William Conway was among the founders of the Young Ireland Hurling Club.
In December 1920 William Conway was arrested following the Bloody Sunday shootings.
His trial took place in January 1921 at City Hall Dublin. The trial formed part of a rapid sequence of Military trials held in tandem with the Courts Martial at City Hall. In the trials Conway was found guilty along with Edward Potter, Patrick Moran, Bernard Ryan, Frank Teeling of being involved with the shootings at 22 Lower Mount Street that took place on Bloody Sunday, November 1920. He always maintained his innocence declaring he was at 10’O clock mass at the time.
21st November - At 22 Lower Mount Street in Dublin, a British agent called Lieutenant Angliss (Also known as McMahon) is assassinated by four IRA Soldiers. Francis Teeling is caught at the scene returning covering fire for the other assassins.
William Conway later arrested for this murder. Teeling and Edward Potter are also charged.
25th January - The Courts Martial begins in Dublin. William Conway, Francis Teeling and Edward Potter are charged with the murder of Lieutenant Angliss (known also as McMahon). The Judge orders a separate trial for Daniel Healy in mysterious circumstances.
31st January – Sentence of death by Hanging is passed on William Conway, Francis Teeling and Edward Potter.15th February – Francis Teeling is freed from Kilmainham Jail in a break out by the IRA disguised as British Soldiers carrying “orders for his transfer”. William Conway was also imprisoned at Kilmainham Jail but, following the escape of Frank Teeling from Kilmainham Jail in February, the Under Secretary James MacMahon hastily arranged under curfew, for the transfer of 24 high risk prisoners to Mountjoy Jail on the night of 16th February 1921. Thomas Bryan, Patrick Moran, Bernard Ryan and Thomas Whelan were all executed while others who could not be proven guilty had other verdicts sent down.
1st March – Rumours in Dublin that the sentences on William Conway and Edward Potter are to be commuted.
6th March – The Sentences on William Conway and Edward Potter are commuted to penal servitude for life. In March 1921 he was transferred to Dartmoor Prison, in England.
Following the amnesty of December 1921 he returned to Ireland.
He was also a playing member of Faughs and Grocer’s Club. An Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave attended his burial at Deans Grange Cemetery in 1979. Full military honours were rendered at his funeral.