Kevin Crothers (b.1938)

Kevin Crothers explains that the Crothers family are Scotch-Irish and that the family descend from Robert Crothers who came to Ireland from Ayrshire. The family trade was carpentry and joinery. Kevin’s grandfather Jack worked on the building of the Titanic and it was originally planned that he would travel on the maiden voyage and was fortunate in not being permitted to do so. During this time he commuted weekly by train between Dublin and Belfast. During Kevin’s childhood his grandfather lived at Percy Place. In 1916 the Crothers family lived in the East Wall area, and Kevin’s father Christy, a member of Fianna Éireann, became involved in Ireland’s struggle at the age of 16. His activities at this time are not mentioned in his witness statement and he never spoke about them to his family. Kevin recalls seeing the lapel badges that his father wore, and he was aware of his admiration for de Valera and his parents’ attachment to ‘The Chief’. Kevin’s mother, Christina “Dina” Hunter, was from the East Wall and she and Christy married in 1922. The Hunter family had originally come from Birmingham. Kevin believes that his mother became involved because she had seen the injustices being perpetrated on working class people. She was a member of Cumann na mBan but she never spoke about her part in the struggle. Kevin has read her statement. He recalls a portrait of Dina’s brother, Johnny Hunter, who was killed in Gormanstown Camp in 1922. He was an officer in the Free State Army, and his burial place is beside that of Michael Collins in Glasnevin Cemetery. Kevin describes his mother’s strong character. She reared a family of ten children in Inchicore and was always charitable to others. She would prepare herbal remedies for neighbours and others in need. He describes the way in which his father developed his electrical business in Lombard Street where he would charge wireless batteries. This address was used on all documents in the 1930s and 1940s and thus the family home was protected. Kathleen Lynn, who was the family doctor, is remembered, as are other family connections. Both of Kevin’s parents were republicans, and they are remembered by their son as a close couple who went everywhere together. The origin of his parents’ activism and the purpose of the Irish Citizen Army are matters considered by Kevin. He explains that the motivation of both was not republicanism but was rather to work for the betterment of the working class. His recalls his mother’s views on whether or not Irish freedom was worth fighting for, and her regret at the loss of life, most particularly that of her brother Johnny Hunter. Kevin recalls Louis J. Warnant who was friendly with his father Christy. Warnant was an agent with Browning Guns in Ireland and operated from Lombard Street and Grand Canal Street in Dublin. The attendance at his mother’s funeral is remembered. Church Street was filled with people on the occasion, and among them were individuals who spoke to Kevin about having their lives saved by his mother’s charity. Christy and Dina Crothers are buried at Sutton Cemetery. Kevin recalls his childhood, when twelve people lived in a three-roomed house, and he has fond memories of his family and his upbringing. He remembers an occasion when Dr Kathleen Lynn performed a tonsillectomy in the family kitchen, and she also assisted in the births of the children of the family.