MOURNE ABBEY AMBUSH IS COMMEMORATED 100 YEARS ON
DEATH OF SIX IRA VOLUNTEERS REMEMBERED
LAST weekend, locals in Mourne Abbey honoured the lives of six IRA Volunteers whose outstanding contribution to the War of Independence is commemorated on a monument at the ambush site in the parish.
A wreath was laid at the monument on Sunday and a lighted candle in every window in the Parish provided a poignant reminder of the young lives lost a century ago this week. It was very special to see Teddy Dorgan, Paddy Dorgan, Paddy Creedon and Michael Looney attending the ceremony on Sunday – all four remembering their uncles who were among the volunteers who died.
Due to Covid restrictions, only a handful of key people attended, while the wider community viewed the proceedings virtually.
Sunday’s commemoration also saw the publication of ‘ The Story of the Mourne Abbey Ambush’ which details the lead up to the ambush, the engagement and subsequent events. The book, published by Mourne Abbey Heritage Association, is the result of extensive search by John O’Regan, with the assistance of Michael Looney and other relatives of those involved in the ambush. It also chronicles the British army units involved and other details from the public records office in Kew, Surrey.
On February 15, 1921, 53 volunteers under Commandant Jack Cunningham, (43 of whom were from the locality), occupied a position roughly onemile from Mourne Abbey with the intention of ambushing a British army convoy. However, the planned attack went awry after crown forces were made aware of the ambush and sent out troops and a section of RIC who engaged in a pincer movement and surrounded the volunteers.
During the ensuing fire-fight, three volunteers; Patrick Flynn (25), Monee; Paddy Dorgan (22), Island and Edmond Creedon (20), Clogheen, were shot dead. Another man Michael Looney (30), Island, died days later from his wounds.
Were it not for a mistake or intentional decision for two lorries of troops to line the road from the railway bar to the creamery rather than from the creamery to Monaparson Cross, many would have died. Subsequently, Patrick Ronayne, Tomas Mulcahy, Con Mulcahy, Batt Riordan, and Michael Creedon were arrested, charged and tried by court-martial. Patrick Ronayne (24) of Grenhill and Tomas Mulcahy (18), Toureen, were found guilty and executed on April 29, 1921, while the others were found not guilty due to lack of evidence.
Within a short time, it was obvious that there had been an informer and after many enquiries it was believed that a man known as Shields was the likely culprit. Extensive research in the past couple of years indicates that this man was a William Shields who emigrated from England in 1922 to Australia where he began a new life, ending up in prison for the manslaughter of his wife – the mother of his eight children. He died in a Mental Hospital in Australia.
Another casualty of the Mourne Abbey ambush was Major Compton Smith of the British army who was kidnapped in Blarney and held in exchange for IRA prisoners. He was executed following the executions of Patrick Ronayne and Tomas Mulcahy.
Paddy Creedon, nephew of Paddy Dorgan, speaking to The Corkman on Sunday, said that there would have been a huge crowd at the event in normal times. “It was a great pity, we could have had a great occasion, the virus has ruined so many things,” he said.
Paddy recalled that the old people often spoke of the ambush during his younger days. “My Uncle Paddy was only 22 when he died, he was at home farming and was on the Cork Senior Football pane,” he said.
Paddy Creedon, nephew of Eamonn Creedon, said he was very pleased with how the Volunteers were remembered. “My Uncle Eamonn was shot dead and my father, Michael, got five bullets, they were flesh wounds, he scrambled back to the house and Dr Ryan from Glantane came to him. The soldiers came to the house but Dr Ryan would not allow them to take him, they came back three days later and took him to Cork Jail. He was tried but was acquitted, he had good back up locally,” Paddy said.
Michael Looney, uncle of his namesake, volunteer Michael Looney, is a key contributor to the newly published book. “I’ve been involved in the Commemoration Committee for many years and I have a lot of direct links to local history, I got to know all the survivors over the years and had some first hand knowledge for the book,” Michael told The Corkman.
“It’s been a very emotional weekend for me, especially on Monday around 11am which was the time of the shooting.
“My Uncle Michael was shot by a Sergeant Pinchermaine, he lived for seven days, his right hip was broken, and he was taken by the British to the main road. An ambulance happened to be passing and he was taken to the Victoria Infirmary (now Collins’ Barracks). He lived for seven days and died on February 22, all his direct family said he died of neglect,” Michael said.
“We owe it to those Volunteers to pass the stories on to the next generations.”
This fascinating and in-depth story can be found in its entirety in the new book.
Readers interested in purchasing ‘ The Story of the Mourne Abbey Ambush’ can contact Michael Looney on 022 29195.