James Boland

James Boland was born in the late 'fifties, in the city of Manchester, where his west of Ireland patriotic parents, through stress of economic conditions were compelled to seek a new home. When "Jim" reached man's estate he came, to Dublin, and by his bright and active demeanour soon secured permanent employment in the services of the Corporation.

His energy and industry in the daily discharge of his duties soon attracted the attention of the chiefs of his department, and he was promoted from one post of responsibility to another, until finally he found himself chief superintendent of street arid road making. His mother was a relative of Col. Thomas Kelly, one of the prisoners rescued from the prison van by the "Manchester Three." At an early age he joined the ranks of the old I.R.B., determined to give all possible help in the building up of a movement that had for its objects the Independence of his country, and the pulling down of its oppressors. His earnestness and enthusiasm in this direction brought him under the observations of the Castle authorities, and during the exciting times of 'eighty-one and two, to avoid arrest, he was obliged to go on the run" until such time as political excitementhad subsided.

He hid no belief in parliamentary agitators, but when the great leader of the Irish Party in the British House of Commons was struck at by England and her Irish McMurroughs, Boland and his friends rendered him untold service. As a result of an unprovoked assault by a cowardly crowd of political opponents, he died in his prime on March llth, 1895, and is buried on the side walk of the old O'Connell circle. His remains were accorded a public funeral. He was the father of Comdt.-General Harry Boland, I.R.A., whose remains are in the Republican Plot.