Full Name: Michael Fleming

Physical Description (1920): Age 24, height 5 foot 6¼ inches, weight 144 lbs, fair hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion.

Address: 140 Drumcondra Road, a Grocer’s Assistant (in his brother James’s shop).

Unit: C Coy, 2nd Battalion, Dublin Brigade. Rank 2nd Lieutenant.

Born: 25 June 1894 at Ballynultagh, Shillelagh, Co Wicklow.

Parents: Michael Fleming (a Farmer) and Kate (originally Byrne).

Siblings: At least four brothers – James, Peter, Michael and Thomas; and two sisters, Kitty and Monica.

Military Service: A member of C Coy, 2nd Battalion, Irish Volunteers. Fought in the Rising with Fingal Brigade. Was an officer with C Coy in Dublin during the War of Independence. Active with the anti-Treaty IRA during the early part of the Civil War.

Personal Life: Never married. Died on 1 July 1965 aged 71 at 53 Whitehall Road, Terenure, Dublin. Retired, had worked for Donnelly’s Bacon at some stage. Buried in St. Finian’s (New) Cemetery, Kilquiggan, Coolkenno, Co Wicklow. Michael was a brother-in-law of Col. Joseph V. Lawless who took the Free State side in the Civil War.

Burning of Dublin Custom House 1921
Headstone of Michael Fleming and family (courtesy of Colum Ó Ruairc)

Remarks: Michael fought with Fingal Brigade at Ashbourne during the Easter Rising. He and his sister Monica ‘Dot’ could not reach their own units in the city, so headed north. Michael was captured and interned in Frongoch. He rejoined his unit and was again arrested in 1920 following the Fernside incident involving Dan Breen and Sean Treacy’s escape from British raiders after a bloody gun battle. Charged with “harbouring suspects in the murder of two military officers”. Sentenced to 2 years Hard Labour, commuted to 6 months imprisonment. Michael was released on 23 May 1921 only to be captured again two days later at the Burning.

Burning of Dublin Custom House 1921
From the autograph book of Capt. Cyril Daly (Kilmainham Gaol Museum)

Michael Fleming was interned in Kilmainham until 8 December 1921.

Michael is fourth from left in the front row in this group photo taken in Kilmainham (scanned from Revolution in Dublin by Liz Gillis and courtesy of Kilmainham Gaol Museum).

He took an active Republican stance against the Treaty and fought against National forces in O’Connell Street (the Hammam Hotel) and Parnell Street during the initial phase of the Civil War. He took no further part in the conflict and, while his house was later raided, he was never arrested.

Military Pension File: WMSP34REF40920. His sisters Dot (Lawless) and Kitty also received military pensions. His brother Thomas’ application was unsuccessful. There are references to Michael’s 1916 actions in BMH.WS1043.

Relatives: None known.

Des White