Joe Stynes

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Joseph Andrew Stynes (born Newbridge, County Kildare 15 January 1903; died New York City, 29 January 1991)[1] was an Irish Republican and a sportsman, excelling in particular at Gaelic football and soccer.

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[edit] In Dublin

Stynes played Gaelic football for the McCracken's club on Dublin's Northside, then transferred to the elite O'Tooles club in February 1922.[2] He was an 'outstanding' forward[3] with 'rare qualities'.[4] He took the anti-Treaty side during the Irish Civil War, but managed to play several games for the Dublin senior football team while "on the run" from the Irish Free State authorities.[3] However, he missed Dublin's win in the 1922 All-Ireland final (played 7 October 1923) as by then he was interned in the Curragh Camp.[5] Major General Tom Ennis of the Irish Army, a former teammate of Stynes who took the pro-Treaty side, secured Stynes' availability for subsequent Dublin matches,[3] and he got a winner's medal for the 1923 final (played 28 September 1924), in which he scored the final two points.[6][5] He missed the 1924 final (played 26 April 1925) after being suspended by the GAA for breaching its ban on playing "foreign" games by playing soccer, a game he had learnt while in the Curragh.[7]

While suspended from the GAA, he played League of Ireland soccer for Shelbourne and Bohemians where he scored 13 times in 28 appearances during 1925-26.[citation needed] In the Leinster Senior Cup final of 1926, he played well, but retired injured, as Bohs beat Shelbourne 2-1.[8]

[edit] In New York

Around 1927, Stynes emigrated to the United States, settling in New York City. He remained active in both North American GAA and emigrant Irish Republican groups.

He regularly returned to visit Ireland, and represented America in football internationals against Ireland at the Tailteann Games in Dublin in both 1928[9] and 1932.[10] During his 1928 trip, he turned out once more for Dublin in their Leinster Final defeat to Kildare.[11] He also represented New York in challenge tour matches against Mayo in 1932[10] and Kerry in 1933.[12] In December 1932, he won a Dublin junior club title with Sean McDermotts.[13] He won New York state championships with Kildare in 1938[14] and with Kilkenny as late as 1947.[10]

Stynes was politically active in Clan na Gael, and after 1948 was leader of the few branches that had remained loyal to the rump of the IRA.[15] In 1938, he signed on behalf of the American GAA an Irish-American petition for the release of Frank Ryan, the IRA leader imprisoned by Franco's Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War for fighting in the International Brigades.[16] After the decline of Clan na Gael, and the outbreak of the Northern Troubles, he was sympathetic to NORAID.[5] He sided with Republican Sinn Féin after its 1986 split from Provisional Sinn Féin, and in 1987 he co-founded the National Irish Freedom Committee (NIFC; Irish: Cumann Na Saoirse Náisiúnta) for its American supporters.[17][18]

[edit] Relatives

Stynes had nine children.[1] His grandson Chris Stynes played Major League Baseball.[19]

Joe Stynes' brother Peter played Gaelic football for Dublin in the 1925 and 1926 Leinster championships,[20] and got a 1926 League runners-up medal. Peter won Dublin club titles with O'Toole's in 1925, 1926, and 1928.[21] He was the grandfather of Jim Stynes, Australian rules footballer, and his brother Brian, who won an All-Ireland with Dublin in 1995.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Stynes, Tom. Stynes family history and genealogy. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
  2. ^ Nolan, William; Jim Wren, Marcus de Búrca, David Gorry (2005). The Gaelic Athletic Association in Dublin 1884-2000. Dublin: Geography Publications, p.194. ISBN 0 906602 823. 
  3. ^ a b c Nolan, pg.190
  4. ^ Nolan, pg.254
  5. ^ a b c Cumann na Saoirse Naisiunta 2007 Easter Commemoration Report (PDF). National Irish Freedom Committee (April 11 2007). Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
  6. ^ Nolan, pg.203
  7. ^ Connolly, Rohan. "Stynes passion sparks resolve", The Sunday Age, October 24 2004. "While in jail, Joe Stynes learnt to play soccer, forbidden for members of the highly politicised Gaelic Athletic Association. When he was released, he continued to play both, until a week before his next All-Ireland final appearance, when he was arrested again, this time for playing the supposed "English" game, and banned from Gaelic football for life." 
  8. ^ 'Pivot'. "Bohemians win final replay", Irish Independent, April 19 1926, p. 9. 
  9. ^ "Tailteann International: keen football struggle in prospect", Irish Independent, August 17 1928, p. 12. 
  10. ^ a b c Nolan, p.263
  11. ^ Nolan, p.997
  12. ^ Cronin, Jim. Interview. The Kerryman Who Played With Cork. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
  13. ^ Nolan, p.252
  14. ^ "Well-known Gaels shine in Kildare's U.S. Win", Irish Independent, December 20 1938, p. 16. 
  15. ^ Bell, J. Bowyer (1997). The Secret Army: The IRA. Rutgers University: Transaction Publishers, pp.253-4. ISBN 1560009012. 
  16. ^ McGarry, Fearghal (1999). Irish Politics and the Spanish Civil War. University College Cork: Cork University Press, p.105. ISBN 1859182399. 
  17. ^ FOUNDING MEMBERS. National Irish Freedom Committee. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
  18. ^ White, Robert William (2006). Ruairí Ó Brádaigh: The Life And Politics of an Irish Revolutionary. Indiana Univ. Press, p.311. 
  19. ^ Bechtel, Mark (April 29 1998). Spotlight: Getting His Irish Up: Leftfielder Chris Stynes has become the Reds' red-hot spark plug. CNN/SI. Retrieved on 2007-06-25. “his grandfather, Joe Stynes, played Irish Rules football”
  20. ^ Nolan, pp.257-8
  21. ^ Nolan, pp.1163-4