James McNulty (Irish activist)

James McNulty Séamus Mac an Ultaigh (1890-1977) was an activist for Irish independence and served as the commandant of the Doe Battalion of the Irish Volunteers during the 1916 Easter Rising in County Donegal, Ireland, and was a stonemason by trade.[1]

Early life

James McNulty was born on January 1, 1890 in Feymore, Creeslough, Co. Donegal, Ireland. James was one of seven children born to Patrick McNulty and Catherine Murray.[2][3]

Emigration to the United States and Apprenticeship

James McNulty emigrated to the United States in about 1908 to join family members in Philadelphia, PA. He apprenticed as a stonemason with John B. Kelly, Sr., U.S. Olympian and the father of Grace Kelly. They often worked together and became lifelong friends.[4] During his time in Philadelphia, James became interested in Irish politics. In March, 1914, McNulty joined the Irish Volunteers and was an active member of the Clan na Gael. He became acquainted with Joseph McGarrity, an important financier for Irish independence, who introduced James to many principal leaders in the cause.[5]

Return to Ireland and Easter Rising

At the request of John Devoy, the leader of the Clan na Gael, and Tom Clarke, the architect of the Easter Rising, James returned to Ireland in 1915, while recovering from Typhoid fever[1][4][6] He served as a company captain, recruiter, organizer, trainer and the Commandant of the Doe Battalion in Donegal County.[7] In February, 1916, in an effort to improve morale and attract new recruits to the Volunteers, James, along with I.R.B member Daniel Kelly, organized a rally at Doe Castle at Sheephaven Bay, near Creeslough.[6] Patrick Pearse, the spokesman of the Rising, was scheduled to attend, however the planning of the forthcoming events in Dublin prevented him from traveling at that time.[8] Two months later, on Easter Monday, April 24,1916, during the Easter Rising, Contrary to instructions from Eoin MacNeill, James and Daniel mobilized a group of 33 men in Creeslough and awaited further orders, which never arrived. Due to poor communication and conflicting commands, the group soon dispersed. Although similar groups formed throughout the country, the bulk of the fighting was contained within the city limits of Dublin.[8][9][10]

Continued Activism and Arrest

McNulty was also a recruiter and member of the local club of the Sinn Féin political party during this time known as the Irish revolutionary period. Early in 1919, while conducting inspections with the Irish Volunteers, McNulty was shot in the shoulder by Andrew Wilkinson, J.P. (Justice of the Peace) and seriously wounded. Wilkinson had refused to admit McNulty and his group into his home or surrender his weapons. James was initially taken to nearby Carrigart and examined by Dr. McClusky, who ordered for McNulty's immediate transfer to Dublin to have the bullet extracted at the Mater Hospital. He stayed there for an extended amount of time until he was fully recovered.[11][12]

McNulty remained active in the years following the Rising, known as the "Irish War of Independence". James' knowledge of construction was instrumental with Volunteer attempts to stop the transport of British troops into the region. On February 7, 1921, Volunteers removed a section of the railway line on the train bridge at Drumacart Creeslough. A train carrying British troops was derailed and 15 men were injured,[13] James was consequently arrested on February 12, 1921 by the Royal Irish Constabulary (a.k.a. "The Black and Tans").[4][14]

He was interned in Derry Prison "Derry Gaol", where he remained for the next two years and was scheduled for execution. On December 6, 1921, the same night as the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, James was one of 14 prisoners involved in a failed escape attempt plotted locally by the Derry I.R.A., in which two prison guards were killed.[9] In 1923, James was brought to trial and released due to never actually being charged with a crime. Disheartened with the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, James soon departed to the United States with his family.[4]

Emigration and death

In October, 1924, after his release from Derry Gaol, James, his wife, Anne ((Nelis), whom he married in February, 1917), and their family emigrated to the United States and settled in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, PA. McNulty established a successful stone masonry and construction business. Through the 1930s & 40s, James worked regularly with John B. Kelly, Sr. on several projects in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., Some of the more notable buildings James worked as a stonemason on are: the Bryn Athyn Cathedral, the Jefferson Memorial, the (U.S.) Treasury Building and The Pentagon.[4][15]

He and Anne had seven children. One of their daughters, Kathleen (Antonelli) gained notoriety as one of the "Refrigerator Ladies"[7][16] the group of six female computer programmers who helped to operate the first electronic general-purpose computer, ENIAC in the 1940s and 1950s in Philadelphia. James returned to Ireland to live in Creeslough following his wife's death in 1966.[3]

James McNulty passed away on February 5, 1977 at the age of 87 in Creeslough, Co. Donegal, Ireland.[3] At his request, his body was returned to Philadelphia to be buried with his wife.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Kelly, Daniel. "Bureau of Military History, Statement by Witness: W.S.1004" (PDF). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  2. ↑ National Archives of Ireland: 1902 Census Residents of a house 19 in Faymore (Creeslough, Donegal) http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Donegal/Creeslough/Faymore/1172924/
  3. 1 2 3 Ancestry.com: James McNulty (1890-1977): http://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/james-mcnulty_208570265 (Note: James' mother is listed as 'Kathleen' but 1901 census has her name as 'Catherine')
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mauchly Antonelli, Kathleen (March 26, 2004). "The Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli Story". www.sites.google.com/a/opgate.com/eniac.
  5. ↑ McCaffrey, James. "Bureau of Military History, Statement by Witness: W.S.1484" (PDF). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  6. 1 2 Duffy, Sinead (2016). "James McNulty: His Fight for Irish Freedom". 'The Creeslough View 2016' 15th Edition by Marie Duffy.
  7. 1 2 website:Donegal on the Net, link:http://www.dun-na-ngall.com/, webpage:'Death of Donegal's Computing Pioneer' link:http://www.dun-na-ngall.com/nw69.html
  8. 1 2 "The Donegal Awakening", Liam O'Duibhir, 2009 (Pages 39, 45, 76, 104, 255, 289, 292)
  9. 1 2 "Donegal & The Civil War The Untold Story", Liam O'Duibhir, 2011 (Pages 42-44)
  10. ↑ Crampsie, Dr Arlene (2013). "Decade of Change" (PDF). www.donegalcoco.ie. Donegal County Development Board. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  11. ↑ McGinley, Charles (August 18, 1956). ""Bureau of Miliatary History State by Witness W.S. 1483" (PDF). bureauofmilitaryhistory. Defense Force Ireland.
  12. ↑ McGinley, Bernard. "Bureau of Military History, Statement by Witness: W.S.1482" (PDF). Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  13. ↑ Mc Garrigle, Una (2006). "Donegal Annual 2006" (PDF). pages 173-4. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  14. ↑ Mc Garrigle, Hon. Sec. Mrs Una (2006). "Donegal Annual Journal of the County Donegal Historical Society" (PDF). www.donegalhistory.com. Browne Printers, Ltd. Letterkenny. p. 174. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  15. ↑ Jennings Bartik, Jean (2013). "Pioneer Programmer: Jean Jennings Bartik and the Computer that Changed the World (Chapter 3 - Page 71)". Google Books. Truman State University Press. Retrieved Feb 9, 2016.
  16. ↑ MentalFloss.com : Article by Alyson Sheppard titled:"Meet the 'Refrigerator Ladies' Who Programmed the ENIAC" http://mentalfloss.com/article/53160/meet-refrigerator-ladies-who-programmed-eniac
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