New book on Portlaoise man arrested after German U-Boat landing
Launch of Teddy Fennelly’s new history book to take place in Portlaoise
A new book about the story of a partly forgotten Laois native who was arrested in Ireland after he travelled from Germany on a U-Boat during World War I is set to be launched in Portlaoise.
Portlaoise Library invites local people to the launch of Teddy Fennelly’s new publication ‘Joseph Dowling: In Casement’s Wake’ which tells the little-known story of the Portlaoise volunteer’s 1918 mission to arm the nation for the fight against British Rule that would culminate in independence for 26 counties.
Born in 1886 on the New Road, Portlaoise (then Maryborough), Dowling was the son of John Dowling and Catherine Reddin and was one of thirteen children. A carpenter, he, like many Irish, joined the Leinster Regiment of the British Army in 1904. He would serve in World War I but was captured by the Germans.
He would later join the "Irish Brigade", an attempt by the later executed Sir Roger Casement to form an Irish nationalist military unit during World War I of Irishmen like Dowling who had served in the British Army and had become prisoners of war in Germany. MORE BELOW PHOTO.
Sinead Holland, of Laois Local Studies and the Laois Heritage Society, says the book tells the story of Dowling, who was landed off the coast of Clare from a German U-Boat in April 1918. She recounts that this led to claims by Dublin Castle of a Sinn Féin conspiracy with the German Empire, better known as ‘The German Plot’. It is claimed that the result was widespread arrests of Sinn Féin leaders and the strengthening of the physical force republicanism that led to the War of Independence.
Mr Fennelly, a former Leinster Express Editor, is a local historian who has published countless books and articles on a broad range of Laois topics. He has been an advocate and enthusiast for local history and heritage in Laois for over 50 years. In 2022 was selected by the National Heritage Council as Ireland’s National Heritage Hero in recognition of his enormous contribution in preserving the history and heritage of his native county.
This book was published in co-operation with Laois County Library Services with the support of Laois County Council and Creative Ireland. It will be launched by fellow Laois native Cormac Moore, one of Ireland’s most authoritative commentators on the revolutionary period.
All are welcome to attend on Thursday 22nd October at 6.30 pm.