Michael McGrath

Michael McGrath was born in Kenagh in 1884. His father, also Michael, was a national school teacher. The younger Michael went to London and worked as a railway clerk. He joined the Irish Volunteers in 1914. He moved to Dublin in early 1916 to avoid conscription.

McGrath was one of about ninety men (most of whom had moved from Britain), who occupied a disused mill at Larkfield, Kimmage, then being leased by the Plunkett family. They would later be called the ‘Kimmage Garrison’. They made munitions for the rising and were attached to the 4th battalion, Dublin Volunteers, with George Plunkett (brother of Joseph Mary) as their commanding officer. McGrath and his comrades went into the GPO on Easter Monday. However, he was out of it for much of the week: first in Ballybough and later in Henry Street. He returned to the post office on Friday night. After the rising, he was held in Stafford Jail and later in Frongoch.

McGrath continued to be active in the Volunteers. He served in the War of Independence and was interned in Ballykinlar Camp in 1921. He served in the Free State army in 1923-24 and later worked in the employment exchange in Tralee. He died in 1966.

Michael's brother Seán also served in the rising and another brother, Peter, served in the British army.