For Christmas 2018, Hubbie’s brother, Paul treated his siblings and mother in Cork to dinner in the new Japanese restaurant, Ichigo Ichi on Fenns Quay. Our booking was for March 2019. The restaurant had just been awarded a Michelin star. Over the 12-course dinner, Hubbie’s sister, Audrey told me she was reading Meda Ryan’s book, Tom Barry: IRA Freedom Fighter and that there was a Dr Blake mentioned in it. She asked whether this Dr Blake could be my grandfather. My heart flipped. “Maybe,” I said. "There were hardly two Dr Blakes in Cork City back then."
I asked if she would lend me the book when she finished it. Audrey went one better; she ordered the book for me online and it arrived in the post a week later. I scanned the book and found the reference to a Dr Blake on pg. 235 but no first name. I was already familiar with Meda Ryan as she is a highly respected historian on West Cork. In her book, The Day Michael Collins Was Shot, she is the only historian that finally nailed down who fired the bullet that killed Michael Collins in Beal na Blath, during the Civil War.
I rang her publisher, Mercier Press and asked to speak to Meda Ryan. They politely told me that due to GDPR legislation that this was not possible but if I wanted to send an email, they would forward it to Meda.
On Tue, 9 Apr 2019 at 15:20, Blake, Geraldine wrote:
Dear Ms Roberts,
I wonder could you do me a favour. I am currently reading Meda Ryan’s book, Tom Barry: IRA Freedom Fighter.
A Dr Blake is mentioned on page 235. My grandfather was Dr Thomas Blake who lived on the Western Road, in a house called Edenmore which is now a guesthouse called Garnish House. He was a junior house doctor in the Mercy Hospital during the War of Independence. He was the school doctor for PBC when it was on the Western Road and had his GP practice on 22 Patrick’s Hill, Cork City. I know very little about my grandfather other than he came from Buttevant, Co Cork and died bankrupt in December 1943 when my father was 15, so I never met him.
Would you be kind enough to ask Ms Ryan whether the doctor she mentioned is the same?
Best regards,
My interest in the War of Independence started after seeing Neil Jordan’s movie, Michael Collins which came out in 1996. I always loved history but relished the fact that Michael Collins is regarded as the mastermind behind the War of Independence, (1919 -1921) which forced the British government to seek a truce and this, in turn, marked the beginning of the end of the British Empire.
I asked my father what role our family had in the War of Independence. He told me that we had none. When I asked why not, he looked a little embarrassed before admitting, “We were doing OK, we had no reason to change the status quo." I asked Granny Blake. She also confirmed we had no connection but did remember one day in 1919. She was 17 years old and was cycling with a friend along a country road near Mitchelstown where she grew up. Both girls sensed something was about to happen and they returned home immediately. Later that same day, marching British groups on that road were ambushed and several were killed. Granny said, “It always surprised me that if two teenage girls could sense something was going to happen why couldn’t trained soldiers?”
The following year, the Graduates Association of UCC, forwarded a letter dated 27th January 1997, to my Uncle John in Dublin, written by a Mrs Meredie O'Donoghue.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I wish to pay tribute to a graduate of your medical faculty.
On the 4th of June 1921, my mother had gone into labour. The nurse attending my mother requested the assistance of a doctor. My father went to the Mercy Hospital around the corner from our house which was on Sheare Street. The young house-surgeon, Dr Tom Blake, agreed to come to my mother. He had to run a gauntlet of snipers who were shooting at the civilian population. He wore his doctor’s white coat. He had no weapons only his courage and dedication to human life. He carried the Red Cross flag for protection. This did not deter his attackers who fired indiscriminately at him. Bullets entered the bedroom where my mother was lying. He still courageously attends to his patient. A bullet flew past her face just as her child was born, lodging in the woodwork of the window.
He left mother and child to the care of the midwife. My mother’s hair turned white overnight. I had pneumonia but survived, thank God.
