Comments on: SAM NOLAN: IRISH SOCIALIST

By: Conor McCabe

Conor McCabe — Sun, 02 May 2010 15:55:48 +0000

That’s great Walter, thanks very much for the information.

By: Walter Carpenter

Walter Carpenter — Sun, 02 May 2010 15:17:13 +0000

Sorry forgot to say James Carpenter was not related

By: Walter Carpenter

Walter Carpenter — Sun, 02 May 2010 15:15:06 +0000

Hello,
just seen this site and here is some info. Walter Carpenter of the ASW that Sam Nolan is talking about is was OC of the boy’s corps of the ICA. In the famous picture of the ICA outside Liberty Hall he is the small guy with the big sword. Was attached to HQ staff in 1916 but was stationed across street so escaped after the fall of the GPO. Was involved during war of independence and may have been the first of the former ICA men to go into Four Courts in 1922 (was close to Liam Mellows) was in prison in Mountjoy with other officers when the four leaders were executed by Free State. Remained active in left wing republican affairs and as a carpenter by trade as well as name in the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (ASW) becoming an official later.

By: Maurice Laheen

Maurice Laheen — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:15:14 +0000

Conor, Thanks for reply. I forgot to mention that James was a Dubliner. Possibly Walter was his father.
Best of luck with your films,
Maurice

By: Conor McCabe

Conor McCabe — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:10:24 +0000

Thank you for the comment, Maurice. I don’t know if it’s the same Walter Carpenter but I’m back recording Sam Nolan next Thursday, so I’ll make sure to ask him.

By: Maurice Laheen

Maurice Laheen — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:48:18 +0000

Conor, Congrats on your excellent series of films on left wing labour figures in Dublin. I am a member of the Irish Labour History Society in Tuam. I was very interested in Sam Nolan’s mention of Walter Carpenter. There was a Connaught regional organiser of the ITGWU named James W Carpenter (pronounced Carpen-tier locally) based in Tuam from 1933 and he was labour dail candidate Bobby Burke’s election agent in his first election in 1933. The Transport Union was fairly strong in the town in mid-1930’s. James W left Tuam about 1938 and possibly went to England then? I asked Joe Deasy but he did not remember him. Any info appreciated. Maurice