MICHAEL TOLAN, I.R.A.
----------------------------------=
("Ballina Herald, May 5, 1956)
(To the Editor,
"Ballina Herald")
-----------------------------------
Dear Sir--Having read
in last week's "Ballina Herald" the remarks made by some of our Urban
Councillors about the remarkable number of hours they spent doing guard over
the body of the late Michael Tolan (R.I.P.) in the Cathedral, when his body was
taken from the bog where he had been murdered by the Black and Tans some eight
months previously, I would like to state some facts. When the body of Michael
Tolan was found in a bog at Shraheen in the Spring of 1921 it was taken in a
workhouse cart to Leigue Cemetery for burial. the only people attending the
funeral were two inmates of Ballina Workhouse who dug and covered the grave;
the driver of the cart, my mother, and myself. Everybody knew beyond doubt that
the remains were those of Michael Tolan, a valuable member of the I.R.A., but
at that time the Black and Tans were in occupation of Ballina and Ireland was
still under British law. The Truce was signed in July, 1921, and some weeks
later the body of Michael Tolan was exhumed and taken to the Ballina Cathedral
and subsequent to Leigue Cemetery for re-interment. On each occasion at least
ten thousand people were present. Everything was quite safe on those occasions
and we were all proud to do honour to the member of one who had lost his life
to save the lives of his comrades. May I ask where were all those gallant
I.R.A. men who attended that never-to-be-forgotten Spring Day in 1921 when the
body of a hero--Michael Tolan--was first taken to Leigue for burial?
Thanking you,
Signed: G. GINTY,
Leigue, Ballina, 30th April,
1956.
---------------------------------------------------------------
MICHAEL TOLAN, I.R.A.
----------------------------
CAPTAIN DONNELLY EXPLAINS
-----------------------------------------
("Ballina Herald, May 12, 1956)
(To the Editor, "Ballina Herald")
-----------------------------------------
A Chara--In last week's issue of the
"Ballina Herald" you published a letter from Mr. G. Ginty, Leigue, re
the late Michael Tolan, I.R.A., who was murdered by the Tans in Ballina in the
Spring of 1921, and whose body they dumped in a boghole in Shraheen bog. For
the information of Mr. Ginty, when the body was discovered and interred in
Leigue cemetery by the workhouse authorities on the instructions of the R.I.C.,
we of the I.R.A. in Ballina had not the faintest suspicion that the remains
were those of the late Michael Tolan, but thought it was some unfortunate
vagrant hwo died by falling into a boghole. Shortly after Tolan's arrest his
relatives were informed by the R.I.C. that he was interned in Galway jail. At
that prisoners were not allowed to write home, and the first suspicion we had
was when the Truce was declared and prisoners were allowed to write home.
NOT
IN GALWAY JAIL
We then discovered that Tolan was not in
Galway jail or any other internment camp or jail. We immediately got suspicious
and took steps to have the body in Leigue cemetery exhumed. This was carried
out under the supervision of the late Drs. Ferran, Crowley and Madden. It was
only then that the suspicion became a reality. No doubt the friends of the Tans
and the R.I.C. in Ballina knew all along that the body was Tolan's, but we of
the I.R.A. and our supporters, including his mother, sisters and other relatives,
had no suspicion that the body was that of the late Michael Tolan until after
the Truce. Surely Mr. Ginty didn't expect that the members of the I.R.A. (some
with a price on their heads) would attend the funeral of a man they thought to
be an unfortunate vagrant. I would also like to inform Mr. Ginty that the ten
thousand people who attended Michael Tolan's funeral from the Cathedral to
Leigue Cemetery were not members of the I.R.A. but people of all walks of life
who were anxious to pay their last respects to a crippled hero, who was so
cruelly murdered and butchered by the Tans. As to who did guard duty in the
Cathedral, well, after 35 years, it is very difficult to recall who they
were--I had the honour to be in charge of the guard of honour and firing party
at his funeral from the Cathedral to Leigue Cemetery, and to-day I cannot
remember the names of six of that party. Trusting you give this letter the same
publicity you gave Mr. Ginty's on his attack on the pre-truce I.R.A.
STEPHEN
DONNELLY, (Capt.),
Ballina Coy., Pre-Truce I.R.A.
