The Tans in Ballina

WHEN THE TANS

WERE TO BURN BALLINA

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BY ANTHONY McDONNELL, R.I.P.

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(Western People, October, 1981)

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  Whenever I pass though Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, I think of Ballina, because Balbriggan was burned to the ground by the Black and Tans and Ballina was to suffer the same fate.

  This was due to the fact that on one Saturday two R.I.C. men walked down Bridge Street, on their beat, as far as the centre of the Ham Bridge, where their jurisdiction ended and Ardnaree Barracks took over. As they returned, they were shot dead when they reached the footpath outside the premises occupied by Frank Walsh.

  When news of this reached the Black and Tans they went mad, and started beating up the people and shooting in all directions to terrorise the citizens. At about 11 p.m. we were aroused from out beds by loud knocking and shouts of "Open, in the name of the King." when my father was dressed enough to admit them, two lorry loads of Black and Tans and policemen thronged the shop. they wanted to know shot the policemen.

  My mother, who was present, asked when were they shot and where did it happen? She was told it happened at 10 p.m., opposite "this house and from this side of the street." Father said that closing time was 9 o'clock, and we would not know anything about it as we were very busy all day and went to bed tired out. The Tans went wild at this statement and left shouting: "We will find them."

  On the following day at about 4 p.m., one of our neighbours, from an adjoining street, called to see if we were moving out, and told us the town was to be burned down at 6 p.m. Father was located, talking to the District Inspector of the R.I.C., who called to ask some more questions, and seeing everyone evacuating, "It's time to move before the burning starts."

  The District Inspector said to her: "Mrs. McDonnell, don't move and I promise you that you will be all right, and I will come in to see your in the morning." He did this the following day at about 10 a.m. He admitted that when his men called on Saturday night they were very angry. During the day the residents returned gradually from the country where they stayed with customers or friends.

  But on the following Monday, market day, the Tans had their revenge as they ran the farmers and stall traders home and would not allow the market take place. The same thing happened on Successive Mondays, in an attempt to starve the traders. It later transpired that Bob Adamson, the Chemist, made up a preparation for the District Inspector of the R.I.C., who neutralised the petrol and it was useless to the Black and Tans. The debt that the town owes to the memory of the late Bob Adamson and the District Inspector, is enormous.

110 Iveragh Road,

Gaeltacht Park,

Dublin 9.

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SECRET REVEALED

BY ANTHONY McDONNELL

    On Easter Monday morning, 1916, Ballina was the first place in Ireland to fly the Tricolour as on that morning when the people of the town were at 8.20 Mass in St. Muredach's Cathedral, two members of Fianna Eireann--viz Vincey Calleary and my brother, Martin Mark, R.I.P., climbed the staircase of the Cathedral spire and hoisted National Flag from the top window about two hours before P. H. Pearse and James Connolly commandeered the G.P.O. in Dublin, and hoisted the National Flag there.

  In the afternoon of Easter Monday news reached the Ballina Post office that the reason they were unable to make telegraphic communications with Dublin was due to the insurrection. Some hours afterwards the R.I.C. from Ardnaree Police Barracks called at the Cathedral and requested the sexton to remove the flag; he refused and would not let the police into the Cathedral for any purpose except to worship without the consent of the Bishop, who later gave his consent to the R.I.C. Some time afterwards a portion of the staircase was cut away to prevent anyone reaching the top of the spire for a similar purpose. Up to the present day nobody ever knew who it was that hoisted the Tricolour on that eventful day in 1916.