The Fighting Men of Mayo

THE FIGHTING MEN OF MAYO

  In 1917 a reorganisation of the Volunteers in Mayo took place due to the fact that they had become very quiet after the happenings of Easter Week the previous year. The county was divided into four spheres of action—North, South, East and West.

FIRST ALL-COUNTY MAYO BRIGADE OFFICERS:

  O/C: Michael McHugh; Vice-O/C: John Hoban; Quartermaster: Michael Kilroy, Newport; Adjutant: Dick Walsh, Balla.

  Staff: Representing North Mayo: Patrick Hegarty, Lahardane; Tom Ruane, Ballina, Vice-O/C for East Mayo; Sean Corcoran, Vice-O/C from Kiltimagh, and Thomas Ruane, Kiltimagh, Vice-O/C for West Mayo; Tom Derrig, Westport, representing  South Mayo; Ned Moane, Westport; Liam Forde, Ballaghaderreen.

NORTH MAYO BRIGADE:

  The North Mayo Brigade was made up of 22 companies, and the following names were taken from Patrick Hegarty's Volunteer Witness Statement which he made to the Military Archives in Cathal Brugha Barracks.

LAHARDANE COMPANY: FIRST OFFICERS:

   O/C: Charles Flynn; 1st Lieut.: William Barrett; 2nd Lieut.: Patrick Hegarty; Adjutant: Patrick Hale; Quartermaster: Pat Carney; Drill Sergeant: Jimmy Jennings (ex-British soldier). Members: Sean Corcoran, Patrick Hegarty, Edward Hegarty, Sean Hegarty, Pat Joe Marley, Mike Marley, Mike Waters, Michael Gallagher, Martin Flanagan, Martin Gallagher, Martin McNeely, Pat Kelly, Edward Flanagan, Bernie Brennan.

BALLINA COMPANY:

  Tom Ruane, Joe Ruane, Frank Jordan, Alfie, Tucky and Vin Calleary, Joe Doherty, Patrick Ruttledge, Martin McGrath, Pappy Forde, -- McHale, Davy Ryder, the three musketeers—Pappy Coleman, Crimp Grimes and Chuddy Conway (known as Gultha-Gultha), Frank Flynn, John Moylett, Murty Gilmartin, John Moran, -- McCawley and Pat Cosgrove.

BONNICONLON COMPANY:

  Tom Loftus (one-time Brigade O/C); Pat and Tom  McAndrew, Scally Mallon, Pat Lafferty, Pat Lawrence, Seamus Kilcullen, (O/C Brigade at the time of the truce, and after); Tony Kilcullen, Matt Kilcawley, Tom Kilcawley, the brothers Gildea, J. Burke (Enniscrone); M. Tolan, Denis Tuffy, Denis Sheeran, Tom Finnerty, S. Kavanagh, Michael John Hanley, Tom Coen, Ned Hannon, Ted Kilgallon, Jack Byron, John Gallagher (Lakefield); J. J. Brogan, Patrick Morrison and Thomas James (Patrick and Thomas were killed in the battle of Clifden); Tom Burke, E. Browne, Jack Finnerty, William Jennings, James Boyle, William Doherty and Dr. Ferran of Foxford. Tom and Mick Harte, Paddy Bourke of Ballycastle; Dr. Crowley, Dr. Madden, Anthony Farrell, Michael O'Connor, E. Nealon (killed at the battle of Glenamoy); Sean Langan, -- Kelly of Belderrig; Michael Kelly, Michael Keaveney (Comapny Captain); Alex Boyd, Pat Boyd, John Barrett of Crossmolina; Mick Mulherin, Michael Mulderrig, Joe Sharkey, Andy McNeely (one of the first in Crossmolina); J. J. Leonard, Martin Harte, Michael Reilly, Pat Kelly, Pat Mayock, John Joe Browne (Mellows); the Moloney Brothers, J. Burke, Pat Coleman, Pat Loftus and Pat Corcoran.

ERRIS COMPANY: 

  Seamus and Tom Kilroy, Sean Munnelly, Mick Lavelle, P. Carabine, Tom Murphy, John Neary, John and M. Reilly, Dr. Gaughan and his brother, Mick. There were four Collins brothers and their wonderful mother who spent six months in gaol; Padraig McAndrew (an old timer); and Tom McAndrew who served on the County Council.

