John Vincent Joyce

Joyce was born in Longford town in 1896 and was a member of a prominent business family. He was educated at St Mel’s College and St Enda’s, Patrick Pearse’s school. He joined the Volunteers in 1913 at their foundation.

In 1916, Joyce was studying medicine in UCD. He was a lieutenant in ‘C’ company of the 4th battalion, Dublin Brigade, under the command of Eamonn Ceannt. He mobilised on Easter Monday morning and was one of a contingent of about seventy that occupied the South Dublin Union, a workhouse on the site of St James’s Hospital. Such a small garrison could not secure the entire complex, which was the largest workhouse in Ireland, and there was intense, close-quarter fighting at times during the week. Joyce was close-by when Cathal Brugha, vice-commandant of the garrison, was severely wounded on Thursday. Despite horrific injuries, Brugha held-off advancing troops and his singing of ‘God Save Ireland’ rallied his comrades. After the surrender, Joyce was imprisoned in Knutsford, Wormwood Scrubs and Frongoch.

Joyce organised a Volunteer company in UCD in 1918. He served at a senior level in the War of Independence and was imprisoned in 1921. After independence, he served as a career soldier, rising to the rank of colonel. Amongst his assignments were mebership of the military tribunal established in 1931 to deal with members of illegal organisations including the IRA and the Bureau of Military History. He died in 1964.