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REMEMBERING MYLES JOYCE (17 01 13)
Last December, An Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin organised a commemoration on the 130th anniversary of the hanging in Galway Gaol of three men for the murder of five people in Maamtrasna. One of those hanged, Myles Joyce, was innocent. A large crowd attended the memorial service, and some were bemoaning the fact that no photograph of Myles existed. But then, eagle-eyed Pádraic Canny from the Joyce Country remembered he had seen a reference to Maamtrasna photographs. It turned out that they existed in a file in the National Library entitled “The Invincibles File”. These had been missed by scholars and researchers up until now, and had never been published.
They were collected by a former British Army officer named Captain J.J. Dunne who was injured in the Zulu Wars in Africa. He came back to Ireland and continued his career as a prison warder. His grandson, Lieutenant Col. Armstrong presented his album to the National Library of Ireland, and it is thanks to that institution that we can show you a photograph of Myles Joyce today.
According to the Register of Prisoners in Galway Gaol, Myles was 40 years old, he was 5 foot five and a half inches in height, had brown hair, blue eyes and a sallow complexion. He was Roman Catholic, listed his trade as Labourer and his degree of education was described as nil.
Myles Joyce was one of ten men charged with the murder of five members of another Joyce family in the remote valley of Maamtrasna on the Galway/Mayo border in August 1882. Two of the men became approvers and were pressed into informing and perjuring themselves. The trial was moved to Dublin and was later describes by the historian Robert Kee as “One of the most blatant miscarriages of justice in British legal history”.
Myles Joyce, like most of those charged, was a native Irish speaker from the Gaeltacht who had no English. He was defended in court by a barrister who had no Irish. The evidence Myles gave was in Irish and was ignored in court while evidence which might have helped his cause was withheld and the informers gave false evidence against him. The judge and jury who convicted him had no Irish, and the jury deliberated for less than six minutes to decide on his guilt and sentence him to death.
He was hanged on the 15th of December, 1882 together with Patrick Joyce and Pat Casey, both of whom admitted their guilt. They also said the Myles had played no act or part in the whole affair. Many appeals for clemency were made on his behalf to Earl Spencer, the Lord Lieutenant. He waited until a couple of hours before the appointed time of execution to send a telegram saying the executions must go ahead. The hanging of Myles was botched and he died in agony. He and his two colleagues were buried in the gaol grounds in a site which is now marked by a cross in the Cathedral car park.
The remaining prisoners were also sentenced to death but this was commuted to life imprisonment. The two approvers were set free.
An Comisinéir Teanga has presented copies of the Maamtrasna photographs to the City Museum where they are now on display.
EAT YOUR HEART OUT GALWAY QUIZ
We had a large entry for our Christmas Crossword and we thank Dick Byrne for his help in preparing it.. The following are the answers to the clues; ACROSS, 1, Seapoint; 4, Devon Park; 7, Militia;10, Powells; 12, Biddulph; 13, O’Donnell; 16, CIE; 17, Hooker; 18, Nuns; 19, Atlanta; 24, LDF; 25, Westgate; 27,Ireton; 30, Black Box; 32, GOC; 34, Dabs; 36, Ling; 41, Old Malt; 42, Poor Clares; 46, Courthouse Square; 47, Goya; 49, Oyster; 50, Market; 51, Fish; 54, Mon; 55, Jesuits; 56, Brill; 57, Buskers; 60, Dillons; 61, Cromwell; 62, Hake; 66, Town Clock; 68, Corrib; 69, Sausages; 71, Mackerel; 72, PMS; 74, Bish; 78, Claddagh Ring; 79, Geraghtys; 81, Shoots; 82, The Quays; 83, Persse; 84, Blazers; 85, Connacht; 86, Athy.
DOWN; 1, Scallop; 2, Pollock; 3, Pawn; 5, Eel; 6, Rudder; 8, Lydon; 9, Salerno; 10, Pavilion; 11, Murphys;14, Deane; 15, Bon Bon; 18, Nile; 20, Abbeygate; 21, Blackrock; 22, Cross Street; 23, Volvo; 26, Ryans; 28, Endas; 29, Jolly Roger; 31, Galway; 33, Castle Hotel; 35, Ballroom; 37, Saw Doctors; 38, Bingham; 39, Hollands; 40, Taafes; 43, Eyre Square; 44, Mutton Island; 45, Castle Inn; 48, Mainguard Street; 52, Hipps; 53, LSF; 58, Blake; 59, The Cellar Bar; 60, De Burgo; 63, Stone; 64, Freeneys; 65,NUIG; 66, Turbine; 67, Quay Street; 70, Skerret; 73, Macnas; 75, Salmon; 76, Dooley; 77, Hynes; 80, Ship.
Picture A was of College House, there is a car park there now. Picture B was next door to Moons where Matt O’Flaherty’s is today. Picture c was on O’Brien’s Bridge, where Luck’s shop is today. Picture d was Burke’s Distillery, where Jury’s Hotel is today. Picture E is the CYMS building on Mill Street and picture F is on High Street where Galway Bay gifts are today.
The first all correct answer out of the hat came from Mary O’Connor, 25, Nun’s Island. Congratulations, Mary, your prize is on its way.