Sean Treacy, of the Irish Republican Army, and May Quigley were lovers engaged to be married.  Sean took May to a Republican meeting where Michael Collins was speaking; as Collins got wound up, so did his profanity.

The Vice Commander, Sean Treacy,  stood with raised hand to silence Michael Collins.  Treacy then rebuked Collins for using such language in the presence of his girlfriend, May, and demanded an apology from Collins.

Collins, embarrassed, regained his composure and apologised for his profanity, and the meeting proceeded.

On October 14th, 1920, Treacy was gunned down by British Police in Talbot Street on his way to visit May -- just eleven days before they were to wed.  May was so saddened by Sean's death that she left Ireland to make a new life in Austraila.

Gabrielle, my dear friend living in Miami, is May Quigley's granddaughter.

Quote from Gabrielle:

Sean treacy was a special man because May Quigley was an intelligent and gentle lady.   She had no bitterness.  War is a terrible thing, but one has to move on and look forward to a better Ireland.

Read more Irish love stories at our Grá XOXO headquarters page.