Willowbank Residents with rare original photographs from the Joe Nolan archives

An Early street directory from the Joe Nolan file

Donal Nolan son of Willie John with his mother Christina, Miss Sykes at the back at Number 3 Willowbank Huts

Louis Nash and his mother from Willowbank

Mrs Burns and Mrs Lily Moore outside Catherine Reddy whose daughter Catherine Reddy married Patrick Sarsfield Nolan son of Willie John Nolan 3 Willowbank. Picture taken at the end of the row of officers quarters in Willowbank

This is an article printed in the Up the Falls Magazine part 2 and contains a narrative from Liam Sean Ua Nullain (Willie John Nolan). The original handwritten article is held in the Joe Nolan archives in the National Museum in Dublin.

 Very early original photograph of Willowbank Officers Quarters and later home to residents

 Willowbank Cottages taken from Belfast Telegraph 1927 article and Joe Nolan's personal notes

The 1916 halfpenny and 1918 penny belonged to Donal Nolan son of Willie John Nolan and was found in his wallet with a collection of photos from his friends in Willowbank. It's significant that he carried them until his death in the 1950's. The Fainne belonged to his brother Brian Nolan who died in 1925 in Willowbank. Brian Nolan played hurling for O'dDonovan Rossa along with his brother Patrick Sarsfield Nolan. The Fainne is an original 1911 Fainne one of the first Fainne produced. Donal Nolan around 1914 worked making wooden rifles as a boy for the IRB. These were used to train the Irish Volunteers in Willowbank in Stephen's Hut. 

In 1936 he continued to develop his skill at making wooden rifles and in 1936 he made a Lee Enfield type rifle. It was used in the St Paul's pantomime by the Palace Guard Panto "Queen of Hearts". 

It was also in a Sean Dynan play about the IRA in St Mary's Hall in the late 1940s to 1947. The wooden rifle has now been donated and is in safe keeping in Kilmainham Gaol museum donated by the Joe Nolan archives. See below receipt to Joe Nolan archive.

Padraig Pearse reads the proclamation

50th Anniversary Postcards - The Asguard

Just bought the Irish News today page 12. Muralist to pay tribute to Belfast based IRB volunteer. A good article however, the Irish News and Andersonstown News were given the article on Willie John Nolan and for reasons unknown chose not print the story of a Belfast member of the Dungannon Club Executive. The history of Willie John Nolan was documented and held in the National Museum in Dublin and also in the Up the Falls magazine written for the Falls Community Council. In addition to the article on my great great grandfather was a handwritten copy of Rory Haskins memoir dictated to Willie John Nolan. Both handwritten accounts are held in the archives in the National Museum of Dublin, we hold a photocopy of the original documents and will upload them to this blog.

We are resending the articles and information related to Willie John Nolan to the Irish News. You never know maybe this blog will help them to reconsider. 

Willie John Nolan is back row first left holding the rolled up paper

The photograph of the Dungannon Club Executive in which Willie John Nolan is featured would look as a fitting tribute to the 1916 volunteers throughout Ireland if this was recreated on the International Wall. This photograph was prominently displayed in the PRONI office lectures and on TNaG when recreating historical programmes on leading figures involved in the 1916 uprising. I also include a letter from 1966 which clearly states that Joe Nolan son of Willie John Nolan was the first person to donate information on the Dungannon Club Executive and was the founding historian on the history of the troubles. Watch this space!!!!

Letter taken from the Joe Nolan archive

Photograph of Joe Nolan wearing Willie John Nolan's volunteer hat in 1968 on Rathlin Island. Photo taken from the Joe Nolan archive.

 Front page story of the Irish News Jan 1995 on disputed first historical archive of the troubles

Confirmation from Padraig O Snodaigh from the National Museum Dublin confirming Joe as the first historian of the troubles which began in 1966

I'd like to thank the Irish News for this article. It highlights the forgotten families of the Rising across Ireland. This blog was set up for the very reasons mentioned in the article. As some families participation in the Rising was not documented and therefore needs further investigation. Due to the border campaign in the North, many northerners were not interviewed. This has resulted in gaps in the recording of history especially in the North!

Willie John Nolan did receive a pension and a medal however his sons Brian (deceased) and Paddy Nolan were not included. Paddy's wife Catherine Nolan wrote in 1966 to apply for a medal but this was denied due to him being out of the country at the recognised 3 months period. However it does not tell the full story of Paddy Nolan who had been on the run on a number of occasions. 

Photograph of Paddy Nolan taken at Officers Quarters Willowbank. Picture taken from the Joe Nolan archives.

This is the handwritten details of the armoured car used at the funeral of the McMahon murders 24th March 1922 photo passing Broadway/ St Paul's church Falls Road. 

This early and very rare photograph was taken and developed by Brian Nolan, son of Willie John Nolan under extreme circumstances. It was developed in No 3 Willowbank Huts his home close to the Dunngannon clubrooms. There is a large collection of Willowbank negatives in the Joe Nolan archives which are slowly being released.

This is an official photograph of the same armoured car, taken from the Belfast Telegraph sourced from Jonathon Barden's book. 

This photo is sourced from Jonathon Barden's book.

This is a photo of Willie John Nolan marching in the Easter parade in the 40's/ 50's in Belfast. Taken from the Joe Nolan archives.

Willie John Nolan aka Sean Nolan Vice President of Mitchell's GAA seated 5th from the right beside man in grey suit. Photo taken 1946 in St Kevins school

Old IRA photograph from Joe Nolan archive 1918

Old IRA Special Group number 2 section 1918 taken from Joe Nolan photo archive

Does anyone know the names of these local volunteers?