Thomas Ashe
| Thomas Ashe Irish: Tomás Ághas |
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Memorial to Thomas Ashe in Cavan
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| Born |
12 January 1885 Lispole, Co Kerry, Ireland |
| Died | 25 September 1917 (aged 32) Dublin, Ireland |
| Allegiance | Irish Republican Brotherhood |
| Years of service | 1913–1917 |
| Rank | Battalion Commander |
Thomas Patrick Ashe (Irish: Tomás Pádraig Ághas; 12 January 1885 – 25 September 1917) was a member of the Gaelic League, the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and a founding member of the Irish Volunteers.
Thomas Ashe was born in the townland of Kinard East, Lispole, County Kerry, Ireland, to Gregory Ashe, a farmer, and his wife Ellen Hanifin, on 12 January 1885, according to his baptismal record, or 15 March 1885, according to state birth records. His was a family of ten, seven boys and three girls. Tomás was the seventh child, with three brothers following him. His father was a farmer, dying at the age of 73. His mother died at 58, some years before Tomás Ashe died. Both Irish and English were spoken in their house, with Thomas's father being a great Irish Scholar and learners of Irish used to come to listen to his stories.
Having entered De La Salle Training College, Waterford in 1905 he began his teaching career as principal of Corduff National School, Lusk, County Dublin, in 1908. He taught Irish in the Corduff school. He was fond of the Irish language and started branches of the Gaelic League in Skerries and other neighbouring villages. He spent his last years before his death teaching children in Lusk, where he founded the award-winning Lusk Black Raven Pipe Band as well as Round Towers Lusk Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in 1906.
Ashe was a member of the Gaelic League, the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and was a founding member of the Irish Volunteers. He was always a member of the Keating Branch of the Gaelic League and his work brought him to the governing body of the Gaelic League. He collected considerable sums of money during a trip to the USA in 1914 for both the Volunteers and the League.
Commanding the Fingal battalion of the Irish Volunteers, Ashe took a major part in the 1916 Easter Rising outside the capital city. Ashe was commandant of 5th battalion of the Dublin brigade; a force of 60–70 men engaged British forces around north County Dublin during the rising. Ashe was sent a messenger Mollie Adrian by Pearse with orders to hold the main road from Fairyhouse. She was sent back to report to Connolly, who returned an order to send 40 men to the GPO.
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