Volunteer Maurice Galvin remembered a century on
Last Friday evening, a fitting ceremony took place in the hilltop cemetery of Dangandonovan in East Cork, where members of the Galvin clan gathered to pay respects to Maurice Galvin, who had died exactly one hundred years ago.
Anne Galvin, a grandniece of Maurice’s, welcomed all present and asked Fr. Tim Hazelwood, PP of the parish of Ardagh, Killeagh and Dangan, to lead the prayers, with Fr Frank O’Neill, PP of Imogeela parish, also in attendance. In paying tribute to Maurice Galvin, Fr Tim described him as brave young, idealistic man who gave his life for his country. He then recited a Decade of the Rosary.
Anne outlined the story of her granduncle. Born at Caher in the parish of Ballynoe/Conna/Glengoura in 1903, Maurice was the youngest of nine children of farmer and carpenter, Edmond Galvin and his wife, Nora Murphy. After attending national school at Lacken, Maurice, at the age of 15, went to work as an apprentice draper in the shop of Thomas J O’Dwyer, a Tipperary-man, at West St. in Tallow. O’Dwyer was an ardent nationalist, Sinn Fein member and IRA volunteer and Maurice Galvin probably took inspiration from O’Dwyer and joined the Tallow Volunteer Company. He was appointed Adjutant of the Company.
On Dec. 31st, 1920 seven Crossley Tenders with British Forces swooped on Tallow determined to ‘pick up’ known nationalists. O’Dwyer was an obvious target but he was gone ‘on the run’. Maurice Galvin and two others were arrested. Over the next few days at Lismore, Fermoy and Kilworth young Galvin was interrogated and threatened. He refused to answer any questions, especially as to the whereabouts of his employer. Maurice was then held, more or less as a hostage, in place of Thomas J O’Dwyer. He was taken to Belfast by train and then by open boat to Ballykinlar Detention Camp in County Down. On that boat trip, Maurice and others were pelted with stones, bolts, timber, metal bars and other missiles by Loyalist shipyard workers, with Maurice being struck with a metal bolt, received a serious head wound.
Conditions in Ballykinlar were brutal, rancid food, cold damp sleeping quarters and cruel jailers. With a kidney problem and an untreated open wound, Maurice Galvin’s health deteriorated.
He spent his 18th birthday far away from family and friends in Ballykinlar on February 3rd, 1921. Five weeks later he was dead. The family were never told of his illness, just a telegram informing them of his death. A request that his remains would be sent by rail to Tallow Road Railway Station, near Glencairn, was met with a demand for £34 and 4 shillings - the cost of sending the remains back home. This sum had to be forwarded before the body was released.
Sent by Red Cross lorry to Dublin, the body was accompanied on the train journey south by Maurice’s two brothers, John and Patrick, who travelled to Dublin. On arrival at Tallow Road Station, the coffin was taken by horse drawn bier to the outskirts of the town and from here, it was shouldered by 4 Volunteers through Tallow, before being taken for the night to Glengoura Church. On Thursday, April 14th, 1921 Volunteer Maurice Galvin was buried in Dangan Cemetery.
In 1971 on the 50th anniversary of his death, his nephew Paudie Galvin placed a wreath at his headstone. Last Friday night, Paudie Galvin was in Dangan once more when he presented the laurel wreath to his grand nephew Brian Twomey. Brian, great grandnephew of Maurice Galvin, placed the wreath at the headstone. The headstone has been magnificently cleaned re-lettered by Killeagh stonecutter, Adrian Budds.
The ceremony ended with the singing of the national anthem, led by Darragh Galvin on the tin whistle. A century has passed since Maurice Galvin died but his legacy and memory live on.
In lonely Dangan Churchyard By uplands shaded green Where lie the dead of centuries
One modern grave is seen Bestroked by gentle breezes Or tipped by dripping rain Beneath the sod is sleeping A youth of noble strain.