Irish Volunteer Paddy "Bug" Callaghan and his two comrades stared up the road to the east as the cool, crisp air of February 2, 1921, caused their breath to fog the air around them. The three members of the North Longford Battalion of the Irish Volunteers were tasked with the most critical job of…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on January 27, 2023 at 10:30pm — 3 Comments
Volunteer Michael Kenny pulled up the collar of his mackintosh, tightened his scarf, and pulled down his cap against the cold breeze as he stood beside the Old Youghal Road near Dillon’s Cross in Cork City. As the clock neared…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on December 10, 2022 at 10:00pm — 3 Comments
Dick Willis walked up to the Sheehan's farmhouse in Mourneabbey, County Cork, on the pleasant late summer afternoon of Sunday, September 26, 1920. Dick, a member of the Mallow Company of the Cork No. 2 (North) Brigade, could see numerous brigade members from the newly formed brigade…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on September 25, 2022 at 6:00pm — 2 Comments
Two miles east of Strokestown on Spy Wednesday at the dawn
These Gallant men assembled 'neath the crest of ol' Sliabh Bawn
T'was called the Scramogue Ambush where Captain Peek was shot
But Ashbrook was the venue, right well I know that spot
They conquered their oppressors and filled their hearts with…
Added by Joe Gannon on March 14, 2021 at 4:00pm — 3 Comments
Friday, February 25, 1921, dawned cool and crisp with a crystal clear blue sky near Coolnacahera, County Cork. Seán O’Hegarty, commanding officer of the 1st (East) Cork Brigade, stood on a high hill with numerous limestone outcroppings and peered off into the east, his right…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on February 8, 2021 at 10:00pm — 3 Comments
It was a lovely spring morning in the foothills of the Knockmealdown Mountains in southern County Tipperary on April 10, 1923. Six members of the Irish Republican Army, then engaged in the Irish Civil War against the Free State…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on October 17, 2020 at 7:00pm — 10 Comments
Dan Breen was startled awake from his dozing slumber by the sound of tramping feet. The small room suddenly flashed to near daylight as a spotlight played across the window looking out to the back of the house. Breen leaped to his feet and grabbed his Mauser pistol off the chair where he had left…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on August 6, 2020 at 7:30pm — 3 Comments
Irish Volunteer Seán Hogan gazed out the window of the train toward the distant Galtee Mountains to the south. It was early evening on May 13, 1919. The train had just pulled out of Emly, County Tipperary, headed toward the small town of…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on April 6, 2020 at 5:00pm — 12 Comments
The night of November 1, 1920, All Souls Night, was extremely cold in the west of County Waterford. The members of the West Waterford Volunteers flying column huddled along the road at Piltown Cross were not only shivering because of the temperature. Most of them were also trembling slightly as…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on October 28, 2019 at 1:00pm — 4 Comments
Seán Moylan slowly moved his binoculars back and forth pointed to the west as he scanned the east Kerry countryside in the direction of Scartaglen. He was standing on some high ground in Thade Daly’s Glen in Tureengarriffe, along what is now the R-577 road. Moylan, commanding the Flying…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on January 1, 2019 at 2:30pm — 5 Comments
Now rise up DJ Allman, arise and tell me true
Who fought at Headford Station that day along with you?
Who stood out on that platform board, who fired that signal gun?
Who fought to free old Ireland with you my darling son?
-- From “The Ballad of DJ Allman"…
Added by Joe Gannon on March 13, 2018 at 11:30pm — 6 Comments
On top of roof and window,
Those boys stood up to fight,
‘Til the burning of the cottage
And no escape in sight.
Added by Joe Gannon on January 19, 2018 at 5:30pm — 4 Comments
Late on Christmas night 1920, Irish Volunteers John Leen (24) and Maurice Reidy (25) stealthily made their way to the home of John Byrne, the creamery manager in Ballymacelligott, County Kerry. The cottage had been raided often, because Byrne was a well-known Republican who had…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on December 3, 2017 at 9:30pm — 9 Comments
On the cool, pleasant night of St. Stephens day, December 26, 1920, over two hundred men and women were dancing, eating and enjoying themselves at Caherguillamore House, three miles northeast of Bruff, in County Limerick. The Martin brothers from Bruff were providing the music. This was not a commonplace dance. It had been…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on November 13, 2017 at 10:00am — 6 Comments
Come all you gallant Irishmen, come listen for a while
I’ll sing to you the praises of the sons of Erin’s Isle
’Tis of an awful, awful ambush I’d have you to beware
That happened in Rineen, in a spot in County Clare.…
Added by Joe Gannon on September 2, 2017 at 8:30pm — 13 Comments
If you ever drive down the south side of the beautiful and scenic Dingle Peninsula in Co. Kerry, as I did with my wife, brother and sister-in-law last June (and everyone should, at least one in their lives), you will pass through the small village of Lispole on N-86 a few miles before you get to Dingle town. As you make…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on March 20, 2017 at 1:30pm — 20 Comments
They sought to wipe the column out,
From east to west, from north to south,
“Till at Crossbarry’s bloody rout
They woke from their day dreaming
Though ten to one they were that day
Our boys were victors in the fray,
And over the hills we marched…
Added by Joe Gannon on February 10, 2017 at 10:30am — 11 Comments
When it came to the grand plan of how the Irish, with their meager resources, could defeat the forces of the greatest empire on earth in the Irish War of Independence, Michael Collins was the great architect who drew up the “flying column” blue print. But no matter how great the architect, other men have to take that…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on May 31, 2016 at 10:00pm — 14 Comments
(Pictured: The field in the hills north of Dungarvan where Sgt. Michael Hickey's body was found)
(Read Part 1 - 'Nigh Comeragh's Rugged Hills')…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on September 1, 2015 at 10:00am — 4 Comments
When silence overcomes me
My dreams they seem to fill
Of my dear native happy home
Nigh Comeragh's rugged hills
-- From a poem by Pat Keating
My wife, Lindy, and I have just completed…
ContinueAdded by Joe Gannon on August 27, 2015 at 9:00am — 18 Comments
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