Stephen
Carroll 1896-1965
Transcribed by Michael Purcell from newspaper
cutting in the Pat Purcell Papers.
Nationalist and Leinster Times.
April / May 1965.
Death of Mr Stephen Carroll.
Mr Stephen Carroll, of Court Place, Carlow,
who has died after a short illness, was a native of Errill, Laois,
and took a prominent part in the fight for Independence.
He had been employed up to recently by the
Sugar Company.
He was keenly interested in local affairs,
and his advice was frequently sought. He spoke little of his service
in the national cause.
He was attached to 3rd Laois Brigade and
acted as 2nd Lieut. of Clonmeen Company. He was captured in 1920 and
after a period in Portlaoise Prison and Rath Camp, The Curragh he
was interned in Ballykinlar Camp, County Down.
After nearly two years imprisonment he was
released after the signing of the Treaty.
After his release he became active in the
Labour Movement and in 1933 he was appointed Secretary of Carlow
Branch of the Irish Transport and General Worker's Union, a position
he held for over 20 years with distinction.
Without fear or favour he pursued the policy
of improving the lot of workers in the Carlow district.
He was a member of Carlow Town Council,
Carlow Vocational Committee,
Carlow-Kildare Mental Health Board, Carlow
Old Age Pension Committee and
Carlow Parish Council.
An out-spoken and well-informed figure, he
was for over 20 years a hard-working secretary of the Carlow branch
of the union, retiring in 1958.
He then took up a post with Comhlucht Siuicre
Teo., in the nematology laboratory. This branch was afterwards taken
over by the Agricultural Institute. He continued in this post until
compelled by ill-health to cease a short while ago.
Laois County Council on Monday extended
sympathy to the Carroll family. Mr J.Costigan said Mr Carroll spent
13 months on a plank bed while interned in Ballykinlar Camp. On his
release he was greeted by 4,000 people and four bands.
The attendance at his funeral included Lieut.
General M.J. Costello, general manager, Sugar Company; Mr M.Sheehy,
area manager; Mr Burke, manager; Mr. Bowers, technical advisor; Mr
G. Bradley, manager of the Tuam factory; Deputy Seamus Pattison T.D.,
; officials and staff of the nematology laboratory and the
Agriculture Institute. Mr Brian Kennedy, area secretary I.T.& G.W.U.,
represented the General Officers and National Executive;. Mr Michael
Brennan, President, Carlow Branch and former colleagues in the
union.
Officiating at the removal to the Cathedral
were Rev. M. Coughlan, Rev. C. Crowley, Father O'Regan, Rev. P.J.
Brophy, Rev. J. O'Leary, Rev Dr. Patrick Lennon, Carlow College.
Source: The Nationalist
1965