Tag Archives: Commemoration

THIS Sunday will see the launch of a World War I Memorial in the garden of Kilrush Community Centre, dedicated to all those from the town who fought in the conflict. Dr Joe Power will complete the official launch and Paddy Waldron, PRO of the Kilrush and District Historical Society said, “It’s to commemorate everyone that we know of from Kilrush who took part in the first World War. Some of these memorials are for people who died but we’re looking at everyone who took part.” Around 400 names are included in the memorial and at the time the population of Kilrush was approximately 3,000 showing how high the level of local involvement was. Explaining how the information for the memorial was obtained, Paddy said, “Mostly it is based on the work of Charles Glynn who was from Kilrush and was one of the principal recruiters for the army at the time. “At the end of the war he published …

TUESDAY was exactly 100 years on from the Rineen ambush and the atrocities that followed, and the events of that day were marked at the site of the ambush and in Lahinch. Due to Covid-19, relatively few people were able to attend the commemorations of what was one of the most notable events in Clare during the War of Independence. Mary Crawford is part of the commemoration committee, which met in Rineen and raised the Irish flag at the site where the IRA engaged with the enemy, killing six RIC men. She said they had decided at a very early stage that holding a mass ceremony wasn’t a possibility. “Last March, when it started to look like we’d have a lockdown we guessed we wouldn’t be proceeding with commemorations really, so we were ready for it. Obviously we’d have something else planned in other circumstances, but we did all we could,” she said. Mary’s grand-uncle was involved in the ambush, …

THE government has announced their decision to “defer” an event on January 17 to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP). The decision follows widespread criticism of the proposed commemoration, including from Mayor of Clare, Cathal Crowe, who had said he was going to boycott the event. “As a Government, we have at all times sought to have a national programme of commemorations that is authentic, sensitive and inclusive. However, given the disappointing response of some to the planned event on January 17, I do not believe that the event, as planned, can now take place in an atmosphere that meets the goals and guiding principles of the overall commemorative programme.  Therefore, I am announcing its deferral,” Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, said in a statement on Tuesday evening. “I know that, regrettably, this decision will be a cause of hurt and upset to many people. I commit to proceeding with an alternative commemoration in …

A special commemoration for the 1921 Republican prisoners on Spike Island in Cork Harbour was held on the island recently. Members of Clare 22 Battalion Association attended the ceremonies and laid a wreath at the memorial to Capt. Paddy White from Meelick who was shot and fatality wounded while imprisoned on the island. Capt White and his comrades were playing hurling in the prison when the ball went outside the boundary. Paddy asked the sentry if he would throw the ball back and was told to go and get it himself. When he did, he was shot by the sentry. A total of 18 Clare prisoners from Ennistymon, Quin, Corofin, Scariff, Mltown Malbay, Mountshannon, Broadford, Tulla, Ennis and Meelick were held on Spike Island in 1921. Republican prisoners were held there during the War of Independence and the island has served as a military base for the Irish Army, FCA and Navy as well as a civilian prison. In 2009 …

By CAROL BYRNE THIS year’s Easter commemorations in Tuamgraney and Scariff will focus on Cumann na mBan as this year marks the centenary anniversary of the organisation’s founding. The East Clare Memorial Committee has decided to place a central focus on Cumann na mBan to commemorate the 100th anniversary while also acknowledging the contribution made by women to the struggle for independence in East Clare and across the county. According to oral historian and member of the East Clare Memorial Committee Tomás Mac Conmara, the East Clare Memorial Park in Tuamgraney, which was officially opened in 1952, is the only public monument in Clare to make explicit reference to Cumann na mBan. The monument in Tuamgraney features a Cavalry also contains a bronze plaque which has the following iniscription, “Erected as a tribute to the Patriotism of the East Clare Brigade of the Irish Republican Army and the members of Cumann na mBan who by their valour and sacrfices from …