The Political Question – text by Paul Croghan
• In many parts of Ireland the land question and the political future were linked, particularly during the campaign for Home Rule
• The Catholic clergy were often a force in supporting political change, most of these men were educated in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth
• With Home Rule deferred due to WWI and the subsequent 1916 Rebellion, Maynooth men played their part in cause of Irish freedom
• Monument to the 1916 Maynooth 15 volunteers in Maynooth Square
• Maynooth was the only town in Kildare to experience militancy during all three periods of major conflict throughout the revolution; a connection with Easter Week 1916, the War of Independence (1919–21) and the Civil War (1922–23). (Seamus Cullen) and this period will be the subject of a talk later this year Government Forces were deployed to Maynooth during the Irish war periods
Maynooth Courthouse
It was during this period that our only major public building the Maynooth Courthouse was destroyed. It was destroyed in 1920 in case it would be used as a base for Government Soldiers. A malicious damage claim was paid by Kildare County Council, but the Duke didn’t rebuild the courthouse. Larine House was occupied in 1921 by the Black and Tans as their North Kildare Headquarters. Carton House was taken over by the Irish Army during “The Emergency”.