Tag Archives: War of Independence

LEADER of Cumann na mBan in Clare, Nan Hogan was fearless and dedicated to the cause of Irish freedom during the War of Independence. The Cratloe woman’s contribution to Ireland’s revolutionary history was in danger of being obscured and, until relatively recent times, her burial place was unmarked. Efforts to revive Nan’s memory have begun in earnest and acclaimed author, Colm Liddy, has just published a lavishly-illustrated biography that tells her story and honours her revolutionary achievements. “Like most women of the revolutionary era, Nan was forgotten for a long time,” Colm told The Champion. “She didn’t even have a gravestone until the last decade.” The Newmarket man is among those working to raise Nan’s profile and his book describes her life and especially her activities during the War of Independence. Vehemently opposed to the Treaty, Nan was imprisoned for her role in the Civil War. In Kilmainham Gaol, her cellmate was Grace Gifford Plunkett. Much of the book describes …

A FASCINATING historical collection including what is believed to be Michael Collins’ ‘Missing Money Case’ has been unveiled for the first time. The Clare Champion has been shown very rare historical artefacts by a local farmer in an East Clare location that would be regarded as a collector’s dream. The family, who are steeped in IRA connections, provided safe houses for IRA volunteers during the War of Independence, which were used by Michael Collins on at least one occasion to collect money from East Clare IRA Brigade officer in charge, Michael Brennan. During the War of Independence, Collins was Director of Intelligence of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and a government minister of the self-declared Irish Republic. He was then Chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State from January 1922 and commander-in-chief of the National Army from July until he was shot and killed in an ambush at Béal na Bláth by anti-Treaty forces on August 22, …

A CELEBRATION of the War of Independence in Clare will take place in song, dance and story at Glór in Ennis this Saturday night.  The creation of Dr Tim Collins, Breith features a cast of some of the county’s most renowned performers, alongside the Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) and the Kilfenora Céilí Band. The work has been in development for over a year and brings to life a creative vision that Dr Collins has long cherished. “I have always held the view that, in this time of commemorations, we should celebrate the ordinary men and women involved in the struggle for Independence,” he said. “It was ordinary men and women who got us our freedom and they weren’t doing it for themselves, but for the coming generations. In Clare, the memory of the revolutionary period from 1916 to 1921 is very much alive. I have plenty of stories from my own father and grandfather. One of the songs in Breith …

A PLAY focusing on one of the most intense and dramatic incidents in the War of Independence in Clare comes to Miltown Malbay, on Saturday night (October 8). The drama, entitled Two Days in September, secured prestigious funding support from Clare County Council through the Decade of Centenaries Arts Project Awards. The drama, which has great local interest, premiered in North Clare in June.  Written by Doolin-based playwright Dermott Petty, Two Days in September tells the story of the Rineen Ambush. The drama unfolds, in film and theatre form, and traces the events of autumn, 1920, when a British Army convoy was ambushed by the Mid-Clare Brigade of the IRA. It follows the aftermath of revenge and the sacking, looting and burning of the villages of Ennistymon, Lahinch and Miltown Malbay by the Black and Tans on September 22 and 23, 1920.  “West Clare in 1920 was recovering from a land war, famines, World War 1 and Spanish influenza,” said …

THE world premiere of a play focusing on one of the most intense incidents in the War of Independence in Clare will be staged in Doolin next Thursday, June 30. The drama, entitled Two Days in September, secured funding support from the Decade of Centenary Arts Project Awards, 2021, and will premiere at The Attic at Hotel Doolin, with curtain up at 8pm. Written by Doolin-based playwright Dermott Petty, the play tells the story of the Rineen Ambush. It traces, in film and theatre form, the events of autumn, 1920, when a British Army convoy was ambushed by the Mid-Clare Brigade of the IRA. It also follows the aftermath of revenge and the sacking, looting and burning of the villages of Ennistymon, Lahinch and Miltown Malbay by the Black and Tans on September 22 and 23. “West Clare in 1920 was recovering from a land war, famines, World War 1 and Spanish influenza,” said Dermott. “While a beautiful part of …

A FASCINATING aspect of the history of Ruan has been brought to life in a new booklet focusing on a critical incident during the War of Independence in North Clare.  The taking of Ruan RIC Barracks on the morning of October 18, 1920, has been carefully researched by members of the Ruan-Dysert Historical Group, in the hope of passing a vital piece of history on to future generations.  The Historical Group came together six to seven years ago, according to Ruan’s Leonard McDonagh, with a view to documenting the history of the Ruan-Dysert Parish. “We wanted to gather a record of the area’s history,” Leonard said. “We were very aware that older people were passing away and homes becoming vacant. We were concerned that younger people were losing sight of their history and we set out around 2018 to start looking at the history of each townland. To be honest, we found that younger people no longer know what a …

TO MARK the 100th anniversary of the Glenwood Ambush the local memorial committee have produced a Centenary Book, which is now on sale in the run up to Christmas.  The publication contains a number of versions of what actually happened on ambush day January 20, 1921, and the later reprisals by the Black and Tans. There are some details also of a number of the participating volunteers, in as much as was possible to get the information. These include Martin ‘Neighbour’ McNamara, Joe Clancy, Tom McGrath, Mattie McGrath, James Hogan, Paddy McCarthy, Jackie Ryan, Jimmy McInerney, Miko Neville, Dinny Minogue, Mick Moloney, Mick Shaughnessy, Tom McInerney, Michael Cleary, Peter St Ledger, Dan Lenihan, Joseph McNamara, Tadhg McGrath, Mick O’Dea, Paddy Quinn, Jack O’Grady. Jack Egan, Jack Curley, Tom McMahon, John Joe McNamara, Jack Quinn and Michael Quinn.  The publication also includes a number of very informative and readable articles, including ‘The Combatants in the War of Independence’ by Michael McNamara; …

THE centenary of the Glenwood Ambush will be celebrated on Sunday next (October 31). Proceedings will begin with a centenary mass in Kilkishen church at 1pm and this will be followed with the unveiling of a Sculptured Plaque at the ambush memorial site in Glenwood immediately after the Mass at around 2.15pm. Free bus transport will be provided from the church to Glenwood directly after mass. A Glenwood Centenary Book will also launched. This 150-page publication will provide detailed accounts of the ambush by different people and including the reprisals by British forces in its aftermath. The plan is to have it on sale over the weekend, after masses, and at the commemorative event in Glenwood The ambush marks the 100th year since the ambush in January of 1921. Because of the lockdown at the start of this year, ceremonies were deferred. Sunday’s events will mark the incident in which a motorised patrol of ten armed Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) …