Rebel Eoin MacNeill gave last coin to singer en route to prison

The last farthing in Irish Volunteers chief of staff Eoin MacNeill’s pocket when he was imprisoned after the Rising could be lying in a British Army grave in France.

He gave it as a token of appreciation to an east Cork soldier in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who sang rebel songs with MacNeill and other prisoners on the sea voyage to an English jail.

John O’Brien and others in the escort empathised with the 10 rebels in their custody. He even bought them stationery and posted their letters before depositing them at Dartmoor. In gratitude for their kindness, MacNeill and other prisoners gave small gifts to the army private in his early 30s.