Matthew Hughes
Was born in 24
Aungier Street; his father was a
medical doctor;
Matthew was brought up as a tailor.
During its short
life, the organ of the Fenian Movement
—" The Irish
People "—had a constant contributor,
"Conaciensis."
When John O'Leary's Recollections
appeared we
learned the identity of this writer. O'Leary
says: "Many
writers at least of good verse we had, and
notably a writer
calling himself ' Conaciensis.' His real
name was Matthew
F. Hughes, as I learned by a visit
from the poor
fellow, then in great distress, somewhat
over a year ago,
and shortly before his death."
His monument, erected by his friend, John McColl,
bears this
inscription: " Sacred to the memory of
Matthew Francis
Hughes, 30 York Street, Dublin: Pure
Patriot and Poet, ' Conaciensis ' of the ' Nation,' ' Irish
People,' ' Lady's Almanac,' etc., who died
17th March, 1895. May he rest in peace. Amen."
When my poor body dies,
Like all things mortal, And in the cold clay lies
Within death's portal, Who will guard my little rhymes
From decay in future times?
This inscription is particularly interesting, in view of the fact that a dispute arose over the wording of the monument. John McColl wrote afterwards: "As Conaciensis ' was one of the men of '67, and poet of their organ, the "Irish People," I wished particularly to have the word Fenian inscribed on the monument, but the Catholic Cemeteries Committee very quickly intimated to me that they would not allow such an objectionable word to be inscribed on the stone, and after many fruitless remonstrances I was forced to submit."