Fergus De Burca /James Francis Burke

8th April, 1895 – 28th December, 1987

James Francis Burke was an Irish Hurler and Gaelic Footballer, an Irish Revolutionist and School Teacher at St Enda’s Secondary School Rathfarnham and Ardscoil Éanna Secondary School Crumlin.. He played on the senior teams for Dublin’s GAA between 1917 – 1927. 

Early Years:

Born in Carbury, Co Kildare on 8th April, 1895, he attended St Enda’s School in Rathfarnham, Dublin in 1909.

1911 Census:

Feagus de Búrca was registered as a student at St Enda’s Secondary School on the 1911 Census of Ireland.

He was influenced by Padraig Pearse and Con Colbert who introduced him to the Irish Republican Brotherhood. He was involved in manufacturing ammunition at St Enda’s in preparation for a rebellion. He graduated from University College Dublin in 1915. Burke was a founder member of the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and was a member of E Company, 4th Battalion, Dublin Brigade. He fought in the Easter Rising 1916 in the G.P.O and Moore Street with E Company. Following the Rising he was imprisoned in Stafford and Frongoch and released back to Ireland in December 1916. Upon his release he took up a post as a teacher in St Enda’s School in Rathfarnham, Dublin. He wasn’t active during the War of Independence (1919 – 1921). He became Headmaster of the school in 1923. 

Gaelic Football Player:

De Burca won several hurling and football medals during his time at University College Dublin. He won his first All Ireland medal in 1914, a second in 1916 and a senior All Ireland medal in 1917. Burke played in nine all-Ireland senior finals with Dublin. He also won All Ireland medals for hurling (1917-1920). He played alongside Harry Boland on the Dublin team in 1918. He won a further three All Ireland football medals (1921-1923).

Bloody Sunday in Croke Park:

Croke Park – Bloody Sunday 1920

De Burca was a member of the Dublin Team playing Tipperary on Blood Sunday. He was marking Michael Hogan (Tipperary player) in Croke Park on 21st November, 1920 who was shot by the Black & Tans on Bloody Sunday.  Collins’ Twelve Apostles (The Squad) assassinated fourteen English Intelligence Officers earlier that morning in Dublin.

The Twelve Apostles and Michael Collins:

De Burca was rumoured to have participated in the orchestration but there is no record of this. His feelings towards Collins changed following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in London on 21st November, 1921. 

From St Enda’s School to Retirement:

Following the closure of St Enda’s School in 1935, he taught at the Garda Depot in the Phoenix Park and at Rathmines V.E.C until 1939. De Burca also taught for a period of time in Árdscoil Éanna School, Crumlin. He joined the Civil Service until his retirement.

Death:

He died in the Meath Hospital in 1987 and was buried in Cruagh Cemetery, Carbury, Co Kildare. 

References:

1. Feargus de Búrca – Census of Ireland 1911
2. The Squad and the Intelligence Operations of Michael Collins (Dwyer:2005 Mercier Press)
3. Frank Burke Dictionary of Irish Biography link
4. The Twelve Apostles: Michael Collins, The Squad and Ireland’s Fight For Freedom. (Coogan TP, 2018)
5. The History of Ireland; St Enda’s School
6. Black & Tans; RTE Century Ireland Archives
7. The Meath Hospital
8. Find a Grave