BALLYCROY COMPANY:

  Brian Corrigan, -- Sweeney, Louis Cleary and his aunts, among others.

CROSSMOLINA COMPANY:

 This company was commanded by James Flynn.

THE 1ST BATTALION FLYING COLUMN

  This column was commanded by Seamus Kilcullen and Matt Kilcawley.

NAMES FROM THE STATEMENTS:

 A number of statements were made to the Bureau of Military Archives, Cathal Brugha Barracks in the middle 'fifties, of the activities of the writers in the unrest that took place in the 1920s. In these statements a number of names of the participants were mentioned, and were as follows:

JOHN TIMONY STATEMENT, Captain, Crossmolina Com., 1917-1921:

James Flynn, Patrick Loftus, Martin Loftus, James O'Hara, Ned O'Boyle, Ned Murphy, -- O'Malley, Martin McAndrew, Andy McNeely.

PAPPY COLEMAN STATEMENT:

  Patrick Ruttledge, Sen. Tom Ruane, Stephen Donnelly, Francis Flynn, Denis Sheerin, Patrick Quinn, N.T., Patrick Lynch, Fred Quinlan, John Reape of Coolturk and Paudge Sweeney (while not members they helped Coleman  to escape from his captors); William Hennigan, Paddy Beirne, Paddy O'Connell, Frank Curran, Patrick Doherty, Patsy Kennedy, Michael and Mrs. Kelly of Barn Hill; Anthony Clarke and Coynes of Carragarry; Leonards of The Griddle; John McGowan , Vol. Officer Moyles (Killala area);Ronan of Ballina; Jim Devanny, Tommy Howley, Walsh brothers, Tony Clarke, Carrane, Michael Byron, Joe Healy -- see more

STEPHEN DONNELLY STATEMENT:

 Pat Kilduff, N.T., John Moylett, Ml. Beirne, Ml. Tolan, Tom Ruane, Paddy Hegarty, Paddy Gallagher, Willie Lydon, Martin Lacken, James Nicholson, Paddy McCann, John MacHale (later State solicitor); Paddy Farrell, James Walsh, Anthony Merrick, Tom Derrig, Patrick McNulty, The Quay; Jack Jordan, Paddy Coleman, Frank Flynn, Michael Mahon, Eamon Gannon, George Delany, Margaret Donnelly (CnamB)

  Commandant Patrick Michael Mannion from County Mayo, known to his friends as “Mayo”. He took the Anti-Treaty side in the Civil War. While taking part in a planned attack on the Headquarters of the Free State Army Intelligence Section at Oriel House, Westland Row, on the 17th September, 1922. the attack was thwarted by the Free State army and while walking near Mount Street Bridge Mannion, with two other Anti-Treaty soldiers, was challenged by troops of the Free State Army. He was wounded in the leg and captured by the Free State troops and was dragged to the corner of Clanwilliam Place by a Free State Officer and shot in the back of the head. The inquest into the death of Patrick Mannion returned a verdict of Wilful Murder. Patrick was buried in the family plot in Deansgrange Cemetery and the inscription is on the side panel of the large Celci cross and reads: Patrick M. Mannion, 2 St. Catherine’s Ave., S.C.R., Dublin, late Comd’t. T. O. 2nd Western Div’n., and ‘Mayo’ of Louth Brigade I.R.A. , whose life  was ended at Mount St. Bridge, Sept. 17th, 1922. Aged 22 years. Patrick’s father was an ex-Dublin Metropolitan Police Inspector.

·       The census of 1911 says that Michael Mannion, Patrick’s father, was born in Co. Roscommon, and his mother was Sarah Walsh, from Dublin. The Census form also states that Patrick M. J. Mannion, was born in Dublin city. The 1901 Census states that Michael Mannion was a soldier in the British Army.

·       Tom Heavey worked and lived in Ballina after the Troubles. His wife owned the Commercial Hotel in Teeling Street. Tom Kitterick retired from Castlebar and lives in Ballina with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. L. Hendrey, on the Killala Road.

·       There are a lot of men not mentioned in these pages who served in the I.R.A. Two of the men that I had known were Tom Egan of the Hospital Lodge and my father, Tom Clarke, who came to work in Ballina town from Monaghan town in 1938. He was imprisoned for twelve months in Ballykinlar camp during 1921/1922.