+   +   +
 
Ainm Gaeilge
Seán Seosamh de Móinbhíol

Conradh na Gaeilge
&
Irish Republican Brotherhood
&
Irish Republican Army
E Company
3rd Battalion Dublin No. 1 Brigade
Chun an nglóir Dé agus an onóir na hÉireann

John is the younger of 2 sons of Capt. Thomas & Mary Anne (née King) Mansfield of Skerries. He was born in the family home on Chapel Street.

Unlike his brother James, who joined the ancient family tradition of life as a sailor, John became a baker and moved down to Dublin City.

He married Elizabeth McGowan in 1905 at her family's parish, St. Mary's Haddington Road, the Catholic Church in Ringsend. They settled on Tritonvile Road in Sandymount, having a large family of 10 children.

In the tradition of the seanchaí, he would sit beside the fire, light up his pipe & regale his many children with stories & ancient Irish fairy tales, always enlivening them with songs.

It was John Mansfield's desire to see his nation and her people free from the occupation and persecution of a foreign enemy. Outside of his family and the necessity of work, much of his adult life was devoted to this.

From early on in the movement, he was a fierce Republican, a member of Sinn Féin and fought for many years as volunteer officer in the Irish Republican Army, E Company 3rd Battalion, Dublin No. 1 Brigade, Commanded by Éamon de Valera and often known as "Dev's Own".

After a long period of eluding capture, John Mansfield was seized by enemy forces in December 1920. First held at Portobello Barracks, then Arbhour Hill Prison, both in Dublin, John Mansfield was then transported north to Ballykinlar Internment Camp, Co. Down. No. 1 Hut, Prisonor of War No. 684. The prisoners at Ballykinlar lived under harsh, brutal, primitive conditions as the enemy sought to demoralize the men and break them. As some point during his imprisonment, either just before or just after Ballykinlar, he was held on the prison ship Argentia, enduring the barbaric treatment of being chained above deck with some of his comrades, forced to endure while exposed to the harsh elements. After more than a year of inhumane treatment, he was released and returned home to fight again.

Just 10 years later, John succumbed to an illness , passing away from cancer at the age of 52. It's highly likely that his treatment by the enemy occupiers of his country played a role in his fatal illness. The fight for a free & united Ireland continues to this day.

On the day of his funeral procession through the streets of Skerries, all businesses were closed as a mark of respect. There was a large contigent of his old comrades, fellow freedom fighters and Irish Heros all. The papers also noted that there were large crowds of the public.

✞ John Joseph Mansfield is buried with his wife Elizabeth at Holmpatrick Graveyard in his hometown of Skerries. With him also are his parents, Capt. Thomas & Mary Anne Mansfield and 3 of his 10 children, Alice, Seán & Cathal. Next to him are the graves of his sons Foncie, Rory & Liam, daughter in-law Maureen and one of his 15 grandchildren, Rory.
Over his grave is the Mansfield Family Memorial Stone erected in 1988 by his son Liam. Yet to be added to this stone are the names of John's sons Morgan O.P. (buried in New York, USA) & James de V. (buried in Co. Wicklow).

                        +   +   +
 
                    Ag Críost an Síol
 
                    Ag Críost an síol,
                    ag Críost an fómhar,
                    in iothlainn Dé
                    go dtugtar sinn.
 
                    Ag Críost an mhuir,
                    ag Críost an t-iasc,
                    i líonta Dé
                    go gcastar sinn.
 
                    Ó fhás go haois,
                    is ó aois go bás,
                    do dhá láimh, a Críost,
                    anall tharainn.
 
                    Ó bhás go críoch,
                    ní críoch ach athfhás,
                    i bParthas na nGrást
                    go rabhaimid.
 
                    Ceol/Téacs - Seán Ó Riada
 
                             +   +   +