Primary Sources

Newspaper Accounts

November 27, 1867

• Antecedents of the Convicts – Cork Constitution 18671127

November 30, 1867

• The Roman Catholic Press on the Manchester Executions – 18671130 – includes remarks on Allen’s background, similar to “Antecedents of the Convicts” above.

December 1, 1867

• Fenian Demonstration at Manchester – December 1, 1867 – Cork Constitution 18671202
• Public Demonstration of Sympathy at Manchester – December 1, 1867 – Cork Constitution 18671202
• The Fenian Procession in Cork, December 1, 1867 – Cork Constitution 18671205

December 3, 1867

• Fenianism at Manchester – Cork Constitution 18671203
•  “Father” Mawe and the Fenians – Cork Constitution 18671203
• An Irishman\’s Experience of Fenianism – Cork Constitution 18671203

December 13, 1867

• A Fenian Funeral Procession in Nenagh – Cork Constitution 18671213

Secondary Sources

• William Allen, Manchester Martyr – Personal Correspondence with Alison Stewart – August 2014
• The Boys Who Smashed the Van – excerpt from Paul Rose, The Manchester Martyrs, Ch. 6 – 1970
• Memorial Stone for William Allen, Kilbrogan Hill, Bandon

William Allen – Memorial Stone, Bridewell, Kilbrogan Hill, Bandon – 51° 45′ 22.9176″ N, 8° 44′ 11.0688″ W- http://historicgraves.com/

 

Background

William Allen’s father was in charge of the Bridewell in Bandon, Co. Cork in 1867. The Henry and Coughlan Directory for Bandon in 1867 locates the Bridewell on North Main Street; there is no name of the officer in charge; a William Allen, grocer, is listed on Market Street.

The commentary re the Memorial Stone for William Allen indicates the Bridewell was at Kilbrogan Hill, Bandon. Also:

This is not a burying place rather a commemorative cross. Efforts have been made to return the bodies from England. For more information contact John Desmond.

William Philip Allen was one of the Manchester Martyrs affectionately known as Allen Larkin and O’Brien. Allen’s father, a protestant, was the keeper at the RIC barracks called the Bridewell at Kilbrogan Hill.

James Stephens, a draper in South Main Street introduced Allen into the Fenian organisation, known as the Irish Republican Brotherhood in 1864. William Philip was received into the Catholic Church by Canon O Brien on the 20^th  June 1866. He was arrested in Manchester on the 18^th September 1867 and wrongfully hung with his two friends at the front of the New Bailey in Salford England on the 23^rd November 1867. It was the second last public hanging to be held in England.

Their remains now rest in grave number 2711, plot C in Blackley Cemetery Manchester.

The Dublin man that fired the fatal shot escaped from the scene and made a clean getaway to New York, where he lived for many years, eventually returning to Ireland and dying in his native city. (Peter Rice)

The Celtic Cross monument was erected to William Philip’s memory by his fellow Townsmen.

 

Also, http://www.bandon-genealogy.com/Warner-family-records.htm :

Records the marriage by license of Jane Allen, full age, spinster of Bridewell, Kilbrogan parish, daughter of Henry, policeman to John Warner, full age, bachelor, carpenter on August 24, 1861. Witnessed by Thomas Allen and Thomas Warner.

Bandon Historical Journals:

1984(1) – By the Banks of the Bandon – Michael O’Carroll

– Storied Kilbrogan – Liam O Donnchadha

1993 (9) – The Laneways of Bandon – Sean Connolly

2004 (20) – The Manchester Martyrs (Part 1) – John & Margaret Desmond

2005(21) – The Manchester Martyrs: A note – John & Margaret Desmond

Denvir, J – The Story of an Old Rebel – 1910 Bandon in 1870 – Slater\’s Directory of Cork City and County