Unveiling of two monuments in Glenbrohane commemorates local Volunteers
Separate monuments were unveiled in Glenbrohane on Sunday, December 5, to commemorate two young men who were killed in the area.
Following Mass which was held in St Patrick’s Church, Glenbrohane, a procession was led to the first monument by bagpipe, along with people dressed in Irish Volunteer’s uniforms.
The monuments were erected to commemorate both Tom Murphy and David Tobin, who were killed in the area by British Crown Forces over 100 years ago. As members of the East Limerick Flying Column, the two men operated between Tipperary, Limerick, West Limerick and North Cork.
In December 1920, members of the column decided to take a break and Tom Murphy and David Tobin returned to Glenbrohane. On Saturday morning, January 1, 1921, after both had been at Mass in the Glen, they were having dinner with David Tobin’s mother.
However, the two young men were spotted by an informer while at Mass that morning and word was sent of the men’s whereabouts to the RIC barracks, most likely in Galbally. The Machine Gun Corp, led by Lieutenant Keller, was dispatched from Kilmallock.
This raiding party stopped the lorry some distance from Tobin’s house and sent some marksmen ahead to outflank the boys from the high point at the rear, in the likelihood of an attempted escape towards the mountain. Once the marksmen were close to being in position, Lieutenant Keller proceeded towards Tobin’s Forge in Ballinalacken.
David Tobin and Tom Murphy heard the lorry of Tans and military which was descending on their location from the direction of Griston. They left the house and went towards the hill at the back, taking cover at a cross fence. In the first exchange of shots, however, David received a fatal wound to the chest and most likely only survived a half hour, per his death certificate.
NO ESCAPE
Tom Murphy escaped for about a quarter of a mile, but the two soldiers who had outflanked him were now above him with others following behind, firing as they came. The lorry with the other soldiers travelled along the road to Sheahan’s Cross. In a final bid to escape, Tom Murphy crossed the road but was hit by a tracer bullet and fell. The officer in charge of the Crown Forces, Lieutenant Keller, had him removed to Quirke’s house where he later died.
Tom Murphy and his comrade, David Tobin, were subsequently both buried in the Republican plot in Ballylanders, 100 years ago last January.
REMEMBERING THOSE GONE BEFORE
Family of the two men, along with the wider community, turned out on Sunday for the unveiling of the new monuments, which were blessed by Fr Joe Tynan. The history of the events that fateful day in January 1921, that led to their deaths, were given.
Music was also played, with renditions of Amhrán na bhFiann, The Galtee Mountain Boy and Shanagolden, while The Last Post was played at both monuments.
Everyone involved in erecting the monuments and organising Sunday’s event was thanked, including Glenbrohane Community Association. It is hoped that the newly erected monuments will contribute to the Ballyhoura Way and will be kept in good care by the community for many years to come.