Tom Clarke

Born in the Isle of Wight to a Leitrim man and a Tipperary woman his parents eventually settled in Northland Row, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. Tom emigrated to America to find work at an early age, taking a position as an explosives operative during construction work on Staten Island.

As a member of the I.R.B. from the age of 18 Tom was sent to London on their orders to put his new skills to work for their cause. He was captured with a case of liquid explosives and spent fifteen years in Pentonville Prison. Upon his release he married Kathleen, a niece of his old cell mate, John Daly, the Mayor of Limerick.

Clarke settled back in America but returned to Dublin in 1907 whereupon he set up a small shop at 75a Parnell Street. This business premises was often used for meetings as he and his new friend, Seán MacDiarmada set about reviving the I.R.B. and planning an uprising.

His drooping moustache and quiet manner lent an air of indifference to him but it has been said that the largest file in Dublin Castle was marked Tom Clarke.

During the week of the Easter Rising Thomas Clarke was stationed at the General Post Office (GPO).

It is commonly accepted that Thomas James Clarke was the architect of the Military Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and therewith the master brain behind the Easter Rising. However he never accepted the honour to become the commander-in-chief of the Republicans or the President of the Irish Republic. Both titles were granted to Pádraic Pearce instead. The only honour Thomas Clarke accepted was to be the first to sign the Poblacht na hÉireann.

The British probably recognised his importance as Thomas James Clarke was the second leader to be shot on 3 May 1916, immediately after Pádraic Pearse.