BIG READ: The homecoming of Harry Gleeson

The positive identification of Harry Gleeson’s remains in Mountjoy Prison brought the day we had long hoped for into clear sight, the day that we would bring Harry home.

After 83 long years and two and a half months Harry Gleeson was coming home to his own place and to be with his own people.

On Friday, July 5, 2024, the Gleeson family and members of the Justice for Harry Gleeson group went to Mountjoy Prison to collect Harry’s remains.

We were also accompanied by a hearse from Hugh Ryan’s Undertakers Thurles.

On arrival at the prison, we were greeted and welcomed by governors, chiefs and prison officers.

We were taken on a short walk around the outside perimeter and then taken to the Hang house.

Outside this building, a prison officer told us its history.

He gave a detailed account of the events of April 23, 1941, when Harry Gleeson was hanged for the brutal murder of Mary (Moll) McCarthy.

Immediately after his execution, Harry was buried within the confines of the prison in an unmarked grave.We were then brought to the area where the remains of Harry were found and identified a few months ago.

The site was enclosed, and only the team of archaeologists and prison staff were allowed access.

To all intents and purposes, it looked like any building site. After a littlewhile, the temporary gate to the site was opened, and the hearse with the coffin bearing Harry Gleeson’s remains came into view.

Archaeologists who had discovered Harry’s remains came to the gate to bid farewell to Harry and to meet his family.

They were able to point to the spot on the site where Harry’s remains lay for 83 years under concrete.

The team of archaeologists were visibly moved as Harry’s remains left the site. They had found his remains, removed them from the Mountjoy clay, identified them by DNA matching, and now they were handing Harry back to his family.

Harry, who was posthumously pardoned by the Irish state and declared an innocent man in 2015, was finally going home.

As the hearse made its way out of Mountjoy, an eerie silence settled.

The family and Justice for Harry Gleeson group flanked the hearse on either side. Staff and some prisoners working on an outside project stood respectfully as the hearse passed by.

As we approached the Mountjoy prison gates prison officers and prison staff formed a guard of honour.

It was dignified and respectful. The family appreciated this fitting tribute, and I am sure Harry would have also. And then we were through the gates and outside into the afternoon sunshine.

Harry Gleeson was a free man and heading back to his homeplace in Tipperary. After winding our way through the streets of old Dublin, we made our way to the M7 Motorway and out of the city into Rathcoole.

We stopped for food and refreshments in An Poitín Stil. This premises is owned by Tipperary man Louis Fitzgerald, a native of Cappawhite.

CAPTION: Poster made for Harry Gleeson by local children

After lunch, the hearse headed for Tipperary and Kevin Gleeson accompanied the remains of his grand-uncle on his final journey.

I was the third car in the funeral cortege, and I always had sight of the hearse and coffin up ahead.

It crossed my mind that after all the pain and suffering that Harry endured, we were finally bringing him home.

At times it felt surreal, could this be really happening?

In Portlaoise, other family members joined the cortege.

We crossed the Tipperary border beyond Urlingford, and after the Turnpike, we headed on to Thurles.

A Garda escort brought us through the town and Liberty Square. Many bowed their heads and blessed themselves as Harry’s remains passed by.

Cars pulled over, and shoppers stopped and waited. We made our way out by the old Sugar Factory and on by Cabragh towards the Yellow Lough.

All the places Harry would have known so well.

We continued to be led by a Garda escort with the Fire services at the rear. And then we approached the Yellow Lough crossroads leading into Harry’s native place, Galbertstown.

A large crowd had assembled there and as the hearse drew up a spontaneous round of applause burst out from all those present.

Harry was being welcomed home by his own people, by his neighbours and friends and the people of Galbertstown.

It was a poignant and emotional moment on the journey home.

The bonfire was lighting, the crowds had gathered, and Tom Doran was playing the Galbertstown waltz. Harry, an innocent man, was being embraced by his own and welcomed home. A short distance away is the Gleeson family home, where Harry was born and reared.

A member of an Garda Siochana saluted Harry’s remains on the roadway at the entrance to the family home.

Again, a large crowd had gathered, and a guard of honour had formed on either side of the avenue leading to the house.

The hearse then made its final short journey to the door of Tom Gleeson’s (nephew) house.

Many people had congregated outside in silence, including Harry’s niece Kitty Quinn.

CAPTION: Anthony Condron playing Harry Gleeson’s fiddle in the yard outside the Gleeson house

Kitty, 90 years of age, had lived most of her life waiting for this moment. Applause and respectful silence accompanied the removal of Harry’s coffin into the house he once called home.

Moments like these are nigh impossible to express and communicate.

Silence had fallen on all of us present. No words were spoken because words were inadequate.

Anthony Condron played Harry Gleeson’s fiddle to all who were gathered in the yard.

The hushed crowd listened to the plaintiff notes of Slievenamon, Danny Boy and the Coolin.

Anthony played superbly. It seemed as if the music from Harry’s fiddle was Harry’s own voice.

All of us privileged to be there were enthralled, and our unspoken emotions were eased. Anthony’s playing on Harry’s fiddle was the appropriate response to a myriad of emotions, joy, happiness, sadness and disquiet.

Harry Gleeson, an innocent man, was home. That is what mattered.

To Harry, whose dying wish was that his name be cleared. To those who kept the flame of Harry’s innocence alive down through the years.

To Harry’s own family, who suffered so much; to all of who believe in truth and fairness.

This was truly a great day, the day Harry Gleeson came home.