Bunree,
Ballina.
-----------------------------------------------------
Re LATE
MICHAEL TOLAN
----------------------------------------
("Ballina Herald", May 19, 1956)
(To the Editor Ballina Herald)
-------------------------------------
Dear Sir--Having read in your issue of
"Ballina Herald" of 12th may, 1956, under the heading "Captain
Donnelly Explains", in my opinion his explanation falls very short of the
real truth. During the time that I.R.A. prisoners were in internment camps or
prisons they were allowed to receive gifts, and wrote acknowledgements on their
friends, but then perhaps Mr. Donnelly's memory is not very good, as he stated
in his letter that he cannot recall the name of six of the men who comprised
the Guard of Honour and Firing Party which he was in charge of at the grave of
Michael Tolan. Well every other person in town who had an interest at the time,
can still recall very clearly. Mr. Donnelly also states that the I.R.A. thought
the body found in the bog was that of some unfortunate vagrant. At that
particular time there was no report of any such person missing, whereas there
was a grave suspicion that Michael Tolan had been murdered, and Mr. Donnelly
states that "no doubt friends of the Tans and the R.I.C. knew all along
that the body found in the bog was that of Michael Tolan," Well, I knew,
and I never had a friend or relative in either of those forces.
THEY WERE PRESENT
A few days after the burial several I.R.A.
men, at present living in the town, came to me and asked me to show them the
grave of the late Michael Tolan, and since I first wrote to your paper I have
been told by a popular I.R.A. man that he and another member of the I.R.A. were
present in Leigue Cemetery while the burial was going on and joined in the
decade of the Rosary offered for the repose of the soul of Michael Tolan. He
told me that they came across the fields as they were carrying arms, and had
hoped that some other comrades might also have risked their lives as they knew
very well who was being buried. Those two men had no friends in the British
forces, but could Mr. Donnelly remember that there was an active I.R.A.
Intelligence Force in Ballina in those days. I would also like to object to the
term "Crippled Hero" being applied to Michael Tolan. He was a hero,
and a very useful member of the pre-Truce I.R.A.,. and if he had turned
informer he might be enjoying a comfortable pension to-day in Ballina. I can't
remember in those days having heard that there was a price on the head of any
member of the Ballina men, though during the Civil War some of the pre-Truce
I.R.A. men were "wanted" men. In conclusion, may I state that I never
intended my first letter as an attack on the pre-Truce I.R.A., but I merely
stated some very well known facts which had troubled me for a long time. Thanking
you, Mr. Editor, and hoping you will find space for this letter.
Signed: G. GINTY,
Leigue, Ballina. 17th May, 1956.
===============================================================================
Cumann na nUaigeann Náisiúnta
NATIONAL GRAVES ASSOCIATION
NORTH MAYO I.R.A. MEMORIAL
A CHARA,
It has been decided to erect a Memorial at the Republican Plot, Leigue
Cemetery, Ballina, where Michael Tolan, I.R.A. Intelligence Officer, and
Captain Joe Healy are buried, and a further Memorial in Ballina to the memory
of the 13 soldiers of the North Mayo Brigade who were killed in action,
1918-1923. The story of these men is now in the course of preparation and will
be published in the near future.
We confidently solicit the support of all Republicans and the Irish
people at home and abroad. Your generous support is essential if these
memorials are to be worthy of those men who gave their lives for the freedom of
Ireland. We feel that we do not appeal in vain.
All subscriptions may be given to the authorised collectors or direct to
the undersigned:--
James Rafter, Ferran Terrace, Ballina.
Pappy Coleman, Ferran Terrace, Ballina.
Stephen Donnelly, Bunree, Ballina.
Martin Rafter, Bohernasup.
Jack Clarke, O'Rahilly Street, Ballina.
Seamus Quinn, Pearse Street, Ballina.
Seamus Kilcullen, 174 Walkinstown
Cross, Dublin,
or to the
Treasurers--
Paddy Moclair, Tolan Street, Ballina,
Paddy Kilcullen, Bohernasup, Ballina.
========================================================================
To the North Mayo I.R.A. Memorial:
I enclose herewith
subscription £........... s............. d............. in aid of above
Memorial.
Name:
........................................................................................................................................................
Address: ....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................
========================================================================
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