Comrades Last Tribute – Funerals of Fianna officers who were shot near city.
Pathetic scenes were associated yesterday with the funerals of Sean Cole, 22 Lower Buckingham Street, and Alfred Leo Colley, 113 Parnell Street, who were shot dead under such revolting circumstances near “The Thatch” Drumcondra, last Saturday evening.
The remains of Sean Cole lay overnight in the Church of St. Francis Xavier, Upper Gardiner Street, having been removed from the Mater Misericordiae Hospital on Tuesday evening. Mass was celebrated yesterday for the repose of his soul by Rev. Joseph Vaughan, S.J., whose request for the prayers of the congregation for the dead youth met with a fervent response.
The funeral subsequently started for Glasnevin Cemetery. It was headed by a body of about forty of young Cole’s comrades of the Fianna Eireann, under Mr. Sean Harling, O.C., Dublin, Brigade. The coffin was wrapped in the tricolour, over which were placed beautiful floral wreaths. After the hearse walked the Countess Markievicz and a large body of Cumann na mBan. Members of the general public followed.
After the hearse had passed the entrance gates of the cemetery, on the way to the mortuary chapel, a party of National troops armed with rifles, who were on duty in the grounds, came to attention and saluted.
In the chapel the funeral service was conducted by the Rev. James Fitzgibbon, C.C.
AT THE GRAVESIDE
The interment took place in the family burial ground. The coffin was borne from the chapel to the graveside by the dead boy’s comrades. On the way they passed by the plot, marked by a little garden of wreaths, where lie the mortal remains of General Collins. Here again the soldiers on duty came respectfully to the salute.
Arrived at the graveside, a short distance away, the coffin was lowered reverently into its last resting place, and the earth put over it by members of the cemetery staff. Then members of the Cumann na mBan who held the wreaths, including one from Countess Markievicz, placed them on the grave. Among those who stood around were a few soldiers of the National Army in uniform, one of whom wept.
At a command from Mr. Sean Harling. two of the Fianna, who stood with drawn revolvers by the graveside, turned them upward and discharged five shots as a last salute in memory and in honour of their sleeping comrade.
Countess Markievicz delivered a brief address, after which Mr. E. J. Seales recited the “De Profundis,” in which those, gathered around fervently joined.
The chief mourners were:-Mr. James Cole and Mrs. Cole (parents), Mr. Seamus Cole (brother), Mr. John Byrne and Mr. Robert Byrne (uncles), Mrs. McArdle (aunt), Mr. McGarry (uncle), Mr. Hyland (cousin), Mrs. Byrne and Miss Brophy (nieces). Other intimate friends included Mr. John Wall and Mrs. Wall, Mrs. Head, and Mr. and Mrs. Bell.
A LAST SALUTE
By request of the relatives, young Alfred Leo Colley was not given a public funeral.
Mass for the repose of his soul was celebrated in the morning by the Very Rev. John Flanagan, Adm., in the Pro-Cathedral.
The funeral subsequently proceeded to Glasnevin Cemetery. The burial service in the mortuary chapel was conducted by the Rev. Father Fitzgibbon. At the graveside a revolver volley was fired as a last salute. There were many beautiful wreaths, including one from Countess Markievicz.
The chief mourners were:-Mr. William Colley (father), Mr. Christopher George Colley (brother), Mrs. Christopher G. Colley (sister-in-law), Mr. Henry Colley (brother), Miss Emily Colley (sister), and Miss Marie Colley (niece), Mrs. Walters (aunt), Mr. Joseph Kearney (cousin), and Mrs. Wilson (cousin).
Report: Freemans Journal – 31/08/1922
The History of Na Fianna Éireann 