Easter Monday being April 24th -the same as it was during the Rising of the Moon.

Locally, I have shown some people an interesting wrinkle to an old sea chantey called "What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor?" To play it right, alternate between the A minor and G major chords. This is Irish intonations, rather than English intonations. And, instead of saying stuff like Heave, ho, and up she rises!

Try:

Hooray, there's a rising!
Hooray, an Easter Rising!
Hooray, an Easter Rising!
Ear-ly Monday morning!

Another fun verse is :
Rise up, O Eire!
Rise up, O Eire!
Rise up, O Eire!
Riseup now, O Eire!

You can also add a real “old Sinn Féin” line with the old, famous "O Paddy Dear" tune.

The kings and queens of England In Eire shall not reign!
The bloody Brits shall come to know The meaning of Sinn Fein!

I'll stop there, as Con is the treasure of the Republic of Ireland as well as this, a part of his extended family. I had a chance to go over Con's life with then Irish Ambassador Padraig McKiernan at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco in July of 1987. Ambassador McKiernan told me at the time, "You, know, Patrick, your grand-uncle Con was quite the hero in the Irish Republic." Well spoken. Sincerely, Patrick Paul Dempsey (Walt's younger brother and also Con Colbert's grand-nephew, as well.)