Minister in graveside oration for war casualty

Minister for Defence Tony Killeen will give a graveside oration commemorating a man shot dead during the War of Independence 90 years ago in North Clare next week.

Mass is being celebrated in Clouna Church on Sunday, July 25 at 9.30am for Ennistymon man Michael Conway, who was killed in 1920. This will be followed by a graveside oration by Minister Killeen at Killeinagh Graveyard.
The commemoration was organised by the graveyard committee.
“The graveyard committee started work on Killeinagh Graveyard about five years ago. We printed out a booklet and map of all the graves and included the history of the people buried there and this is how this story cropped up. There are lots of other interesting stories coming out of it. We have researched about 10 different people and, as Michael Conway’s anniversary was coming up, we said we would hold a special mass for him,” explained Joe Shannon from the committee.
The committee’s research revealed Michael’s Conway’s story. He came from Knocknagragga, Ennistymon, and was shot dead on the bridge in Ennistymon on the evening of July 21, 1920 while trying to disarm a British soldier during the War of Independence.
Michael was a volunteer of the fourth Battalion of the Mid-Clare Brigade and he was accompanied on that evening by fellow volunteer Captain Sheamus McMahon of Knockdrummagh, who was seriously wounded.
Two British soldiers of the Royal Scots Regiment had come to town to make enquiries about guns that had been stolen. When they reached the bridge the two volunteers tried to disarm them but one soldier drew his pistol and Michael was shot dead.
Shortly afterwards, Miko Nestor, Martin Maloney and Simon O’Loughlin arrived and a priest and doctor were called. By a tragic twist of fate, the priest that arrived to administer the last rites was Fr John Conway, a brother of the deceased volunteer. The 21-year-old’s body and the wounded Sheamus McMahon were taken to Simon O’Loughlin’s house, near O’Dwyer’s Mills.
Michael Conway was a single man who had spent the previous six years working as a baker in the town. A large crowd attended his military funeral and burial at the family plot at Killeinagh Graveyard and the coffin was draped in the Tricolour. 
A memorial was later erected on his headstone and a plaque on the Ennistymon bridge marks the spot where he was killed.
Captain McMahon was taken to Maloney’s in Ballagh and later to Lynch’s house in Ballybreen, where he took many months to recover. Later, against medical advice, he rejoined the active service unit and took part in many engagements at Monreal, Clifden, Monanagh and Caherea, among other locations. He died aged 74 and is buried in Killeinagh graveyard, not far from his fallen comrade.
The mass and graveside ceremony are open to the public.