Doonbeg men remembered

NINETY years ago three men lost their lives in Doonbeg as the country grappled for Independence. On September 22, 1920, Captain Alan Lendrum, who was the Resident Magistrate in West Clare, was shot dead by the IRA at the railway crossing in Caherfeenick.

Although Sinn Féin arbitration courts were availed to settle many local disputes at the time, Alan Lendrum was responsible for British administrated petty sessions in Kilkee, Kilrush, Miltown Malbay and Ennistymon. It was while en route to Ennistymon that he was killed by the IRA.
“Alan Lendrum had looked to move from Kilkee to Kilrush. He wanted to change residence. His quarters had been searched and he was being watched as well,” Eoin Shanahan explained in a presentation on the three deaths in Doonbeg hall last Saturday.
On December 22, two Doonbeg men, Captain Michael McNamara and Commandant William Shanahan were killed in apparent reprisal by the British military.
The Doonbeg GAA field was named Shannahan-McNamara Park in remembrance of the men, both of whom had played for the parish team.
Last Saturday, a very sizeable crowd attended what was called a ‘reconciliation ceremony’ in Doonbeg.
The ceremony was principally organised by Eoin Shanahan and Geoff Simmons, who were related to William Shanahan and Alan Lendrum respectively. The McNamara family was also represented at the ceremony, which was held in the Republican plot in Doonbeg graveyard, the parish church and in the village hall.
Eoin Shanahan and Geoff Simmons jointly laid a wreath on the grave of the late Doonbeg volunteers before Fr Joe Haugh, Fr Gerry Kenny and Reverend Patricia Hanna led an ecumenical service in the parish church. At one point, everybody in the church held a candle in memory of the three men who died 90 years ago.
As he was the only member of the West Clare Irish Republican Brigade who could drive a car, Willie Shanahan was called on to dispose of the car driven by Alan Lendrum. Following on from this, himself and Michael McNamara (captain of the Doonbeg company) were pursued, in the belief that they could provide information on who had killed Lendrum.
“They were hunted and caught after three months. Then they were questioned and they were killed on the same day, December 22 1920. Michael McNamara was killed while being brought from Kilrush to Ennis. At first, it was said that McNamara was shot while trying to escape and later, they said he was shot by accident. It was later in the day in Ennis when Willie Shanahan was shot and they said he had been attempting to escape. But it is generally believed they were both killed in reprisal,” Eoin Shanahan explained.
Mr Shanahan said it seems the authorities had been frustrated at not being able to get information from the prisoners.
“They believed they would have information and it seems the boys refused to give it. The proof of that came the day after when 11 lorry loads of Black and Tans came to Doonbeg and they rounded up all the able-bodied men in Doonbeg and threatened to shoot them. It seems that was an act of frustration because they were angry about the shooting of Lendrum and they were frustrated that they didn’t get any information from the two boys. Or they might have been hoping to scare people in the hope that they’d get information then,” Mr Shanahan said.
During his presentation in Doonbeg Hall, Eoin Shanahan expressed personal pride at the fact that neither Willie Shanahan or Michael McNamara had divulged any information to the British authorities.
During the ceremony in Doonbeg church, a poem entitled A Mother’s Tears by Enda Shanahan was read. The poem was a reflection on the sorrow endured by the mothers of the three dead men.