The Clock Is Still Going

Full name: Laurence Finnegan aka Larry and Louie.

Addresses: Union Place, Sligo Town (1901); 60 and 34 Lower Glengariff Parade, Mountjoy (1911 and 1921); and 425 North Circular Road (to late 1980s).

Unit: E Coy, 2nd Battalion, Dublin Brigade. Rank Captain. National Army, Commandant Court Martial Staff, Adjutant General’s Department.

Born: 15 August 1897 at Union Place, Sligo Town.

Parents: Laurence Finnegan, a Railway Engine Driver originally from Co. Dublin and Westmeath-born Katie née Kerrigan.

Siblings: Eight surviving brothers and sisters – John Joe, Kathleen, Michael, Margaret, William, Gerard, Mary and Patrick. Laurence was the fourth born in the family; his eldest sister Lillie had died young.

Military Service: Larry joined E Coy, 2nd Battalion, Irish Volunteers in 1917. He did organisational work; provided intelligence for the attack on Lord French at Ashtown; took part in an attack on a military train at Newcomen Bridge; was out in the IRA operations on ‘Bloody Sunday’ (21 November 1920) at Mount Street; and the attack on the London and North Western Railway Hotel in April 1921. Finnegan was elected O/C of the Coy following the promotion of Tom Ennis to Battalion O/C. He was 2nd in command inside the Custom House for the Burning. Arrested and interned in Kilmainham Gaol where he was in Cell 18, Section B with Peadar O’Farrell. Laurence appears in Cyril Daly‘s autograph book.

After release Larry rejoined his unit, took the pro-Treaty stance and enlisted with the National Army in early 1922. He served throughout the Civil War in Griffith Barracks with the Adjutant-General’s Staff until his resignation on 14 April 1924. He was awarded a military pension in 1926 recognising 5¾ years service.

During the Emergency (WW2) he was a Lieutenant, then Captain with the 26th (Old IRA) Battalion, Defence Forces.

Personal Life: Laurence never married and lived with his sister Margaret on North Circular Road until her death in 1984. They had lost both their parents within a matter of weeks in June and July 1941. One brother, Michael, had by then emigrated to Suffolk, England.

Laurence Finnegan passed away in the Sacred Heart Residence (nursing home), Sybil Hill, Raheny on 6 October 1989, a Pensioner aged 92. There were no obituaries or reference to his Old IRA service in the family death announcement.

Laurence was the last survivor of his immediate family and was buried with his sister Margaret in Glasnevin Cemetery plot UM120.5, St Patrick’s Section. The death was registered by a cousin Colette Maguire, of 25 Woodbine Road, Raheny.

Relatives: None in contact.

Des White