THE CASINO IN Marino, one of the finest 18th century neo-classical buildings in Europe, is looking to recreate a photograph of former Irish soldiers, taken outside the Casino in Dublin in 1940.
The Casino has put out a call to any descendants of F Company 2nd Battalion Dublin Brigade to contact them if they would like to be included.
The photograph of the 83 members was taken at a reunion, most likely organised by then-Minister for Defence Oscar Traynor, and sees the members sitting on the south lawn of the Casino.
F Company was active from 1913 until 1921 – some of the most turbulent years of Ireland’s history. Traynor was one of its leading members, along with Harry Boland, Harry Colley and Frank Henderson.
The recreation of the photograph will take place on 21 August at 3pm.
The building, which is located off the Malahide Road in Dublin, is known as Ireland’s miniature architectural masterpiece.
Over the years there has been much speculation about the uses and extent of the various vaults and tunnels that lead off from the basement of this remarkable building, particularly as during the revolutionary period, the area around Marino/Fairview was a hotbed of Volunteer activity.
Recent research has revealed that the long tunnel at the Casino was used around May of 1921 to practice firing the first two Thompson machine guns that arrived into Ireland from fundraising efforts by Harry Boland in America.
Witness statements confirm that shortly after the arrival of the Thompson machine guns, Michael Collins, Oscar Traynor, Dick Mulcahy, Ginger O’Connell and other members of ‘The Squad’ used the long tunnel at the Casino for firing practice and were delighted with the results.
If you know of a relative of anyone in the photograph who would like to be included please contact casinomarino@opw.ie
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