Next morning, my father heard a knock at the hall door. At that time a notice giving the name and description of the people in the house had to be pinned to the door (Martial Law). When my father opened the door, he was surprised to see two high ranking officers of the British Arm standing there. He knew by the decorations and insignia on their uniforms that they were senior officers. They requested information about the incident the previous night. They expressed their apologies and admitted it was a serious violation of human rights. They hoped the ‘lady of the house’ and the baby were alright. They also paid tribute to the young doctor.
My father told me this story when I was eight years old and how the carpenter had come to put in a new window. In the frame of the window were the marks of the bullet.
I tell my grandchildren about this wonderful brave young doctor. He carried no weapons, just his courage and dedication to this profession.
I hope you record my story about this young hero who believed in courage.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Meredie O ’Donoghue (nee Buckley)
The covering letter from the Graduates Association mentions that with the help of Professor Denis O’Sullivan, they were able to confirm that after Dr Blake left the Mercy Hospital, he set up his GP practice on 22 Patrick’s Hill but other than that she could not provide further information because records for that time are no longer in existence.
Our copies of both letters are framed and hang in my mother’s house.
Two days later after I sent my initial email to Mercier Press, Meda Ryan replied.
From: Meda Ryan
Sent: 11 April 2019 17:22
To: Blake, Geraldine
Subject: Re: Dr Blake
Dear Ms Blake,
From the information that you have given, it appears that it was your grandfather who administered medical assistance to Tom Barry, following the Kilmichael ambush and throughout his life. He appears to be the only doctor that he mentions by name. Barry was taken secretly to the Mercy Hospital shortly after the Kilmichael ambush. Also, Barry lived in a flat on Patrick Street, so throughout his life, it would have been convenient for him to go to Patrick’s Hill or to the Mercy Hospital to attend a doctor.
It is sad what happened to Dr Blake your grandfather. But I expect many professional people in those days had a very poor income, and doctors being in the caring profession would and did work for nothing as during the War of Independence.
Thank you for sharing knowledge of your grandfather. If I come across his name at any future date, I will let you know.
Kind regards,
Meda Ryan
I was beyond ecstatic. I immediately replied, gushing my thanks and gratitude. I then rang Audrey hardly able to breathe with excitement. I also rang Hubbie and my mother-in-law who is from West Cork.
I then went looking for my colleague John who I felt would also appreciate the enormity of this happy discovery. I knocked exuberantly on his office door and announced I had great news.
“And what’s that then?” he said.
I told him
He leaned back in his chair and smiled, “Well,” he said. “That just proves one thing.”
“What?”
“Your grandfather was a Fianna Failer.”
I looked at him baffled, “What are you talking about?”
“Tom Barry was very careful about who he trusted.”
“So...?!”
“If Tom Barry suspected that your grandfather was a Blue Shirt, he wouldn’t have allowed your grandfather anywhere near him.”
I stared at him struggling to understand. “Hang on...” I said. Then the cogs in my brain finally connected, "“Fianna Fail wasn’t created until after the war."
“That’s right,” said John
“So Fianna Fail doesn’t apply to him,” I said, “And another thing, if Tom Barry arrives into the hospital on death's door with the British Army looking for him, he’s in no position to decide who operates on him or not.”
“Admit it,” said John. “Your grandfather was a Fianna Fail man.”
I didn’t speak to John for a month. John was only doing what all political animals love to do, ‘ball hopping’. He annoyed me yet I was surprised how upset I became. The Civil War came and went 97 years ago and it still rankles.
Still, I was puzzled. Why had my father never told me? I inherited my love of history from him and so if he had known about his father’s connection with the notorious Tom Barry, he would have told me. The only explanation that makes sense is that the Kilmichael Ambush happened in November 1920. My grandfather didn’t get married until 1927; six years after the war ended. My grandmother being pro-British would not have approved of Tom Barry being her husband's patient and so for a quiet life, he probably just didn’t tell her. My grandfather died when my father was 15 and so if he wasn’t prepared to confide in his wife, he would hardly tell his children.
