SOME months ago while attending a funeral in St Corban’s Cemetery, Naas, cemetery caretaker Graham Hughes, approached me and asked if I knew anything of Martin Conleth O’Brien, whose grave he then brought me to.
I confessed that I knew absolutely nothing, but said I would try and find out who this gentleman was. A search of the Leinster Leader archives in Local Studies, Newbridge Library, revealed this piece of news, which is also posted on the ehistory Kildare site: Leinster Leader 6th June 1963 Memorial in Naas cemetery unveiled
A ten feet high Celtic cross, erected by a joint committee of Sinn Féin and Naas Athletic Club, over the grave of Conleth Martin O’Brien, patriot and athlete, was unveiled in St Corban’s Cemetery, Naas, on Sunday. The unveiling was performed by Mr Joseph McDonald, Chairman of the Committee, after a parade from Market Square, led by St Mary’s Brass and Reed Band, Maynooth. After the unveiling an oration was delivered by Mr Martin Shannon, Sinn Féin. Mr Jack Hartigan, Naas AC also spoke. A bugler from Fianna Éireann sounded the last post and the proceedings ended with the National anthem.
Relatives of Mr O’Brien at the unveiling included Mr Joseph O’Brien 18 Seapark Drive, Clontarf, (brother); Miss Mary O’Brien, 27 Eaton Square, Terenure; Mrs Phyllis Kelly, 29 Rathmore Park, Raheny (sisters); Mrs Patricia O’Brien (sister-in-law); Mr Sean Kelly (brother-inlaw). Mr O’Brien is also survived by brothers Patrick and Terence and sisters Kathleen and Agnes, all of whom live in England.
In his oration, Mr Shannon said that Martin O’Brien joined the Republican Army in his early youth and played a man’s part during the heroic revolt against the British in Ireland in 1920 and ’21. Afterwards he stood in consistency with the soldiers of the republic.
He remained staunch in the belief that the Treaty of 1921 was not the final solution to the problem of British domination in Ireland, that the resulting situation was not political, economic or financial freedom.
Martin O’Brien was not a man given to rest. When the sabotage campaign was launched in England in 1939 he worked with supporters of the movement at home.
When the Irish Government interned hundreds of republicans in the Curragh in 1940, though not then a young man, he helped organise a secret communications system with the prisoners and often cycled 20 or more miles a day collecting and delivering messages. During the closing years of his life he contributed many poems and ballads to the United Irishman.
All were aware, Mr Shannon added, that Martin O’Brien had been a leader in athletics in Kildare in his youth and brought honour to his country in this field. His attitude to athletics was the same as that of Michael Cusack and Archbishop Croke; he saw that through the national pass-times the moral and physical fibre of the younger generation could be strengthened, that love of country could be instilled in them in such a way that it would become a living and inspiring flame to guide them into the path of unselfish service to their motherland.
Mr Jack Hartigan, on behalf of the Athletic Club, said they were commemorating a man who was one of the greatest athletes in the country for many years. He had been a founder member of Naas Club and the club was proud to be associated in the erection of the memorial.
Martin O’Brien died on 25 June 1961 and was buried in St Corban’s Cemetery. A 10ft high Celtic cross, was erected by a joint committee of Sinn Féin and the Naas Athletic Club over the grave of Martin O’Brien, ‘patriot and athlete,’ and unveiled in St Corban’s in the summer of 1964. The monument was executed by Peter Walshe and Sons, Carlow. Martin was an officer in Naas GAA, and merits a mention in To Spooners Lane and beyond. Naas GAA Club 1887-1987 by Liam McManus and Naas GAA. He lived at Sallins Road, Naas, and was a prominent figure in the national movement and on the athletics field in his youth, being a member of Naas Athletic Club since 1924.
In 1962 a committee was formed to raise funds for the erection of a memorial over his grave. Chairman was Joseph McDonald, Main Street, Naas; Vice-chairman, Joe Noone, St Gabriel’s Place, Naas; Secretary, John Mahon, Osberstown; Joint-treasurers, Joseph Callan, Rathasker Road, and Jack Hartigan, Jigginstown. Also on the committee were: J Maher, Bluebell; J Garvey, Punchestown; J Cummins, Two-Mile-House; Tom O’Connor, Alasty, Kill; Tim Coyle, Pacelli Road, Naas. In a little more than a year the committee had raised enough money to go ahead with the project, a testament to Martin O’Brien’s popularity in the town.
I would like to thank Graham Hughes for bringing the burial place of Martin O’Brien to my attention and awakening new interest in his life and times.