Memorialeventfor HalpinandMoran
THE murder of Alderman Thomas Halpin and Captain John Moran were recognised again with the annual Halpin and Moran memorial event on the Marsh Road on Sunday morning.
Members of the ONE again paraded as wreaths were laid to remember their sacrifice, led by Mayor Paul Bell.
Next year will be the 100th anniversary of their deaths and a number of events are likely to take place.
It was on February 9 in 1921 that two men, John Moran and Thomas Halpin were taken from their homes and shot by the Black and Tans. Moran Terrace and Halpin Terrace were named in their honour.
John Moran joined the Volunteers in his home town of Enniscorthy and during Easter Week led a group of fighters to Ferns. On the surrender, John was sent to jail in England.
On his return, his personal struggle continued and he was forced to leave Enniscorthy and move to Drogheda. Shortly afterwards he was killed.
He had been living at Cahill’s printing works on Magdalene Street with his family.
John was married with a nine month old baby. His wife said that Sean was ‘on the run’ and that night he had just come in to say goodnight when he was arrested.
Their daughter, Maura, just nine months old when her father was killed, lived to the age of 54 and is buried in Enniscorthy.
While John Moran was brought home to Wexford to be buried, Thomas Halpin’s removal and service at St Peter’s saw thousands pack the streets, despite the risk of arrest by the authorities at that time.