Thomas Clarke Luby, Fenian, Is Born in Dublin

Thomas Clarke Luby (16 January 1822 – 29 November 1901) was an Irish revolutionary, author, journalist and one of the founding members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.

He was an Irish revolutionary and a prominent figure in the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), a secret society dedicated to achieving Irish independence from British rule.

Luby played a significant role in the nationalist and revolutionary movements of the mid-19th century in Ireland.

Luby was born in Dublin, the son of a Church of Ireland clergyman from Templemore in County Tipperary, his mother being a Catholic. His uncle was Dr. Thomas Luby, mathematician, Professor of Greek and a Fellow and Dean of Trinity College Dublin. Dr. Luby according to Desmond Ryan was a true Tory, who was much distracted by his nephew’s political wildness. He was educated at Trinity where he studied Law and put in the necessary number of terms in London and Dublin where he acquired a reputation as a scholar and took his degree, and would go on to teach at the college for a time

Luby supported the Repeal Association, and contributed to The Nation newspaper. After the breach with Daniel O’Connell he joined the Young Irelanders in the Irish Confederation. Luby was deeply influenced by James Fintan Lalor at this time. Following the suppression of the 1848 rebellion he with Lalor and Philip Gray attempted to revive the fighting in 1849 as members of the secret Irish Democratic Association, this too, was to end in failure.

In 1851 Luby travelled to France, where he hoped to join the French Foreign Legion to learn infantry tactics but found the recruiting temporarily suspended. From France he went to Australia for a year before returning to Ireland. From the end of 1855 he edited the Tribune newspaper founded by John E. Pigot who had been a member of the Nation group. The spirit of the paper was that of the Nation, which had converted him to a revolutionary nationalist, with a leaning towards both Mitchel and Lalor. During this time he had remained in touch with the small group of ‘49 men including Philip Gray and attempting to start a new revolutionary movement.

Luby’s views on social issues had grown more conservative after ‘48 which he made clear to James Stephens whom he had met in 1856. However, on several journeys through the country with Stephens he was thoroughly won over by his colleague’s ability and success as an organiser. In January 1857 both Stephens and Luby attended the funeral of Philip Gray in County Meath. At the service, Stephens insisted that Luby give the oration, which later Luby regarded as a poor and halting attempt.

His involvement in Irish republicanism and his contributions to various publications and writings made him an important figure in the struggle for Irish independence.