12 Facts About Con Colbert

Cornelius Bernard Colbert was an Irish rebel and pioneer of Fianna Eireann.

Con Colbert's family moved to the village of Athea when Con was three years old.

Con Colbert left Athea at the age of 16 and went to live with his sister Catherine in Ranelagh, County Dublin.

Con Colbert was employed as a clerk in the offices of Kennedy's Bakery in Dublin.

Con Colbert was a deeply religious Catholic and refrained from smoking or drinking.

Con Colbert was sworn into the IRB by his cousin Art O'Donnell in Art's home in 1908.

Con Colbert joined Fianna Eireann at its inaugural meeting in 1909, and rose to Chief Scout.

Con Colbert surrendered with the Marrowbone Lane Garrison along with the South Dublin Union Garrison, which had been led by Eamonn Ceannt.

However, this seems to have been a matter of luck - the well known Con Colbert was picked out immediately by Dublin detectives who had often seen him drilling Fianna Eireann and speaking at anti-recruiting meetings.

Con Colbert wrote no fewer than ten letters during his time in prison.

Con Colbert handed her three buttons from his volunteer uniform, telling her "They left me nothing else," before asking her when she heard the volleys of shots in the morning for Eamonn Ceannt, Michael Mallin and himself would she say a Hail Mary for the souls of the departed.

Con Colbert was shot by firing squad the next morning on 8 May 1916.