Francis McGuinness

Frank McGuinness was born in 1867 in Cloonmore, Tarmonbarry, Co. Roscommon. He lived in Longford town for most of his life and his wife ran two shops on Main Street. McGuinness was origianlly a Home Ruler and a member of Longford Urban District Council.

When he learned of the rising on Easter Monday, he decided to go to Dublin on the assumption that Joe was taking part. His niece Brigid Lyons and local teacher Tom Bannon went with him on Tuesday. When they were stopped at a military checkpoint on the outskirts of the city, McGuinness produced his warrant of appointment as a justice of the peace and said he was going to a meeting in Dublin Castle. As a result, they were allowed through.

They soon joined Joe in the Four Courts. Initially, Frank went out and collected supplies for the garrison. Then on Wednesday, he and Tom Bannon were asked by Joe to try to get messages through to the GPO. While they were examining the cordon around the building, McGuinness was slightly wounded in the leg. He returned to Longford a week after the surrender and was arrested, and brought back to Dublin. He was sent to Wakefield Prison and held for a few weeks.

McGuinness became a Sinn Féin supporter after the rising and was imprisoned again after the South Longford by-election. He served as a member of Longford County Council and was its chairman, 1920-25. McGuinness also served as a TD for Longford-Westmeath, 1922-23, and was a senator from 1925 until his death in 1934.

Link to Civil Record of Birth; link to Civil Record of Death;