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“He Was My First Prisoner”

On Easter Monday Michael Mallin ordered a party of men to take over Harcourt Street Railway station a short distance from Stephen’s Green. This was necessary to stop British troops coming into the city by rail and from nearby Portobello Barracks. Frank Robbins was among those sent to take over the station. The men entered the building and began to round up all the people that were there.

It was a very difficult job for us to make holiday makers go up to the platform.

During their search a British officer was discovered and taken prisoner. The building was quickly barricaded and the garrison lay in wait for the impending attack.

Frank Robbins was a member of the Irish Citizen Army.


Frank Robbins was interviewed for 'They Remember 1916' broadcast on Radio Éireann, 4 April 1956. Photograph of Harcourt Street Station courtesy of Military Archives.

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