Let’s not forget our local Hero and leader Cornelius J Meaney
RECENTLY, I was a contributor to a local Ambush Centenary Commemoration book titled “Clonbanin Ambush Centenary 1921-2021 - A Cork and Kerry Victory”.
In the process of the contributions associated with the publication, the name of one of the five great brave and famous leaders of the Clonbanin Ambush was omitted.
The sub-committee assigned to writing the book concluded that while it would be absolutely impossible to mention every Volunteer that took part in the ambush, it was decided to concentrate on the five leaders of the different battalions namely Commandant Sean Moylan in charge of the ambush, second in command Commandant Paddy O’Brien, Commandant Tom McEllistrim, Commandant Cornelius J Meaney (or Meany) and Captain Dan Vaughan.
The book sub-committee decided to put a paragraph in the publication with personal details about the leaders. Unfortunately, the article entitled Commandant Cornelius J Meany O.C. Millstreet Battalion IRA had to be withdrawn, because apparently we should have consulted with, and should have sought permission from living relatives prior to this article being written.
Reluctantly but respectfully and what should be considered best practice and a matter of courtesy it was decided to withdraw the article. This, I personally regret, as do the majority of the Clonbanin Ambush Centenary Commemoration Committee.
Since the release of “Clonbanin Ambush Centenary 1921-2021, A Cork and Kerry Victory”, I and other members have received numerous phone calls asking why Commandant Cornelius J Meany, O.C. Millstreet Battalion IRA was omitted from the book.
Some callers are very disappointed and annoyed, with the exclusion of such a great Patriot, a great and fearless leader, a highly inelegant organizer, always putting the safety and welfare of his Battalion members first, no matter what the cost to his own health and safety.
Through the medium of “The Corkman”, on my own and on behalf of my fellow members, I want to put right the wrong, we done in excluding Commandant Cornelius J Meany O.C. Millstreet Battalion IRA from our book.
The following is research I personally conducted in order to honour the name and memory of Cornelius J Meany, the son, the brother, the husband, the father, the farmer and above all the Freedom Fighter.
Con J Meaney (Sonny) married Hanora O’Connell from Coachford at the North Cathedral, Cork on January 13, 1923 with Rev. Fr.O’Flynn( of the Loft fame) officiating. Sadly he died on April 1, 1924 at the South Infirmary, Cork, his death notice in the Cork Examiner read: ‘Cornelius J Meany, Kilbawn, late of Millstreet, late Commandant Cork no 4 Brigade I.R.A. to the inexpressible grief of his wife, mother, sister and a large circle of friends. Funeral from the South parish Church on April 3, 1924 through Coachford and Macroom to Millstreet.
The death is also registered in the death Register of Ovens Parish. Cornelius J Meany, aged 31years and address given as Kilbawn, Ovens where they bought O’Regans farm in July/August, 1923.
His daughter was born two months after his death on May 30, 1924, baptised Mary Monica at St Peter and Paul’s Church Cork. She joined the Religious Order “Poor Servants of the Mother of God” at Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork in 1942 where she had received post primary education and obtained an Honours Leaving Certificate result.
Her Noviciate was spent in Carrigtwohill, Mayfield, Chapelizod, Dublin, in the Orders Convents in England where she made her First Profession in 1945 under her religous title Sr. Monica Gonzaga.
She trained as a teacher in the Immaculate Conception Teacher Training College in Southampton from 1946-1948. Most of her dedicated teaching life of service was spent at St. Marys, Roehampton, London and setting up St. Aghata’s School in Kingston.
Sr. Monica died in 1975 aged 51, May she Rest in Peace with the Angels in Heaven.
Commandant Cornelius J Meany O.C. Millstreet Battalion IRA was a legend in his short life here on earth, and is still a legend in his final resting place in Millstreet .
We salute you and honour your name with the pride and dignity it so richly deserves. You died as you lived quite and courageous, seldom spoken about, but often thought about.
May you too Rest in Peace with all the Angels in Heaven in the company of all your family and extended family you are gone but not forgotten.
Go maire sibhse freisin suaimhneas leis na huillinneacha uile ar neamh i gcuideachta do theaghlaigh agus do theaghlaigh leathnaithe go bhfuil tú imithe ach gan dearmad a dhéanamh ort.