My grandfathers nephew, Edward Merriman, and his best friend, Andrew Moore, the young son of a cousin of my grandmothers, were in the Marrowbone Lane Distillery. When it was surrendered in 1916, the two young family members were taken to Richmond Barracks near Kilmainham. Grandfather high tailed out to his own contacts there and had the pair of them paroled into his custody. He is said to have planted his boot in their backsides, as long as they were in sight of the Barracks, then he took them for a pint in Kilmainham and made it clear to them that from then on, they worked with him.

Grandfather's swift action was providential, within three to four months; the British expanded the lrish Civil Service into which both teenagers were recruited, his nephew to the GPO, his friend to the Cabinet Office in Dublin Castle. lt was then a matter of minding Andrew Moore. When he began to come into receipt of useful information, a conduit to the lrish Cabinet had to be established. As Cathal Brugha was so completely unsuitable, Michael Collins was the choice. - (Mary B. Foran)

Buriel; Calvary Cemetery,
49-02 Laurel Hill Blvd. Woodside, New York City borough of Queens,